Quad Ion Turret

A Quad Ion Turret is an Tau Ion Weapon developed during the Tau Empire’s Third Sphere Expansion, and is essentially a battery of four linked Ion Rifles designed as a primary weapon for Razorshark strike fighters. Based on Ion Weapon technology acquired as part of a fruitful alliance between the Syrr’Tok Brotherhood of the Demiurg and the Water Caste of the Dal’yth Sept, a Quad Ion Turret is capable of engaging enemies along ranges with high energy ion streams; vaporising flesh and metal with equal ease. These high-energy particles are accelerated by an electromagnetic field and react explosively with the target as a result of direct transfer of energy at an atomic level.

A Quad Ion Turret is mounted on a gimbal turret on the rear underside of a Razorshark, allowing the weapon is able to hit targets in all directions. Many an enemy aircraft has found itself with a fusillade of deadly ion streams as Tau aircraft streak past. Linked as a battery, the Ion Rifles that make up a Qua Ion Turret give the weapon system a high rate of fire, and their strength allows them engage both heavy infantry, light vehicles, and aircraft effectively; turning them all into smoking wrecks in a rapid succession of shots. As with all Tau Ion Weapons, an Ion Accelerators design allows for the weapon to be overcharged by exposing the reactive Mor’tonium power source to the environment, though this also exposes the vehicle to the dangerous ionising radiation emitted by the Mor’tonium, and risks overloading the primary power cells to hazardous energy levels. Overcharging Quad Ion Turret allows it to generate a wide explosive blast with increased power compared to its normal fire mode, allowing the Razorshark to vaporise entire squads in a single salvo.