Omega Arms Mediator
Powerful, accurate, reliable. The Mediator is all of these things and more. It's a symbol of power, of authority over the rank and files. At least, it used to be, before some greedy executives decided to sell it to the highest bidder.
The Mediator is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by Omega Arms. Designed in 347, it is primarily used by the Vestan Defense Forces as their service pistol, but since the 374 lift on the Oström weapons ban, several other governmental agencies and private military contractors also use it extensively. Its high cost and relatively low production numbers for the civilian market have made it into a highly coveted weapon for civilian owners.
With most rear-line troops and non-combatants being issued the Counselor carbine for self-defense, the Mediator was originally only issued to officers and special forces of the VDF. As a result, it was often seen as a symbol of authority frequently associated with the ceremonial swords given to those same officers. With the lift on the Oström weapons ban, Omega Arms released a civilian variant called the Indra, which became a popular choice for those who could afford it.
History
Development
Development of the Mediator started in early 344 as an attempt to miniaturize the proven design of the Advocator rifle into a handgun format. Due to the complexity of Oström weapons and the numerous components required, several setbacks delayed the initial design well into 347, where the first prototype left the drawing board. As Oström weapons were, at the time, exclusively used by the military, Omega Arms approached the VDF with an offer to test their newest prototype. Initially reluctant to adopt a new weapon so soon after purchasing the already expensive Advocator, the use of similar cartridges and standard batteries interested the Ground Defense Force's logistical corps. After some eight months of trials and some modifications to the early prototypes, the previously unnamed Mediator was adopted in 349 in small quantities for the GDF's officer corps.
Production
The production of the Mediator began in late 349 with an initial order of merely 1 000 units. This led to a very high unit cost for the Mediator, whose production took place in Omega Arms's historical factory in Navara. While expensive, the Mediator proved successful, and more units were ordered every year by the enthusiastic GDF. As the VDF recovered from their purchase of the Advocator, the other branches began to take interest into the Mediator as well, further increasing demand on a now saturated factory. In 359, another factory was openned in Astrel to produce the Mediator and its spare parts. After the release of the Indra, both factories now run at their limits, with production focused on the military's orders, leading to only a small number of Indras being available to the civilian market each year.
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