Hydran Weapon System Conversion Policy

Hydran Designation: Declassified

Dating back to the Anarchist (a Klingon D7 captured by the Hydrans and converted to Hydran
technology), it had always been Hydran policy to adapt captured ships to use Fusion beams
or Hellbores. The reason they didn't leave Klingon technology intact was purely economical. 
For one thing, they had no facilities to maintain the alien technology. To build a facility 
to service Klingon weaponry would have cost more than building dozens of ships from the 
ground up. In addition to the facility they would need crews trained in Klingon systems. 
The costs far outweighed the gain of one or two captured ships, so they were always 
converted to Hydran weaponry. What changed this conversion policy was diminishing resources 
required to energize Hydran weapon systems. The raw materials used to charge Fusion beams 
and Hellbores was indigenous to just a few inner planets in Hydran space. As surface 
deposits were exhausted, it became necessary to use more expensive methods to extract 
deeper deposits. These deeper veins of minerals were often less pure and required more 
refinement. Even with advancements in mining techniques, supply was not meeting demand. 
After gaining disruptor and Ion cannon technology from a captured Klingon cruiser, it was 
found that the resources needed to recharge these weapon types were readily available in 
Hydran space. Based on the size of the Hydran fleet, it was determined that the cost of 
refitting ships to Ion canons would pay for itself within 7 years. In 2387, the conversion 
to Ion canon and disruptors began. Currently 84% of Hydran ships now use Ion canons, while 
96% are using disruptors.

Class: This is not a ship

Fiction by red_green

