Translation:Plasatomizer txt/en

UFOpaedia Entry

Proposal

TO: Base Commander, PHALANX, Atlantic Operations Command

FROM: Cdr. Paul Navarre, R&D: Engineering Division, PHALANX, Atlantic Operations Command

DATE: %02i %s %i

SUB: Proposal: Alien Artifact -- Plasma Pistol

Commander, we've recovered the first alien plasma weapon of the war. I don't need to tell you how important this is. The alien armaments are highly-advanced, powerful and extremely lethal; we must figure out how they work in order to arm and armour ourselves against them.

The alien plasma weapons represent a curious application of the plasma-thrower concept, which was previously believed to be unfeasible as a battlefield weapon. I would very much like to figure out how it works. My team and I are confident that -- with enough time and proper safety procedures -- we can hammer out the plasma pistol's function and controls and write a small operational manual; our soldiers could actually use the aliens' weapons against them!

Of course, this program will need your approval for lab time and funding.

--Cdr. Navarre

Result

TO: Base Commander, PHALANX, Atlantic Operations Command

FROM: Cdr. Paul Navarre, R&D: Engineering Division, PHALANX, Atlantic Operations Command

DATE: %02i %s %i

SUB: Re: Alien Artifact -- Plasma Pistol

When the aliens need a sidearm, they don't screw around.

This plasma pistol is a nasty piece of work, Commander. Its operation is extremely complex and inventive, requiring a great deal of technical skill to create. The power pack alone is hundreds of years ahead of our technology. It stores enough power to heat several charges of hydrogen to a plasmatic state inside the miniature fusion chamber, which are expelled as plasma using the ionised particles' own velocity.

Unlike human firearms, the projectiles themselves are not stored in a magazine or reservoir. They are generated inside the pistol from hydrogen contained in the magazine, powered by the magazine's power-pack. Once the plasma is heated, a thin film of liquid plastic is created between the two 'spinnerets' located vertically opposite each other in front of the grip. The plasma particles are then rapidly fired into the film so that the plastic deforms into an orb or 'bolt'. The plastic contains and protects the plasma, keeping it from dispersing until it reaches the target. By the time a bolt reaches the target, the inside of the plastic will be so eaten away that it will burst upon impact like a soap bubble, splashing its payload across the target. The maximum range of a pistol bolt -- the point it can reach before the plasma eats into open air and disperses -- is not very far, but its appropriate for a secondary weapon.

A bolt fired from the plasma pistol is so hot that even a near-miss can be lethal. The effects on a victim are truly horrific; I will try to list them all here.

Any unarmoured human sprayed with this plasma will suffer extreme pain and injuries all across the splash zone. Adipose (fatty) tissue will melt like water. Blood and other bodily fluids boil in place. The plasma will actually eat its way into a human body, causing bone-deep charring in a large region around the splash zone. A large chunk of the body will be literally burnt to a crisp.

Any kind of tough fabric will provide some protection against a plasma hit. High-tech armour in particular will disperse the heat as best it can, and will resist the burning plasma for a time. Hopefully this will be enough time to allow air-cooling to take place, bringing the plasma down to non-lethal temperatures.

I won't pretend to know how the aliens managed to squeeze all this stuff into a pistol, but it does look as though they've made the same tradeoffs between power and size that we have done with our handguns. It's almost certain that larger, more powerful versions of these weapons exist and will appear against us in this war. However, my team and I have figured out the control scheme of the pistols, and we've written an appropriate field manual for human use. Our soldiers will now be able to employ the plasma pistol in a combat scenario as they would any other weapon.

--Cdr. Navarre

Damage Type

• plasma

Skill

• close

Stat Suggestions

(This information for reference only; do not translate or include in-game.)

Pro:

1) High damage.

2) Quick-firing.

Con:

1) Limited range. (Approx. same range as 7.62mm Pistol)

2) Low accuracy.

3) Long reload time.

4) High recoil.

Research Tree Data

(This information for reference only; do not translate or include in-game.)

Prerequisites:
 1 Plasma Pistol

Opens:
 Enables production -- Plasma Pistol
 Enables production -- Plasma Pistol Charger