Weapons

Melee weapons are those wielded by hand (or foot) in melee combat.

Kinetic weapons damage the target by ring a hard impact projectile at high-velocities. Slugthrowers have evolved from the mechanical rearms of the early 21st century, however, and now fall into two categories: chemical rearms and railguns. Though their mechanisms for ring are different, they are roughly similar in effect. Railguns have a higher penetration and inflict more damage, which is offset by more limited ammunition choices. While modern beam weapons have their uses, they rarely match the punch of kinetic weapons, therefore slugthrowers are still perceived as the most versatile and effective weapon system.

Kinetic weapons are constructed from lightweight, reinforced plastoceramic materials, which are easily produced even without nanofabrication. By default, modern kinetic weapons are ambidextrous but more importantly feature safety and smartlink systems (p. 343) that automatically connect to the wielder’s mesh inserts for ring assistance, target recognition, and tactical networking.

Beam weapons is a broad category for a number of electromagnetic weapons with a wide range of effects. With a few exceptions, energy weapons are primarily used for less-than-lethal purposes, designed to impair the target rather than kill it. Their poor performance against armor, lesser ability to damage targets, and high power requirements make them less versatile than kinetic weapons. All beam weapons come with built-in safety and smartlink systems (p. 342).

Seekers are a combination of automatic grenade launcher, micromissile, coilgun, and smart munitions technology. Unlike traditional launchers of the past, miniaturization allows the manufacture of seeker micromissile launchers in personal weapon sizes. Seeker rounds are red at high-velocity via rings of magnetic coils, after which the micromissile or minimissile uses scramjet technology to propel itself and maintain high velocities over great distances.

Grenades and seeker missiles come in similar muni- tions packages and with similar trigger mechanisms, though their packaging, physical form, and methods of application differ.

Grenades are available in standard form or as microgrenades. Similarly, missiles are available in standard, minimissile, or micromissile sizes. Listed costs are for 10 grenades/missiles.

Spray weapons blast their ammunition outwards in a widening cone, allowing them to strike several targets at once. By default, spray weapons are equipped with safety and smartlink systems.

These weapons are either rare or distinctly separate from other weapons types.