Roar Of Industry

[Sophie]

Eruza's expression was almost perfectly neutral. Though if anyone had looked at her while the weapons were firing it would be quite clear that she was in serious pain as the roar of the heavy machine guns amplified her headache. However, she quickly recomposed herself before the general spoke to her again. "Ayumi, and Kyo. What are your impressions?"

Ayumi quickly stepped forward to speak as she was the higher ranking marine, she was also secretly hoping to do all she could to make up for her blunder on the mission. "The Avo 1945 is an overall mediocre weapon. Most heavy machine guns need to maintain steady fire over long periods of time and that machine is clearly not up to handle long engagements. On top of that, despite the mount, the poor recoil handling makes the weapon horribly inaccurate. While the point of an HMG is more to put rounds down range than to hit something, I personally still would want to be able to hit the broadside of a superheavy tank. Of course, jamming and overheating are major issues. However, I am assuming that these are just prototypes and are still being designed. The amount that weapon failed brings me serious concern."

Eruza nodded at Ayumi. "Those are all serious concerns, but the price point is very hard to argue with."

"It may seem that way now, but it won't when you have to buy four of them to do the work of one." Ayumi snapped back. Her curtness was a result of her exhaustion and hangover but was still inexcusable. She quickly added on. "Eruza-Kama."

The Field Marshal frowned but nodded. "Fair point. Then what of the Kalpa 1945 Heavy Support Automatic?"

Ayumi was ready to speak up, but Kyo quickly launched into it first. "The HSA was a functionally competent weapon. Able to withstand heavy use for a long period of time without rest. However, its weight and size were cumbersome even for me. I imagine territorials will struggle with moving this weapon to new emplacements while under pressure. It would serve well as an emplaced weapon, but I would fear it being left behind in less than favorable engagements. On top of the weight issue is the ergonomic issue. The weapon is a pain to use. Not once while firing it did I feel as one with the weapon and I was constantly conscious of how it was resting against my body."

"What Kyo-kas is forgetting," Ayumi interrupted, "is that this weapon wasn't designed with Kumo use in mind. It will be primarily used by native Elenrians and not Kumo. The ergonomics issue is a non-" She was cut off by Kyo. 

"All weapons developed in Kumosenkan territory should be made with Kumo in-" Ayumi interrupted Kyo with a loud slap. The anger had built in Ayumi. She already felt she was being looked down upon by her superiors, and now she felt that her subordinate was stepping on her toes.  "Don't forget your place Kyo-kas. You are my subordinate and you will not speak over me."

Eruza frowned deeply at the clear display of unprofessionalism by her marines. She shook her head and tried to recover their image. "Corporal Ayumi is correct. The ergonomics are a non issue. The price as well is very agreeable for such a functional weapon. What of the last weapon?"

Ayumi stood tall and spoke quickly wanting to get the eyes off of her. "Salvaki Automatic Heavy Caliber is honestly a brand new class of HMG. It's size, fire rate, and cartridge are all beyond that of a standard HMG. With some more development I think it could be a perfect mounted weapon for combatting armored targets. I don't think it'd be too much use in the war against the greatferns and other terrorists. Though I do think it would be wise to build a substantial amount for their reserves."

"Very well. Thank you for the thorough report Corporal. Well General. It seems like the HSA will be your new standard HMG. Please begin mass production immediately. As well as the Salvaki. I would designate it a super heavy machine gun personally. Begin limited production and use them to defend important points in TAKPOE."

[StaolDerg]

“Of course, Field Marshal. Though I will be sure to make a note for the weapon to be comfortable with Kumo operation.” Mes nodded towards the nearby officer who had been busy recording the Kumos’ report. “Inform the designers that their weapon has been accepted. An improved model is expected by the end of the month. All resources will be provided as requested. For Salvaki Industries, place an order for two hundred, expected to be delivered in the span of the next four months, as well as the green light for development. Both are to be given access to the Armory’s industrial capacity for both weapons development and production. Inform the workers that they will be working 14-hour shifts with overtime to cover the quota. Labor Requisition Order 122-5 is authorized for the bolstering of manpower if needed. They will have the appropriate funds made available for their service.”

The officer hurriedly jot away, pausing at the mention of the working hours. “General-“

“They can do it now and give us a dozen guns in a month, or the corpses of their family members will watch them do it from the firing line,” the Inselni barked, white fangs flashing.

The officer shut up right quick, finishing transcribing the order, presenting it to a waiting liaison officer, who took off at a run out of the hall towards the command room.

Mes turned back to Eruza as the HMGs were packed up and set away, face neutral. "What weapon next, Eruza-kama?"

[Sophie]

"Kamiko are you ready?" She asked the sniper who responded with a curt nod. "Let's move on to the anti-material rifle." Eruza answered ignoring the extreme threats against the factory workers, wanting to move beyond it.

[StaolDerg]

“Very well, Eruza-kama.”

The first anti-material rifle looked like a bunch of pipes welded together with pieces of wood hastily chopped and slapped on here and there. An slender scope, rather large muzzle brake, and large magazine were all that showed it as anything that looked like a sanely-designed firearm.

“This is the… Kapa-3? Designed by students Niaka Falma and Piarvae Emli.” The Inselni herself looked miffed at having to present such a bizarre weapon. “Designated for testing purposes the Kapa Type 3, chambered in the experimental 15x105mm tungsten-tipped explosive and solid anti-armor rounds fed by a three-round magazine by a delayed-blowback bolt-action. Equipped with a 5x scope and bipod, it is rated for 23.4mm of armor penetration at 400 meters at a 60-degree angle, maximum range at 2,400 meters. Its cost is 18,900 Yairen per unit, with a production rate of three weeks.”

The gun was almost comically heavy and bulky to use, but the well-placed bipod was designed with a limited arc to turn the gun in a 45-degree direction. The magazine was fed through the top, negating the need for a spring within the sheet metal box. A loud clack indicated the gun’s successful chambering and it was aimed. The first shot was thunderous, kicking up dust all about the front of the gun and slapping the sleeves of the officers as they covered their ears. The armored target emitted a a small shower of sparks and smoke as the shot broke through easier than a knife through butter, a small burst of smoke behind it indicating the round’s detonation. Incredibly, the recoil ended up mostly negated by the strangely shaped stock, a recoil dampener stretching out the punch to simply nearly shove the shooter back than obliterate their shoulder. The second shot was less fruitful however, the primer failing to activate. Wiggling the round out with a bayonet managed to resolve the issue, with the next to fire with a similarly successful result as the first. It quickly became evident that the gun did not handle repeated shots well with such a high-power round, steam curling off the back of the barrel. The dampener also failed after a few dozen shots, providing a rather nasty shock when a loud snap erupted from the stock after a twentieth shot while sliding back forwards.

Mes frowned, ending the weapon’s trial there for safety while an officer made sure the Kumo marine was all right after the gun failed, then moved to the next gun, a full-metal construction that came with a pair of small boxes on the sides of the stock to carry additional ammunition.

“This next one is the Starry-1 rifle, designed by Brigadier General Alpo, Web of Logistics for the Armory Apuri still under construction. It is chambered in the 20x110mm explosive armor-piercing, high-explosive, and solid armor-piercing rounds, single shot delayed-blowback bolt-action. It’s rated for 32.1mm at 400 meters 90 degrees, maximum at 7,000 meters, equipped with a 6.5x scope and bipod. It costs about 200,400 Yairen and five weeks to produce.”

The gun was hefty, about the same weight as the last one. The breech was rather difficultly narrow to insert the round, and the plain stock was rather uncomfortable, being rear-heavy. The bipod was placed at the front, seemingly with the realization that its rather flimsy construction would in no way hold up to the weight of the gun’s rear, yet at the same time made a mount mandatory to fire accurately. Yet, the gun fired effectively if not just as deafening, straight-up knocking the metal block off the stand with the energy of the solid round. Most issues seemed to stem from the weak bipod that shook when aimed with, bending and the gun’s stiff bolt, which would seal shut occasionally after firing. The rest of the issues seemed to be ergonomic and with the unreliability with the high-explosive rounds, the fuses of which would occasionally break when hit by the firing pin. A quick alteration by the workshop allowed the field marshal and observers to watch the concrete block that was the target crack in an area with the round’s impact. Many of the explosive rounds shattered against the armor, however, their fuses failing to detonate. The test finally ended when both the bipod snapped and the breech failed to close properly from buildup.

Mes made sure that some more coffee and water was fetched for the Kumo as she prepared to move on to the last AM rifle. Not completely terrible, she figured. She presented the last AM rifle, a comparatively slender firearm that looked like an oversized hunting rifle with an angled magazine and scope.

“Designed by Corporal Karia Eai of Armory Pefna, Aundui. With no official name yet, its testing designation is the Pefna Anti-Material Rifle Type 1. Chambered in the experimental 8.55x98mm armor-piercing high-explosive and solid rounds within a five-round magazine, semi-automatic delayed-blowback. It is rated at 28.5mm at 90-degrees at 480 meters, with a maximum at 3,000 meters with a 4.5x scope. It costs 116,900 Yairen, with a two- and half-week production time.”

The gun surprisingly fired at an unexpectedly high velocity, its lack of range and small round made up by the gun’s ability to hit accurately at a distance and rate of fire. The recoil was painful though, with little but a simple delayed-recoil system to slow the shock as the wooden stock rammed the shooter. The magazine was rather shoddy as well, the springs rather weak to feed into the gun’s chamber, causing jams. A quick modification from the workshop resolved that issue by replacing it with a stronger spring that fed the rounds more reliably. The gun fired quickly too, making the issue mostly centered around the weak recoil system.

Mes made sure the coffee was refilled before she turned to the field marshal, awaiting her judgement. “That’s all of the anti-material rifles, Eruza-kama.”

[Sophie]

Eruza looked to Kamiko expectantly, awaiting her debrief on the rifles. Kamiko stepped up but took a moment before speaking to fully gather her thoughts. She spoke quickly, quietly, and almost monotonoly, "The Kapa-3 is a complete mess of a rifle. I wouldn't dare use it in anything less but ideal conditions. However, it's armor-penetrating capabilities are remarkable. These design flaws are evidently the results of overworked and exhausted eyes missing obvious flaws. I'd recommend doubling the manpower behind designing and producing it but limiting hours to 50 hours a week per person. This would at least double the cost but should ideally cut back on its production time. The Kama-3 shows serious promise, and if it were more reliable I'd argue it's better than modern Kumosenkan AM rifles. The Starry-1 rifle is an overdesigned slag heap. It's too heavy and far too costly. There is nothing a Starry-1 can do that a redesigned Kama-3 can't. The Pefna type 1 is by all standards fine. The recoil system needs to be completely reworked before I could confidently clear it for active use, but the only advantage I see over a reworked Kama-3 is the five-round magazine."

Eruza nodded and smiled. "Thank you Kamiko-kas. There you have it Mes-kas. Fix the flaws on the Kama-3 and then prepare it for mass production. I've never seen Kamiko-kas take such a liking to a weapon in testing." She took a few strides over to the next table and picked up the submachine gun that lay on it. "Let's work with these next."

[StaolDerg]

“I will make a request to the Ministry of Work to artificially rededicate the designers’ time to the full development of the weapon. The rifle will be done with full care and effort, that will be made sure of.” She nodded, stepping over to begin the presentation of the submachine guns.

“The one in your hands is the 1945 Type 1 Kipla, designed by senior student Operi Kipla, designated the Kipla 1945 Automatic. It uses the 8x22mm Nambu cartridge already in use in both standard firearms of Kumosenkan troops and that of the reserve stockpile directed for Territorial use. Ammunition is held in a forty-round box magazine that feeds from an open bolt blowback-operated action at around 680 rounds a minute with an effective range of around 100-150 meters. It is equipped with no safety and so must be unloaded when not in use. The cost is set at 835 Yairen with a four-day production period.”

The opening magazines showed the gun fired decently and reliably- the charging handle easily slid back to allow expended casings to fly out, thought the direction or the ejected proved a poor choice as they were sent spinning directly in the front of the shooter’s face. The gun was a bit backheavy, increasing as bullets were expended, but the gun more or less stayed stable if held firmly to the chest. A few rounds jammed here and there between reloads, otherwise nothing too unmanageable until it came to the eighth reload, where the gun began to shoot faster, yet the jams steadily increased with the foul odor emanating from the barrel as the laminated wood began to burn. A territorial was quick to put out the fire, leaving the gun smoking. A quick check showed the action had fused together, rendering the firearm inoperable.

Waving away the smoke again, Mes decided to move to the next one after ensuring that the shooter was fine. The next gun looked like a pipe with a wood block crookedly nailed to the rear. Analysis wasn’t too off either- the gun’s sights were flimsy open sights that were little more than thin wire bent to match the forward sight.

“This is the Opi Type 2, designed again by Miavna Pelpira and Captain Kiapa Aqira. Designation for testing purposes is the Kalpa 1945 Swift Automatic. It uses the 7x33mm experimental round from an open-bolt blowback action, fed by a thirty-five round magazine with the option of a sixty-round prototype drum magazine. Fires at 860 rounds a minute at about 130 meters to 200 meters. Cost is set at 1,169 Yairen with a forty hour production period.”

The Opi started out by jamming immediately as the magazine was loaded. Simply cocking the gun again worked perfectly fine, and the gun let out a first burst with incredibly little recoil as the gun managed to reliably dump magazine after magazine into the targets. The only issue was mostly a need for the shooter to hold onto the magazine when firing due to a loose catch. The heavier drum performed with many more jams and was quickly discarded for the lighter box magazines for the rest of the gun’s trial. The gun’s report sounded not unlike a drumroll as it fired, only finally stopping when the barrel eventually began to bend after almost a thousand rounds. In that time, only a few jams occurred when the gun overheated, but just about almost always managed a few dozen rounds off after a good tussle with the bolt and magazine.

Admirable, the Inselni noted. She really ought to seek out the designers and have them permanently stationed at the Armory. Of course, that was for the field marshal to decide. As the gun was set aside as it smoke alongside the Kipla, she showed the last SMG to her Kumo superiors. Compared to the other two with a fully sheet-metal construction, the gun looked like a few tubes welded together with holes drilled in certain places.

“The Salvaki Light Automatic 3, designed by Salvaki Industries again. It fires the 8x22 Nambu round from a simple blowback action at 600 rounds a minute, fed by a thirty-five round box magazine from the side at 120 to 180 meters. It comes with a holding wire stock. Unit price is 418 Yairen, production time of seven hours each.

The SLA’s shots rang out loudly as it fired, with little in the way of accuracy as it quite literally dumped its entire magazine into the target as if it was smoothbore. Still, the fire rate was consistent, and the rounds performed adequately for their role, though the jams were frequent and the wire stock did little to stabilize the gun. Each shot shook the gun severely as it fired, further worsening the accuracy. The SLA still shot with these building jams though, the test only stopping after gun self-converted into a straight-pull.

Her horns still rang, but Mes turned to the field marshal with attention, awaiting judgement. No doubt this test had been far shorter than the other two, but perhaps that was a blessing for them all.

[Sophie]

Eruza was largely unimpressed this time around and chose to speak on the SMGs herself. She sounded almost bored as she spoke. "The Type 1 Kipla is a complete mess. I have never in my life seen a firearm literally catch fire." She sighed and shook her head. "That's all I will say on the topic of that weapon. The Opi Type 2 is by all rights a wonderful sub-machinegun. It fires as effectively as frontline Kumosenkan weapons. However, there are still significant issues that need to be rectified. The magwell needs to be tightened up so the weapon can be properly stabilized with two hands. I'd also recommend retooling it for 8x22 Nambu rounds. Sub-machine guns chew through a lot of ammunition and I'd rather not have to pay for a new factory line for ammunition that is not too dissimilar from our standard munition. When those two issues are solved this weapon would be more than adequate. The Salvaki Light Automatic 3 is underdesigned. It works perfectly for putting rounds down range, which some would argue is the main job of an SMG, I don't believe it could hit a target if push came to shove which is a critical job of every firearm."

She took a pause to drink deeply from her coffee. Her hangover had thankfully begun to subside. "Focus production on the Opi Type 2 with the changes I've recommended. What have you got for me next Mes-kas?"

[StaolDerg]

"Understood. Next up is the service rifle, of which had the most submissions." She reached for the first, a rifle that well-resembled the Arisaka already in use, with a large box magazine and small telescopic sight, in addition to an interestingly more metallic receiver.

“This is the Alpura Type 28 Rifle, essentially an upgrade of the Arisaka models currently in service, designed by Captain Aqira. It fires the 7.7x58mm Arisaka cartridge with a bolt action, fed by a ten-round detachable magazine, with a 3.5mm scope optional. Its effective firing range is at 1,500 meters with the scope, and 3,700 meters at maximum. It also comes equipped with a self-contained cleaning kit within the stock and rifle grenade adapter. The cost is around 11,690 Yairen and ten days to produce.”

The gun loaded easily and was comfortable to handle as the Kumo slid in the magazine. A resounding snap sealed the rifle’s action and as it was aimed, the weight distribution was in no way bad at all. Every shot was a resonding and accurate crack, only occasional duds and the cranking of the bolt delaying each shot. The scope was placed on a slightly elevated adjustable pedestal that made it easy for the shooter to make the gun comfortable to their use. The only issues stemmed from the rate of fire due to the action and a stiff trigger and the somewhat flimsy nature of a few magazines, which contained holes to count rounds that though well intentioned, would allow sediment inside and build up. The gun was somewhat heavy, but only slightly more than a standard Arisaka. Still, after about six hundred rounds, the gun remained entirely fine without cleaning.

A relief to be sure, the Inselni thought. She moved to the next rifle, a slender construction with a more bulky appearance. Its dark furniture were marked by the bright spots of screws along its body, with a small charging bolt sticking out from the side.

“This is the Aupuri Rifle, designed by General Aupuri of the Eighth Territorial Standard Division, designated the 1945 Semi-Automatic Prototype Rifle. It fires the 7.7x58mm Arisaka as well with a gas short-stroke piston action, fed by an eight-round internal magazine, fed by stripper clip. Effective range is rated to be around 970 meters with a 4.3x scope, 3,120 at maximum. It too has a rifle grenade adapter. Price is around 5,845 Yairen per unit, with a seventeen-day production rate.”

The semi-automatic clearly was a thought-out prototype as it was handled: the gun was similarly well balanced to the Alpura Type 28, albeit a good deal heavier. Ergonomics were acceptable, though the way the grip was engraved on the forward furniture seemed to suggest firing from the crouching position. The gun’s fire rate was something else though, even as it jammed here and there from feeding issues. The target was peppered with shots within a minute, the shooter able to simply slide charger after charger into the internal magazine as the action slid back open after expending a full clip. Issues only showed up later, when the two hundred-something round finally caused the action not to slide open. Investigation revealed gas fouling, easily cleaned out and sent the gun back into a fighting ability. The gun finally broke after a further four hundred rounds wore out the action.

Mes herself was proud of the rifles so far. Reliability of the guns so far was proving most satisfactory. She moved onto the next gun, a rifle that more or less looked similar to the other semi-automatic, a more carbine appearance.

“Designated the 1945 Special Rifle as it has no other name, this weapon was designed by Corporal Elki Alpo of the 2nd Territorial Rangers Division. Firing the 7.7x58mm Arisaka cartridge with a rotating bolt short-stroke piston gas action, the rifle is fed by a ten-round detachable magazine with the ability to toggle between automatic and semi-automatic action. While this would otherwise be in the category of a LMG- which it was also enrolled for- this is the carbine variant not armed with a deeper magazine and 4.5 scope. Effective range is rated to be at 1100 meters with scope and 2,100 meters maximum.” Price is around 15,040 Yairen and an eighteen day production time.”

The gun started strong, the semiautomatic mode proving quite accurate for its effective range. The automatic proved rather sufficient covering fire, though it nevertheless shot rather slowly in automatic mode as the action seemed to bounce back and forth with each shot, rocking the gun as well. It was much lighter than the Anpuri Rifle, but not as well-balanced, tilting the aim up. Bumping the rifle also caused the safety to turn off, potentially presenting a major issue. The scope wasn’t the best either, a touch too small to see with. The iron sights proved more useful if less accurate, but a quick retooling resolved the issue with the Aupuri Rifle’s scope instead. The rest was spoiled by the action jamming on a now-worn aluminum rail, almost jumping off and slamming the shooter square in the face. 

With that, Mes stood back, awaiting judgement. She suddenly realized that disgruntled designers might try to sell their designs to foreign powers… but that was an issue for later, she decided.

[Sophie]

Service rifles being Lance Corporal Yumi's specialty, Yumi was requested to give a review for Eruza. "The Alpura Type 28 is nothing short of impressive. It fires consistently and cleanly with almost no issue what so ever. It's comfortable and effective. Perfect for long engagements. Its accuracy is staggering and in a pinch could be used as a very effective sniper rifle. However, I believe that the Aupuri Rifle, being semi-automatic, outclasses the Alpura as a standard service rifle. It would serve well on the front lines, of course, the 600 round life is an issue. I would recommend using a stronger metal for the action. The 1945 Special Rifle is... adequate. Though if it's to be mass-produced I'd remove the automatic fire option. It feels like a tacked-on addition to the weapon rather than part of its design. For being the most expensive of the available options I'm not seeing many upsides of the final rifle."

Eruza seemed very pleased with both Yumi's report and the rifles. "Excellent. Begin production of the Alpura Type 28 as the primary sniper rifle, and the Aupuri rifle for standard use. Shall we move on to pistols?"

[StaolDerg]

“Very good, Field Marshal. Production will be made a priority at once for the Aupuri Rifle- though, would it be preferred that the new arms be distributed first to reserve regiments or those currently in combat duties? Those in the reserve would have more time to train and familiarize themselves with the firearms, while sending them to the frontlines would allow their deployment sooner.”

After hearing the Field Marshal’s orders, Mes would nod, approaching the pistol table to begin presenting. The first was a rather large and bulky revolver, armed with six rounds.

“The first of these is the Navi Revolver- designated the Officer Sidearm 1945, designed by Lieutenant Navi of the 3rd Territorial Elenria Division. Firing the 9x33mm magnum round with a double-action six-round cylinder, the pistol has a unique ability to form a gas seal when cocked, making the firearm both suppressed and providing a muzzle boost. It has a range of 200 meters. Price is around 1,420 Yairen with a production time of a day and half.”

The gun was nothing if not front-heavy. Aiming took a good deal of effort as the weight at the front of the revolver swayed the gun about, yet when fired the sharp report was muffled, the target hit with a resounding thud with rather decent accuracy. The recoil was different story, sending the shooters arm right up into the air, knocking them back. The trigger was rather stiff, and the reloading time was palpable- the speedloader was poorly designed and folded the moment it was pressed against the chamber, dropping half the rounds it held to the floor. A Territorial immediately scooped the rounds up and returned them to the shooter, stepping back to allow them to fire. A quick retool made a sturdier and more efficient speedloader, increasing the reloading, though not by much. The gun did not misfire at all, however, relatively reliable otherwise with a gear-like catch wrapping about the gun preventing the cylinder from misalignment.

Mes noted the gun’s power and accuracy, moving on to the next pistol. It resembled the Nambu semi-automatic of the standard Kumo forces, but with a simpler grip and a cruder finish.

“Designed by Colonel Pallient of the Web of Logistics, this is the Self-Loading Officer 1945, adapted from the Nambu Type 14 of Kumosenkan regular forces. It fires the 8x22mm cartridge by a simple short recoil locked breech, fed by a eight-round magazine. Its range is 170 meters. Price is 1,303 Yairen with a production time of six hours.”

The pistol was a steady weight, but the magazine was rather flimsy for a design, like a bunch of thin sheets of steel folded and haphazardly put together. Its semiautomatic action worked decently enough, providing decently rapid though not as accurate shots for its range. Reloading the pistol was cinch, but the flimsy magazine caused more than one jam through improper feeding. The sights weren’t great either, too narrowly set together to accurately place a shot. The gun’s barrel didn’t handle heat well either, failing to fire after five magazines in quick succession, then autofiring after a point until it emptied itself.

Awful, Mes thought. They may was well just use the Kumo Nambu instead. She hoped the Kumo wouldn’t take it as an offence to their design and have them punished. Nevertheless, she moved onto the next gun, a bulkier-appearing pistol that had a rather thinner barrel.

“This is the Self-Loading Officer Pistol Type C, designed by Graduate Student Api-Sakien of the Takpoe Machining Building #37. It fires the 8x22mm Nambu like the others with a blowback action, fed by a ten-round magazine. Its range is at about 190 meters. The price tag is at 1,500 Yairen and a three day production rate.”

The gun was surprisingly lightweight and decently well-balanced, though it could certainly be improved upon. The receiver wasn’t made of the best material, the spring snapping on occasion as well. A quick modification from the workshop produced a superior spring to use instead, the gun firing quickly and accurately for its range. Even then the receiver overheated and jammed frequently with its low-grade construction, but not without a fairly simple resolution by jerking the slide back. It was steady enough to fire with a single hand, and fairly simple to clean afterwards.

As the gun was set down, Mes stood back, still wondering if it wouldn’t simply be better to adapt the Kumo Nambu Type 14 instead. “Standing by, Field Marshal.”

[Sophie]

Before the testing began Eruza gave her answer. "Distribute them first to reserve regiments. The weapons are useless if they aren't equipped by soldiers who know what they're doing. As soon as the reservists are comfortable with the weapons trade them out with the front line soldiers and begin training them on the firearms."

Once the weapons were tested Eruza was left holding the Self-Loading Officer 1945. She stared at it clearly not amused. "Congratulations you've managed to invent a fully-automatic pistol." She smiled at the general. Dropping the smile she pitched the weapon against a wall with all of her strength. The pistol practically exploded. "Just in case you're an idiot and that was intentional, fully-automatic firearms are ONLY effective when mounted on something. Whoever was involved in the design of that abomination should never be involved in weapons development for the rest of their lives. The Type C is acceptable but its production rate is not. Forget developing your own standard-issue handgun. You'll be adapting the Nambu Type 14. However, the revolver is exceptional work and should be mass-produced for officers and special forces immediately."

[StaolDerg]

Mes winced as the Field Marshal hurled the gun past her, maintaining her composure as she listened. “It won’t happen again, Field Marshal,” the Inselni assured, hoping that the officer would take her word. “The revolver will see immediate production and distribution to the officer corps, as will the Nambu Type 14 to the reserve.”

In an attempt to move past the Field Marshal’s foul mood, she moved to the grenades. The first resembled the Type 97 of the Kumosenkan forces with a pineapple-like segmented body but without the lower mortar charge attached to the bottom.

“This is the 1945 Type 5 Infantry Grenade, developed by the Armory’s Munitions Department. It uses a TNT filling with a seven-second match fuse, armed by a single safety pin. Effective radius is about two meters. It weighs two hundred fifty grams. Two-hour production time for the price of 50 Yairen.”

The grenade operated simply enough: a simple spring was held down by the safety pin- pulling it out immediately allowed the internal match to be lit as it was raised by the spring, emitting a sharp hiss and stream of pale smoke as the fuse began to rapidly burn. It worked well enough as it detonated a good distance away, but it seemed to be more concussive to the targets about it than anything else, the shrapnel flaking against the dummies like an aged paint job. It was certainly a jarring degree loud though, making Mes grit her teeth as it went off.

Bit lackluster, Mes thought to herself. Though a decent stun grenade. But that was ultimately up to the Field Marshal to decide. The next one resembled a rifle grenade- slender and tubular. The muzzle adapter beside it on the table reinforced this, along with the blank cartridges beside it.

“This is the Type E Heavy Grenade, developed by Armory Falni’s Munitions Department at Yalfen. It has a RDX filling with a eight-second fuse, armed by a turned spring cap and safety pin. Effective radius is at around four meters for the shrapnel variant and two and half for the high-explosive. It comes with a rifle grenade adapter, which uses a low pressure cartridge to launch around 200 meters away. It weighs five hundred grams. Two and half hour production time for the price of 78 Yairen.”

The grenade, though a hefty weight, proved surprisingly powerful: it may as well have been a smaller satchel charge as it showered the targets with shrapnel. A quick inspection showed the rifle grenade system was underpowered and proved more a risk to the shooter, which resigned it to regular tests, including a rather impressive demolition charge when put into a bundle of three and set to explode with a delayed timer fuse, proving to have enough power from the high-explosive variants to destroy a bunker with ease. The shrapnel variant was less stellar in performance, but the tests did show its detonation mechanism made for a very effective booby trap.

Mes rose from behind the barricade after the test had concluded, feeling that the at least somewhat better about the prospects of the more powerful explosive. She checked with an officer before presenting herself before the Field Marshal. “That’s it for the demonstration, Field Marshal. What are your orders?”

[Sophie]

Eruza seemed to take a lot of interest in the Type 5 infantry grenade, despite its ineffectual nature as a lethal weapon. Handing one of the grenades over to Mes she smiled. "I'd like you to look into turning the Type 5 into a non-lethal, incapacitation grenade. If you are able to develop an effective non-lethal variant of this device I could see us commissioning it into the Kumosenkan arsenal. The Type E heavy grenade is passable. A bit excessive for an infantry hand grenade but it will function as well as anything else. Begin outfitting all infantry with the Type E."

[StaolDerg]

Mes took the grenade and inspected it, giving the general a nod. "Very well, Field Marshal. I'll have you informed of the results once a prototype is successful. As the for the Type E, I'll file the Web of Logistics in Elenria to begin manufacturing it with greater priority over the heavier equipment as a stopgap measure while the other Armories have their workforces trained and more complex equipment installed and made operational."

She shifted, setting the grenade aside and stood at parade rest. "Nevertheless, I should think that does it for the demonstration as a whole, Field Marshal. Thank you for taking the time to come here today. If there's anything else you need before you leave, I'd again be happy to fulfill it in any way possible."

[Sophie]

"You know I'm quite impressed with you General." The Field Marshal offered a very practiced smile. "I fully expected this to be a complete waste of my time and yet you've managed to develop an arsenal that's on par with Kumosenkan a few years ago. Albeit with a few kinks. Can I speak with you privately for a moment General?" She pulled the General aside from the rest of the group. "I'd like to apologize for my attitude as well as the attitude of my subordinates today. We've been under an extreme amount of pressure in the last few days. Just last night we took down a greatfern base. We weren't given much time at all to rest before being ordered over here. You did very well today. If you follow all of my recommendations and fix the issues that need to be fixed You'll be looking at a commendation."

Eruza returned to the group and rounded up her team. "Great work ladies. Let's all go get some rest. You've earned it. You'll all be back at the home island by the end of the week."

Kyo approached Eruza "Excuse me, ma'am, I'd like to request to return back to the forward operating base rather than going back home."

Eruza had to hold back a laugh. "Very well Kyo. You can go see your girlfriend."

Kyo stammered and quite clearly blushed. "I- I don't. I'm not."

Eruza put up her hand. "Just go. I'll write up the orders."