R8x

R8x in its Legion grey pattern

The R8x Mars is the new standard issue weapon of the Imperium. After the disappointing failure of directed energy weapons. The Imperial legion looked to standardize in a simple to operate weapon that can punch through modern armor more reliably. The Legion had initially planned to return to the heavy 15mm anti-tank assault rifle concept "The B&K -84 Hydra" (widely known as the "whiplash" by the Legion for its very unpleasant recoil). Until a prominent member of the Romanum Galactic Arms Solutions company suggested a ballistic rifle-railgun Hybrid concept. This concept was unconventional in that regard. While railguns required excessive power cells to operate and were known to shatter at the small scale required for infantry use led to the concept to be abandoned. This concept sidestepped the issue by having the gunpower within a telescoping disintegrating cartridge provide the majority of acceleration while the electromagnetic rails carried a relatively weak charge to increase the velocity of the already moving bullet exponentially. This allowed for a very high-powered weapon with relatively low recoil that could continue to operate even when out of charge.

### Reception:

Any legionnaire will tell you this is the only weapon you need. The workhorse of the men under the eagle banner. Packing enough power to punch through anyone's armor and even reinforced concrete while being balanced enough to be cradled in one arm while holding a shield if necessary. This weapon has a reputation for being able to handle whatever the legion throws its way. The first of the Romanum Galactic Arms Solutions EABRs marked for military use. This weapon quickly changed warfare by requiring anyone who dared to face Rome to have the equivalent armor of a main battle tank. However it is known to be quite finicky with superstitious roman soldiers trying everything to prevent its electromagnetic system from losing power after a long time without maintenance. However with proper maintenance and charging it's still able to do its job well. It just tends to lose ”heat” as its later magazines have a tendency to show a decline in velocity after heavy use.  The eabr system works by the gun firing a round into a tube which has an electromagnetic railgun charge constantly flowing through the coils which then boost the acceleration. Reducing the wear of a full railgun and the amount of powder and recoil needed.

#### **Design history:**

After The concept of an EABR design was approved. The empire purchased the patent for the design and challenged all the major arms companies to produce the next military rifle. Romanum Galactic Arms Ceo Elonius Knight however, had predicted this and had already begun designing the weapon to include all the latest experimental tech, using and expending much of the connections and resources available to his esteemed family to win the contract. Their design made full use of every cutting edge technology he could get his hands on. The prototype used an aesthetically pleasing and lightweight Aluminum-titanium alloy reinforced polymer bodied bullpup rifle. With full neural network support for the legions brand new (and at the time Top-Secret) Lorica Exosceletus mk XII. A heavy use of the titano-bronze electrical conductors from knight owned mining colonies and over a year of ergonomic and balance testing to provide a near perfect balance and comfortable grip. The prototype was in the hands of the imperial legion testing division before Beretta and Kochs more conventional design the BK-14 prototype. The x7 demonstrator simply blew it away. Some complain that the knight family had an unfair advantage and that the decision was heavily influenced by the knight family using knowledge of classified equipment to make their weapon more compatible than other companies prototypes and had a head start in producing the weapon allowing them to put it in the hands of roman acquisitions officers long before any other company could. In response, Elonius Knight is quoted to of said: "If your company was made by soldiers and generals, for soldiers and generals, maybe you could of had similar advantages" this did not help the accusations that the family were essentially feeding their own company contracts.

##### **Service history:**

The r8x was adopted during the Corpo Conflict. At that time the lower powered weapons in the arsenal were falling short of the well armored infantry and drones of the Cartha corporation. Its adoption saw immediate popularity with frontline units who praised its penetration power, its ease of transport, and its comfortable balance. It was then ordered in the billions turning the production of this weapon into an industry on a galactic scale. The at the time unnamed weapon was given the name "Mars" after the god of war. The legion would adopt the weapon as its standard issue rifle and replacement rifle. Thanks to its bullpup design it could be carried by almost anyone, but its power draw and value has led to it only being adopted by the legion. While the auxiliaries use the much more modular B&K-105 "Cobra". As of last year, it was decided the military would not replace this rifle despite the push to diversify the legions equipment.