Section 8: Prejudice

The Assault Rifle is standard issue to every USIF soldier. It is fitted with a MK2 Electro-magnetic jacketing system, and fires a 15mm case-less armor-piercing round. The MK2 EMJ system layers each round into a harmonically tuned electromagnetic frequency, allowing it to wear down shields faster and makes it particularly effective at tearing through the armor of enemy infantry.

The Assault Rifle is one of the most diverse weapons available. It features a scope for longer range engagements and a high rate of fire, making it an effective weapon in nearly all encounter types. It is exceptionally accurate in short bursts.

Modifications

• Rail Rounds – Long-range, average damage on all targets
• Burst Fire Mod – Fires rail rounds, burst fire, increased accuracy
• Automation Mod – Automated round selection, long-range rail rounds, short-range slug rounds
• Slug Rounds – High armor damage, low shield damage

Noted for its accuracy, quick rate of fire, and effortless reloading, the Pistol retains a prominent role in military use.  Its lack of a scope makes it an ineffective weapon at extreme ranges, but large caliber slugs (.75 caliber round) more than make up for it with tremendous amounts of ballistic force. The Pistol has proven effective under fire and is an ideal backup weapon for combat deployment.

A highly accurate mid-range weapon, the Pistol is quite effective in the hands of a skilled marksman. Pistols use large-caliber rounds that deal heavy damage, but its firing rate is limited as a result.

Modifications

• Slug Rounds – High armor damage, low shield damage
• Burst Fire Mod – Fires slug rounds, burst fire
• Concussion Rounds – Slow effect with high shield damage, low armor damage
• Extended Mag Mod – Fires slug rounds, large magazine, slow reload

Like all firearms in the USIF armory, the Machine Gun is fitted with a MK2 Electro-magnetic jacketing system. With its large magazine and high rate of fire, the Machine Gun excels in multiple-threat engagements. It is not as suited for long range combat as the Assault Rifle, but its massive slug (18mm case-less armor-piercing round) and large ammo drum make it a formidable weapon in any enemy encounter. Its slower reload rate can be overcome with proper use of cover.

Modifications

• Crash Rounds – High vehicle and structure damage, low infantry damage
• EMP Rounds – Drains target’s energy over time, very high shield damage, very low armor damage
• Incendiary Rounds – Damages target over time, very high armor damage, very low shield damage
• Slug Rounds – High armor damage, low shield damage

The Missile Launcher carries its ammunition inside a box magazine and can be modified to fire a variety of explosive projectiles. Upon impact, it generates a directional jet of superheated metal that burns through all known armors. While the missiles are not highly effective at long range engagements, their exceptional damage and area-of-effect make them very versatile at close and medium-range encounters.

As the anti-vehicle and anti-structure weapon of choice, the Missile Launcher fires explosive rounds designed to tear apart constructs. Modifications allow the Missile Launcher to be used as an anti-infantry weapon or as an area denial weapon.

Modifications

• Frag Missiles – High infantry damage, low vehicle and structure damage
• Rapid Fire Mod – Fires crash missiles, high rate-of-fire, low damage
• Crash Missiles – High vehicle and structure damage, low infantry damage
• Napalm Missiles – Damages target over time, very high armor damage, very low shield damage

The Pulse Cannon is a sophisticated weapon that fires plasma charges. Prior to firing, it drains its plasma cell which subsequently creates an overwhelming burst of plasma.  This deals significant area damage to shields, making it effective against groups of enemies. The longer the pulse rifle charges, the more potent the shot.

As an assault weapon, the Pulse Cannon is a dangerous addition to the modern arsenal. Capable of inflicting heavy damage on shields and infantry targets at all ranges, the Pulse Cannon has become a favorite weapon of shock troops.

Modifications

• Pulse Charge – Charge-up shots over time (increases damage and area), high shield damage, low armor damage
• EMP Rounds – Drains target’s energy over time, very high shield damage, very low armor damage
• Burst Fire Mod – Fires pulse rounds, burst fire
• Riot Mod – Fires pulse rounds, spread fire, ineffective at long range

Delivering a powerful blast, the Shotgun is most effective in close-quarters battle and lethal at point-blank range.  Although the weapon has a slower firing speed than most infantry weapons, it coats a large area with multiple projectiles when fired. Designed to utilize the MK2 Electro-magnetic jacketing system, each 20-gauge slug (filled with titanium bearings) is coated in a harmonically tuned electromagnetic field, which wreaks havoc with military and civilian-class personal shielding.

The Shotgun excels at short range infantry combat, packing an intense punch and moderate rate of fire. Its usefulness drops rapidly with range due to its wide spread. In a pinch, it is also reasonably effective at dismantling structures.

Modifications

• Buckshot Rounds – High damage on all targets
• Riot Mod – Fires buckshot rounds, wider spread, more projectiles
• Concussion Rounds – Slow effect with high and shield damage, low armor damage
• Incendiary Rounds – Damages target over time, very high armor damage, very low shield damage

This long-range rifle provides unparalleled accuracy and stopping power against distant targets. Utilizing the 1.20 caliber round, the weapon is difficult to wield but is devastating against shields and armor and carries a substantial effective range. Utilizing Kinetic Mass Drivers to propel the round and using advanced optical technology (which interfaces directly to the soldier’s HUD), its extraordinary accuracy and armor-penetrating ability make it an outstanding anti-infantry weapon.

With multiple zoom levels and extraordinary accuracy, the Sniper Rifle is an exclusively long-range tactical support weapon. It is slow to fire and difficult to wield, severely restricting its usefulness when not stationary and zoomed.

Modifications

• Rail Rounds – High damage on all targets
• Tagger Rounds – Sensor tags target, drains target’s energy over time, very high shield damage, very low armor damage
• Frag Rounds – Rounds detonate on impact, low area-of-effect
• Rapid Fire Mod – Fires rail rounds, high rate-of-fire, low damage