MZ-8 Mobile Pulse Cannon

The MZ-8 Mobile Pulse Cannon, also known as the Plasma Tank, is a mobile artillery/tank unit used by Tyber Zann and his crime organization during the Galactic Civil War. It would later become part of the New Republic army.

The Republic Engineering Corporation acquired the use of the design, as well as many others, from a Yutrane-Trackata splinter group which defected to the Rebel Alliance sometime before the Battle of Yavin with blueprints for the vehicle prototypes. It would not be until the formation of the New Republic and REC after the Battle of Endor, however, that these designs would be openly manufactured.

The MZ-8 is unique among these designs for only being half-completed when the defectors left Yutrane-Trackata. The design was not realized until after the capture of several MZ-8’s from the rogue Tyber Zann.

=Characteristics= The MZ-8 houses a Taim & Bak heavy pulse cannon that is situated on a Yutrane-Trackata heavy tank chassis. The vehicle sacrifices both speed and mobility for firepower.

When charging for a plasma shot, the tank projects a purple shield in front of its turret. When the charging is completed, a large purple plasma burst is emitted from the turret. The cannon is not turreted, meaing the entire tank has to turn in order to line the gun up with its target.

In large groups, these tanks can take down even the heaviest armor, such as the Imperial AT-AT, as well as buildings, although they often have trouble with faster-moving targets. The downside of using these powerful tools is the fact that the highly unstable plasma used for ammunition can explode, destroying the tank. However, this can also be used by the crew of the vehicle, who can overload the tank to destroy nearby enemy forces.

=Sources=
 * Wookieepedia