RE: [SG] Hammer's Slammer's Weaponry

-----Original Message-----
From:	Adrian Johnson [SMTP:ajohnson@idirect.com]
Sent:	Friday, February 05, 1999 2:51 PM
To:	gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
Subject:	Re: [SG] Hammer's Slammer's Weaponry

Question though?  A powergun is a directed plasma discharge (there was a
description in the back of one of the books of powergun technology) - if
this is some kind of fusion reaction (??????), would there possibly be
residual radiation effects as well as the impact/heat energy?  What
would
that do to a battlefield?  Would there be spillover effects as a battle
progressed where communications (at least for unhardened systems) would
be
affected?

Adrian

Plasma in and of itself is not radioactive, just really hot.  I believe
that 
the books
describe the powerguns to use a copper array locked into some kind of
plastic
matrix that converted to a plasma-like beam.  It's not true plasma since
that 
is
something that occurs in the million degree range and requires non-solid
forces to retain it - i.e. the description of the magnetic fusion
bottles that 
power
the tanks being compromised and "eating away" at the iridium hull in a
giant
fireball.  The powerguns don't leave any kind of residue, except those
caused
by great heat.

On another note,

There are instances in the books where the ceramic clamshell armor does
prevent the death of a character, although they are in great pain and
suffer
severe burns. It was also noted once that Joachim aimed for the head of
one
of his targets and Hammer remarked that it was a fancy shot when a torso
shot
would have done just as well.  Joachim fired back that they should have
been
wearing body armor, implying that such armor would prevent a kill from
the
pistol caliber weapon.