Southern Twang

by bluerunner , Music City, Monday, May 06, 2013, 12:25 (4222 days ago) @ ncsuDuncan

Sorry, I’ve been very busy so no picture with this.

Before the collapse the CSA1860 “Southern Twang” crossbow was manufactured in the southern Mars colony of New Richmond, and was popular with more traditional hunters and survivalists in many of the more sparsely populated colonies around the solar system. After the collapse this weapon can be found mainly in the hands of many lower tier smugglers and pirates, who prefer its reusable bolts and stealthy operation. The soft but distinct “twang” sound of the crossbow’s carbon nanotube filament string is all that someone might hear before a bolt passes through their head.

The Southern Twang offers a very diverse selection of bolts. Some are common, but many are only found at well hidden smuggler trading posts or well defended pirate bases.

Bolts:

WM1962 (“Walton”) – This very inexpensive standard bolt is found in every far flung trading post owned by the ruthless capitalist Sim Walton. Although known for shoddy quality, the low cost and high availability of these bolts make them very popular amongst pirates and smugglers, and are the most common bolts found in circulation.

BD1969 Explosive Tipped (“Beau Dook”) – Named for the legendary smuggler who made it popular, the Beau Dook features an explosive tip that is powerful enough to heavily damage lightly armored targets. Due to the weight of the explosive tip, the range is more limited than standard bolts.

ARK1980 Heavy Bolt (“Big Bubba”) – Named after the infamous southern Mars territorial governor Bufor “Bubba” Blue, the heavy bolt is slow moving but powerful. While it flies slower than standard bolts and has a shorter range, its very high density and diamond tip enables it to penetrate heavy armor. It is rumored that a Cabal can be brought down with one well placed (and lucky) shot.

DB1734 Tracker (“Boone”) - The Boone is a miniaturized tracking device attached to a lightweight breakable shaft. The device is fired from the crossbow and when the tracking device is attached to the target the shaft falls away, thereby reducing its chance of being discovered. The tracking device has a range of 10 km, and is coupled with a receiver that displays the direction and distance to the tracking device.

TA1979 Distractor (“Smokey & Bandit”) – This low damage bolt is used primarily for distraction or concealment. When fired, the bolt can either be activated to produce a bright flashing and loud whistle to distract enemies, or it can produce a smoke screen to conceal movement or escape.

HF1840 Grappling Bolt (“Catfish”) - This bolt is equipped with a series of expanding spikes that open out to attach to most surfaces. A lightweight but strong polymer line is attached to the bolt to allow the user to climb or cross gaps up to 50 meters wide.

MS 1969 Lightweight Grappling Bolt (“Skeeter”) – This lightweight cousin of the Catfish is useful for retrieving small objects from hard to reach areas. While its lightweight line is not strong enough for climbing, it can be used to pull an unsuspecting enemy off his feet.

BM2009 Echo Location Sensor (“Bat”) – The tip of this bolt is an echo location sensor that can give anyone with a heads up display a momentary glimpse of everything within 25 meters of the bolt’s landing spot.