Chương 8: Chapter 7: A puzzle and a Pirate

I was in a much better mood after ratifying my deal with Sergeant Su. Two days was not a huge amount of time to figure out what was up with that beautiful plasma pistol but I felt optimistic. I had already sent a message to the armory asking for the weapon's history, specs, and details on what attempts had been made previously to correct the issue, along with information and specifics on various Ryza Plasma weapons. I didn't have time to peruse that data right this moment since I needed to focus on shooting.

I can admit I was a little excited and nervous. Luckily I started off with the easiest of my trio to fire. The Archeotech Las Pistol had next to no kick. I was impressed when my first shot managed to hit the target I was aiming at even if it was in the lower part of the torso on the outer part of the outline. Sergeant Su on the other hand was less impressed and told me to correct my aim. I had to adjust my grip and angle slightly but the next few shots slowly crept closer to the center of mass.

The pistol was nice and accurate, a bit big for my dainty hands, but pretty much all my weapons were sized for adults. I just kept firing whenever he told me to at the targets he indicated, aiming it at targets further and further away. Until my charge pack finally ran dry.

"Alright shorty, put that pistol down, give it a cleaning and get the next one ready. I will be back in a few minutes." Then he headed over to help Lael and the next few recruits in the interim. Taking care of my Archeotech weapons was fairly easy but my steps involved in doing so were far more elaborate than the steps I saw some of the others taking with more modern Las gear. When Seargent Su came back around to my bay, my Hellpistol was ready to go.

It was just as accurate as my Las pistol but it packed an impressive punch. Though I only managed to squeeze off twenty shots before it ran out. The handling was a bit more difficult than the Las pistol. The Hellpistol had slightly worse range but the trade off in damage was palpable.

"That packs a punch. Not bad short stuff. Clean it, stow it, prep that pretty bolt pistol with standard ammunition."

"Yes sir" I reply, ejecting the spent power pack and giving the gun a clean. It hadn't gotten dirty but it helped kill time waiting for my next turn. I got to glance over and watch Lael fire her rifle which was a lot of fun. She was landing head shots at targets much further out than the ones I had been targeting. Even Sergeant Su seemed impressed enough to not give her a teasing or sarcastic remark. My Mauler is as much a piece of art as it is artifice.

Unlike a lot of my collection it was clearly and purposefully designed and tailored with me in mind. It checks my biometrics every few seconds. The grip is comfortable, the weight was a surprise at first as it's lighter than my two Las weapons unloaded. The magazine only holds six of the bulbous bolt shells. It's not as accurate as the pin point Las weapons but It doesn't need to be. It's just as reliable and the weapon itself is more than willing to help guide my hand.

I'm not an idiot though and elect to use two hands to hold the weapon when Seargent Su returns. Once he gives me the go ahead I pick a target and pop off a shot. The weapon barks but the recoil is manageable, at least when firing on single shot. I use my thumb to flick the selector over to burst and try out the three round burst. I manage to stay on target but it nearly jumps from my hands and I feel a slight ache in my wrist. I flip the switch back to single fire for the last two rounds.

I must have made a face of some sort since Sergeant Su is smirking "Got some kick doesn't it short stuff?"

"Yes sir" I say with a small nod as I remove the magazine and clear the weapon to show it's empty.

"Not bad, you pass initial muster shorty but you could use some dedicated range time."

"There's still one more weapon I can try sir" I remind him and point at the closest target barely two meters away that I hadn't touched for just this reason.

"Ah right…. alright give it a shot." He begrudgingly agrees. I lift my hand up and close it into a fist. Aiming is a little awkward but my implants help me predict where to aim. I trigger the ring and it blasts a nice hole in the target almost as deeply as my Hellpistol had. My shot was a bit low, I think I tensed slightly before firing, blowing a hole in the chin rather than in the center of the head.

"Ehh work on your aim a bit pixie and you'll do alright. Here. I brought you your homework." He laid the plasma pistol emptied of plasma and powered down next to my case.

"You have a day and a half before our second range day and you don't get to skip tomorrow's training. Good luck!" He then gave my head a rough pat. I gave him a little glare, my cheeks slightly puffed out as he walked off to keep working with the other recruits. I was going to figure it out!

"Excellent marksmanship recruit Zyne, top marks. Keep it up." I heard him tell Lael on my way off of the range. While exciting, the time at the range didn't wear me out or leave me feeling grimy like the usual training exercises did. I elected to skip my bath and get right down to it, I was on a time limit and had a puzzle to solve. Once back at my room I put my Mauler and Hellpistol back in the primary case. I pulled out my Inferno Pistol and put it in the case for the next range visit.

I also put in a request for a private range slot afterwards. I wanted to try out the Xenos rifle since I had no idea what it was and even my old memories didn't help with identifying it, but even if it was approved for use it was probably better not to flash it around. Once everything was sorted I took the Plasma Pistol over to my desk. Laying out a strip of red cloth down on the surface first before placing the pistol down.

I pulled out my multi-tool and my mechatendril slithered over my shoulder with its suite of tools at the ready. I also placed my Auspex on the desk nearby and set it to active.

"Alright, let's find out what ails you my pretty."

—------------------------------------------------------------------- Location: The Warp Hellbringer Class Light Cruiser: The Sky Scourer, Chaos Undivided, Pirate Draped ostentatiously over his command throne on the bridge of his vessel Void Pirate Captain Vox Nightscream sipped on a full glass of wine all while the speakers inside the bridge and his ship broadcast the wailing, whimpering and panicked screams of the imperial ships that had gotten caught in the formation of the Cicatrix Maledictum.

He had been having a terrific time ever since they splintered off from Abbadon's armada. Spreading terror and luxuriating in the despair his little pirate squadron inflicted. Darting from hunk to hunk as they trailed a ways behind the remains of an Astartes cruiser from Containment Fleet Kappa. The darn thing was on its last legs, edges corroding and half the ship missing after a collision with a particularly jagged warp reef.

"Captain, you're being hailed." One of his underlings spoke up. His bloodshot eyes snapped open and he scowled.

"Who the fuck is it?!" He demanded nearly spilling his wine as he gestured dramatically.

"I was just getting to my favorite part!"

"Captains Vean and Narexah sir."

"Ugh fine, fine patch them through. Put 'em on the screen!"

"Vox." Narexah attempted to speak but was cut off.

"That's Captain or Lord Vox to you ya damned renegade!"

"Captain Vox" Narexah growled out through grit teeth.

"Why have we not finished off The Hollow Star?"

"One. I'm Enjoying tormenting them and listening to their suffering as the demons slowly kill them all as their Gellar Field collapses. Two. It's full of fucking space marines and I am not going to waste my troops killing dead men." He took a big drink and then leaned forward.

"You two in your little Raiders can feel free to go ahead and do it yourselves if you feel up to it or want to waste the ammunition. You've been happy to help raid the other vessels we've come across after all." The two captains made reluctant expressions. Derelict merchant ships and even imperial navy vessels were manageable but lacking marines of their own made it a daunting prospect.

"Captain Vox, Transmaterium Eligael was clear with his instructions. We take out the star with all haste and then we can move on to plunder a nearby world ripe for harvesting."

"Eligael" Snarled Vox.

"Do you see the Idolitrex Magi Eligael here Narexah? No? Well that Tzeentch worshiping pile of grox shit ain't here right now. He's off doing who knows what trying to find something supposedly tucked away out here with his little divinations. Besides, he isn't the boss of me! I joined the crusade to listen to Abbadon, not some corrupted cog. Abbadon said go pirate and plunder. I'm gonna go plunder MY WAY. I've got the biggest ship in our little pack so I'm in charge." He smirked.

"Vean say something you brute!"

"You've been leading us fine so far. I don't have anywhere to be. That last ship gave my boys a good time." He grinned, showing off a mouth full of sharpened teeth. Narexah didn't like it but he leaned back and nodded.

"Then sit back and enjoy the show boys!" He finished his glass of wine and threw it across the bridge, shattering it against a bulkhead and making a couple of officers flinch.

"Now pull those broadcasts back up! I want to hear those final screams hahaha! Someone bring me more wine!" —---------------------------------------------------------------------- Location: The Argent Drake POV: Nicole My head meets the surface of the desk as I use one of the cleaning cloths to muffle my scream of frustration. Eight hours cleaning, coaxing and communing with the pistol's machine spirit. The spirit was even super cooperative, the spirit looked like a little skull with a horn on its forehead.

It just kept telling me that it's parts were all performing as they should. There were no issues. When I tried asking about the overheating it gave me the same reply no matter how I asked. It had detected excess plasma and heat and vented it like it was supposed to. Simulated firing of the weapon showed it should function just fine. I had examined the pistol to such a close degree I could still see it when I closed my eyes.

The vents at the front of the pistol were angled in a cone shape rather than the squat block like most but that was a characteristic most of the older and archaic Ryza patterns like the Sunspite had. The magnetic accelerator coils were a bit thinner and more tightly wound than standard. However all of that could be explained away because the weapon had a lot of documentation and it was originally custom ordered by some long dead noble in a well off family. The narrative has been taken without permission.

Report any sightings. The craftsmanship was actually really good. One of the Ryza artisans went well above and beyond what they needed to do when making the weapon but there was nothing strange hidden away inside to explain the overheating issue. The parts were practically brand new still. I got up from the desk and went to get ready for bed. Trying to clear my head after going over the data I had again and again.

When morning rolled around I felt slightly better but there was no sudden epiphany to explain what the heck was going on with the thing. I knew that there was a modification you could make to a plasma weapon to deal with venting. Installing Calamity Vents. The vents are an emergency purge system designed to vent the superheated exhaust away from the user. However the mod has some major drawbacks. Overall it is a rather crude fix that can interfere with the working of a weapon and adds a vulnerability in the casing.

The vents don't totally remove the danger from overheating and could accidently lead to the wielder getting blasted directly which is worse than normal overheating. Besides I wouldn't trust anyone but a master artisan specializing in plasma weaponry or the original maker to install them on the pistol. We don't have one on board. I checked. The guards don't comment on my sulking and slightly dour mood as I head off to the mess for breakfast. By the time training rolls around my mood hasn't improved much.

I keep thinking about what could be the issue with the pistol. Mentally checking off potential issues part by part. Sergeant Su notices my mind is clearly elsewhere and has an insufferably smug smirk on his face when he puts two and two together. My gloomy mood obviously means I haven't figured it out yet. Thankfully other people were around for him to bother so I didn't have to suffer the entire time during physical training.

"Not an easy fix pixie? You're looking a little sour." He told me on my way out.

"I'm gonna figure it out!" I snap back before stomping away leaving the cackling sergeant behind me as I went right for the baths. Lael quickly joined me on my way though she let me calm down over the course of a few minutes before she said anything.

"Having trouble with something young miss?"

"You know, you can just call me Nicole or Acolyte Nicole, Lael. My family's noble house hasn't been around for ages." I mutter before giving a large drawn out sigh.

"I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with the Plasma Pistol from yesterday. I know something is off but it hasn't clicked. I feel like I should know or it's something obvious. I have the data on the weapon on this dataslate. Want to take a peek?" Lael took the slate and began reading as we made our way back to our deck and then into the baths.

"You can bring the pad, it's waterproof." I tell Lael as I get ready to get in. I need a nice quiet soak to help clear my head. Lael joined me bringing the pad with her as she continued to scroll. I lowered myself until only my eyes and nose were out of the water blowing bubbles as I lurked in my claimed corner like a crocodile.

"Ordered custom by a noble, nothing new there. When your family has orbital refinery money it can open a lot of doors. Not rogue trader money but still well off. Probably had smaller hands given the shape of the grip." I stiffened and slowly sat up blinking slowly.

"Wait, what did you just say?"

"They probably had small hands…"

"No, no, no. The part about the refinery." I ask as I scoot over to peer at the slate.

"The family owned and operated several orbital plasma refineries in their home system. Says so right here." She showed me the entry and I immediately wanted to scream.

"That's it!" I told her excitedly.

"I know what's wrong! Gah! How did I miss such an obvious fix!" I almost leapt out of the bath to get to work but Lael grabbed me before I could.

"Great. You can get to work on your fix. AFTER you finish washing, young lady." I reluctantly allowed her to help me wash my hair. However, that didn't mean I couldn't multitask. While I was washing up I sent off a pair of noosphere inquiries to Drivemaster TH-102. Just as I was leaving the bath I got the return I was anticipating.

"Affirmative. Adept Nicole. We have the means to produce both. The armory should have a small stockpile of at least one. I have forwarded your request and expect a reply within a cycle."

"Thank you Exploritor Logis. If it is feasible I would like to request an order of each for use at the range tomorrow."

"Your deference is amusing. We have already confirmed your suggestions match designations in the data archives. The Argent Drake possesses processing capability rivaling if not exceeding a great forge. We are not so limited as to be inconvenienced by such a trifle. We can and shall facilitate your request easily Acolyte. The rectification of an obvious discrepancy in our ship offering of material provisions. The Omnissiah provides."

The Magos has literally hard coded a transmissible sense of amusement and approval into that final message with Hexamathic code. He also provided me with the tag to track my requested shipment. With that confirmation I was able to relax somewhat. I wouldn't be able to put my thoughts to the test until I got to the range. It was only thanks to my old memories that I could recall the proper terms for the two items I've asked for.

If my memories of my past life had been wrong or if Magos TH-102 had not just confirmed that what I was asking for existed I might have continued fretting or worried about burning my hand off tomorrow or losing the wager. I go to bed early and I get up early eager to inspect the delivery waiting for me outside with my guards. I grab my weapons case and then grin as I am greeted by two lovely rows of labeled flasks resting in a carrying crate.

"Perfect! Delta-A3 can you bring this with us?"

"Yes." The skitarii hefts the crate with ease and I sling my own case over my shoulder. I stride with determined and eager steps. I arrive at the firing range early but spot a couple of the other recruits already there loitering off to the side. Seargent Su is there as well and when he sees me he raises an eyebrow questioningly. He has that protective gauntlet he wore for his demonstration resting on the table. I can't stop a grin from forming on my face as I approach.

"I believe I have figured it out. It will require testing to confirm of course."

"I suppose we will see then. What's all this?" He asks gesturing to the crate Delta-A3 sets down next to the table.

"Technically there are three fixes to the issue the weapon was having. If you don't mind me explaining." I say proudly. The recruits present including Lael have wandered over to listen in as I pull the pistol out of my case and set it down.

"This is a Ryza-Pattern 'Wrath' Plasma Pistol. It's a weapon designed for duelists. With longer range and slightly more firepower than the standard Ryza Plasma Pistol. It only fires on single shot. They incidentally are rather popular with nobles but also quite rare. This one was custom ordered by a noble. A noble who's family owned plasma refineries. This ties into my solution." I take a breath before continuing.

"The first option I considered was the installation of Calamity Vents however that isn't feasible due to the risks involved. Now not many individuals are aware of this but there are actually different types of plasma for plasma weapons. All versions of plasma flasks are a mixture of suspended hydrogen fuel which is energized and later ejected."

"This weapon in particular was designed around using the higher grades of plasma which you can only really acquire or find if you have an extremely advanced refinery or skilled refiner. The first type is called Purified Plasma. It's simply a much higher grade fuel than the standard and it allows a weapon to fire with almost no risk of overheating." I gesture to the brighter of the two flasks in the case.

"The second type is even harder to produce than Purified Plasma. It's what is known as Microburst Flask ammunition. The plasma it holds contains much higher concentrations of heavy ions like deuterium. This type of ammunition has several effects. First the weapon runs cooler than normal. The shots fired using this ammo usually have slightly less volatility and damage but increased density which gives range and penetration.

The side effect of the Microburst ammo is that the weapon may not be fired on the maximal setting. The ammo is also a bit heavier." Seargent Su looks both mildly impressed and slightly miffed.

"This entire time it's been the ammunition?"

"That is my hypothesis." I say as I pull out one of each flask and set them on the table. Seargent Su picks up the purified flask first and fills the weapon. Putting on the glove and protective gear as the weapon powers on.

"Alright pixie let's test your theory." He holds the weapon with his arm fully extended and squeezes the trigger. There is a whoosh of air and the small bolt of plasma strikes the target down range. The weapon's barrel is steaming a little but not overheating. So he fires again. Another bolt leaves the barrel and strikes a target without issue.

He squeezes off five single shots before risking a fully charged maximal shot which absolutely rocks the poor dummy but while the weapon has to recharge for a moment and is smoking it hasn't overheated.

"Well by the Throne short stuff. It works. Let me try this other type too, just to be sure." Loading up the Microburst Flask ammo next. Switching it back to the normal firing mode he fires it another eight times emptying the weapon. The bolts are smaller and less flashy but burn deep gouges, comparable to the initial maximal shot, into the targets. Seargent Su sighs but smiles wryly.

"Alright you win our wager. The pistol is yours. I do want to ask though. These other ammo types will they be made available to the rest of the ship?"

"Yes. I have conferred with Drivemaster TH-102 who supplied me with these flasks. He told me providing them was almost trivial with the facilities we have at our disposal and that he would be informing the armories and munitorum of the new options." Seargent Su handed me my new pistol after he stripped off the protective gauntlet. As soon as I grabbed it however he violently ruffled my hair despite my protests.

"Good job kid. That is going to make a big difference for me and some of my friends." I gave a small proud nod as I put the pistol in my case.

"What all did you bring along with you today?" He asks seeing my different loadout.

"My melta pistol" I say sweetly giving him a bright little smile.

"Also sir I need to use the private secluded range for something else please."

"For what?!"

"I don't know what it does!" I inform him gleefully. He stares down at me with a look of consternation "I retract my previous statement. You're a terrible tiny menace."