Sparnelli riot rifle

  Heralded as the epitome of functional versatility, the potentially deadly Sparnelli riot rifle is standard issue among battle mages in the Sparnell Armed Forces. Its expert design allows for quick and convenient conversion from non-lethal suppressing fire of large groups to a highly lethal single-target laser blast.   The rifle is commonly used to great effect in situations ranging from the conquest of planets to the quelling of political rebellions. They've also become a popular war trophy among the Militant Order of Descendants, for those fortunate enough to overwhelm a Confederation unit armed with the weapon.  

History

The riot rifle was imagined as a one-weapon-fits-most-situations option, with the intend of reducing cost, transportation, and storage requirements for the Sparnell Ground Forces. Originally brainchild of Trujix Ravel and Trujix Dalos, the rifle required almost thirteen years in production and testing before deemed suitable for release.   It was an immediate success, propelling the Trujix Family name overnight into one of the top Families of the Sparnell Confederation. Quickly replacing the other military rifles on the market, by 2088 the original Sparnelli rifle riot was a staple across all Confederation Armada fleets, including those helped by Admirals from Families with competing weaponry.   But as with all things in Sparnelli politics, the Trujix Family's fortune didn't last. Declared Dishonored in 2243 EVT after standing by the innocence of Commodore Trujix Vrokon despite the proof implicating him in the treason plot uncovered by Admiral Kydell, they took the prestige of the original riot rifle with them. Competitors quickly swarmed to cover the gap, each inventing their own variation of the rifle – often with assistance from former members of the Trujix Family, enticed to join their own instead.   Today, the term "riot rifle" actually refers to a collection of rifles with similar sizes and features. Despite the stiff competition, or perhaps because of it, no single model has risen to the forefront. Admirals instead select desired features from among those developed by their Family's allies, provided their Family does not manufacture their own model.  

Dual Function Design

The rifle is actually two weapons in one, with a quick toggle - usually along the bottom, near the trigger - to switch between modes. Despite its higher cost compared to more specialized weaponry, its ability to replace several options at once, combined with the reduced armory size and related storage and transportation expenses, have seen the riot rifle hailed as an efficient and necessary weapon for any streamlined fleet.  

Laser Beam Configuration (Closed)

In its closed configuration, the riot rifle serves as a high powered laser rifle. Less accurate than a sniper rifle due to blemishes within the barrel from its hinged configuration, the weapon is nonetheless effective enough for most lethal combat. Its concentrated laser blast is capable of collapsing many portable Shields, although it's no match for a genuine Shielding mage.   The rifle is ill-advised for encounters within a spacecraft due to its tendency to burn holes through thinner bulkheads. Most boarding teams bring riot rifles alongside their electropistols, as the riot setting is effective at clearing hallways. The laser setting has proven useful as a makeshift laser cutter in a pinch, provided the wielding battle mage overrides the settings to allow for a continuous beam and augments the rifle's coolant system to compensate.  

Riot Configuration (Open)

Each rifle barrel contains a joint approximately halfway down the barrel, allowing it to hinge open. This converts the rifle into riot mode, reducing the overall strength of each blast while converting the rifle's laser into a cone-like pulse of energy. No longer lethal to non-fae without pre-existing medical conditions, the rifle is instead capable of incapacitating anyone unshielded within its cone of attack.   This setting has also proven useful on away missions escorting science personnel during planetary exploration missions, as most aggressive wildlife has proven at least mildly vulnerable to the weapon's wide pulse output.