Firecracker (Weapon)

Firecracker
Type	Microburst scattergun
Place of origin	Great Britain
Service history
In service	Since 2081 (Black Glass Group)
Used by	Multiple militaries All Raven military divisions Numerous private military corporations
Wars	New Civil War Other conflicts
Production history
Designer	Spencer Cardinal
Designed	2076
Manufacturer	Helios Corporation
Unit cost	U€300k – U€400k (base model) U€700k – U€800k (SmartFire) U€1.8m – U€2.1m (Inferno)
Produced	Since 2081
No. built	Approx. 3.0 million
Variants	SmartFire Inferno
Specifications
Mass	10.2 to 17.1 kg (22 to 38 lb)
Length	1,570 mm (62 in)
Cartridge	3.44x10mm HE 3.44x10mm HE SmartFire 3.44x10mm Training
Calibre	3.44x10mm
Barrels	50
Action	Electronic
Effective firing range	14 m ()
Feed system	8-cell clip (400 rounds total)
Sights	Iron sights (non-standard) SmartFire (optional)

The SRX-7 "Firecracker" is a HELIOS-manufactured close-range microburst scattergun designed to be carried by combat personnel. It is a high-RPM weapon with 50 miniature barrels stacked side-by-side in a grid arrangement that fire low-velocity caseless tracer rounds, each with a small high-explosive charge on both impact and timed fuses; the sound of these detonating is its namesake.

Each ammunition clip holds eight cells, each of which hold a total of 400 microbullets already aligned with the barrels. Pulling the trigger fires all 400 in a narrow "burst" that lights up the area in front of the user with trails that end randomly in small explosions. This "flash" is the signature effect of the weapon and shreds anything in the direction it is pointed.

The SRX-7 can be upgraded to a HELIOS SmartFire system for automatic aim assist that can integrate with the user's combat implants with the addition of a microwave designator module and guidance processor. Special SmartFire ammunition is required, which incorporate miniature manoeuvring thrusters controlled by the weapon's guidance system.

Applications

The SRX-7 is often used in the place of conventional combat shotguns where a higher damage profile is desired, for example for rapidly dealing with lightly or moderately armoured targets. The weight class of the weapon allows it to be versatile enough to be carried by most units. It is completely ineffective at mid and long range due to the fixed flight time and relative low velocity of the rounds.

It is classified as a Category 2 Restricted Weapon by the Coalition for its high potential for collateral damage, restricting it to military use only. Despite this, some private security forces employed by the largest megacorporations have been granted special authorisation to possess it.

Variants

The IRX-10 “Inferno” is a stationary, belt-fed, fully automatic version of the SRX-7. Its patented Flame Curtain technology allows it to continuously “project” a field of explosive ammunition, acting as continuous area denial and devastating anything that comes close. It is often used as a more destructive version of a flamethrower against targets that require area of effect damage, such as large swarms of biological mites.