Ballistae are composed of a composite prod spanned by bracing across the front end of the weapon, it is operated with the base against the ground while placing the end of a slider mechanism against the operator's stomach. The operator would then walk forward to arm the weapon while a ratchet prevented it from shooting during loading.
This mode of operation produced a weapon which, could be operated by a person of average strength but which had a power that allowed it to be successfully used against armoured troops over great distances.
With the invention of torsion spring bundle technology, the first ballistae were built. The advantage of this new technology was the fast relaxation time of the system compared to other cold ranged weapons of the era. Thus it was possible to shoot lighter projectiles with higher velocities over a longer distance. By contrast, the comparatively slow relaxation time of a tension machine such as the Onagers meant that much less energy could be transferred to light projectiles, limiting the effective range of the weapon when equipped with such armaments.
Ballistae could be easily modified to shoot both spherical and shaft projectiles, allowing their crews to adapt easily to prevailing battlefield situations in real-time.
As the role of battlefield artillery became more sophisticated, a universal joint (which was invented just for this function) was integrated into the ballista's stand, allowing the operators to alter the trajectory and firing direction of the ballista as required without a lengthy disassembly of the machine.
Even with the introduction of newer weapons such as cannons and mortars, ballistae still remain a somewhat relevant weapon on Udorian battlefields due to their relative simplicity in construction and effectiveness in combat.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Aboard the Brig- Maria
…
Donner shoved a cleaning mop down the barrel of a cannon and yanked it out.
Repeating the process once more, he changes the mop to another soaked in tar and lubricated the barrel with a single stroke.
Completing the process he had been drilled in over a thousand times, he tossed in a small sack of black powder and stuffed it down with the wooden rod.
Sweat trickled down his face as his partner lifted a six-pound cannonball wrapped in tar-soaked rags and dropped it down the barrel.
Ramming that in as well with his wooden mop, his partner primed the detonator.
Crouching to the side and stuffing his ears with his index fingers another explosion sounded and a cannonball flew out, smashing into the side of the enemy ship.
In a puff of billowing grey smoke, a flaming iron ball crashed into the wooden sides of the enemy ship flattening any unfortunate man in its path, starting the occasional fire and generally just causing chaos.
Without thinking Donner and his partner repeated the process.
They didn't aim. They didn't need to, the target was in point-blank range.
They didn't pause. They didn't need to, if they did they would probably die today.
They didn't know who the enemy was. They didn't need to, all they knew was that these were the enemy they were trained to defeat.
That was what the young master taught them.
There were very few things he did know, but the few he did, his comrades trusted him to do to his utmost best. If he didn't they would all probably die here today.
Unsurprisingly that was another thing Donner learnt from one of the young master's lessons
Cannonball after cannonball flew out towards the enemy, battering their vessel with reckless abandon.
But by the second shot, the enemy had also started adapting.
By the third, Maria and her sister ship, Tyline received the first taste of their own medicine.
Six cannonballs smashed into the sides of the Maria, one ramming through just a few meters to Donner's left.
Splinters flew and screams could be heard. Although Donner escaped just slightly startled, not everyone was so lucky.
One man aboard the Maria was killed and two more injured in just this first exchange, but thankfully the elaborate spacing amongst the artillery made it hard for the enemy to score a direct hit.
Donner glanced at the enemy ship and noticed some tried to jump overboard and swim ashore but they were quickly picked off by the ballistae in the distance.
Donner and his partner quickly reloaded and returned fire managing to set a portion of the enemy ship ablaze with incendiary ammunition. But the enemy also returns fire, luckily for them, one of the artillery crews made a mistake and a portion of the ship close to Donner's position caught on fire.
As per their training, they scrambled to put out the fire, containing the flame before it could spread out of control.
The enemy used the opportunity to fire again, somewhat ignoring the flames and only making an effort to put it out if it starts to get out of control.
The enemy cannonballs rammed into the sides of the maria, causing the smaller ship to buckle violently but fortunately, there were no casualties.
Of the eight cannons port side, the seven that remained functional returned fire immediately.
The enemy attempted to back out of the pier but the ballistae ashore were having none of that.
Switching to incendiary bolts, they fired at the sails, quickly setting them ablaze. The enemy's frantic escape ground to a screeching halt.
Looking around at the torn sides of the Maria mere meters away from his position fear gripped Donner and the impulse to escape arose in his heart.
But remembering the trust with which his comrades in the distance glanced at him, their nods of encouragement, not to mention the memory of Sir Carter's sadistic smile as he disciplined slackers flashing past his vision, he steeled his gaze and he tamped down that horrid feeling.
Quietly, he turned to his partner who was priming the detonator. Their eyes met and reflected each others' fear.
With a reassuring nod the soldier said.
"Don't worry, young master Levi said we will win this."
"Hmm." Donner nodded with sweat trickling down his face. Clenching his trembling fists, he replied.
"You are right, the young master almost never lies. We will win this, I am certain of that."
Plugging his ears Donner peeked as another flaming cannonball flew, smashing into the starboard side of the enemy ship.