Electra

Of all the weapons wielded by the cruel and malevolent clinging to the edges of civilization, most agree electra is one of the worst.

It was developed by an independent electrodynamics research team working by proxy under one of the great constituents of the Nymphaeaceans, the Second Outer Solar Empire. The weapon was initially developed by the government of the empire with the intention of creating a tool which could be used to incapacitate large groups of people at a distance - mainly for putting down rebellions. As the Empire's reign grew harsher and its populous grew discontent, the need for such a weapon increased rapidly, and little testing was done on the effects of the weapon before it was deemed effective and began mass production. Testing done on criminal subjects (against their wills) showed that electra effectively pacified even the most violent and difficult to control individuals. The short term effects proving to be as desired, the weapon was produced and shipped across the empire, placed into the hands of local Kings, Lords, and governors to use at their discretion.

The long term effects of the weapon didn't become clear until a rebellion on a small mining moon was put down with the weapon. While the people of the moon - almost the entire population save for the elderly, injured, and infants were present at a rally in front of the governor's mansion, the governor made an executive decision to stop the rebellion in its tracks with the use of the new weapon they had just received. Only a single electra was needed to target the entire crowd, as the scientific team who had developed it reported that the effective range was able to cover a cone of at least a mile in length. The weapon was fired, a ripple ran through the crowd, and the rebellion stopped instantly. Police emerged from the mansion, shuffled the crowd back into their homes, and the use of the weapon was deemed a success. The next day, workers did not leave their homes. Or the next. Or the next. Police searched the houses and found that everyone inside had lost considerable brain function, including those who were not present at the rally. An investigation showed that every single person in the colony who was not behind the weapon when it fired had effectively undergone a lobotomy. In their rush to complete the weapon, the max range was never tested, and it turned out to be far greater than any of the researchers expected. The colony quickly collapsed and the events were covered up by the Empire, but the reality of the weapon could not be kept secret. Electra was recalled from across the empire, but only about 1/3 of the weapons ever actually made it back.

To this day, electra is the weapon of choice for pirates, raiders, and especially slavers across the galaxy. It was especially popular among the Envoys of the Midnight Tide, as capturing a ship whole meant more mass for Sagittarius A\*. One quick blast of the weapon and any battle was won instantly, victims pacified and prepared to be shipped to one of many slave factories. The exact workings of the weapon were never disclosed by the research team, but considering the basis of the team it is likely it involved some sort of targeted electromagnetic pulse. The only defense against electra is an extremely high-quality Faraday cage, as the pulse is of such small wavelength that it easily pierces most defenses.

Of course, this is of little consequence to Cystarians, who are completely immune to electra, and are often hired to destroy pirate groups who were reported using the weapon.

-Crassius Hadrana