Broodhome
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The Chenjesu Broodhome, like its builders, is made almost entirely of crystal. As its name implies it is notably large and somewhat cumbersome, but in a head-on battle it is unlikely to go down without inflicting serious damage to the enemy.
To a sessile and silicon-based race, perhaps the Broodhome seems quick and agile. Most other advanced races tend to disagree. The Broodhome is slow. Slow to move and slow to turn. It can even be difficult for an inexperienced Captain to escape a planet's gravity well. More advanced warriors know to keep their distance from their enemy and plan a careful course near the planet.
Armament
Primary
The Broodhome's main weapon is a Photon Crystal Shard, a simple crystalline life form, with a huge range, possibly reaching as much as a tenth of a planetary system's diameter.1 Any Captain foolish enough to be struck by the weapon deserves the vacuous grave that he is soon to find himself in. The projectile however, like the ship itself, is somewhat slow. By the time it reaches the target, it is very likely that the target has moved. This is when the crystal shard's true ingenuity comes into play. Even a near miss can be turned into a serious blow because the crystal explodes at the Captain's command, damaging anything that has yet to escape its ponderous onslaught.
Secondary
The Chenjesu also employ DOGI (Deenergizing Offensive Guided Interceptor) attack drones. These autonomous and slow-moving drones are of sufficient mass to affect an enemy ship's trajectory when they collide with it, a feat which they excel at performing. In addition to this slight change of course, which often upsets the affected Captain's careful aim at the distant Broodhome, he will find his energy reserves being drained away and often times depleted. Lucky for him the DOGIs have a limited lifespan, but their mothership has an endless supply. Though the DOGIs are essentially autonomous, the Broodhome is equipped with high-frequency resonators (blue protrusion on the forward hull) that can be used to control the drones.
Tactical Overview
Keep your distance. The Broodhome is not a close range fighter. If your enemy approaches, fire off a quick stream of Crystal Shards and detonate them at zero range as it is likely that he will out maneuver any attempt at a direct hit. The more bits of glass and rock that you can put in space, the better. As soon as you get a second to collect yourself, drop a DOGI and hope it distracts him while you accelerate away.
One of the more evil tactics possible is to launch DOGIs against a Druuge Mauler, then sit back and laugh as a hapless computer pilot throws its crew away in a desperate attempt to retain battery power. Similarly, the Utwig Jugger is vulnerable to DOGI interference; in this case, however, the Jugger can continue to fire - and with its better weaponry, will likely shoot the DOGIs down before they can do their work. The unfortunate part is that one touch from a DOGI completely neutralizes the Jugger's shields.
Notes and references
- 1The Chmmr say that the Sa-Matra incinerated their Broodhomes from ten times the weapon range of their ships; they also say that the Sa-Matra was able to vaporize ships from the far end of a system.
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