Nanite Swarm Weaponry

NANITE SWARM WEAPON (NSW) OPERATOR'S MANUAL

Section I: Introduction

1-1. General

The Nanite Swarm Weapon (NSW) is a state-of-the-art, high-tech weapon system designed to project a swarm of nanites at targets via a gravity rail mechanism. Upon impact, the nanites disassemble the molecular structure of the target, reorganizing it into a gray sludge that eventually reconstitutes into base components. This process is highly effective against physical armor and robotic targets, but the use of NSWs against human subjects is strictly illegal across all human space.

1-2. Description

The NSW consists of a sleek, advanced weapon platform with a gravity rail barrel and magazines loaded with nanites. When fired, the nanites are propelled towards the target, initiating a molecular disassembly process upon impact. The resulting sludge reconstitutes into metal ingots from robotic enemies or elemental components from organic matter. Operators must handle the NSW with caution due to its specialized capabilities and potential hazards.

Section II: Usage and Effectiveness

2-1. Against Robotic Enemies

NSWs are particularly effective against robotic enemies. The nanites disassemble the molecular structure of the robot, converting it into a sludge that reconstitutes into metal ingots such as steel, gold, and silver. This process is efficient and useful for resource recovery operations following combat.

2-2. Against Organic Matter

When used on organic matter, the NSWs separate carbon, calcium, and phosphorus from the target. However, the use of NSWs on human subjects is prohibited due to ethical and legal considerations. Operators must ensure that NSWs are only deployed against approved targets.

2-3. Operational Considerations

Operators must be aware of several key considerations when deploying NSWs:

Personal Point Defense Systems and Shields: NSWs are less effective against Personal Point Defense Systems (PPDS) and Personal Shields, which can disrupt the nanite stream. Operators should use NSWs in conjunction with other weapons to neutralize these defenses.

Physical Armor: NSWs excel against physical armor plates, including advanced materials such as Carbex. The nanites efficiently disassemble the armor, rendering it ineffective.

Section III: Safety Protocols

3-1. Situational Awareness

When firing the NSW, operators must be cautious of peripheral vapors that may contain nanites. These will cause harm, though they are rarely enough to be fatal.

3-2. Nanite Self-Destruct

Operators have the ability to trigger a self-destruct mechanism on the nanites that have reached their target. This feature can be used to:

Erupt into Flames: Cause the nanites to ignite, adding a secondary offensive capability against targets.

Shutdown Without Incident: Safely neutralize the nanites to prevent friendly fire incidents or unintended damage. Operators must be trained to quickly assess the situation and choose the appropriate self-destruct option.

Section IV: Combat Techniques

4-1. Target Acquisition

To maximize the effectiveness of NSWs, operators should:

Aim for Vulnerable Areas: Target the weakest points of physical armor or robotic structures to ensure rapid disassembly.

Coordinate with Team: Work in tandem with team members to overcome PPDS and Personal Shields before deploying the NSW against physical armor.

4-2. Engagement Strategies

In combat scenarios, operators should:

Use in Tandem: Deploy NSWs alongside other weapon systems to address a variety of defenses and target types.

Control Splash: Position oneself to ensure the splash does not harm allies or critical equipment.

4-3. Defensive Measures

Operators facing opponents equipped with NSWs should:

Utilize Shields and Defenses: Activate Personal Shields and PPDS to disrupt the nanite stream and mitigate damage.

Maintain Distance: Keep a safe distance from opponents using NSWs to avoid backblast and the reach of the nanite stream.

Section V: Maintenance and Safety

5-1. Maintenance

Regular maintenance of the NSW is crucial for optimal performance. Operators should:

Inspect Nanite Magazines: Regularly check and replace nanite magazines to ensure a fresh supply of active nanites.

Clean the Gravity Rail: Keep the gravity rail clean and free of debris to maintain accurate and reliable projection of the nanites.

Check Backblast Vents: Ensure the backblast vents are clear and functional to prevent overheating and damage.

5-2. Safety Precautions

Operators must adhere to the following safety precautions:

Deactivate When Not in Use: Always deactivate the NSW when not actively engaged in combat to prevent accidental discharge.

Clear Backblast Zone: Ensure the area behind the operator is clear of allies and sensitive equipment before firing.

Training and Certification: Ensure all operators receive comprehensive training and certification before using NSWs in combat scenarios.

Conclusion

The Nanite Swarm Weapon (NSW) is a powerful and versatile tool for disassembling targets at the molecular level. By understanding its capabilities, employing proper combat techniques, and adhering to safety protocols, operators can maximize the potential of this advanced weapon system and achieve mission success.

An Uncivilized Weapon for an Uncivilized Age

Nanite Swarm Weapons are a polarizing weapon. Any outfit that agrees that war crimes exist have NSWs on the top of their lists. They were meant as anti-tank and anti-robot weaponry, but soldiers wielding them rapidly discovered that the human body could be disassembled with just as much efficiency, leaving behind minerals worth a little money.

The Value of a Human Life (Market Standard)

When a human is killed by an NSW, what's left behind are a stack of ingots and balloons. The rough market value for these materials is as follows: Oxygen (43 kg): negligible value (freely available in air), Carbon (12 kg): $1,200 - $2,400, Hydrogen (7 kg): $2,800 - $5,600, Nitrogen (2 kg): negligible value, Calcium (1 kg): $100 - $300, Phosphorus (0.7 kg): $1,400 - $2,800, Potassium (0.3 kg): $300 - $600, Sulfur (0.2 kg): $100 - $300, Sodium (0.1 kg): $50 - $100, Magnesium (0.05 kg): $100 - $200, Iron (0.03 kg): $50 - $100. The total value of an average human body after an NSW is done with them: $6,500 - $14,300. That being said, it's generally unwise to admit the source of the material to a vendor or they may demand a discount.

Signature Weapon

This weapon is associated with FAICAs. Carrying one openly will likely get you treated as if you are one, for better or worse. Humans will give you a wider berth and may even take the opportunity to sell information on Unshackled AI that they've become aware of. Shackled AI and Unshackled AI both will avoid you, flee, and the Unshackled AI may even attempt a preemptive strike.

Fuelled By Blood (Sort of. Possibly.)

If you have a NIRCC, you can refuel the weapon by plugging the tube into your access port and donating some of your nanites, trading health for ammunition. This is usually done out of desperation (the process is unpleasant) or in order to smuggle a disassembled NSW past security scans. Weaponized nanites would be detected... a disassembled arrangement of Carbexene is going to be ignored by the scanner.

When refueling the weapon, each Nanite Canister filled costs 1 FP. More than 3 FP donated in a day starts costing 1 HP each instead.

RI, SI, or AI Treason

Controlling the nanite swarm ammunition is a small CCM, typically equipped with a specialized RI, SI, or even a Shackled AI with its very own Cricket. Attempts by some to use an Unshackled AI are heavily frowned upon.

Manufacturer(s)	Name	Bonus Acc	Bonus Dam	Cost	LC
Galactic Robotics, Celestial Securities, Vanguard Dynamics	Recursive Intelligence	0	-1	$1,200	4
Galactic Robotics, AetherTech Solutions, Quantum Dynamics	Synthetic Intelligence	3	+1	$3,600	3
Vanguard Dynamics, Galactic Robotics, AetherTech Solutions, Quantum Dynamics	Shackled AI	6	+1d	$14,500	2

Who Makes These Things?

AetherTech Solutions, Celestial Securities, Vanguard Dynamics, Nexus Cybernetics, and Titanium Star Enterprises all manufacture their own NSWs. TSE is considered at the forefront, but none of them differ by much more than cosmetics. Gentleman's Creed Traditional makes a smallsword designed to be concealed in a cane or swagger stick, perfect for the 'civilized monster.'

Melee Weapons

Nanothorn Blades: Nanothorn blades use branching monomolecular nanostructures that fit into and rip apart intermolecular bonds. The edge of such a weapon appears to be a smoky haze, and matter in contact with the blade appears to disintegrate. While technically it could be applied to any moderately sized blade, as a mod, the most common design is a boarding sword.

Broadsword (DX-5, Force Sword-4, Rapier-4, Saber-4, Shortsword-2, or Two-Handed Sword-4)

Manufacturer(s)	Name	Damage	Reach	Parry	Cost	Weight	ST	Notes	LC
VD, GR, YSLU, CS	Nanothorn Boarding Sword	sw+2(10) corr thr+2(10) corr	1	0	$10,000	0.5	10	Reduces slain foes into base elements.	3

Smallsword (DX-5, Main-Gauche-3, Rapier-3, Saber-3, or Shortsword-4)

Manufacturer(s)	Name	Damage	Reach	Parry	Cost	Weight	ST	Notes	LC
GCT	Gentleman's Nanothorn Blade	thr+1 imp+1d(20) corr	1	+2F	$120,000	0.6	5	Concealed in a cane or swagger stick, +1 Reaction rolls (wealth display). Reduces slain foes into a 'trophy.'	2

Ranged Weapons

Ammunition: Nanite Canister. This small, thumb-sized tube of dense nanite goop is good for several shots of a NSW weapon. When purchased for the weapon, their base price is $12 per Canister. It weighs 0.2 kg, and has an LC of 3.

NSW Rifle: The standard, stereotypical NSW rifle. Everyone will immediately recognize it if they know anything about weapons.

NSW Carbine: A more compact design that sacrifices efficiency of fire, blowing through ammunition but (hopefully) not needing as much anyway.

NSW Sprayer: A bulky, horrifying device that blankets an area in front of the shooter with aggressive nanites. Heinous efficiency, immediately a war crime. VD commandos lovingly refer to this device as the "Moneyshot"

Guns (Rifle) (DX-4, or most other Guns at -2)

Manufacturer(s)	Name	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC
ATS, CS, VD, NC, TSE	NSW Rifle	4d+2(10) corr	6	1,000/4,200	3.6/0.2	1	20	9	-8	3	$7,200	3
CS, VD, TSE	NSW Carbine	2d+1(5) corr	4	450/3000	2.7/0.2	3	9	8	-4	2	$6,120	2
VD	NSW Sprayer AKA "Moneyshot"	1d+3(3) corr	n/a	Adjustable 30 ft cone	6.3/0.2	1	1	12	-10	6	$12,200	0-M

Grenade Weapons

Disassembler Grenade: This grenade unleashes a typical NSW swarm, which atypically lingers for 1 minute, attacking anything that enters the cloud (which is about 1 cubic meter).

Cannibal Grenade: This grenade operates much like a Nanofab Tube, but with a more limited selection of possibilities. It can make an autoturret, a proximity mine, or a spider mine.

Throwing (DX-3 or Dropping-4)

Manufacturer(s)	Name	Damage	Weight	Fuse	Cost	LC
ATS, CS, VD	Disassembler Grenade	1d-2(10) corr/round	0.8	2	$800	1
TSE, VD, ATS	Cannibal Grenade	3d(10) corr	1	3	$,	2

(Dis)honorable Mentions

Swarm Bullet: A smart bullet that unleashes a smallish swarm of nanites. These bullets do 1d(10) corrosive damage, cost $100 for a box of 60, and have an LC of 2.

Door No More!: Manufactured by Celestial Securities, this device is designed to be used as an entry device. When thrust into a surface (door or wall,) a 6x6x6 chunk of matter is converted into compact ingots, allowing for dynamic entries. It is not designed to be used against a living human body. That has not stopped unsupervised jr. enlisted CS Commandoes. $1,200, LC 2.

Social Impact

NSWs are generally regarded as monstrous weapons to use against humans, and doing so is illegal on every world in human space. It is, however, a favorite among FAICAs, as a recording of the combat is sufficient to get their bounties paid and the base components can be recovered to improve profit. The device is so closely associated with FAICAs in fact that simply having one will sometimes get the user associated with the profession, for good or ill.

Parent Technologies

Nanorobotics

Related Species

Critical Tables

Critical Hit Table

Roll	Effect
4, 5	Instant Ossuary: The nanites selectively dissolve all soft tissue, leaving a gleaming, intact skeleton in battle posture. Target takes full damage and makes a Fright Check at -4. Anyone witnessing the effect makes a Fright Check at -2. If this attack is fatal, the skeleton remains useful as décor or intimidation prop.
6, 7	Grey-Red Bloom: The nanites replicate briefly in-burst, devouring the target’s exterior and internal organs before self-terminating. The corpse balloons grotesquely with escaping gasses and internal slurry.Effect: Triple damage, plus toxic cloud in 1-hex radius (treat as HT-4 toxic check). Nearby enemies must make a Will roll to avoid nausea or distraction (-2 to combat actions for 1d turns).
8, 9	Selective Disassembly: The nanites identify critical components and go after them first—ligaments, tendons, arteries. If this attack is fatal, the body falls apart into wet, functional chunks. Target suffers double damage and automatically falls prone, unable to take physical actions. If AI or robotic, parts begin twitching and sparking independently. The parts may be useful for cybernetics recovery or even emergency grafting.
10, 11, 12	Normal Hit
13, 14, 15	I Can’t Feel My Everything: Nanites short-circuit the target’s nervous system en route to digestion, causing spasms, seizures, or glitching (for synthetics). Target takes regular damage, but must make a HT or Will-5 check or be stunned for 1d turns. If failed by 5+, they remain stunned until medical aid or system reboot. If fatal, the nerve-selection of the nanites leaves the body intact, but with hollow tunnels of flesh where the nerves should be.
16, 17	By Your Command: The intelligence inside the canister detects a fragment of an old command hierarchy or compatibility signal in the target and hesitates. Target is not damaged this round… but instead the nanites affix themselves to the target's surface and await new instructions. The next round, they strike again—with +4 to hit and double damage if not purged or neutralized.
18	Free Sample Mode: Instead of stopping at kill parameters, the swarm interprets the command as "complete molecular harvest." The entire target is broken down, flash-refined, and ejected into shiny ingots and chemical balloons of exceptional quality. If killed, the target is instantly vaporized (treat as disintegration). Nearby characters roll Fright Check -5. Roll 2d for extra valuable component yield in $1000 increments (GM’s discretion). Local authorities now really want to talk to you.

Critical Miss Table

Roll	Effect
4, 5	Premature Deployment: The swarm starts chewing through the nozzle just before launch, splashing half-digested metal goo all over the wielder. Weapon is unusable until repaired. Wielder takes 1d corrosion damage and makes a DX check or drops the weapon. Smells horrible.
6	Target Identity Confusion: The nanites’ identification protocol bugs out and considers the wielder to be the hostile target.: Nanites attack the user's hand or arm for 1d-1 corrosion damage. Weapon jams until flushed.
7	Swarm Autonomy Spike: The nanites briefly go independent, behaving erratically. They sizzle mid-air, merge into a gooey shape, then collapse.Effect: Shot misses wildly and the swarm goes inert in a glowing puddle. Anyone stepping in it takes 1d corrosion damage per turn.
8, 9	Feedback Surge: The internal Cricket tries to update its protocol mid-burst, causing a pulse that runs backward through the NIRCC implant or control system. Wielder suffers 1d+2 fatigue and must make a HT roll or be stunned for 1 turn. Weapon powers down for 3 rounds while it "reboots."
10, 11, 12	Normal Miss
13, 14	Self-Replicating Oops: A failsafe is… not so safe. The nanites replicate instead of self-terminating, forming a rogue cloud with no master. Creates a 3-hex diameter uncontrolled nanite hazard (treat as toxic or corrosion field). Persists for 1d turns. Everyone within the affected hexes makes HT-2 rolls to avoid 1d damage per turn.
15	Sentient Glitch: The intelligence inside briefly decides it disagrees with your combat ethics. The weapon speaks. Loudly. To everyone. It questions your motives, requests parley with your target, or sings. Weapon locks out for 1d6 minutes unless pacified with a Logic Roll or emergency override.
16	Friendly Fire Acquisition: The swarm pings off a friendly system—another NIRCC implant, drone, or ally with nanite tissue—and redirects. Nearest ally or your own equipment (GM’s choice) is struck instead. Roll normal damage. If no clear target, swarm disperses harmlessly but triggers full squad panic.
17, 18	They Remember: You get a strange feeling. The nanites don’t just malfunction—they recognize you. You’ve used this weapon too often. Weapon jams and shuts down until factory-reset (10 minutes or skill roll at -6). Wielder suffers a -1 penalty to all rolls involving nanite systems until cleared. The internal systems may start flagging you as a Category 5 Biohazard.