<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100">
  <defs>
    <!-- Darker navy top, vibrant purple bottom -->
    <linearGradient id="shieldGrad" x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="1">
      <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#12187a" />
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#8b25f0" />
    </linearGradient>

    <!-- Subtle 3D highlight -->
    <radialGradient id="shieldHighlight" cx="30%" cy="20%" r="60%">
      <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="0.15"/>
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="0"/>
    </radialGradient>

    <!-- Horizontal fade for the laser core so edges aren't too bright -->
    <linearGradient id="flareFade" x1="0" y1="0" x2="1" y2="0">
      <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="0" />
      <stop offset="15%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="0.1" />
      <stop offset="40%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="0.9" />
      <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="1" />
      <stop offset="60%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="0.9" />
      <stop offset="85%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="0.1" />
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#ffffff" stop-opacity="0" />
    </linearGradient>

    <!-- Glow filters for the laser -->
    <filter id="glowDeep" x="-50%" y="-500%" width="200%" height="1100%">
      <feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="4"/>
    </filter>
    <filter id="glowSharp" x="-50%" y="-500%" width="200%" height="1100%">
      <feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="1.5"/>
    </filter>
  </defs>

  <!-- Shield Background with tightly rounded corners and concave sweeping top -->
  <path d="M 20 50 
           L 20 30 
           Q 20 26 24 25 
           Q 36 22 50 14 
           Q 64 22 76 25 
           Q 80 26 80 30 
           L 80 50 
           Q 80 84 50 96 
           Q 20 84 20 50 Z" 
        fill="url(#shieldGrad)" />
        
  <!-- Shield 3D Highlight -->
  <path d="M 20 50 
           L 20 30 
           Q 20 26 24 25 
           Q 36 22 50 14 
           Q 64 22 76 25 
           Q 80 26 80 30 
           L 80 50 
           Q 80 84 50 96 
           Q 20 84 20 50 Z" 
        fill="url(#shieldHighlight)" />

  <!-- The A (Thin, wide stance) -->
  <polygon points="50,26 30,76 36,76 50,41 64,76 70,76" fill="#ffffff" />

  <!-- Laser Spark Glows -->
  <!-- Wide, faint cyan aura -->
  <ellipse cx="50" cy="62" rx="30" ry="4" fill="#00ffff" opacity="0.6" filter="url(#glowDeep)" />
  <!-- Tighter, brighter cyan core glow -->
  <ellipse cx="50" cy="62" rx="18" ry="1.5" fill="#00ffff" filter="url(#glowSharp)" />
  <!-- Intense cyan halo for the center spark -->
  <ellipse cx="50" cy="62" rx="6" ry="2.5" fill="#00ffff" filter="url(#glowSharp)" />
  
  <!-- Optical Flare White Core -->
  <!-- Longest, thinnest needle fading out at edges -->
  <ellipse cx="50" cy="62" rx="28" ry="0.4" fill="url(#flareFade)" />
  <!-- Mid-length bright flare fading out at edges -->
  <ellipse cx="50" cy="62" rx="14" ry="0.7" fill="url(#flareFade)" />
  <!-- Solid white center hotspot -->
  <ellipse cx="50" cy="62" rx="3" ry="1.4" fill="#ffffff" />

</svg>