M E A T B A G
"Not all are judged equally under the gaze of the Sun, come, taste its glory!"
DESIGNER'S NOTE: Just because the weapon is capable of melting armour plating with sustained beams, it does not grant the user the ability to call hits during a Collaborative PvP scenario, as that is - and will forever be - up to the person calling the damage on their characters. Be they NPC's or PC's.
Intent: To create a powerful squad support weapon for the Thyrsian Sun Guards of the Golden Company.
Image Source: Halo Wiki | Z-130 Directed Energy Automatic Weapon [x.] (Mechanical Weapon Skin.)
Canon Link: Not Applicable.
Primary Source: Repurposed Canon Articles, Solar Ionization Cannon, Synthetic Starburst Crystals.
Manufacturer: The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy. (Select, and Contracted Foundries.)
Model: VW-02 “Icarus” - Pattern Solar Ionization Rifle.
Affiliation: The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy, Closed-Market.
Modularity: Yes; Exterior Attachments, Decorative Casing.
Production: Minor-scale Production.
Material: Durasteel, Reinforced Duraplast, Agrinium, Synthetic Starburst Crystal, Myoflex, Various Blaster and Composite Laser Components.
Classification: Sustained Solar Ionization Rifle, Exotic Weapon.
Size: Large Rating. (Including the Backpack-mounted Generator.)
Length: 2.8 Feet, or 34 Inches (Excluding Generator.)
Weight: Heavy Rating. (Including the Backpack-mounted Generator.)
Ammunition Type: Tibanna Gas Canister (Plasma Spun); Rechargeable Blaster-Grade, Rylith Crystal-enhanced Plasma Cartridge(s); or, Rechargeable Blaster-Grade, Rylith Crystal-enhanced Power Cell(s); or, Backpack-mounted Rylith Crystal-enhanced Generator (With Solar Ionization conversion module and retractable Solar Collection panels.)
Ammunition Capacity: 30 Beams per Power Cell, 120 Beams per Plasma Cartridge, Theoretically Unlimited with Solar Generator (Ideal Conditions), or ~400 Beams per Solar Generator Charge (Non-ideal Conditions.)
Reload Speed: Slow Rating.
Effective Range: Average Rating.
Optimum Effective Range: 150 Metres.
Maximum Effective Range: 300 Metres.
Rate of Fire: Very Low Rating. [One to Ten second Beam, with a Corresponding Cool-down period.]
Stopping Power: Very High Rating.
Recoil: High Rating.
STANDARD FEATURES
- Adjustable Textured Foregrip.
- Gription Magnatomic Grips
- Ambidextrous Power Cell and Plasma Cartridge Release and Housing.
- Myoflex Heatsinks and Cooling Coils.
- Thumbhole Fixed Stock with Vibrating Ammunition Pulser.
- Underslung and Over Barrel Picatinny Rail(s).
- Integrated “Crimson Dot” Sight. (Infra-red Laser.)
- Automated and Wireless HUD Uplink Module.
- Reinforced Duraplast Focusing Iris.
- Anti-Ion Mesh and Reinforced Duraplast Casing.
- Retractable Solar Ionization Panel(s). (Supplementary and Integrated Recharge Station.)
- Synthetic Starburst Crystal, with Rylith Crystal-enhanced Power Sources (Shield Bypassing Weaponry.)
- Pseudo-Disruptor: Due to the intrinsic capabilities of a Solar Ionization weapon, the beam - when fired - was able to bypass conventional deflector shields and strike the target protected beneath. While the starship-grade cannons were able to melt durasteel in a single shot, the portable variant required a variable measure of time in order to superheat the metallic surface particle beam struck against. However, despite this drawback, when at full capacity, the beam was able to forcibly change the target’s state of matter in a similar method to that of a disruptor. Although, unlike a disruptor, the process isn’t instant, nor is it humane, as the target (materials depending) has the possibility of bursting into flames, before becoming wind swept ash.
- Ionic Resistance: While the insulating materials integrated into the design of the VW-02 granted the weapon an innate resistance against ionized discharges and electromagnetic pulses, it wasn’t an immunity. The “Icarus” was still susceptible to having its defences overwhelmed, should the disabling detonation occur within a close proximity of the weaponized apparatus, and was sufficient enough to forcibly interrupt the rifle's automated operation. If this eventuality comes to pass, the weapon would be rendered inoperable as the onboard systems would require a manual reboot, before being able to unleash the fury of the Sun once again. (Example: Close-Proximity Ion/EMP Grenades, Etc.)
- Power Consumptive: As a sustained beam of any type requires a consistent source of energy to both maintain the arcing magnetic field, and constantly convert the Tibanna gas into superheated plasma, the VW-02 swiftly depletes any power cell or plasma cartridge that’s slammed into its casing. Thus, with any standard font of power, its production capability was vastly reduced to compensate for the sustained generation of the flickering beam, which often meant that this weapon would be rendered useless in short order. However, with that being said, this weakness could be marginally offset by attaching a specialized generator to the induction port of the weapon. Although, this came at the risk of rapidly overheating the weapon, more so than it would with standard energy cells, which would fuse the interior mechanisms and render the weapon utterly inoperable.
- Solar-Based Weaponry: While the power offered by the Solar Ionization Cannons were extraordinary, there were several requirements in which to fully utilize its lethal potential. The first and the most important thing that was needed was a specialized generator that could be recharged and store Solar energy. This meant that the weapon was most effective when deployed in environments that had ample access to such radiant energy, and was at its least effective when deployed in areas deprived of the local Stars embrace. When employed in the sunless territories, the weapon would rapidly deplete the energy within the specialized generator and be rendered utterly useless after the energy had been spent. It would be unable to produce a coherent beam of energy until the generator was fully-recharged, and would leave the operator with quite the burden until that process was complete. (Note: The ionization conversion of solar radiation is not a process that instantly occurs, and thus would take several minutes to regain its optimum levels.)
- Sustained Ramp-up: As the VW-02 is a scaled down variant of the deadly Solar Ionization cannon, much of its killing power was diluted when the portable version was created. While this had led the Guild to design the weapon to be similar in operation to that of a composite beam-laser, it required a significant build-up in order to reach optimal firing levels. This meant that the target in question had to remain under the beam’s hateful gaze for several seconds in order for the spear of solar energy to melt personal armour-grade durasteel. If the target remains stationary or has the operator’s focus, the beam would be able to superheat the metallic material on the atomic level and essentially break their covalent bonds - rendering the target’s surface a molten wreck or perhaps an ashen revenant. As one can imagine, despite the deadly properties of the weapon, the intended target would be able to break the beam’s line of sight and effectively redirect the Sun’s fury onto someone, or something else.
- Rapid Overheating: While having a consistent wellspring of power was important to generate the coherent beam of lethal energy, it also brought with it the incredible dangers of overheating. Although there were measures put in place to safely dissipate the heat generated by channelling the personified fury of the Sun, it was more than possible for the Operator to overheat the weapon in an attempt to melt a large, or resilient target. Should this happen, the weapon would be rendered inoperable for a period of time, while the automated cooling process vents the excess heat and attempts to restore the optimal levels required for operation. With that being said, the safety protocols can be overridden at great risk to the bearer of the VW-02 and allow for the weapon to continue firing. However, should that eventuality come to pass, it comes with an ever-increasing risk of turning the entire weapon into molten slag, and/or spontaneously combusting - burning to death as their hubris engulfs them in the Sun’s uncaring glare.
In the aftermath of the Order’s invasion of Sector L-49, the Golden Company had found itself bathed in the riches of yet another successful contract. With the small fortune they had garnered, the Artificers within the Guild of Armourers had been commissioned to create a new, and powerful weapon for the Sun Guard’s arsenal to combat their foes. While the Fatebringer had been a marvel of technical engineering, it wasn’t enough to counteract the vastly growing list of enemies that the Sun Guards had acquired in their short, meteoric rise towards reclaiming their nigh-mythical legacy. Thus, the Guild had decided to look into their past to find something that would help define the Organization’s future in the missions, and contracts to come. The VW-02 “Icarus” Pattern Solar Particle Rifle was the fruits of their laborious endeavour and would provide the Sun Guard with an exotic counter to conventionally shielded targets.
Designed as a beam variant of the solarized plasma weapons, the VW-02 was able to retain the original weapon’s lethality, despite some operational setbacks, and create another man-portable platform for use on the battlefield. However, this came at a cost, as the initial beams produced by the weapon were unable to generate the same effect as their larger cousins without some method of gradually increasing the particle bolt’s power. As the man-portable version would be nothing more than a supercharged - shield bypassing blaster, which was not the intent behind creating such a devastating support weapon. To this end, the Guild devised a module which would allow the beam to be sustained over great distances, in a similar manner to a composite beam weapon, allowing for the miniature version to eventually reach the lethal level of the original.
Due to the power required to sustain such a deadly spear of solar energy; the effective battlefield range of a starship or vehicle mounted cannon was significantly reduced to be on par with that of an E-11, fresh off the foundry’s production lines - as it was almost impossible to mount a vehicle’s reactor on an infantryman. While it was still able to operate with the standard power cell or plasma cartridge, the VW-02 would greedily suck the energy pack dry and demand more in short order. Making it more cost-effective, as well as, being of use on the battlefield to be hooked up to a generator equipped with the solar conversion module. This would permit the creation of a theoretically unlimited amount of beams, provided the ideal battlefield conditions were met and the generator was consistently being recharged during operation. If the battlefield conditions were obscured or were the furthest thing from ideal, a single backpack mounted generator would be able to produce roughly four hundred coherent beams before utterly depleting the charge.
With the automated safety protocols integrated into the weapon, the "Icarus" wouldn’t be able to generate a sustained beam for no longer than ten seconds, as to go past that threshold would overheat the entire apparatus and lead towards a serious malfunction. Due to the nature of the weapon, the longer the beam remained on the target, the more damage it would inflict as it would super-heat the targeted surface, leaving nothing but molten slag in its wake. While the damage done would entirely vary, depending on the material that was taking the brunt of the sustained beam, it was dangerous to remain in the path of the projected beam for any prolonged length of time. Although there is the function to disable the safety precautions, it is highly advised that an operator does not follow through with such an action, as that would be putting their lives at serious risk for marginal, if not minimal gain. Should the heating coils be overwhelmed in the attempt to keep the sustained beam firing, there is an increased potential of the weapon’s lethality being turned against the Operator, spontaneously combusting the entire apparatus and burning them to death in a manner of seconds.
As the initially generated beam adopts a lance-like visage at first, the longer it’s cohesion is held together by the projected magnetic field, the more and more the beam suffers to the natural movements of the physical body. Which in turn, creates an unintended wave-like effect that progressively grows worse the more protracted the generation process becomes, meaning that it was more than possible for smaller targets at longer ranges finding themselves safe from harm - as the beam arc’s with the natural sway of the operator’s body and lashes itself against another and possibly accidental object instead. While this mattered little when deployed on the battlefield, it was highly recommended that the operator remain stationary during the firing process, so that the beam would not haphazardly strike an object that wasn’t intended to be burned under the fury of the Sun’s gaze.
Despite these dangers, the VW-02 "Icarus" seeks to be a capable, and deadly addition to the Golden Company’s arsenal.
Modification Summary:
- Changed the submission name to better suit it's capabilities.
- Swapped out primary image to match newfound Thyrsian aesthetic, and replaced the image source.
- Dropped production down from limited to minor, accounting for the change in regime and template updates.
- Condensed materials, and hyperlinked them to their respective wookieepedia pages.
- Altered Standard and Special Features to account for the changes in materials.
- Changed some wording in the description to account for the changes in materials.
- Moved the disclaimer to the top of the submission.
