GTM Helios

The GTM-13 Helios is the most powerful, most devestating, most awe-inspiring weapon that can be crammed on a bomber. A single Helios antimatter torpedo has several times the destructive payload of the GTM Cyclops. The large weapon is so expensive and dangerous, that its issue is limited only to those who have been given special authorization by the GTVA Security Council.

A Helios torpedo is even slower than a Cyclops, making its effective deployment difficult. As with the more common torpedo, range is everything: you don't want any. Get in close and make your shot count. Due to the Helios' slow speed, it is advised to engage your burners BEFORE you release the weapon and begin your evasive maneuver. This will give the torpedo some badly needed speed as it crosses the (hopefully short) distance to the target.

Puzzlingly, the GTF Myrmidon space-superiority fighter has the ability to mount a Helios torpedo in one of its bays. It is unknown whether this was a very quiet design feature, or an interesting quirk of fate.

Weapons in Descent: FreeSpace

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS1

Weapons in FreeSpace 2

Primaries Secondaries Turrets Weapon Comparison Table, FS2

Tech Room Data

The GTM-13 Helios is the product of an entire generation of high-energy physics research, based primarily at the GTVA particle accelerator complex near Antares. The most powerful warhead in the fleet's arsenal, the Helios generates a massive shockwave from the cataclysmic annihilation of matter and anti-matter, triggered upon impact with its target. Each bank of Helios warheads can fire only once every 30 seconds. The Helios is prohibitively expensive to produce, thus its deployment is severely restricted.

Veteran Comments

It's a big bomb that creates an equally big boom. The Helios is the bomb of choice for anti-destroyer work, or blowing up heavily armored juggernaut turrets.

The bomb is physically huge, looking funny coming from a GTB Medusa and also making it easy to visually target and destroy.

Performance

Statistics

Range	1950 m
Rate of Fire	1 / 30 s
Velocity	65 mps
Damage	6800
Against Hullplating	Excellent
Against Shields	Minimal/None
Against Subsystems	Very Good
Shockwave Radius	100 m / 270 m
Homing System	Aspect Seeking
Minimum Lock Time	7.0 s
Turn Rate	1.5 s

Notes

• Weapon is capable of easily damaging (Huge) even larger vessels.
• Weapon can be shot down (Bomb)
• Weapon must be locked onto the target in order to be fired (No Dumbfire)