Volk-HE

The **Volk-HE** Plasma Assault Rifle is an intriguing inclusion to the Settlement Defence Frontier's arsenal. While not originally manufactured by Quantum Dynamics, it was officially recognized and registered as an official weapon within the faction.

## Design

The Volk-HE is built upon the body of an KR platform rifle, which belongs to the country Evalka on the planet Nexonia Prime. This conversion process involved the integration of various aftermarket components sourced from scraps and military equipment to transform the weapon from a conventional firearm to a plasma-based energy weapon.

To enable the conversion to plasma ammunition, the Volk-HE features a reinforced steel barrel shroud. This critical component replaces the traditional tube barrel design found in conventional firearms, allowing the weapon to accommodate plasma rounds. This design modification is a testament to the rifle's adaptability.

The Volk-HE boasts a quad rail system along the steel barrel shroud, enhancing its versatility by providing attachment points for accessories and optics. Notably, the rifle maintains a mix of materials in its construction, featuring a wooden handguard and pistol grip alongside a polymer stock. This juxtaposition of materials adds to the rifle's distinctive appearance.

The conversion process involves the incorporation of wires, processors, and battery packs, primarily situated on the left side of the weapon from the buttstock to the receiver. These mechanisms, which are typically found inside purpose-built energy weapons, allow the Volk-HE to fire plasma rounds effectively. The magazine, made of translucent polymer, houses rectangular energy cells that are visible through the sides. It has a capacity of 28 rounds, with each cell seemingly containing enough energy for two shots. Remarkably, these energy cells are not ejected during firing, a departure from conventional ammunition ejection.

### Specifications

* Length: 721mm
* Caliber: **7.6 AX**
* Effective Range: 400 Meters
* Weight: **4.9** kg

## Trivia

### General

* The Settlement Defence Frontier chose to accept the Volk-HE without extensive modifications, recognizing its value as a unique weapon despite its unconventional design. Notably, the rifle lacks the Rolkehn Circuitry commonly found in Quantum Dynamics' plasma weapons, underscoring the distinctiveness of the Volk-HE's design.
* The Volk-HE is a testament to the ingenuity of the SDF, as it is converted from an outdated KR-47 rifle. The KR-47, with its name indicating its creation in the year 1947 on Nexonia Prime, is a relic of the past, dating back approximately two thousand years. Its enduring presence in the SDF's arsenal speaks to the adaptability and resourcefulness of the faction.
* The Volk-HE's design retains certain elements that hint at its antique nature, most notably the incorporation of wood in its handguard and pistol grip. However, in some operational conditions, these wooden components are pragmatically replaced with synthetic polymer to enhance durability and mitigate sensitivity to environmental conditions. This adaptive approach underscores the SDF's commitment to keeping this unique weapon functional in various settings.
* Its visual design exudes a sense of "dystopian future," blending elements from different eras and worlds to create a striking and otherworldly appearance. This aesthetic choice contributes to the weapon's distinctiveness and reinforces its identity as a plasma-based rifle with a rich history.
* One of the Volk-HE's defining characteristics is its formidable power paired with notorious inaccuracy. In fact, its accuracy is known to be even worse than that of regular plasma guns. This trait can be traced back to its basis, the KR-47 conventional rifle, which also suffered from poor accuracy. While the Volk-HE may lack precision, its raw power compensates for this limitation, making it a force to be reckoned with in combat situations.
* By 3025, the Volk-HE's original steel body and metal shroud had become obsolete. In response to this issue, Quantum Dynamics and the SDF initiated a transition to Haedian Steel, a resource native to the red planet Hades. Haedian Steel was adopted to address the problem of obsolescence, ensuring the continued functionality and effectiveness of the Volk-HE.
* Prior to the Volk-HE, there existed an unnamed predecessor with a similar external appearance. However, this earlier iteration was designed to fire conventional rounds, specifically airburst ammunition in the 7.62x39mm caliber. This variant had a magazine capacity of 30 rounds and was capable of delivering airburst munitions. The SDF has shown interest in capturing and modernizing these older weapons, highlighting their commitment to leveraging various technologies in their arsenal.
* The Volk-HE's recoil is notorious for its intensity, to the point where even SDF legionnaires and high-ranking officers who are not wearing their combat gear easily struggle to handle it. This aspect of the weapon's performance necessitates proper training and equipment to manage its recoil effectively.