The Withering Bite

Civil Concordance of Aligned Systems (CCAS) Department of Allied Militaries (DAM)
Weapons & Equipment Field Guide
16th Revised Edition

Author: CCAS-DAM Volunteer Support Battalion, Castille Zakata Volunteer Initiation Depot, Kraeth
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Entry #1111: The Withering Bite (MDC)

Class: Carbine
Type: Kinetic, boson condensate
Origin: Pre-historic / "Precursor"
Description:
In 23rd Cycle, 4th Century, Year 18, an Almorian expeditionary group made contact with Wraiths patrolling the unclaimed territory bordering Union space. They had encountered a Gaz unit involved in extra-dimensional experimentation, and terminated the threat. Amongst the items they retrieved was this rifle, known to them as The Withering Bite, which was turned over to the Wraith patrol.
DAM technicians on Rivendi attempted to classify the weapon, and in the process depleted its original supply of ammunition. The weapon was then impounded by the Concordance Special Security Division (CSSD), who determined that the rifle was of Precursor origin, and of a design not previously classified or recorded. Translating the rifle's operational encoding, they ascertained that the rifle had originally been catalogued as the MDC - Matter Disintegration Carbine, and was intended for use by the so-called Precursor Sweepers. Very little is known about this Precursor subclass, therefore we have no conclusive data regarding the weapon's initial use.
Further experimentation showed that compatible ammunition could be readily manufactured, provided a ready supply of gaseous bosons. At sufficiently low density, and cooled to almost absolute zero, the ammunition is able to generate quantum vortices in ferromagnetic materials. Most armor struck by these specialized rounds suffers a perturbance of its structural integrity, resulting in increased penetrating power. Digital storage is likewise disrupted, although it is unknown if this is an intended or incidental effect.
Testing remains on-going with Sci-team Poison Lance.
(Ed. Note [Classified: Top Secret]: As usual, Timur has a theory. The weapon is definitely a Precursor artifact, but thrice-checked radiocarbon dating determined that it couldn't possibly be old enough; a few hundred years at most. Timur believes that the Gaz Unionists originally encountered had obtained The Withering Bite from a source outside of normal space-time - in this case, The Dim. I have yet to be convinced, but we continue to investigate.

• Kolt Uzain, Tracker CSSD)

Item type

Weapon, Ranged