The MWS is a "sport", an experimental weapon; there are not more than a thousand in all of the Imperium. Even in the Beyond, only ten thousand-odd have been issued.
M-100
MWS 10mm
Weight 4500g; magazine 700g; grenade 250g; laser pack 2000g. Length 930mm. The M-100 is, in many ways, the ultimate development of the heavy infantry rifle. While not as devastating a slugthrower as the gauss rifle or as massively damaging as an energy weapon, the M-100 is a much more effective all-round weapon. It combines the effects of a high-rate automatic rifle, a small grenade launcher and a laser rifle in one package. Troops who have been issued the weapon have been known to refer to it as the kitchen sink gun. The M-100 is an experimental weapon, currently only produced by Star A Star munitions CLC of Beaumonde/Mapepire in the Beyond. Its high price tag makes it rather uncommon even where it is available; also it is illegal on any world of law level 2+ if no grenades or explosive rounds are loaded, and on any world of law 1+ if grenades are carried. Note however that it may (with luck) be passed off as a Gauss rifle or ACR of unfamiliar design if outside Star A Star's corporate radius, which will suffice up to law level 3. The M-100 is difficult to use, almost unmanageable, without battledress. An unarmoured man will soon become tired moving its' considerable weight around in battlefield conditions. However, with battle armour (and especially if adapted to a rifle link) the M-100 comes into its own. The M-100 has three modes of fire; slug, grenade and laser, selected by a switch placed at the top of the pistol grip. The firer's right thumb slides into this, and moves through a 15-20 degree curve to select the mode of fire. When pressed firmly down (as when the user is gripping the rifle tightly) the switch locks, thus preventing accidental slipping of the grip while in use. When set to slug, the M-100 will fire either 1, 4 or 10 shot bursts, rate being selected by a second selector on the top of the weapon. A loaded magazine containing 100 rounds is inserted into the weapon forward of the trigger guard; a digital indicator on the top of the weapon displays the remaining ammunition. The M-100 uses 10mm ammunition with a slightly longer cartridge than used by pistols of that calibre and with a heavier powder charge. High explosive, high explosive armour piercing (HEAP), discarding sabot and solid slug ammunition are available. The large capacity of M-100 magazines (apart from being the source of the weapon's name) make it rather unwieldy; despite the magazines featuring a triple-stack mechanism, the magazine is still as long as that of the average assault rifle. On the grenade setting, the M-100 will fire one 20mm RAM grenade per combat round from its' underslung launcher. The tube magazine holds 10 grenades; reloading takes three minutes. A digital readout on the top of the weapon shows the number of grenades remaining. High explosive, incendiary and stun grenades are available for the M-100. The grenades are smaller than, and therefore not compatible with, Imperial standard equipment. The laser part of the M-100 can work in three different modes. In standalone mode, the weapon's integral power pack provides enough energy for about 10 bolts. In supported mode, a normal laser weapon pack is attached and the weapon is good for up to 100 bolts. Painting mode allows the laser to act as a low-powered direction pointer for heavy artillery at a power cost of one bolt per half hour of use. As before, a digital readout on the top of the weapon shows the remaining power. Calibre of the laser barrel is Imperial standard at 2mm. The laser is a standard X-Laser and therefore invisible under normal circumstances; a colour filter is phased in for painting work. The M-100 is equipped with advanced battlefield sights. These include electronic/telescopic, Passive InfraRed, Image Intensifier and Laser Painting sighting systems. Gyroscopic stabilisation (as fitted to gauss rifles) was experimented with but simply would not fit in the package. A flash eliminator is fitted to the muzzle. A frog bayonet may be attached at the muzzle end. A carrying sling is provided, and the weapon is often best used from the hip, supported by the sling. The M-100 is manufactured only on Beaumonde/Mapepire. Spares and ammo can be ordered through Star A Star CLC (assuming that the weapon was legally obtained!), and repairs can be contracted (however, a very long wait can ensue if the weapon is sent back!). Most owners, therefore, elect to do their own repairs. Repairs to the MWS can be carried out at the following task:
To maintain or repair a Multi Weapons System:
(Variable), Combat Rifle, Mechanical, Electronic, Education, 2 hours.
Referee: The
difficulty varies with the damage done to the weapon: Minor = Difficult, Major
= Formidable, Destroyed = Impossible. Allow a +1 Dm if the workshop manuals
are present; increase the difficulty by 1 if the character is trained at TL 13-
and reduce the difficulty by 1 if the character is trained at TL 16+. The
referee's judgement must cover whether a weapon can be repaired at all.
As stated above, the MWS uses a custom 10mm cartridge. Certain 10mm "long" hunting rifle cartridges do match, but the loads will be totally inappropriate. However, with even the most basic of reloading equipment, a skilled person can create their own ammunition if supplied with appropriate cases.
To reload MWS solid slug ammunition:
Routine, Gun Combat skill -1, Mechanical, Intelligence, variable time
Referee: The time
interval varies depending on ability; generally a 7-day week is sufficient to
make 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
Discarding sabot bullets are available; however, assembling them is less easy, requiring a Difficult task as above. High explosive and HEAP rounds require special safety precautions; the rate of manufacture drops by half and the task becomes Difficult and Hazardous. Note that the purchase of HE or HEAP shells or bullets on any world of Law Level 2+ is illegal. Star A Star are advertising the future release of KEAP and KEAPER rounds for the MWS, sometime in the next couple of years if demand is high enough. As discussed earlier, the RAM grenades used by the M-100 are not Imperial standard, and therefore are not universally obtainable. However, other of Star A Star's assault rifles use the 20mm RAM (including the famed Grenade Pistol). Availability is thus better within Star A Star's corporate radius, which is roughly twenty parcsecs from Beaumonde. (Note however that Star A Star do not sell any weapons at all within the I'Sred*Ni Heptad or the Zydarian Codominion). The 20mm RAM grenade is not feasible for private individuals to assemble. None of the grenades are legal at Law Levels of 1 or greater. Star A Star reputedly have plans in the pipeline for HEAP, Flechette, KEAP, KEAPER and Gas RAM grenades in the 20mm range. The power pack for the X-Laser can be charged at any standard power socket; it has the usual high-input transformers to allow direct connection to the power plant of a vehicle or ship. Other packs of either Comsentient or Imperial design may be used with the M-100. New laser focusing crystals may be obtained almost anywhere.