Rook Frontier Special

Commonly cited as the most common firearm on Polaris-V, the Foreman Rook Frontier Special-pattern revolver is a cheap, reliable firearm used by everyone from private security to colonists. Originally marketed as a budget self-defense weapon, the Rook became especially popular due to it's general durability and robustness - its loose tolerances made it very easy to modify, resulting in a myriad of informal and official variants. Most versions fire either 10mm, .38, or .357 rounds, though it is possible to chamber a standard frame in up to .50 AE with extensive modification. It's ubiquity among colonists has led to numerous fond nicknames, including the 'Gun That Won the Frontier' and the 'Big Man's Iron'.

## History

The Rook, Frontier Special was created during the earliest years of human space exploration - meant to capitalize on the boom of colonization efforts during the mid-2140s for a cheap profit. The firearm was the brainchild of the brilliant Sinclair Johnson, creator of many of the firearms still popular in the Outer Rim; such as the Bishop Pathfinder trail carbine and the Pawn Frontier shotgun. Unexpectedly, the firearm became hugely popular with colonists out on remote worlds, primarily due to it's small size, and it's simple yet robust construction. The Rook is said to have singlehandedly pulled the Foreman Heavy Industries firm out of bankruptcy and into among the Top 20 Armament Manufacturers in human space, so great was it's influence and popularity.

In addition, it immediately became associated with romanticized depictions of both Frontier settling and organized crime, which only added to it's fame. Over time, Foreman - with the help of Johnson - slowly made small improvements to the design, increasing it's reliability and durability while decreasing it's weight. The Rook's sheer ubiquity among settlers, security, gunmen, and criminals meant that there was a massive demand for variants and aftermarket parts - which is partially the reason why it is still used to this day.

## Features

The Rook in it's stock, factory form, fires 10mm rounds from a five-shot cylinder or six .38/.357 rounds with a double-action firing mechanism. Unusually, a 'gas-seal' system was included in the design, not only improving muzzle velocity but also allowing the weapon to be suppressed (an unusual characteristic for a revolver). It is typically constructed from stamped steel and aircraft aluminum, with a few titanium parts and either wooden or polymer grips. The Rook's robust, simplistic design allows it to function in practically any environment without major malfunctions, and the small amount of moving parts and loose tolerances of the weapon make it easy to repair in the case of any damage.

A short barrel length means that the Rook is effective up to 10-25 yards, making it unsuitable for longer-range shooting or pistol hunting. However, it's light weight, stopping power, and compact size lend well to self-defense or CQC; making it popular with both Frontier law enforcement agencies and fringe criminal groups.

## Notable Variants

**Rook Frontier Special, Long** - A longer-barreled variant of the standard Rook, providing improved accuracy and muzzle velocity at longer ranges. Tends to be more popular than the snub-nosed variant, as it carries more stopping power and is notably more balanced.

**Rook Frontier Special, Covert** - Built at special request for the CAA, the Rook-C features an integral suppressor and an improved gas-seal system to allow it to fire sub-sonic ammunition nigh-silently, as well as an all-alloy construction to make it lighter. It is said that the sound of the hammer striking the cartridge is louder than the bullet firing.

**Rook Frontier Special, Foreman** - Supposedly built to fit the unusually large hands and preferences of Founder James Foreman himself, the Foreman-variant is just an upsized, heavier version of the Rook; notable for it's pleasant recoil impulse due to it's weight, as well as the ability to chamber both .50 caliber cartridges and 12 gauge shotgun shells.

**Rook Frontier Special, Safari Express** - Produced and intended as a sidearm for exotic, xenofauna hunters, the Safari is a modified Foreman variant with a built-in telescopic scope, and a comically large barrel and cylinder - firing the *awesome* 14mm Nitro Express round, capable of easily punching through reinforced concrete walls. As expected, it's infamous for spraining and occasionally *breaking* wrists due to it's sheer recoil.

**Misery Armories Rook Custom** - A fully custom-made Rook, firing 20 gauge shotgun shells from a three-round cylinder. It is made of heavier materials to make the recoil easier to handle, and to allow the frame to handle the additional stress of shotgun shells. Although somewhat pricey, it is nonetheless popular for self-defense.

**Xian-Zhao Las-Rook Conversion** - A standard frame Rook converted into a cheap, dubiously-effective laser pistol. The cylinder is instead replaced with an slot for an energy cell and disposable heat-sinks. Popular around more urban areas where standard cell-chargers are more commonplace than machine shops.

## Notable Users

**Colonial Administrative Authority** - both the Colonial Marshalls and Colonial Intelligence Service of the CAA use Rooks as standard service sidearms; with the CIS's elite Special Actions Group specifically using the Covert variant, and the CM's Regulator Squad using the Safari Express as a standard sidearm.

**S&G Security Forces -** the lower level Auxiliary Security contractors are issued Rooks when performing patrol duty in safer, urban areas to save the more expensive and high-quality armaments for experienced, elite contractors.

**Polaris Confederation of Colonies** - thousands of Rooks were either already in civilian hands, or were smuggled in by arms dealers. Althought the PCC does not have any standard weaponry, or even an organized military force, the Rook - and all it's variants - are by far among the most numerous firearms in the Confederation.