HSIT

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(This article includes ideas, technology, or events which have been declared "Heresy", or not true in the Swarm Cycle's universe.  These concepts cannot be used in a story claiming to be 'canon'.)

HSIT

Acronym for Hyperspace Synchronizing Interference Technique (see Grind Forces), the official name for a self-propelled weapon designed to seek out and destroy Sa'arm Hive ships in hyperspace transit. According to the developer, the weapon is designed to deliver an explosive charge to a target in hyperspace, by locating the target, them matching speed, and finally matching phase. Once phase-matched and in close proximity, the weapon detonates, damaging the target.

Humans provided the key innovations enabling the development of this weapon, first, more research into the properties of hyperspace, allowing the synchronization of another vessel's phase, as well as the ability to detect targets in hyperspace. The rest of the Confederacy had never done much basic research into hyperspace once the ability to use it for reliable transport was achieved.

The discovery of its potential as a planet-destroyer was almost an accident, brought about by impulsive and improper use of the weapon against ground-based Sa'arm artillery. The weapon was inadvertently allowed to materialize (phase in from hyperspace) well inside the planetary crust roughly where the artillery was based. In the process of becoming solid, the nuclei of its constituent atoms apparently merged with those of the planet occupying the same space. This created a mass of fissionable material of unprecedented size and criticality. The resulting fission explosion completely destroyed the planet and all life on it. Needless to say the planet itself is of little use to anyone now though the fragments from the antipodes may be useful for space-based mining.

Arriving from hyperspace, the weapon is not detectable w/ any sensors within a gravitational field and can not easily be detected even when in hyperspace given its small size and hyper footprint.

Due to the massive destruction potential of these devices, and the limited value of planetary targets, post attack, they have seen only minimal use in any theatre, and then only for their original intended purpose. The Confederacy AI's have demanded suppression of information concerning their construction and capabilities, apparently because of concern that such weapons could be turned against the Confederacy, should the human developers become displeased with their "arrangements." The non-human portions of the Confederacy are poorly equipped mentally or emotionally to do the basic research needed to find countermeasures. (It can be argued that countermeasures would first be developed by Humans.)

Also known as a SPAM (originally "Something Posing As a Mine" but then later "Shattering Planets And Moons"), this weapon has been outlawed by the Confederacy.   All vessels equipped with a hyperspace generator will be controlled by an AI capable of preventing its use as a weapon.

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Heresy