What can we look at here that we'd like to get real close to?

We haven't looked at the laser beam yet.

When the laser beam activates, these side pieces that were not in the hologram model will open up. They are part of the laser beam, in order to become part of the target. Ideally, they are the radiators of the laser beam itself.

With something so massive, we need justification for why it doesn't just overheat. In addition, it adds a targetable aspect to the actual laser beam, because obviously once you start peeling back the defenses, it gives a nice area to target to try and knock that out, because I imagine if you're targeting the ship, you're going to want to knock the beam out.