Lasgun

A lasgun, also called a laser weapon, was a continuous-wave laser projector and perhaps the most widely used hand-held weapon in the Imperium. It commonly took the form of a pistol or rifle, firing a constant, narrow beam whose nozzle could in some models be adjusted to alter the width and spread. Its power came from a cell cartridge that could be replaced when depleted. Despite its prevalence, the weapon carried a catastrophic risk when used against the personal shields of the Imperium, which shaped the way wars were fought.

Form and function#

The lasgun's firing pattern was typically a constant, narrow beam, though the nozzle could sometimes be adjusted to alter the width and spread of the beam. Its size and form varied widely, from small handheld lasguns through long field models to large, armored, heavy-duty weapons. The cutteray was essentially a short-range version of the lasgun, used mostly as a cutting tool and as a surgeon's scalpel. Lasguns had adjustable intensity settings, the highest of which was known as the Maxibeam. During the days of the Old Imperium, lasguns were often ornate, with detailed scrollwork embedded in handles of exotic wood, but by the time of the Honored Matres their designs had become less intricate and more functional. The recorded models ranged from the laser pistol and lasrifle up to the lascannon, which included antiaircraft weapons and heavy armored assault models.

The danger of shields#

Lasguns were the preferred weapon for armies, but when shields were in use they were generally avoided, because the contact reaction between a lasgun beam and a shield created a nuclear explosion that often killed everyone within a large radius. This single fact reshaped warfare under the Faufreluches. With personal shields in common use, many soldiers and assassins came to prefer knives and swords in combat, both because such blades could safely penetrate a shield and because of a renewed appreciation for the art of swordsmanship.