Aim Small, Miss Small

[Garza]

Various weapons were going off. Blasters, Flechette, and even slug rounds. All being fired from weapons on a firing range that this company owned. Recently with the return of a man known only as Atheus, He had set up a small base of operations here on Hora. it was just a Firing range that had various lanes, and three buildings that were all joined together. One was an independent lab for the creation, study, and science behind the weapons that utilized the force. The second one that was hidden behind it was closed off from everyone except those given explicit permission from Atheus himself as to allow entry. Rumors were said that it was where he worked on special projects for himself and others. But it was not confirmed. The last building was the actual fabrication factory. Creating the Damascus blades, or parts needed for various weapons. Working here, I was told by some that you had to sign a waver that stated to not share any secrets with anyone, or you will be "dealt with."

I had to believe that considering I had to go through four checkpoints just to even look at one of the weapons I came to test on. In all truth, I came to learn more about this Atheus man, and what else I could learn from. Best way was to get into their ranks. So, I started as a volunteer. Allowed to fire the weapons and test them out.

After walking down the range, I was brought to a table in a wide open field. Literally there was nothing I could see "down range" Looking at the man who was leading me here, He smiled and with an open hand, gestured the weapon on the ground. It was a rather short sniper rifle. Not overly huge, and looked rather light. Getting down into the prone position, I put the butt of the rifle into my shoulder as the man spoke behind me.

"The weapon fires a very powerful slug. Reaches ranges up to sixteen hundred meters. You have two magazines, total of ten rounds to play with. Make sure that you have the safety off, and fire when ready."

Nodding my head, I looked down the sights. It was a scope with an easy 20X zoom. This weapon was meant to reach these ranges of 1600 meters with ease. If I could maybe flex myself with the force, I could maybe push it if I really tried and practiced with the weapon. For now though, I took aim. The distances was forever ways a way. Likely around a solid thousand meters instead of the max range. The grip felt really nice and comfortable. The shoulder stock was ergonomic. A slight bend in the padding of the buttstock for easier placement in the pocket that my shoulder made.

Taking aim, I breathed in and out easily. Finding the target to be a man-sized parchment hanging from a banister. Behind it looked to be some form of a brick wall. I had no clue how deep it was, or if it could withstand this kind of round. I closed my eyes for a moment, and set my cadence for my breathing. Opening my eyes, I found my NPA, or otherwise known as Natural Point of Aim. Finding it literally on the chest of the target, I took a rather light hold on the grip, and squeezed down on the trigger.

The boom of the slug breaking the sound barrier was very impressive. I could hear it echo even without having a whole lot of surfaces for the sound waves to bounce off of. What surprised me was the recoil. The butt dug into my shoulder in an instant. I felt so much pressure and force deliver into my arm, that my body was pushed back a good few centimeters. Looking down the scope, I adjusted my aim to see if there was a hole in the target. There was to my wishes. Looking at the hole, I could see the brick behind the paper was completely demolished. A hole that could fit half of my hand if I tried.

Yet, despite the pain and destruction of the brick, I turned to my side and looked behind me at the man. The smile on his face spread from ear to ear.

"She's called the Scout's eye for a reason darling. The aim of this weapon is to be able to shoot anything that you see in that scope. Be it 500 meters, or triple that, You can hit it."
"The queen kicks harder than anything I have felt."
"The simple slug has enough foot/lbs to pierce most armors. Anything less than a Exosuit built to take on this kind of weapon, is nothing but the paper you just shot. If you'd like, we can change the targets so you can see what it can do."
"Please do."

About two minutes later, the man got a call and was told the all clear for me to fire the weapon. At this distance, I couldn't quite make out what it was with my naked eye. Once I looked in the scope though, I could see a speeder's engine. The scope was detailed and with enough zoom that I could literally see the vibrations of the engine working. it was a functioning engine. Tilting my head, the man just smiled again and nodded his head.

Chuckling as I took aim, I went through the whole process again. Squeezing the trigger, The kick once more hit my shoulder, and I could almost watch as the bullet impacted the engine. The engine flopped over onto its side and shut down with parts flying from the impact. The weapon was so powerful not to break through armor, but for the purpose of only needing one shot to take down any target you had at that distance. It wasn't some special round. I even inspected them before I shot this second time. Simple slugs.

I had an audible laugh and hoop as the engine fell over. I got up from prone and knelt on the pad that the rifle was on. Spinning my arm around my shoulder to get the pain out, I shook my head. I liked this rifle already. And apparently there was more for me to see. I got a tap on my back. Turning around, I was given a special vest to wear that had padding over the shoulder that I was firing from. Zipping it up, I got down another time, and fired all the rest of the rounds into the engine. Making it at the very least move a few centimeters from it's spot. If I hit it on the top portion off the engine, I could almost get it to roll over again and again.

Once I was done, The man helped me up to stand and indicated for me to remove my hearing protection.

"There is more that this can do. Would you like to see?"
"Put a bullet in my head if I ever refuse that question Sir."

I got a hearty chuckle from him for that.

 

[Garza]

Reaching down, The man opened a bag. Inside was a barrel with just a very simple set of iron sights. No stock attached to it. As well as a few more magazines in the bag. Indicating he wanted the weapon, I handed it to him. With a few minutes time, the man had only taken off two screws from the weapon, removed the barrel, and action, with the scope attached, and placed in the new barrel. It was barely longer than the stock, and he then set in a new mag with significantly smaller rounds. Loading it in, the man released the bolt for the action, seating a round into the chamber, and then handing it to me. Safety was on while he handed it over, and then indicated for me to the firing range.

While he had done that, two men were down range setting up a target not 50 meters from me. Once both of the men reached us, he then yelled out for the all clear and for me to fire when ready. Taking aim while standing, I used the iron sights to place two rapid rounds into the head of the target. The kick was expected, and was much, much more comfortable than the sniper rounds. This felt like a light long ranged rifle. Smiling, I kept my aim true and rapid fired six more rounds down target. Getting most of them into a nice group, but nothing like precise aiming that any sniper should have. I was just shooting it to shoot it.

I chuckled as i brought it down into the ready position across my chest. The man coming over and indicating the target and speaking to me.

"This is the normal rifle configuration if you will. Uses close to the same rounds as any other slug rifle, just with a little more kick in it. The rifle is best for long ranges as you can tell, but with it's semi-auto fire rate, I wouldn't recommend using it on anyone closer than the target is to you now."
"Considering it's so light, is it made that way so its easier to carry the ammo and extra barrel?"
"One of the ideas yes. The other is that if you are a scout, or on a patrol, you don't want to be carrying a massive sniper rifle that weights more than all of the squads rifles combined. if we put these in a unit, we'd like for at least one of these put in every unit."
"What else can the puppy do?"

The man sighed. Looking over to the other two men there, and motioned for them to leave. Once they had left, he closed the gap between us and kept his voice low.

"This is just the prototype for the rifle. The finish product is supposed to be altered by the force."
"Do you have one I can test?"

The man sighed again. Nodding his head finally, he took the weapon from me, and then set it down next to the bag. Indicating for me to follow him, I did so. Walking back through the range and over to the building for the sciences, and study of the weapons. He opened the door with a keycard and then led me in. I was checked another three times just to get in here. But it was worth it. The hall was mostly brick with one side having windows thick enough that I doubt even the rifle I just fired could get through. It was built to withstand massive damage. It seemed Atheus almost expected this place to be attacked, or for something to blow up inside here. Looking through, he pointed at a man in a full body suit that was more along the lines of a hazmat gear.

"He's our head on the Scouts eye project. Atheus is the one who makes all the ideas. And he turns them into a reality."
"Wait, so Atheus almost hand crafts all of these on his own, just that the rest of the process after the prototype is done by the science team?"
"Pretty much. The Prototype will be the one that Atheus made."
"Where is it?"
"Follow."

A few steps behind him, I watched as many of the people through the glass were working on whatever it was. Almost mad scientist like. It made my body get goosebumps and my heart beat quicken. Just to see all of this just started by one man alone? Quite the job. Either way, as we finally passed all of them, we came to an armory. Inside were various armors, weapons, and otherwise gear that could be used and tested on. Going all the way to the back, the man produced a keycard once more, opened it, and then had an eye and finger print scan. Opening a single safe that held only two swords, some side arms, and the rifle I had seen earlier.

Pulling out the rifle, he handed it to me. As soon as I touched it, I could feel almost as though I got tunnel vision on the sniper rifle. All of my focus was pulled to the weapon. I felt that concentration break when the man touched my shoulder. Speaking to me.

"It's been altered by the force. What you are feeling is like a sniper's trance as we call it here. Atheus calls it something else. Emptiness I think? The mind just clears and you can focus upon whatever you happen to focus on. Go ahead and aim down the sights down this hall. Focus on aiming."

Doing so as he told me, I aimed it up and found my aim quicker than I thought possible. Almost as though I could do this a thousand times over. The gun felt almost weightless in my hands, and the door to the outside was so clear in my vision. I felt like I was standing right next to the door. I felt amazing to feel this connection. But then I snapped out of it with the man touching me.

"Why are you-"
"Touching you? The effect the weapon has can make it difficult for others to deal with the surroundings that are near them. Your focus is dragged to what you concentrate on. So if you can learn to shift the focus from the scope to your surroundings, you can do a whole heck of a lot with it. But it's rather easy to break it. Just a loud sound or someone touching you can break it."
"So will the gun going off take me out of the focus?"
"Yes and no. If you allow it to, then yes. it can take you out. But the nice thing, is that the gun itself won't take you out of it if you concentrate hard enough. But someone else firing a shot near you? Absolutely."
"That's really interesting. So this weapon is going to be built for very long range encounters, and to make sure that if they fire the weapon, they won't just miss because of the wind or crickets cherping right?"
"Pretty much. There is more to it though."
"Pray Tell."

The man took the rifle from me and placed it back into the safe. Closing it up, I could hear a beeping sound followed by various locks fall into place. Security was out of the ass here. Leading me out of the room, and down an adjacent hallway, He brought me to a firing range. Indoors, it was barely 20 meters. However, Bringing the scope to me, I looked down just a scope. Nothing else.

I could see the targets that were there. Clear as day. I could hear his voice come from behind me.

"Stay focused on the targets."

A second later, fog started to roll in. Likely some fog machine in the side of the wall, but an easy thirty seconds was all that it took for the targets to have an outline that I could see. It was kind of like nightvision.

"Nightvision scope?"
"Yeah. With a zoom of 20 on this, you can see through any kind of fog or gas out there. Only the most dense of fogs can you not see through."
"Howcome?"
"Want to make sure you can see through just about everything. We want to be able to see through walls and stuff, but haven't found a way yet."
"haven't found a way?"
"don't know what to do. Thermal only goes so far. Some gasses can block out nighvision if they are dense enough."
"Why not the force?"
"Context?"
"There is an ability called Force sight. Blind species around the galaxy can use this ability to see. Sometimes even through walls. If it can see through walls, then it can go through smoke. Since you have the rifle already altered, why not just alter the scope as well?"
"I just oversee operations. I don't make the weapons darling, but that is a good idea. "

Rubbing his chin, the man smiled and then motioned for me to follow him.

"Feel like changing the world?"

 

[Garza]

I was utterly confused by the man's actions. Asking me if I wanted to change the world. It then dawned on me what I said. My false ID marked me as a woman from Attika. Working for a company that was based right between the two cities of Makrosia, and Spathi. Now I understood. Smiling, and nodding my head, I followed the man as he indicated back down the hall way, and out of the laboratory. We walked across the distance to the smaller building that was supposed to be reserved for Atheus and those he allowed. Yet as we walked up, The guards started to prevent us.

"Can't let the lass go through."
"She is with me, and I am allowed to go through."
"Yes, you may enter, but she cannot."
"I wish to speak with Atheus about a weapon he is creating. This 'Lass' as you put it, has an idea that could aid his company."
"Atheus is not here, thus there is no reason for you to bring her."
"I spoke to him not even a half an hour ago. I know he is still here."

The guard was getting fed up with this. Reaching down, he pressed a button. A small chirp went out. The doors opened and he let us pass. Almost the exact same process happened another time at the door to the facility. Once we were inside, he led me through various rooms. And finally to a holoprojector. Turning it on, it took a moment before a voice came over the line.

"What is your need Foreman?"
"I have someone who wishes to speak to you."
"I am dealing with much. If this is a waste of my time-"
"If it is, then you can take it out of my hide. I promise it's not a waste."
"Name, and reason for speaking to me."

I took a second because I thought he was speaking to the foreman again. Instead he had his ears to me. Speaking up, I answered.

"Eris of Attika. I was hired on today and learned of your prototype sniper. The foreman explained the difficulty you were having with trying to see through smoke due to limitations. If you are altering the weapon with the force, why not alter the scope as well with Force Sight?"

There were a few seconds of silence. I looked over to the foreman. He shook his head that he was not going to answer. It was so quite I could hear our breathing in the room. I felt as though a Ghost had just came and went. Yet with a voice of Atheus speaking up again, I shook at the suddenness of the voice.

"Let it be done. Eris, you will be allowed to aid with the project, and see yourself added to the Management other projects. The foreman will make sure you get the right badges and equipment for each job. Welcome to the company."

With that, the call was over. The foreman looked over to me entirely surprised. He didn't expect me to get any praise for my idea it seemed. As though it were a longshot. I smiled at him with a shrug of my shoulders. Looks like getting into here was easier for me than I expected. Now, it was time to implement the job.

 

[Garza]

It has been about a month now of working to create this scope. Currently, I lay prone firing the weapon time and time again. Letting the recoil hit my shoulder without any padding. Much like someone would bang their head against a wall. Instead of losing brain cells doing that, I decided to my my entire right shoulder go numb. Trying to come up with any way to combine the two, the rifle and the scope, to work together.

The current version barely had any form of sight. It was a normal scope, but you just saw outlines of people through smoke, We couldn't reach the effectiveness of reaching beyond walls. It was almost there. I could see the target. I couldn't see the one that was behind a simple plank of wood. Outline of wood? sure. Target? no. It infuriated me. Three more shots down range into the target I could see. I was getting much better at firing this weapon. However, my shoulder wanted to take a rest. With the foreman kicking my boot, he grabbed my attention quickly.

I stopped firing, put the safety on, and turned over to my back to look up at him, The man shook his head as he came to kneel down next to me.

"We have a week to finish it, or we lose funds."

I shook my head. Atheus wanted results. If you didn't show results, you were gone. It made me worry about my position not because it was a job, but I was trying to learn more about Atheus and his company. Taking this in stride, I rolled back over, and loaded a new mag of the rounds. Firing all of them. My shoulder couldn't feel anything else. The rest of my body felt the jerking of the recoil, but my shoulder was long numb. We had gone over combining the scope and the rifle as one. The problem is that it would meld the two abilities and mess up the rifle. Made it feel unbalanced within the force. Then separately. If we tried the two, it still felt weird. Even more so with the two "artifacts" fighting each other for the dominate ability.

That is when it hit me. Literally as I was shooting down range.

They need to be made and crafted together, but alchemised separately. I thought of it like best friends. Together, working well, around the same ideals and thoughts, but were born into different families. The gun and scope working together, but created from different people. Smiling like a child with candy, I started to run to the shop. Stopped half way, came back to pick up the rifle and the bag and scope, then ran back to come up to the foreman with good news.