Spotter Assault Laser

The Spotter Assault Laser is produced by Paragon Weapons Systems.

Design

This 80cm-long weapon masses 6kg without batteries. It has a 6cm aperture window, and a reflex aimsight for targeting. This means that what the user sees at the centre of the camera screen mounted on the weapon is what the beam will hit.

There is a series of radiators on the gun's sides to move hot air away.

The weapon uses lithium-polymer batteries charging a electrochemical double-layer capacitor. As such, is has quite a low rate of fire. The beam is near infrared, at 1.5 microns in wavelength, to minimise optical damage.

The weapon's pulsing is computer regulated. For attacking organic targets, the beam energy is set at 5KJ, with 25 200J pulses spaced 20 microseconds apart. This allows vaporisation of tissues without flash steam interfering.

It can also fire its 5 KJ shot in 2 2.5KJ pulses, set 50 microseconds apart.

Appearance

The laser itself is invisible (except in fog or mist, when it is faint and low-wavelength), but a click is heard at every shot, where the capacitors move into position. In rapid firing, there is also a buzz.

Against organics, the wound is ragged, messy and thin. It often goes straight through a target, up to around 70cm deep.

Usage

This laser is actually quite inexpensive and effective. However, they work best in clear air and cannot challenge kinetic weapons in rapid-fire capabilities or stopping power.

As such, they are mainly used by snipers.