Broken down then:
Goal: to make a cluster-munition missiles (such as the tracker MIRV) that will release a shower of small missiles at a capship that destroy turrets.
Reply to Quarto about the Swarmer: Yes... we know that... but the masses are supposed to think that it is really a swarm of small missiles launched from many different locations on your ship.
Current progress:
Ability to transform the AR series into what appears to be a swarmer-type missile, requiring lock to launch then releasing a set of submunitions at close range (or long range if you edit it right). Able to create a missile using the AR series that will attack fighters and bombers (cluster variety also). Able to transform the Swarmer weapon into exactly what I want, attacking non-capitals only though.
Notes:
-when set to "attack childobjects only" regardless of other settings, unless the parent missile is an AR type and has achieved lock before launch, the ejected missiles will refuse to acquire a new target of any type regardless of proximity to capship, etc.
-Some weapons, specifically torpedos, are unable to fire without lock. Setting the "lock required" tag to off simply makes the torpedo fly like a dumbfire after launch, even though lock is needed before launch.
Hypothesis: The gamecode is written in such a way where capital ships and their components cannot be attacked with a missile that acquires new targets. Making such a missile possible may require a patch to the missile AI and/or gamecode that is currently unavailable.