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Most space combat is dominated by kinetic energy weapons, rocket-propelled guided missiles, and lasers. This article will quickly introduce the most widespread systems.
Kinetic energy weapons take many forms, from pellets to bullets and darts. These depend on high velocity to do their damage. They are propelled by various means, ranging from chemical propellant in old fashioned cannons to hybrid ETGs (electro-thermal guns) and the more experimental electro-magnetic coil guns. ETGs are currently the most widespread technology. One problem with kinetic energy weapons is that their projectiles become space junk that remains dangerous long after the battle is passed. Projectiles have been developed that automatically disintegrate some time after firing, but these are more expensive and have not been universally adopted yet.
Rocket propelled guided missiles (or “torpedoes” as some navy hands still insist on calling them) are expensive but generally have a greater chance of hitting their target, since they can respond to the evasive maneuvers of a target ship. They can also carry a large explosive charge or other warhead.
Lasers are sometimes used as weapons, but they are only effective on small un-armored or lightly armored targets. Their advantage is that their beam literally moves at the speed of light and therefore is every easy to score hits with. The tradeoff involves the large banks of energy storage units required to supply power to the laser.
Spaceship defenses consist of armor, evasion, stealth, decoys, and ECM (electronic countermeasures). With the exception of armor, the goal is to avoid being hit by enemy weapons. No progress has yet been made toward developing any kind of force field to protect ships.
As an aside. . .
Other exotic weapons have been experimented with, including “spurt bomb” gamma-ray lasers, but these are not widely deployed, and are not available for use on the MUCK except under strictly monitored conditions.
Standard missiles can carry a nuclear warhead, but this is very rarely done. Since earth was devastated in large part by nuclear weapons, recoms have developed a very strong distaste toward building or using them. Also, it is very hard to secretly produce nuclear fuel for bombs since fission reactors have entirely been replaced by IEC fusion. ICly, characters will not have access to nuclear weapons except under strictly monitored conditions.