Defense Cannon

The Defense Cannon in action.

The Defense Cannon is a planetary armament seen at Base Sector Zero on Norion in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. The model likely exists in other Galactic Federation strongholds as well.

The Defense Cannon fires a piercing blue laser at a satellite in space orbiting Norion, which then reflects off four panels into a final dish, from which a swirling orange laser is projected. The laser moves to incapacitate a target before it can impact the planet. The cannon is powered by three Fedtech Plasma Generators, Generator A, Generator B, and Generator C, all of which are knocked offline when the Space Pirates attack Norion. Without them, the cannon is unable to be fired to destroy the Leviathan Seed aimed at Norion. Samus Aran, Gandrayda, Ghor, and Rundas are ordered to Norion to reactivate the generators, but Ghor ends up holding off enemies for Samus, while Gandrayda states that "machines aren't my thing", leaving Samus to reactivate Generator A while Rundas reactivates B. After a battle with Meta Ridley, Samus reactivates Generator C as well, then rushes back to the Cargo Hub, barely joining the other hunters on the elevator up to the Control Tower.

Samus begins attempting to fire the Defense Cannon, but Dark Samus ambushes the Bounty Hunters, leaving them crippled. Before losing consciousness, Samus manages to force herself to press the activation button, destroying the seed.

Development notes

The scene where the Defense Cannon is fired into space and redirected toward the Leviathan was animated by Carlos Mendieta.

Trivia

• The Defense Cannon appears to collect planetary energy in a manner similar to Aether's planetary Energy Controllers. It is possible that the Luminoth aided the Galactic Federation in the development of the Defense Cannon.
  • Coincidentally, both the Defense Cannon and the Main Energy Controller are powered by three energy sources; three generators to activate the former, and three planetary energies to both activate the light transportation system and create the Light Suit for the latter.

Gallery

Samus reactivates the Defense Cannon.

The Defense Cannon fires into space.

The Defense Cannon hits the satellite.