CM-1 superpulse cannon

The CM-1 superpulse cannon, nicknamed the "Cindermaker", was an experimented superweapon designed by Imperial researchers during the Galactic Empire's early years. It saw little to no use in the field before its destruction at the hands of Rebel privateers during the onset of the Galactic Civil War.

Characteristics
The CM-1 was a large, tube-shaped cannon that was designed to be mounted on the underside of a modified Arquitens-class light cruiser. The cruiser on which it was mounted was also called Cindermaker. Using pulse cannon technology, the CM-1 was capable of producing dense energetic "orbs" several dozen meters in width that traveled at more than fifteen times the speed of a common blaster bolt, and could be used in both space warfare and in orbit-to-surface bombardments. It took roughly 30 to 45 minutes to recharge in-between uses. Upon impacting the target, the pulse orb would scatter and explode, generating an explosion that nearly reached a kilometer in circumference, with additional radiation leakage that reached over ten kilometers as well as an electromagnetic pulse that effected all electrical systems as far out as 150 kilometers. The CM-1 also came equipped with long-range turbolaser batteries that barraged ground targets while the cannon was charging.

History
The CM-1 completed construction at an orbital facility in the Eriadu system in around 15 BBY, though spent the first few years of its existence idling at an undisclosed location. It, attached to Arquitens-class light cruiser Cindermaker under the command of Captain Gerard Pasner, was eventually called to the Karthakk system to test the weapon on a pirate fleet commanded by the Feeorin pirate warlord Nym. The CM-1's test was successful, as it was capable of destroying a Mere cruiser (known for their extremely heavy shielding) in a single use before the Cindermaker left the system after sustaining heavy fire from the pirate cruisers. Months later, the CM-1 would be used on at least four different worlds that hosted resistance movements with varying levels of success, in one instance killing an entire city's Human population - numbering over 500,000 - with only two blasts supported by turbolaser fire and TIE/sa bombers. During its sixth operation, only two years after its operation in the Karthakk sector, the Cindermaker and the CM-1 cannon endured heavy damage from a resistance movement's surface-to-air weapons, forcing the ship the CM-1 to return to the Eriadu system to undergo repairs. As fate would have it, another resistance movement was in the process of attacking the facility that the CM-1 was to be repaired at; before the Cindermaker could relocate to another repair facility in the system, it came under fire from their enemy's starfighters. The Cindermaker was damaged beyond repairs during the attack and the CM-1 was left stranded, though the attackers were forced into a retreat by Eriadu's Imperial security fleet. For unknown reasons, the Imperials were unable to relocate the CM-1 while they were retrieving the Cindermaker's wreckage, and it would remain lost, left to drift aimlessly through the system for years.

In 1 BBY, an Imperial patrol ship happened to come across the CM-1 and its crew reported their findings to their superiors, who called for excavator ships to retrieve the cannon and bring it to a nearby facility for inspection and repairs. As researchers decided to further enhance the cannon's capabilities, it would remain docked and unused for over another year.

Destruction
After its repairs and modifications were finally complete, the CM-1 was mounted on another light cruiser, called the Cindermaker II, and was immediately deployed to the northern Hydian Way to assist an Imperial fleet in bombarding a series of hidden Rebel listening posts. While en route to its destination, however, the Cindermaker II was intercepted by a small fleet of Rebel privateers, including the Mandalorian warrior Naastau. During the skirmish that ensued, Naastau managed to fire his electromissiles into an exposed part of the CM-1, causing a chain reaction that obliterated both the cannon and the Cindermaker II.

It was later revealed by spies that another CM-1 cannon - aptly named the CM-2 - was in the works by Imperial researchers, but it's believed that the researchers involved in the project were eliminated by a crack team of Rebel commandos during a covert operation in around 2 ABY, bringing an end to the Cindermaker project once and for all. It was eventually discovered that the Cindermaker project was planned to play a significant role in Emperor Palpatine's Operation Cinder, hence the superweapon's name, though was destroyed years before it could serve its ultimate purpose.