War Marshal Helix
Technological Terror
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a standard-issue rifle for Helix's light infantry.
- Image Source: Link
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Helix Solutions
- Affiliation: Helix Solutions
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: E-55L Blaster Rifle
- Modularity: Yes
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: Durasteel, Blaster Components, Impervium
- Classification: Blaster
- Size: Average
- Weight: Heavy
- Ammunition Type: X18-laced blaster gas
- Ammunition Capacity: Average
- Effective Range: Long Range
- Rate of Fire: Low
- Damage Output: Very High
- Recoil: Average
- Highly modular design
- Radiotoxic ammunition
- Integrated electronic sights
- Rad-Laced Shots: The E-55L fires blaster bolts tinged with X18, leading to greater range and terminal performance.
- Accurate: The E-55L is unusually precise for a standard infantry rifle.
- Modular: The E-55L is capable of accepting a variety of optics, attachments, and other mission-dependent upgrades.
- Slow-Firing: The weapon's dangerous ammunition mixture necessitates a fairly slow cycling speed.
- Heavy: The weapon's more rugged construction increases the weight substantially.
The E-55L is the first in a line of modernized, customizable blasters designed to replace the E-5H in Helix Solutions' use. As such, it bears many design changes to render it more useful to the droid infantry expected to carry it.
As befitting the generally excellent combat performance of Helix droids, the weapon is designed with a fixed shoulder stock, far more solid construction, a more ergonomic (for a droid) foregrip, and integrated optics. These investments came about both as a desire to improve the droids' survivability and lethality, but also to improve the morale of Helix's mechanical minions. Not being disposable chaff as the droids of ages past had been, it was long past time to equip them like real soldiers.
The E55-L resulted, and quickly became popular with Helix troops for its accuracy, lethality, ruggedness, and ease of use, as well as a greater ability to penetrate medium body armor.
The E-55L, like many Helix-made blasters, launches sizzling toxic chemical bolts in place of more conventional blaster projectiles. These create an eerie howling wail as they fly, owing to a chemical reaction with the air and blaster propellant. The result has almost become a hallmark of combat with Helix forces, as is the smoky trail the bolts leave in the air as they travel.
The resultant wounds can be very difficult to properly treat, as the fourth-degree burns and severe chemical/radiation poisoning that often result leave a grim prognosis indeed for lightly-armored soldiers. Soldiers facing these weapons on the battlefield are advised to wear appropriate chemical protection.
Nonetheless, the E-55L still carries over some of the shortcomings of its forbears. While the weapon does feature automatic firing modes, the overall rate of fire is fairly sluggish, and the addition of more rugged, heavy materials (not to mention the stock and optics) increases the weapon's weight significantly.
Out Of Character Info
Intent:
To create a standard-issue weapon for Helix's rear-echelon troops
Image Source(s):
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ker3YR
Canon Link:
N/A
Technical Information
Affiliation:
Helix Solutions
Model:
E-55L Blaster Rifle
Modular:
Yes
Effective Range:
Long Range
Rate of Fire:
Automatic
Material:
Blaster components, Durasteel, Impervium
Ammunition Type:
X18-Infused Blaster gas
Ammunition Capacity:
Average
Damage Output:
Very High
Recoil:
High
Ranged Class:
Assault Rifle
