Crackling Gun

[Taeli Raaf]

Jabiim System
Aurora Industries Weapon Facility

The six Sianium power cells had arrived safely at the weapon facility on Jabiim, the site chosen to be the development area for the next stage of Project Galvani. The Chief Engineer of the site, a Columi known as Jhori Qrefi, was anxious to start the development of the new weapon. He was a gifted engineer and scientist, as most Columi were due to their species' high mental capacity, and he had already gone through several different types of designs in his head once he had received Taeli's message.

A blaster rifle was ultimately what he had decided upon, something that would stand out from the rest of the crowded weapon's market. The Sianium cell was a good start as the Columi had also run mental projections on what each design he came up with could do, based on the cell's ability to increase the power of a weapon by a multitude of three.

A hypothesis of his was that the increased power would mean lower ammo count and drain a gas cartridge faster, but such were trade offs and all that.

"Ah, finally," he said, maneuvering his hoverchair closer to the escort carrying the case. One of his chair's arms reached out and took the case from the Aurora security man. "We can finally start!"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Rubbing his hands together in glee, Qrefi began the final draw up of the design he wanted. It was going to be a multi-weapon platform, similar in design to an old weapon used by Republic commandos from days long gone. The old DC-17m had been a marvel of engineering at the time, having the ability to switch between different configurations for the job at hand.

Qrefi wasn't interested in incorporating some of the functionalities of that weapon, but it was the start point for him. The Sianium cells that had been delivered would be the centerpiece of a new era of weapons, with him being the chief architect. He was getting giddy just thinking about it, but he alone would do the designing. The rest of his people would put it together.

"First, the Sianium power cell," he said, adding it into the holographic display in front of him. "Oh yes, so much potential in you my little friend. So much."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Next, gas canister receptacle," Qrefi said, spinning the barebones model in front of him and adding in the where the gas canister would go. He knew that the canister would be depleted faster with the Sianium cell powering the blaster, but he had plans to use that to at least their advantage in the multiple fire modes he wanted in the weapon system.

"Hmm, power shot ... deplete all of the gas canister for a shot able to punch through even stronger substances," he mumbled to himself, contemplating the idea.

"Incorporate sniper module," he continued to mumble, building off his previous comment. "Oh yes, yes yes yes."

Listing that into what he wanted, he continued to work on the 3-D model in front of him. A message came up saying that once the model was ready, the team was all set to begin building the first prototype.

"Soon, very soon."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Sniper mode produces one powerful shot, completely depleting a gas canister, but that one shot will have all the power the rifle has to offer," he noted, adding in the sniper module onto the design. Doing so, he also added a spot where both a scope and mount could be added to the rifle if a user needed it. Slightly longer barrel than originally planned, would increase weight... unless...

"Longer barrel for sniper mode as added module," he concluded. Every time one of the new weapons was shipped, it would include the longer barrel that would affix right onto the main part of the weapon easily. Yes, that would work.

Spinning the weapon around, he continued to think about what he wanted to add to it.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Full blaster rifle mode," he said, adding in the needed components. "Rapid fire, able to fire two hundred and fifty bolts before canister is depleted and needing to be exchanged. Rate of fire? Hmm rate of fire should be high in this mode, estimating ... sixty rounds per minute minimum. Range?"

He sat back in his hoverchair for a moment, going over the ranges in his brain. Blaster rifle mode, meaning standard mode, would have effective ranges topping out at 450 meters, possibly less? Yes less, maxing out at 400 he calculated. Sniper mode, much longer ranges. Hmm perhaps... one thousand two hundred meters. Yes, but that was maximum range.

"Inaccuracy after those," he said, making a note of it. He also made a note about potential overheating issues if a constant stream of blaster bolts was kept up, which could in turn cause the Sianium power cell to become unstable.

"Hmm... ah yes," he said, adding in a semi-automatic burst option in the blaster rifle mode. Same two hundred and fifty shot maximum before switching canisters, but only firing bolts in three round bursts.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Disruptor mode?" he queried to himself, pondering the idea. Another add on module, much like the sniper mode. Yes, easier that way. Hmm thirty shots before canister reload, but powerful energy streams using Sianium power. Oh yes, that appealed to him nicely. Legal? That was a gray area, but he had little tolerance for legality when it came to his precious weapon designs.

"Keep secluded, only interested parties would know about the disruptor attachment," he mused. In this time of war, not many would be picky about something some nations outlawed for the ability to disintegrate. War was war, and was a weapon designer's delight.

"Maximum range in this mode, one hundred meters ... no eighty meters due to disruptor beams fizzling at long range," he said, noting the limitation of that mode.

With that done though, he would send finish up the design now.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Easy gas canister access," he mumbled, knowing it needed to be added in. A good soldier would be able to switch out a canister no problem in a firefight, needed to be able to. A quick eject system for a spent canister so the soldier did not need to waste precious time in fumbling with the gas canister.

"Added," he proclaimed, chuckling as he continued to tweak the stock and other components of the rifle. Yes, the first of his new babies. He was quite proud, but he would be improving ... tweaking ... even as this model would begin production and see use.

"Sending," he hummed, sending the designs to the team down below to begin the fabrication of the first prototype. He made sure to convey his wishes about the modules and they must be tested ... oh yes, tested thoroughly. Miss Raaf and Mister Jaxson would tolerate failure on his part, oh no no no.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"As you can see, it turned out quite well," the lead builder said, placing the completed prototype onto the table in front of the Columi. "The weapon attachments have been finished, it's all ready for testing sir."

"It needs a name, a strong name ... something to harken back to the old days," Qrefi mused, running his hands along the new weapon. Hmm yes that was it, a lovely name. "Let us call it the AI-321m Heavy Weapon System ... the "BurstStreak" ... such a good name, don't you think?"

"It is a good name sir," the lead builder replied, looking at the somewhat crazy in his opinion chief designer. He supposed someone needed to be a little crazy to design weapons like this. Still, there was something off about the Columi that always set him on edge. "We've got the shooting gallery all set up, just need to install the power cell and load a gas canister in."

"Yes, test each mode," Qrefi exclaimed, moving over to remove one of the six Sianium power cells he was keeping in his office. They weren't safe elsewhere, not yet. He only trusted himself in keeping the cells safe, until more arrived ... hmm they might need to upgrade security.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Here we go," a team member mumbled as one of Aurora security's men took up his position at the testing range. Various targets had been set up, some behind cover, some visible. All would require the man to switch between different fire modes and attachments. The team wanted to see how fast it would take a trained soldier to switch things around.

Plenty of gas canisters were on hand, within easy reach, even if that wasn't a true test of a combat situation.

"Commencing test," Qrefi exclaimed, clapping his hands in glee as shields went up and the man quickly placed the sniper attachment onto the end of the rifle. The team made a note of at least placing an iron sights or red dot sight to the top that could be folded down so aiming could be done without a scope.

A green bolt of sizzling energy lanced out of the BurstStreak, burning right through the duracrete one target was hiding behind, the target being blown backward by the force of the bolt hitting it. Confirmed kill, and with a distinctive ping, the gas canister was ejected.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Sniping test concluding," an engineer stated as the last long range target, one at 1200 meters was blasted by a green bolt of energy. Another distinct ping, hmm that would cause an enemy to know when a canister was depleted and the soldier needed to reload. They could always... no the quick eject must remain in place, the ping would just need to be something everyone lived with.

"Burst fire," and down below, the shooter began opening up with limited bursts of green energy bolts on closer targets, going though his clip and taking down targets that were moving now. They weren't firing back yet, but that was in the plans for the final part of testing. Once the soldier went through a clip of burst fire, he switched the weapon over to full automatic and unloaded a whole clip within just a few minutes.

"Disruptor test!" Qrefi exclaimed as the man quickly attached the disruptor module to the front of the weapon after loading a new gas canister in. "Have the bots fire stun bolts!"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

The bolts of green disruptor energy, much slower firing as he only had thirty shots before the reload, began to hit targets, or in some cases, the cover they were behind. Red stun bolts flew at the soldier's position, but he didn't pay them much mind while he took out each and every droid in the target zone.

"Testing complete, need to do some readings on the weapon itself," the lead builder said. "Modules need to be exmained and the shooter's timing needs to be evaluated."

"Yes, all of that needs to be done," Qrefi said, his eyes riveted on the prototype the Aurora security man was setting down and allowing the engineers to take. "Oh yes, we must begin production and I must contact Miss Raaf and Mister Jaxson about this."

The Columi hovered away to his office, while the rest of the team looked at each other and shrugged about their eccentric boss. The Columi had a few bolts loose in the head, but he was quite good at designing his weapons after all.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"All data uploaded to you, as requested," Qrefi said to the two holoimages of his bosses. Taeli had her datapad in hand as she observed the footage, the readings, the timings. Everything was within acceptable parameters to her. Jaxson concurred with her assessment, although he did have reservations about the disruptor module.

"We need to limit how many can access the disruptor module," he said after the conversation steered towards that. "Only trusted clients should be able to get them."

"Agreed, but Qrefi, you may begin the production of the BurstStreak in full," Taeli said. "Well done, and I hope we see more coming out of your facility soon. The team on Taris missed their last check-in, so I'm worried about them."

"We will begin at once!" Qrefi exclaimed happily, relaying the order as the holoimages winked out.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Several days later, Qrefi was hovering around the production floor, slightly irked as only a few dozen Sianium cells had reached him so far. Supply concerns as the transports needed for the secure routes weren't ready yet. Still, they had enough BurstStreaks built to equip a small force for a further field test.

A local militia group had rebelled against the government and had set up just a few klicks from the Aurora facility. They probably aimed to attack the Aurora facilities to secure materials, weapons, droids, etc. Well, they would be in for a nasty surprise as Qrefi had ordered all security personnel to be equipped with the BurstStreaks in the place.

"Sir, the locals are beginning their advance," the security chief said. A small sensor grid had been established around the facility so they exactly where the enemy was. Poor locals, but new test targets. Qrefi wasn't going to complain, oh no no no.

"Wipe them out, record the results for study!"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

The battle was swift but brutal. The local insurgents had bee slightly better equipped already, but they had been no match for anything at the Aurora facility. Qrefi wondered why they had even tried, but he didn't mind. His weapons worked their magic, wiping out many of the enemy and working well for the soldiers when they needed to switch modules or new gas canister.

The ping had been used by the enemy to know when it was safe to fire on a position, but the security forces had known to keep several firing lines alternating their fire to keep their comrades safe if they were in a reload situation. A few men had been killed, including one who had almost allowed his weapon to fall into insurgent hands.

Qrefi had not been amused by that, and had immediately ordered that it be retrieved before it was taken too far by the retreating insurgents. Droids and security men on speeder bikes had tracked down and killed the insurgents, recovering the stolen BurstStreak. Qrefi wouldn't allow his precious weapons in the hands of such barbarians as the insurgents were to his mind.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Sir, message from Miss Raaf," a security officer said, a few days after the battle. More weapons had been made, the cell supply issue seemed to be almost solved as the second refinement site was scheduled to be under way. That was good for him, he could make far more now as plenty of cells had begun to arrive.

"Miss Raaf is requesting we send all available BurstStreaks to Taris, apparently a response force has been gathered to find the missing survey team."

"Another test, oh yes, we shall send enough to equip the whole force!"

He would want the results sent back to him, but he was quite optimistic about what he might hear. His precious BurstStreak would do wonders against almost everything, especially things that weren't equipped for modern warfare. Oh yes, yes indeed.