Beam Weaponry

While the move to space didn’t completely phaseout kinetic weaponry, the introduction of power generation and storage that far outstripped previous generations of energy efficiency did still revolutionize combat. Suddenly, it was possible to put together a laser powerful enough to shred through military grade armor like a hot knife through butter. Although even when possible, the tech hadn’t gained much popularity. It wasn’t until there was a reason for it, that it started seeing widespread use.

The first battleships fielded for space use had been used by the ESU to fend off pirates that had begun to rampage along the asteroid belt. This was prior to Martian intervention, and during these days the question of what kind of equipment should be fielded was raised. While the place for conventional kinetic batteries remained, they needed something relatively inexpensive and long range. Battleships were already fielded with a highly efficient engine, drawing on it for combat usage wasn’t out of the question.

Since then, beam rifles and other weaponry have become increasingly more popular. While more expensive, they require nothing but a power source and are generally cheaper to maintain in the long run. While under atmosphere they can be tricky to maximize their potential due to possible interference, they still see some minimal use.

Beam weapons are specifically lasers; or for laymen, concentrated heat. While essentially ‘ammunitionless’, they require a source of energy to operate. Many are pre-charged with the necessary power, while the weapon is simply a converter. Some can be connected to the AA using it in question, drawing power directly from their generator.

While some weapons can ‘stream’ their fire to concentrate it, most handheld versions are incapable of this due to the stress placed on equipment. Shots tend to be instantaneous and hit their opponent immediately.

Rifle
The usual; beam rifles tend to be a little bit larger than their kinetic counterparts, but are held the same nonetheless. They are considered one of the most effective AA weapons for their size class and range.

Sniper Rifle
Similar in design to a beam rifle, the sniper rifle is a long-ranged high damage variant. Connected directly to the AA in question, it can quickly fire a concentrated laser with higher power. The rifle is much larger than its cousins, requiring two hands to steady and fire it, but in exchange it is capable of keeping its shot concentrated and streamed for a few seconds.