A7AB9 Fusion Pistol

The A7AB9 Fusion Pistol was a handheld plasma weapon used hundreds of years after the Great War by the UNSC, first seeing action in 2873.

Overview
The A7AB9 is a small handheld weapon capable of firing bolts of superheated plasma. It uses a battery system that can be easily replaced, and is designed to allow soldiers who are accustomed to carrying ballistic ammunition use it without difficulty. The A7AB9 uses a magnetic control system to direct the plasma, like most plasma weapons. The A7AB9 is constructed out of hardened polymers and titanium alloys, making it a very solid weapon. It is capable of being used as a small club if necessary, and can be exposed to high temperatures. The A7AB9 is colored a dull silver, though parts of it are aqua blue. It has enough power to eliminate enemies quickly, and is semi-automatic.

History
The A7AB9 was created by Misriah during the 2870s, for a contract with the UNSC. Humanity had experimented with energy weapons occasionally, but even 300 years after the great war, plasma rifles and pistols were not standard equipment.

Designers at Misriah originally based their designs on earlier projects, but soon switched to use completely new ones. Development took 3 years, but by 2873, it was issued to troops in the field. It did relatively well, and mainline personnel liked it, so the UNSC ordered the production of several thousand, then nearly a million. It became a primary sidearm for marine units, and several SPECOPs variants were produced, before the entire line was finally retired in 2932.

Flaws
The A7AB9 had several notable design problems. It was prone to overheating when fired too quickly, and it’s heat dumping system was not strong enough to quickly undo overheating. It also had a grip that was hard to use and sights that could be confusing.

Commentary
“Hey, lookie there, it’s a ray gun!”

“The AB9 has good stopping power, but be careful not to overheat it.”

“I wish it had a charge function like those ancient plasma pistols, but at least it has better main damage.”