The history and use of the Mace

I

Ironduke

Spaceman
I was wondering if there are any details about the history of the Mace missile - or any of its "close relatives" like the Starburst or Coneburst - and their use throughout Confed. As we all know, the prototype Morningstar fighter was the first to introduce the Mace in WC2:SO2, and we meet it, along with the two variants mentioned above, again in WC4. While the Border Worlds obviously employ them (probably due to their lack of more advanced weaponry), the Mace itself seems to have mostly disappeared from Confed's arsenal.

Do you know of any mention of the Mace in other games, novels or canon sources? Was it equipped on other fighters, or did it go down along with the Morningstar?

(I wanted to include the Mace in my WC: TacOps game, but I'd probably reconsider if it really was only a prototype weapon... Similar story with mines: We see them in WC1, WC4 and Arena, yet not in WC2.)

I also thought it was strange that the Kilrathi never developed or adopted a similar weapon. Don't you think the Mace would fit them better?
 
The Wikipedia says: "The mace was first developed around 12,000 BC and quickly became an important weapon. It was the first weapon developed specifically for killing humans." So, there you go. :)

But seriously... I'm sure it became a production weapon -- because the Morningstar didn't "go down"! The Wing Commander Academy manual says that they went on to become the Confederation's premiere strike fighters (the blurb also says that the Mace is 'currently employed in space combat'. And of course the fact that you aquire them in Wing Commander IV by looting a Confederation carrier suggests that they're still part of the arsenal then.

The only other apperance of the Mace is in Arena - the mines you collect to clear the Meteors level are 'Mace Tactical Nuclear Mines.'
 
Bandit LOAF said:
The Wikipedia says: "The mace was first developed around 12,000 BC and quickly became an important weapon.
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As early as 12,000 BC? Wow! :eek: :p

But seriously... I'm sure it became a production weapon -- because the Morningstar didn't "go down"! The Wing Commander Academy manual says that they went on to become the Confederation's premiere strike fighters (the blurb also says that the Mace is 'currently employed in space combat'.
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So the Morningstar was really mass produced? Is there any indication on the exact date or year?
 
Yup, 12,000 years Before Casey.

So the Morningstar was really mass produced? Is there any indication on the exact date or year?
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No - but the Academy manual seems to have been written in 2667, so it was probably around for the last two years of the war at least. Presumably the more well equipped squadrons were flying Morningstars, Wraiths, Phantoms, Banshees, etc. at the end of the war.
 
Bandit LOAF said:
Yup, 12,000 years Before Casey.



No - but the Academy manual seems to have been written in 2667, so it was probably around for the last two years of the war at least. Presumably the more well equipped squadrons were flying Morningstars, Wraiths, Phantoms, Banshees, etc. at the end of the war.
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Phantoms? Really? Oh I hope not...I would turn down that promotion for sure!! :D

This does bring up an interesting question though. The banshee really wasn't a bomber...do we think it was used to re-equip bomber squadrons, or used instead to re-equip heavy fighter squadrons?
 
This does bring up an interesting question though. The banshee really wasn't a bomber...do we think it was used to re-equip bomber squadrons, or used instead to re-equip heavy fighter squadrons?
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Armada certainly treats it as a bomber with respect to the Lexington's fighter complement... but in my mind it's some sort of fighter-bomber -- something along the lines of a Mosquito or a Messerschmitt 110.
 
ELTEE said:
Oh no....don't tell me that. I just finished convincing my girlfriend that the Mace was around long before the Common Era....
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Actually, I think Nomad Terror was just kidding. And don't listen to him when he's going to tell us there's no Santa Claus! :p

Anyway, thanks for the info, LOAF! :)
 
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