Transhuman Space Firearms more in line with High-Tech

[Icelander]

As noted in my last post, I imagine that in the world of Transhuman Space, the People's Republic of China adopted the QBZ-95 bullpup assault rifle in 5.8x42mm conventional cased ammunition (HT p. 122) before the end of the 20th century. With upgraded optics and accessories, the bullpup rifle served them well for the first two decades of the 21st century.

I furthermore decided that for my campaigns, at least, after extensive negotiations with Taiwan prior to unification, the PLA agreed not to issue the weapon to ROC units incorporated into PRC forces, but to adopt an entirely new weapon system. The PRC would take over Taiwan's caseless rifle design project (the T110) and the promising 5.6x45mmCL ammunition, incorporating a rifle firing the caseless ammunition as the kinetic component of its own proposed future weapon project, a dual-purpose automatic carbine and a mini-missile launcher reverse-engineered from early American designs. The resulting weapon was designated the QBZ-23, although the first battle rifles weren't issued to conventional units until 2025.

The solid-state mini-missiles that the US developed in the 2020s were superior to TL7-8 grenade launchers in many ways. On the other hand, they are not a perfect replacement for all the tasks that a late TL8 to early TL9 grenade launcher can accomplish. This applies particularly to the earliest models of 30x30mm mini-missiles adopted by China, which as Broken Dreams notes were limited to HE missiles. The greater expense of fire-control electronics in the early days of TL9 also meant that standard battle rifles came with mini-missiles without advanced guidance options or a semi-ballistic setting.

These factors made it necessary to issue another rifle with a longer-ranged grenade launcher at squad-level alongside the QBZ-23 battle rifle. Fortunately, China had already developed an advanced underbarrel grenade launcher and the reunification with Taiwan left a perfectly adequate assault rifle that could mount a grenade launcher, not to mention the industrial capability to build tens of million of them, without a military contract. The PLA therefore elected to adopt the new caseless assault rifle that the ROC had developed and issue two of these at the squad level with mounted grenade launchers, alongside the new QBZ-23 battle rifles. This was always meant to be a temporary expedient, but had the benefit of making use of the smallarms manufacturing plants in the ROC, which had already tooled up to equip the local military with the new caseless gun.

T110
Assault rifle, 5.6x45mm CL
Dmg: 6d-1 pi;
Acc: 5;
Range: 800/3,500;
Weight: 7.9/0.9;
RoF: 13;
Shots: 30+1(3);
ST: 9†;
Bulk: -5*;
Rcl: 2;
LC: 2;
Cost: $600/$5;

The T110 is made from metal and high TL8 composites. It has a 16" barrel, four accessory rails and a multi-position adjustable telescoping stock. It comes standard with Safe, 1 (Semi-Automatic), 3 (3-rd limited burst) and A (full RoF) settings. Using 5.6mmCL FMJ bullets, the rifle retains pi wounding out to 650 yards. An early combination tiny computer (Complexity 2)/HUD-link (Cost $300; Weight 0.3 lbs.) and a Laser/Light Module (TS p. 74) were not built into the T110 rifle, but were common attachments to the accessory rails.

QBZ-24
Assault rifle, 5.6x45mmCL + 25x35mmCL grenade launcher
Dmg: 6d-1 pi or by warhead;
Acc: 5+2 or 2+2;
Range: 800/3,500 or 250/1,800;
Weight: 14.6/0.9 + 0.33;
RoF: 13 or 1;
Shots: 30+1(3) and 1(3);
ST: 10†;
Bulk: -6*;
Rcl: 2 or 4;
LC: 1;
Cost: $4,300/$5 + warhead;

The T110 was designated the QBZ-24 under the PLA nomenclature system and proved a satisfactorily stop-gap until the development of a specialised grenade launcher/rifle combination. The QBZ-24 could use the 40-rd magazines of the QBZ-23, but the supply of T110 magazines meant that it was usually issued with them instead.

In PLA service, the weapon mounted the QLG-15 (Cost $800; Weight 4.8 lbs.; -1 Bulk to host weapon), an early single-shot, muzzle-loading 25mm UBGL (underbarrel grenade launcher), Tiny Computer/HUD-link (Cost $300; Weight 0.3 lbs.), Laser/Light Module (Cost $600; Weight 0.6; IR/Visible laser to 5,000 yards; IR/Visible light to 100 yards; 2B/24 hrs) and came with an early compact digital scope designed to work for both the rifle and the grenade launcher (Cost $2,000; Weight 1 lbs.; 1-6x (+0 to +2 Acc); Infravision; Night Vision 7; B/50 hrs.). The listed Cost and Weight includes all these accessories, but note that at 2100, manufacturing a new weapon system with appropriately the same function as the QBZ-24 could be done much cheaper. Used QBZ-24 in good condition sell for around $1,200 in 2100.

Setting the telescoping stock in the shortest position makes the T110 as compact as a carbine and thus reduces combined weapon Bulk to -5. It also reduces rifle Acc to 4 (as a carbine), but does not affect the Acc 2 of the grenade launcher, any more than it usually affects under-barrel grenade launcher stats whether they are mounted on a rifle or carbine.

The QLG-15 is an early caseless 25x35mm grenade launcher and the grenades are not compatible with later 25mmCL designs. The WPS is 0.33 lbs. and the CPS is $6. The grenades have a muzzle velocity of 600 fps and for calculations of time of flight, as per rules on 'Bullet Travel' (TS p. 32), use (Range in yards)/150. Available grenades are HE, HEDP, HE-AB and less-than-lethal riot control warheads. Use Ultra-Tech TL9 stats for these, except for the -AB (HT p. 174-175).

ZH-35
Individual Combat Weapon, 25x30mmCL grenade launcher + 5.6x45mmCL
Dmg: 4d pi++ (or by warhead) or 5d pi;
Acc: 4+3;
Range: 360/2,200 or 700/3,300;
Weight: 15.3/1.5 + 0.9;
RoF: 3 or 13;
Shots: 5(3) and 30+1(3);
ST: 11†;
Bulk: -6;
Rcl: 3 or 2;
LC: 1;
Cost: $6,100/$5 + warhead;

This combination weapon was adopted by the PLA in the late 2030s and has given great satisfaction in the role of dedicated grenadier weapon. It is designed primarily as a platform for firing 25mmCL grenades. For close encounters, it comes with a short-barrelled (10"), stockless underbarrel automatic carbine (based on a lightened T110) that shares the stock and optics of the main weapon, but this is merely an emergency expedient. In fact, some gunners preferred to detach the carbine entirely from their weapons. If detached, the T110 Carbine can be used on its own: Acc 3; Weight 6.2/0.9; ST 9†; Bulk -3. This reduces the main weapon bulk and weight to Weight 7.1/1.5; Bulk -5, but also increases Rcl to 4.

The ZH-35 comes with a fire-control computer and optics that are the core of the weapon system: Cost $2,500; Weight 1.5 lbs.; 1-8x (+0 to +3); Infravision; Night Vision 7; Multispectral Laser/Illumination (100 yard light beam); Laser Rangefinder (+3 Acc on all Aimed shots); HUD link and Complexity 3 computer. This allows for airbursts, contact-fused, delayed contact or even any guidance available for bullets.

The 25x30mmCL grenade launcher has many grenades available. These are lighter caseless grenades than the earlier 25x35mmCL and have WPS 0.22; CPS $4.4. Use the warhead options from Ultra-Tech, with the addition of -AB warheads. The muzzle velocity is 800 fps, for the purposes of 'Bullet Travel', use (Range in yards)/200.

[Icelander]

In my Transhuman Space world, I imagine that the United States eventually succeeded at designing a Light Machine Gun from its LSAT program. Problems with overheating led to the polymer-cased telescoping round being adopted in preference to a caseless one, even though versions of both were designed.

The caliber eventually chosen was a high-velocity 120 grain bullet in 6.5mm, designed to match 7.62mm Nato ballistics at a 1,000 yards. Optimised for a fairly short 16" barrel, this round proved highly satisfactorily and while it never replaced the 5.56x45mm Nato in the enormous arms and ammunition stockpiles that the USA owned for the first the first half of the 21st century, it was widely adopted by special operators in the 2020s and eventually became the most common rifle/carbine/SAW cartridge for special operators, Rangers, airborne regiments, expeditionary groups and other frontline units in the US armed forces.

The LMG designed around it, meanwhile, did become the standard US Army (and in a slightly different configuration, Marine) squad automatic weapon in the 2030s and served with distinction in that role for half a century, with some electronics and software updates. Even though it has recently been replaced in that role with the US Army by a 5.6mmCL squad automatic weapon that adds massively to the number of rounds the SAW gunner can carry, many human and parahuman gunners fought to retain their 6.5mm SAWs and in units with more flexible TO&E, it is common to see it still serving alongside the newer weapon.

In my Transhuman Space, the US adopted the, by then almost universal, 5.6mmCL for their standard battle rifle on the eve of the Peruvian War and the new squad automatic weapon in that caliber in the early 90s, but the older 6.5x30mm polymer-cased telescoping ammunition has never been entirely successfully removed from the supply lines of US forces. Aside from the 6.5mm SAW, there are still many 6.5mm marksman's weapons in service. Many special operators, marksmen and assault gunners still simply prefer the 6.5mm PTCA to the more modern and lighter round, especially as even in 2100, weapons designed for a cased round still have an advantage in shedding excess heat from rapid firing over a weapon designed for a caseless one.

6.5x30mm PCTA
WPS: 0.03 lbs.
CPS: $0.6

(from a 16" barrel; 7+ lbs. weapon)
Damage: 6d+2 pi
Range: 1,000/4,200
Rcl: 2

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

One can find idiots who'll buy anything. But that idea is so blatantly "taking stupid personal chances in a bad cause" that it'll only get a very few idiots, who'll then find themselves tagged as an anarcho-terrorist faction and practically self-discrediting.

There have been flash-mob events in the real world which turned out to be camouflage for criminal activity - they just weren't described as such, more like "turn up here at this time wearing roughly these clothes, it'll be fun".

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Easily concealed weapons can have a number of purposes, the most plausible of which is self-defence, either from criminals or from the government.

Easy concealment is not terribly relevant to self-defense except in areas where carrying a visible weapon is discouraged or forbidden, and if it's merely a social restriction, being scan-shielded is unnecessary. Self-defense against the government is generally not a category that governments class as legitimate (also, concealable weapons are generally utterly worthless in that role -- except for assassinations, which pretty much no-one considers legitimate).

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Easy concealment is not terribly relevant to self-defense except in areas where carrying a visible weapon is discouraged or forbidden, and if it's merely a social restriction, being scan-shielded is unnecessary.

As noted, the area where the campaign is set has strict gun laws, but high Corruption and plenty of armed and dangerous criminals. It also includes multiple areas where private security may scan random citizens and a non-zero percent of corporate security men are bullies and thugs who might harass or harm a lower class individual because of a random scan.

Originally Posted by Anthony

Self-defense against the government is generally not a category that governments class as legitimate (also, concealable weapons are generally utterly worthless in that role -- except for assassinations, which pretty much no-one considers legitimate).

It's a 'free' city in the middle of a Dead Broke (so probably failed state) polity. The government is utterly corrupt and private militias, corporate security and security contractors are mostly more formiddable than actual cops, not to mention that they may have 'Special Deputy'-esque badges and full authority to enforce the 'law' around their compound.

Naturally, they reject the legitimacy of self-defence by the under-class. But it's not obvious that the under-class is obliged to agree.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Naturally, they reject the legitimacy of self-defence by the under-class. But it's not obvious that the under-class is obliged to agree.

Thing is, 'no legitimate uses' means 'no legitimate uses recognized by authorities, security systems, and the like'. It doesn't really matter whether the under-class thinks the item has a legit use, except as far as availability goes (it's sort of like having a zip-gun in prison. The guards do not really care whether other prisoners consider a zip-gun self defense).

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Thing is, 'no legitimate uses' means 'no legitimate uses recognized by authorities, security systems, and the like'. It doesn't really matter whether the under-class thinks the item has a legit use, except as far as availability goes (it's sort of like having a zip-gun in prison. The guards do not really care whether other prisoners consider a zip-gun self defense).

Private security systems might have to be programmed to recognise that such weapons might have legitimate uses in the hands of anyone connected to the power structure, i.e. self-defence even when not appearing armed or just a whim to be able to own something illegal in many other places. The high level of Corruption means that corporate executives might easily have access to LC 1 gear, without anyone being able to do something about it.

And it's not as if the government has much legitimacy in the eyes of the majority of the city's inhabitants. Sure, the law forbids non-metallic guns to most citizens, but it also forbids all other guns and even stunners to the disenfranchised majority. More than half of the population is composed of illegal immigrants who view anyone appearing official as a source of fear anyway. They moved over the border because it was better than starving to death in their civil war ravaged homeland.

Mind you, though, there are large parts of Transhuman Space where the Control Rating is 0-2, which implies that LC 1 gear is legally available with varying levels of hassle, that anyone except convicted felons may own LC 2 gear (e.g. automatic firearms) and that anyone, even felons and the mentally ill, may freely buy LC 3 gear (pistols, hunting weapons, shotguns). A strict reading of the listed CR ratings and the rules implies that gun legislation has changed massively in many countries by 2100.

Of course, GMs may prefer to rule that handguns effectively have -1 LC (or more) in much of the world, as they do on modern Earth, and/or that like Australia, if to a less extreme extent, many otherwise liberal nations have a higher effective CR as regards weapon ownership and use. The alternative is that the entire EU except the Vatican becomes 'Shall Issue' for handguns and states like Greece or Finland don't require a licence for handguns at all. This is, of course, possible. But it's a fairly major change from current views and legislation in all these countries, which doesn't seem to have been mentioned anywhere in the setting.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Private security systems might have to be programmed to recognise that such weapons might have legitimate uses in the hands of anyone connected to the power structure

Generally speaking private security systems are interested in the security of the owners of the security system. There are various reasons a private security system might choose to ignore weapons in general, but if anything they'd be more tolerant of obvious weapons than weapons that are trying to hide.

There are, of course, areas that have a CR low enough that you can simply manufacture scanproof weapons, but other than collectors and smuggling into higher CR areas there won't really be a market, because those areas also have a CR low enough that you don't need scanproof weapons.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Generally speaking private security systems are interested in the security of the owners of the security system. There are various reasons a private security system might choose to ignore weapons in general, but if anything they'd be more tolerant of obvious weapons than weapons that are trying to hide.

In true cyberpunk style, we're assuming an uneasy armed detente between cuthroat foreign profiteering corporations whose security contractors can't interfere with rival executives, even if they are super-suspicious or carrying stuff that would be illegal almost anywhere, but can bully lower-class people with impunity.

Originally Posted by Anthony

There are, of course, areas that have a CR low enough that you can simply manufacture scanproof weapons, but other than collectors and smuggling into higher CR areas there won't really be a market, because those areas also have a CR low enough that you don't need scanproof weapons.

Minifabs/minifac technology in THS means that scanproof weapons can be manufactured anywhere, assuming that the schematics* are available and the minifac/minifab has been 'jailbroken'.

*Designed by a rabid Duncanite, of course, and made available in the deep reaches of the Free Net by committed infosocialists.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Icelander

In true cyberpunk style, we're assuming an uneasy armed detente between cuthroat foreign profiteering corporations whose security contractors can't interfere with rival executives, even if they are super-suspicious or carrying stuff that would be illegal almost anywhere, but can bully lower-class people with impunity.

The point is, those people don't need scan-proof weapons. They have various other needs, but you only need to hide from scans if being detected is a problem.