A24 Glancing

== Overview ==
The A24 Glancing is a 12.5mm x 62mm intermediate caliber bullpup marksman's rifle and is the current iteration in use by the Iron Horde. It features a piezo-electric ignition system, as well as a novel rotary cycling design, which is said to reduce recoil and improve weapon stability by moving weight to the rear of the rifle and redirecting felt recoil. It was developed in Y4056 by the Iron Ordinance Department in order to equip its soldiers for long range combat. After the defeat of Wian's Wrath, remaining rebel elements fled to remote areas of the Biryanis Mountain Range, conducting terrorist operations for years after. The Glancing proved very effective at engaging these dug-in targets from long ranges while being rugged enough to weather the harsh mountain conditions. 
=== History ===
In early Y4054, the Iron Ordinance department under the command of Quartermaster Elijah Cheever issued a solicitation for a rugged, long-range combat rifle, the so-called "Glancing", designed around an intermediate caliber and increased stability but featuring high commonality of parts and similar ergonomics with existing platforms. The Glancing system completed low rate initial production testing in Tetrast 4, Y4054. After some delays, the first rifles began to be issued to operational units in early Y4055, and a battalion of the 32nd Iron Mountain Regiment was the first large unit deployed into combat with 450 of the rifles in Y4055. After 6 years of prolonged counter-terrorism operations, the IOD halted production deeming the current threat level too small to warrant production space. In recent years the rifle and its design was pressed back into service at the start of the Perennial Wars. With some upgrades made, the current iteration is the A24 Glancing. The weapon system has proved very effective in the windswept dunes of the Synovian Desert, maintaining accuracy and function even with the grit of sand and the near-boiling temperatures. 
=== Features ===
One of the main features of the glancing is the piezo-electric ignition system. in place of a traditional primer, a large, gyrostabilized piezo-crystal is placed in the rear of the receiver. Once a round is loaded into the chamber, an electrical circuit is completed. When the trigger is pulled, the hammer drops and strikes the crystal, producing a temporary but powerful voltage. This current flows through the round and into its chamber, igniting the specialized smokeless powder inside, firing the round as normal. The primary advantage of this system is its extreme operational reliability. Unlike powder-based primers, the system will never "light strike" or fail to go off. The secondary advantage is its stability in extreme environments, as the system remains completely inert until a strong enough electrical force (the crystal) is applied. This avoids the potential hazard of "cooking" ammunition in hot environments, or after prolonged operation of the weapon. 
- Picture of legendary sniper Daniel Jackson (Known as the Black Wolf) and his desert-pattern A24 Glancing with additional cooling baffles and enhanced scope: