The Voidstdier Saga is a sweeping epic ranging from Earth and the Moon to Mars, the Asteroid Belt, the moons of Saturn and beyond.
A variety of offensive and defensive weapons are employed by the people of the Voidstrider universe. Most are based on real-world concepts and actual weapons. Below is a brief summary of some of the more prevalent.
ADS (Active Denial System) – the ADS is a non-lethal directed energy weapon based on a real-world concept. Informally called a heater, the ADS works by firing a high-powered beam of high-frequency microwaves at a target. The ADS works on a similar principle as a microwave oven, exciting the water and fat molecules in the skin, and instantly heating them via dielectric heating. The ADS’s repel effect in humans occurs at slightly higher than 44 °C, though first-degree burns occur at about 51 °C, and second-degree burns occur at about 58 °C.
Electrolaser – informally called a zapper, zap-gun, stunner, or stungun, and sometimes shortened to e-laser, the electrolaser is a directed energy electroshock weapon used primarily to incapacitate or render a target unconscious. It uses a laser beam to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel. A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel and delivered to the target. Because a laser-induced plasma channel relies on ionization, gas must be present and the electrolaser cannot be used in a vacuum. The electrolaser’s effects on humans are similar to a Taser. It can be fatal. It can also be used to severely damage electronic equipment. If thunderstorms are present, the laser-induced plasma channel created by an electrolaser can cause serious accidents.
Flechette gun – needlegun, needler, razorgun; the flechette gun delivers extremely low recoil and extremely high muzzle velocity and rate-of-fire. It fires hardened carbon flechettes approximately one millimeter in length. Military-issue razorguns can fire about 600 of these tiny “needles” per second. Commercially available models have a drastically lower rate of fire and magazine capacity, and the weapon is extremely rare among civilians.
Pulse Plasma Cannon – the “pulser” is a heavy military weapon that fires toroidal “pulses” of superheated plasma. It works similarly to a modern-day plasma torch, but is able to project the plasma pulses at a target. Due to its unwieldy size and weight, the pulser is generally only deployed on combat drones and military vessels – very few unaugmented humans can handle the weapon.
Whiprazor – the whiprazor is a short baton – about the length of your hand – containing a coiled length of wire-thin silicon monofilament. The monofilament can be extended to a user-defined length between 2 centimeters and 2 meters. In its unpowered state, the filament is pliable and the weapon can be used like a whip – one capable of cutting through any organic material and even most metal alloys. When powered, a piezoelectric charge stiffens the filament to an inflexible, wire-thin blade. In this powered “sword mode,” the whiprazor is capable of cutting even the hardest materials, including hyperdiamond.
John A. Underwood 