User:Juan-a2401/MEL

Magnetic Explosive Launcher

Use
It is attached to the Martillo class mining vessel as a way to deliver mining explosive to the surface of an asteroid or other cosmic entities bereft of life to get to the various metals buried far beneath the surface. However, as I earlier stated, the cosmic body must be devoid of life to avoid any unnesecarry extinction.

Design
The way this works is almost identical to a kinetic energy weapon. It utilizes a series of supermagnets to energize a hollow magnetic ball and blast it toward the target. Inside the hollow projectile is a lot of mining explosive. When the projectile hits it's target, the operator detonates the mining explosive to allow mining teams to examine the prize.

Controversies
With all objects with destructive power, some people have feared that a rebel force might get a hold of one of these and bombard a colony in order to make a point. To help people feel safer, the UNSC has ordered the creator of the MEL to rig up a "black box" of some sorts, a recorder to make sure that every time it is fired, it is irreversibly recorded. That hasn't stopped some people, though.