Heavy Laser

Heavy Laser

Despite the development of an advanced recyclable power source that now powers our new laser guns (for hours on end if necessary if our field results are anything to go by), the researchers in the laser programme have hit a plateaux. It's the same old problem that's plagued laser research for many years. There's just not enough power.

By attempting to supercharge the laser pistol, the scientists were forced to double the amount of power recyclers required to power the gun. This resulted in the larger but more versatile laser rifle, which quickly became an instant hit with the grunts. Attempting to perform the same procedure on the rifle has failed to bring forth very many positive results. Not only has it increased the weight and bulkiness of the gun, it only offers a minimal increase in energy output. Also, to prevent the gun from overheating and exploding, the burst mode has been permanently disabled. This last bit of bad news was not very well received by the soldiers.

Further attemps to increase the power output of the gun, dubbed the 'heavy laser', resulted in a weapon that could only be moved about by towing it about on wheels. Since this is impractical as an infantry weapon, the heavy laser will be left 'as is' and any further developments will go into developing a heavy laser capable of being mounted onto existing HWP systems. The blueprints for the tank/laser should be ready for submission about the same time the blueprints for the craft laser cannon and the Lightning Mk I are handed in.

It is rumoured that the reluctance to further the laser project in the direction of hand-held infantry weapons is a direct result from the reports of the alien plasma weapons (and presumably the jibes) from the department in charge of researching alien artefacts.

Pros: Powerful

Cons: Heavy, Very slow, no burst mode, poor accuracy[1]

[1] The loss in accuracy is not as bad as it sounds. It's better than the laser pistol. Still, the loss in speed and low increase in power output seriously prevents it from being a contender with the heavy plasma.

- NKF, copied here by --JellyfishGreen 14:44, 19 Apr 2005 (BST)