Glory Device

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Revision as of 17:40, 13 April 2007 by Valaggar (talk | contribs) (Glory device moved to Glory Device: The official name is with all words capitalized.)
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The Glory device is the biggest and most effective weapon of the Shofixti Scout.

The Shofixti were uplifted by the Yehat when the furry marsupials were still living in mud castles. At this point, the Shofixti didn't possess any advanced technology, such as starships. The Yehat gave them basic technology, possibly including their own old scout design. Based on the rudimentary knowledge provided by the Yehat, the Shofixti were able to construct simple space vessel, close to almost harmless in combat against more advanced races, and wasn't used much more than for reconnaissance and scouting.

The fervor and willpower of the Shofixti was great. They were honourable creatures and wanted to fight. Some suspect that they asked the Chenjesu to create a powerful Glory device - a bomb which could destroy a crippled Ur-Quan and completely vaporise smaller vessels. As the story goes, the Chenjesu agreed, but later on, they were deeply shocked when they were asked to mount a Glory device on every scout vessel. Although the Yehat must have refused at first, everyone knew deep inside that it was an ultimate sacrifice and act of honor; the Shofixti insisted and so it came that every Scout was fitted with the Glory device.

The brave Shofixti detonated themselves without showing a sign of fear - dodging fusion blasts and ripping the immense Dreadnoughts apart. The Glory device was definitely a gruesome and dreadful weapon for the Kzer-Za, as they could not break the morale of the suicide pilots. Fighting fiercely, it was ironic that the Shofixiti, the least technologically advanced race in the Alliance, destroyed over one third of the Ur-Quan fleet.

From the technical point of view, one Scout can kill a Melnorme Trader, Androsynth Guardian, or Druuge Mauler but not from the Glory device alone. Kill four or five crew with the main gun while evading the enemy's shots and then, when the batteries are empty, activate the Glory device. Two Scouts can kill a Dreadnought; however, if you want to kill the opponents using only the Glory device, those numbers increase by one. That is, it will take two for a Trader and three for a Dreadnought.

The downside is that the Glory Device needs to be activated manually in order to explode - much like a nuclear bomb. To prevent accidental detonation of the Glory Device, the arming mechanism actually consists of three manual switches which must be toggled in sequence, the bomb detonating when the third switch is thrown. Despite this precautionary measure, many Shofixti have been known to immediately throw the first two safety contacts upon engaging an enemy ship in battle. When the Scout is killed before he gets a chance to fully activate the advanced firing mechanism, the bomb is merely destroyed without actually exploding.

Summary: A good Shofixti pilot may create chaos and destruction wherever he goes, killing ships much larger than himself, but this chaos is for one time only.