B7 Solace

## Overview

The is a special place (and possibly bullet) in each Iron Horde trooper's heart for the B-7 Solace. At over 100 million units and counting, more B-7s and equivalent versions have been produced, making it the most ubiquitous firearm in all of the Primus Territory and quite possibly the entire planet. The weapon fires 10mm x 25mm GRIM, a hot-loaded round that can be maximized for pierce or stopping power depending on the projectile used. The magazine holds a standard 18 rounds, which is more than enough to dirtnap anyone and everyone caught on the wrong end of its barrel. Every IC solider no matter his rank or station must be trained to extreme proficiency with this sidearm, or he will be dishonorably discharged. Much of the Iron Horde's culture surrounds accuracy competitions with this weapon, with the best marksmen consistently reaching out to inhuman ranges.

### History

The history of the B7 Solace can trace its lineage all the way back to the days of Havanite expansion in Y2318, when there was a large demand from intrepid explorers for protection against novel threats on the new frontier. The person to meet this demand for firearms was inventor and firearm designer John Brownstark. He came from a rather poor family, and knew the value of a hard work ethic. Being somewhat of a prodigy, Brownstark designed his first successful firearm at the tender age of 13, using only hand tools and a box of scraps. In Y2345 When he was old enough, Brownstark started his own gunsmith in the town of Messiah, selling handmade ammunition and custom-made firearms for his patrons. Eventually word spread across the frontier of his excellent craftsmanship, allowing him to expand his small business into a corporation, Brownstark Firearms Co.. In Y2358 His success would catch the eye of the rising Thulian Empire, who would proffer him for his services. It was at this point that the early drafts for Brownstark's magnum opus, the Solace Repeating Pistol, would be designed.

The Thulian Empire at the time was adopting new firearms at a phenomenal rate; several new pistols and two all-new service rifles were adopted in a matter of years. The adoption of numerous more weapons and a vigorous hunt for a self-loading pistol during the following decade would continue at a similar pace, with the formal adoption of Brownstark's eminent design coming at the turn of the decade.

Opportunity presented itself in Y2361, as Thulian regulars fighting Raskolian Raiders at the time in the harsh conditions of the Biryanis Mountain Range using the then-standard Maxwell Repeater, found it to be unsuitable for the rigors of combat, particularly in terms of stopping power, as the Raiders had high battle morale and often used the potent Berserker's Mane to inhibit the sensation of pain and enhance their battle prowess. The problems prompted the Chief of Ordnance, General Shaw N. Willett, to authorize further testing for a new service pistol.

A number of pistols were submitted and tested, but Brownstark's design ultimately won out. Among the areas of success for the Solace was a test at the end of Y2362 attended by Brownstark himself. Thousands of rounds were fired from a single pistol over the course of two days. When the gun grew hot, it was simply immersed in water to cool it down. The Solace passed with no reported malfunctions. The B1 Solace Repeater was formally adopted by the Thulian Military in Y2363, forming a decades long relationship between Brownstark Firearms Co. and the Thulian Military.

Much of the Solace design's history going forward to present day can be glossed over, as its core principles have remained largely the same. Some upgrades of note are:

* the changing of the pistol's housing from aged Lucerian Pine to a more rugged and mass-producible Plastenite copolymer in Y2876.
* Another integral upgrade in Y3344 was the switch from traditional primers to an integrated piezo-primer crystal, which significantly improved light hammer striking issues.
* In Y3675 with the mass proliferation of Multi-Material Rapid Fabricator (MMRF) Units, individual citizens could now create their own Solace pistols, choking out the last of the Iron Coalition's attempts to disarm their citizenry.
* With the discovery of Cinderite in Y4003, a number of weapons were re-examined and retro-fitted with stronger receivers in order to handle the forces associated with cinderite-type ammunition.

### Features

#### Recoil design

The fundamental Solace design from Brownstark hasn't changed all that much over the course of its manufacturing. Rotary recoil damping action is the pistol's fundamental operating concept. The cycling rotor and barrel, which are locked together throughout this part of the firing cycle, gain reverse momentum as the expanding combustion gases push the bullet down the barrel. The rotor and barrel continue to move after the bullet has exited the barrel for a brief period of time. The design of the weapon allows the cycling rotor to convert rearward force into circular motion, redirecting the momentum of the weapon's operation while also ejecting the spent casing, stripping a fresh round from the magazine, and chambering it.

#### Disassembly

There are a minimal amount of fasteners in the Solace's design, making it extremely easy to field-strip. The main components of the gun are held in place by a single large barrel band, which is fastened by a single takedown pin. The pistol can be "field stripped" by removing the magazine, cycling the rotor to its starting position, and subsequently removing the barrel band. The process requires no special tools and is one of the many reasons why the firearm is so popular amongst the Iron Horde and all armies throughout history that have put it into service.

Pictured: Iron Horde Strike Red Officer And His Modified B7 Solace: