PFT Weapon

First shown in Legion of Lawndale Heroes 12.1 - 'The Wild and The Young', the Armalite PFT (Point-Force Transference) Weapon is an energy weapon designed for elite anti-terrorism and special-operations forces within the Armed Forces of the United States, as well as allied nations and organizations. Users of the Armalite PFT weapons are taught to use them as energy-emission versions of armor-piercing weapon, but with technically non-lethal effects (on lower settings).

Types of PFTs
PFT weapons are made of an outer shell of non-ferrous composite materials rated for extremely high durability, and Salazarium for the inner workings (with the exception of the PFT-M3 CC2 (see below). Currently, there are seven variants of the Armalite PFT:


 * the PFT-M1 - a hand-held version designed for personal defensive use that resembles a keychain car alarm (and was inspired by the ubiquitous 'Type 1 phaser' of Star Trek fame),
 * the PFT-M2 - the most common variant of the PFT, which resembles a semi-automatic pistol.
 * the PFT-M2A - issued to security forces at government installations such as The Well, this variant is hard-wired to only operate at Settings One to Four (no lethal levels). However, the weapon's range is 50% greater than that of the M2/M3, and it has double the ammo capacity of the M2/M3.
 * the PFT-M2B - a M2 variant developed by the British SAS for use in breaching operations. It retains Settings One to Four (as with the M2A), but can also fire in 'shock mode' (the standard mode used by the other models). It can also fire in 'burst-mode'. The M2B has adjustable tritium sights, a Crimson Trace laser designator, a longer barrel (for increased power in the blasts and a longer sight radius), and barrel weights (for better control during firing). The M2B's energy capacity is one/half greater than the othe M2 variants, and has a power regeneration curve 50% faster than any PFT model. Finally, it has a 'nanotech gravitic compensator', which stabilizes the pulse as it leaves the barrel; this not only gives the M2B 50% greater range, but allows the M2B variant to be the only PFT model that can be fired (with standard range) underwater and in other environments where PFT use is limited. The M2B variant is the most desired variant of all PFTs.
 * the PFT-M3 - measuring ten inches in length, it resembles a baton, and is the variant most commonly used by covert operatives.
 * The PFT-M3 CC2 - a variant of the M3, developed to also act as a means for users to engage in close-order combat without necessarily using the concussive-projection capability of the weapon. (For this reason, PFT-M3 CC2's are also given an thin coating of Secondary Adamantium on the outer casing and on the connection linkages in the weapon's telescoping staff mode, to increase the weapon's durability.) When the user depresses the appropriate switch, the CC2 can telescope out to a length of 78 inches (6.5 feet), allowing it to be used as a fighting staff. The weapon can also be set to allow pulses to be released from the tips of the PFT-M3 CC2 upon contact, as well as fire normally in staff-mode, and users can use the anti-gravity capability of the metal in order to fly. Sandi Griffin uses a PFT-M3 CC2 in field work as a member of the Legion of Lawndale Heroes.
 * the PFT-M4 assault weapon variant. PFT-M4's are ONLY issued to specific anti-terrorist forces and P.O.G.O. troopers.

In the Daylight fic Baked Alaska, it is mentioned that full-power PFT-M2s are issued to cadets of the United States Academy of Extranormal Studies upon commencement. It is also established in the fic that some PFTs are identifiable by the color of the emitted beam (USAES-issue PFTs have a blue-pink beam).

How the PFT works
Firing high-level pulses of concussive force, a PFT weapon delivers force to a very small area on the target, but instead of affecting the target upon impact - it transfers the force through the initial layer of material... skin, clothing, armor, a door and so forth, even forcefields - and delivers the full effect from the other side through an exotic trans-dimensional micro-fissure created for a split-second upon impact. This is why the PFT is considered to be an 'armor-piercing' weapon, as it can bypass static defenses, forcefields and body armor to render the wearer unconscious (or kill through severe impact trauma).

Advantages/disadvantages of the PFT
One of the primary advantages of the Armalite PFT is that it provides the individual with a very high-powered weapon that possesses none of the recoil of an equivalent standard weapon, which makes the weapon more accurate (in the hands of a skilled user) as well as far less intimidating for first-time users in familiarization training.

Other advantages are:


 * The PFT has an overwhelming ammunition capacity (compared to a use of a comparable standard weapon), and that it is an effective non-lethal weapon for use in situations where the decisive use of force must be applied, yet lethal force would be inappropriate (such as in hostage situations, in subduing distraught persons, or uncooperative individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol).


 * The PFT is an effective 'force-multiplier', and provides the user with a wide option of force-effects for a number of tactical situations in which he may act in an effective manner even as an individual.


 * The PFT is an effectively 'suppressed' weapon (the weapon makes a slight yet distinctive 'hissing' sound, allowing it to be used from under cover).


 * The PFT is effective against body armor, individuals using most forcefield defenses (even reflective fields that direct attacks back upon the initiator) and even metahumans/other beings with high levels of resistance to injury.

A major disadvantage is that the PFT is useless underwater, as the concussive effect immediately discharges within the fluid and radiates out in a spherical field to effects everyone inside (including the user). In attacking submerged targets or in areas of extremely heavy precipitation, it is only moderately effective; users must set the weapon for a zero penetration effect and higher power setting. Even at this setting, the potential damage effects can be mitigated by the target diving to greater depths; even at maximum power, PFT weapons are unable to affect targets at depths of more than twenty feet of water.

Field studies have also found that the low level of sound that the PFT makes is also a disadvantage when dealing with gathered numbers of individuals or with attacking animals, as there is no accompanying sound with the effect for them to hear and learn to be afraid of. In order to circumvent this problem, users are instructed to operate the PFT on 'skip-mode' (see PFT settings).

PFT settings
PFT weapons have eleven power settings for various levels of damage; all PFT's are hard-wired with a special activation default which will not allow the weapon to fire at any setting higher than Setting Four (maximum stunning potential) unless the user actively uses the setting switch for a higher level of firepower. It has been revealed that an average person can survive a hit on Setting Four, but will be rendered unconscious for several hours. The highest power level on the PFT is Setting Eleven; a single blast by a PFT on that setting can render an armored personnel carrier inoperable, kill the entire crew inside without damaging the vehicle, or deliver enough force so that a person with high-level or even Kryptonian-level invulnerability will feel the effects of the weapon.

The weapons also have a 'density' setting, which allows them to adjust the 'armor-piercing' capability of the weapon in order to allow the energy pulse to penetrate larger masses or materials of greater density; clever PFT users have even been able to use their weapons to 'shoot through' hostages and incapacitate the gunmen holding them.

All production-model PFTs are equipped with the following settings 'hard-wired' into them:

Setting One: very light force; equal to being shoved.

Settings Two through Four: stun settings.

Shock mode: the weapon fired pulses that discharge in flight, rather than upon striking a solid target. This setting releases the concussive force across a wider area of effect to strike multiple targets. Concussive charges fired in this manner make a distinctive, albeit explosive sound that immediately identifies the weapon.

Skip mode: The weapon fires an instantaneous three-pulse burst (at Setting Five) with the second pulse firing in 'shock mode'. The resulting blast is capable of downing multiple groups of persons or animals, almost any medium- or large-sized animal, as well as making a loud, distinctive sound that will frighten animals away (when the weapon is fired into the air over their heads). This was added to production model PFTs after tests showed that animals (and crowds during mob actions) were not immediately intimidated by the effects of the PFT, even though it was effective in stopping them.

Kill mode: Density Setting zero/Power Setting Seven. This setting will kill any normal human (without metahuman resistances) and large animals (lions, tigers and smaller species of bears) instantly upon impact.

PFTs can fire single pulses – as fast as the user depresses the firing button – or can be set it to fire in 'burst-mode' (three, ten, twenty, thirty-five and fifty pulses) with a rate of fire equal to 800 PPM (pulses per minute).

PFT effective range
The effective range of the PFT-M2/M3 is 100 meters; the effective range of the PFT-M4 is 600 meters. The effective range of the PFT-M1 is 45 meters; however, the weapon was meant to be used at ranges of less than 15.

PFT energy/ammo capacity
The power cell on a PFT-M3 allows enough energy for the following:


 * Settings One and Two (used for normal people and most animals): effectively unlimited - about 1500 pulses.


 * Setting Seven (first lethal setting): 200 pulses.


 * Setting Eleven (highest setting) 20 pulses.

The PFT can self-recharge the power cell (est. 48 hours to full power), and plug into common power sockets to recharge or fire from.

The energy capacity on the PFT-M2 is the same as the M3; the capacity of the PFT-M1 is roughly one-quarter that of the M2/M3 (400 pulses on Setting Two, and five on Setting Eleven). However, the ease of concealment makes the PFT-M1 a prized self-defense weapon. The PFT-M4 holds approximately 2.5 times the energy reserve of the M2/M3.

PFT flight capabilities
Due to the nature of the innate anti-gravity properties of Salazarium, the amount of the metal used in the PFT-M3 and PFT-M3 CC2 is sufficient for a user of the weapon to mentally control the metal's properties and actually fly. The user of the PFT will be able to fly for as long as he/she if physically capably, and at speeds and heights comparable to the user's ability to breathe and resist the effects of flight (winds, cold, friction, etc.).

Unique PFT Variants
In Legion of Lawndale Heroes 13.4, Trent Lane is seen using a unique weapon - a variant of the M4 assault rifle. Known as 'the Southpaw', it has a variable firing rate of up to 3000 ppm, has a special gravitic compensator that allows for controllable firing even at the highest firing rates, and incorporates a propriatary power core that allows the weapon a firing capacity roughly ten times that of the standard M4.

Given to him by Sherrie Klein after the events of LLH 12.7, the Southpaw is slightly shorter in length than a standard PFT, and also possesses several other features, such as a variable-frequency laser designator that can also be used as a laser torch/cutter (range: 50 meters), and has a six-round self-regenerating micro-plasma shell launcher (the equal of a grenade launcher). The Southpaw also has a special scanning/targeting element that allows the weapon to instantly modulate its charges and adapt its fire to penetrate even mutiple forcefields or solid barriers, and fire upon multiple specified targets even in a large group.

Like the 'Lawgiver' made for Sandi Griffin in 'A Legion Halloween', the Southpaw has special safety features. It is a signature weapon, which means that only Trent's handprint or voice authorization can activate the weapon for use or shut it down. A second safety feature is an 'energy-dispersal node' built into the Southpaw; this feature will immediately shunt any excess energy into the weapon away through an exotic interdimensional micro-fissure used by the weapon when firing through solid objects. A secondary use of this is to shunt off the comndirectional concussive wave that would be generated by the Southpaw if fired underwater.