"When you hold the Needler Rifle, it's actually surprising how light it is. If I really try, I can even hold it one-handed for a bit."
A grunt of exertion is heard.
"Okay maybe not that practical, but still imagine where people use this; underwater, in the Nege. Being able to fire one-handed is key, even if you don't want to do it."
Necessary Equipment
The Needler Rifle is a projectile weapon that utilizes 'needle' ammunition. The ammunition consists of a long, thin payload propelled by a two-stage rocket capped to the end.
The Rifles are standard issue kit among Exterminators, Hunters, Colonists, Corralum Explorers, and Armies across the universe. They can be loaded with countless loads, ranging from illumination flares to flechettes to explosive charges.
Mechanism
Needler Rifles utilize a rotary magazine that is loaded with twelve harpoons. The magazine can be removed and reloaded as needed; removing unfired Needles requires the use of an ejector on the magazine.
The needles' first stage of propellant is activated by an electronic trigger mechanism. The first stage ignition sends the needle out of the gun. The primary rocket ignites immediately after the needle exits the barrel.
After each round is ejected, a lever on the bottom of the weapon is flipped to actuate the magazine into position for the next shot.
Barrel and Accuracy
The Needler Rifle features a durable smoothbore barrel. The barrel itself lends no accuracy, as the rockets and needle's aerodynamics impart rotation and keep the round stable during flight.
Some users shorten their Needler Rifles due to this fact, but doing so causes large fireballs as the Needle exits the barrel.
>> Pictured Above
An empty Needler Rifle cylinder showing the actuating mechanisms and the twelve chambers for the needles.
Underwater
Needler Rifles are designed to be used underwater with sealed propellants and water-proof rocket ignition.
Considering the constant flooding of the corralum and predatory oceans of Jhoutai, a Needler Rifle became a necessity for survival.
You don't go down past the undercity without someone on needle gun duty.
And you didn't leave their side.
MultiPurpose
The Needle gun is ubiquitous throughout the universe. Most people who travel outside the safety of a city would have at least seen one in use. And well-prepared colonies will have one or two handy.
Ethnis is a very dangerous place— where Sophontic life is not on top of the food chain. Needle guns are an easy survival tool. It's a flare gun, a hunting rifle, a spear gun, and even a grenade launcher.
If you have the right clearances of course.
The Needles
[\MET'KRAH ARMORLINK SYSTEM ONLINE \]
HOVER AMMUNITION TYPE TO VIEW DETAILS
Metal Harpoon
A basic metal needle backed by a two-stage propellant charge. Can be used both in and out of water.
Under the water, the harpoons have an effective range of about 20 meters. Use above water increases to 50 meters.
Harpoon rounds can not be controlled with metaphysical guidance, but they are cheap to produce even with limited industrial capacity.
>> Projectile Diagnostics
- Mass 0.60 kg
- Armor Pen 2" Hide / .5" Steel
- Velocity 1,600 m/s
- Material Hardened Steel
- Value 50R for 20
Piercer Flechette
Flechette needles are made of lightweight materials with an extra charge of propellant. The combination allows the Flechette to reach high speeds.
The Piercer is flat-flying and great at penetration. The specialized materials and extra charge do make them more costly to produce and load.
Also, as they are lighter and faster, over-penetration is a risk.
>> Projectile Diagnostics
- Mass 0.20 kg
- Armor Pen 6" Hide / 1" Steel
- Velocity 2,000 m/s
- Material Tungsten Alloy
- Value 150R for 20
Enchanted Needle
Quartz and gem needles are used to turn the Needler gun into a spell-launcher. These are expensive rounds to produce and even more expensive to come enchanted.
The power of spell that can be contained by the needle depends on the quality and Mohs scale of the material used. Quartz is the most common, with synthetic gems like sapphire are used for military applications.
>> Projectile Diagnostics
- Mass 0.50 kg
- Armor Pen 1" Hide / .2" Steel
- Velocity 1,400 m/s
- Material Quartz Composite
- Value 300 - 750R for 20
Fragmenting Round
Fragmenting rounds are shallow impact projectiles that break apart as soon as they hit their target. They can still penetrate soft targets but will often shatter inside a wound, making them difficult to remove cleanly.
The harpoon is made with a thin case of hardened steel and tipped with a ceramic tip to promote breaking apart. On impact, the shell shatters and explodes.
Popular for training or for soft target damage.
>> Projectile Diagnostics
- Mass 0.90 kg
- Armor Pen .5" Hide
- Velocity 1,200 m/s
- Material Hardened casing
- Value 50R for 20
Corralum Cracker
Corralum Cracker is a utility round that can be used for clearing paths through unyielding corralum or other blockages.
The round consists of a lightweight casing filled with a slow-velocity explosive. On impact, it will sit idle for a second before detonating with an internal timer.
The round produces a shrill whistle as it travels through the air to warn others of its use.
>> Projectile Diagnostics
- Mass 0.80 kg
- Blast Radius 5.00 m
- Velocity 950 m/s
- Material Titanium Alloy Casing
- Value 500R for 20
Illumination Needles
Called Illumidarts for short, these needles produce a great light once they are fired using a chemical reaction. They have a hardened tip for burying into surfaces as well as a parachute in the propellant chamber if fired into the air. They stay at full brightness for about a minute before fading over the next 30 seconds.
These darts are standard kit for anyone planning corralum expeditions. They can be used for defense, for utility, and for survival.
>> Projectile Diagnostics
- Mass 0.20 kg
- Lumens 1,000,000
- Velocity 600 m/s
- Material Reinforced Polymer
- Value 100R for 20
High Explosive Needles
Needles loaded with a programmable detonator and a high-yield explosive. Casings can be modified to increase fragmentation or add other negative effects to the blast.
These rounds are regulated in most Banners, as they turn the commonly issued Needler gun into an airburst grenade launcher.
>> Projectile Diagnostics
- Mass 0.96 kg
- Blast Radius 5.00 m
- Velocity 600 m/s
- Material Steel Casing
- Value 5000R for 20
I spent a bit too long working on this CSS. It was like 300 words of just bbcode. I love the results though.
Really well described. I'm not a gun person, but still feel I have a good understanding of how this one works.
Why thank you! It was a lot of fun to make and I'm quite the gun nerd so finding a way to explain it was a real challenge!
Wanna see some good articles? Of course you do.
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