Subject: Preliminary Weapons Test Report
-Test Subject: SAU 446-A "Diomedes" Heavy Artillery Platform

introduction:
-The Diomedes (SAU 446-A) is an exercise in extremes. the photographs
included in this archive clearly show the sheer size of the main cannon.
this cannon is capable of accelerating ferrite projectiles to almost 90% the
speed of light (C) in an atmosphere. it is essentially a one-off K-06
defensive Gauss Cannon, which has been mounted to a specialised chassis and
equipped with the most powerful reactor available.

Details:
-on the side of the main cannon are two poles. these are advanced comms
antennae, linked to satellite imaging units in orbit, giving the diomedes
"Over-The-Horizon" strike capabilities

-mounted on top of the cannon is an optical rangefinderfor visible targets.
notice also the 6 large cooling fins mounted along the cannon's spine. the
extreme power in the cannon requires a large radiating surface. these are
prototype radiators which, without the use of nanotechnology, are capable of
dissipating the near-two million GSTU's (Galactic Standard Thermal Units)
which are produced during firing, in under one minute. this limits the
diomedes' effective firing rate, meaning that they should be deployed in
groups of at least 4 units, plus support and defense.

-the only defensive weaponry on the Diomedes is a single fixed laser mounted
above the cockpit, this makes the unit EXTREMELY vulnerable to close atack,
as minimum range is 50 miles.

-NOTE: we have discovered an interesting side effect of the main cannon. if
it is charged, but not fired, the intense magnetic fields will bend almost
all magnetic energies around the  vehicle. this means that the vehicle has
an emergency optical cloaking device/ mag-shield. R&D is looking into other
possible effects the field may have on its surroundings.

--End dispatch--
-Sigmatek. One Step ahead of the Next Generation.