Projectile Weapons

Projectile weapons are defined as handheld weapons that fire solid projectiles at targets, such as guns, missile launchers, grenade launchers, etc. Plain projectile weapons (e.g. bullets) are mostly "out-of-fashion" in the Planetary Alliance due to the common nature of armor that is highly resistant to projectiles.

## Superacid Weapons

Superacid weapons are projectile firing guns that also use a superacid to instantly weaken or penetrate armor, then carry the projectile through.

### Acid Pistols

Acid Pistols, frequently shortened to "Acip," is a common weapon used on Vastire. Acid Pistols are handheld guns that use casings loaded into the handle of the gun as ammunition. The superacid is stored in a separate vial that loads typically behind the barrel of the gun. When the Acip fires, the superacid is quickly transferred to the casing and the casing travels toward the target.

Acid Pistol wounds are not always fatal, though they can be quite painful, as it is fairly common for acid to spread to the bullet behind it when it travels to the wound.

### Mark 20+ Revolvers

Starting with the twentieth generation, these revolvers started using acid casings and superacid vials. The hammer, an outdated concept that was mainly kept around for "legacy" purposes, was repurposed to fill the individual acid casings.

For information on the earlier revolvers, go to Handguns below.

Relevant text from *Assassination of Hope*, end of Chapter 1:

> *The Mark 20 Revolver was the first to be outfitted with an acid vial and acid casings. The modification was necessary due to the fact that Mondoon armor was nigh-invincible to projectiles. In these models, the hammer was made useful again, as a method to fill the cartridges from the acid vial. Holding the hammer down fills every casing in the cylinder with acid. However, this is only advised when the shooter knows every casing will be used, as the acid is not stable for more than a few hours in the casing.*
> -From A Guide to Vastirian Pistols
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## Solid Arm Blasters (SABs)

Solid Arm Blasters, or SABs, are another common weapon on Vastire. SABs vary in function, but the general idea is that it allows a solider to use a very large, two-handed gun with just one free hand. The gun is fitted to the soldier's arm, usually taking up the entire forearm, bicep, and some of the shoulder.

### Rapid Fire SABs (RF-SABs)

Rapid Fire SABs, or RF-SABs, depend on sheer volume of bullets to attack enemies. RF-SABs can sometimes fire hundreds of rounds per minute, making them ideal for crowd control. However, their lack of accuracy is well-known.

RF-SABs typically have a rotating appartus around the user's forearm which quickly spins to carry bullets up to the barrel also located on the forearm. The rotating apparatus is connected to bandoliers that attach to the soldier's back like a backpack.

### Zone SABs (Z-SABs)

Zone SABs, or Z-SABS, cover large areas with shrapnel with a single shot. The barrel for Z-SABs is typically below the user's hand, and the shrapnel can cover an area larger than 200 sq. ft. with a single shot. To increase effectiveness against armor, Z-SAB ammunition may be superheated or supercooled.

### Sniping SABs (S-SABs)

Sniping SABs, or S-SABs, are used for precise, long distance shots. The barrel of a S-SAB, due to its length, traces down the entire length of the user's arm, meaning that the user cannot bend his/her arm when it is equipped. These guns can fire well over a mile, and depend more on internal computers than the skill of the user.

### Explosive SABs (EX-SABs)

Explosive SABs, or EX-SABs, carry explosive ammunition, akin to having a grenade launcher strapped to a soldier's arm. Smaller EX-SABs require the user to directly load ammunition, while larger ones can auto-load from a backpack.

## Handguns

"Handgun" is a term used loosely in the P.A. to refer to small guns that require only a single appendage to fire (as not all races have "hands" per se).

### Mark 1-19 Revolvers

Revolvers have been a popular weapon on Vastire for hundreds of years, with the Mark series rising to the top of the market. Their reliability, accuracy, and superb craftsmanship has kept them on top. The first Mark revolver was developed in 214 ARI and rose to popularity during the Second Erodian Conflict.

Twenty-one generations of Mark Revolvers have been developed since then, but the guns switched from projectile to superacid ammunition starting with Mark 20.

For information on the earlier revolvers, go to Superacid weapons above.

Darynn Mark was gifted a modified Mark 19 Revolver after the embargo. The projectile version of the gun was he first trained on as a child, with his grandfather Gallant Mark. The modified version he was gifted took the earlier generation to use superacid vials and acid cartridges.

Relevant text from *Assassination of Hope*, end of Chapter 1:

> *Revolvers have been used on Vastire for hundreds of years. The most popular have undoubtedly been the ‘Mark’ series, spanning twenty-one generations.*
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> *Mark 1 through Mark 19 Revolvers were all designed to use bullets, with a traditional trigger and hammer firing system. Early generation hammers required the user to cock the hammer before each shot. Later generations only kept the hammer as a decorative piece, identifying the gun as distinctively a revolver.*
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> *The only thing truly in common from the early generations to Mark Twenty One is the revolving cylinder itself, holding anywhere from six to twenty ammunition shells.*
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> - From *A Guide to Vastirian Pistols*
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