Item Files
- Weapons
FN-71 M7 'Henderson' Handgun - Designed and produced during the late period of 2010 by Fabric' National Arms (FNA) in France, the FN-71 handgun was commissioned as part of an updated weapon initiative meant to counter the Bioterrorism epidemic of the period and was intended for use by the BSAA or other government agencies. Chief among the concerns for the pistol were durability under stress and wear, stopping power at medium and short range as well as high magazine capacity.
Taking the core design of sleek pistols meant to be flexible and unhampered by heavy frames or sights, FNA then created a core framework of lightweight steel and titanium components, then applies polymer grip and filed down corners to make a visually unimpressive but extremely solid pistol. Using a three-dot sight with mild reflective surfaces for low light accuracy without the need for attachments (despite all FN-71 models coming standard with barrel mounts and options for customization). FNA's first FN-71 models 1-6 however failed under field conditions for a singular problem; Ammunition.
The FN-71's requirement of flexible stopping power precluded almost all conventional ammunition and as such the 5.7x28mm cartridge was selected for it's high velocity penetrative power capable of punching through light body armor, but 5.7x28mm is an uncommon ammunition type and resupplying in the field was extremely difficult under biohazard conditions the commissioning agencies had come to operate under.
To compensate, the M7 'Henderson' pistol, named for master gunsmith Felix Henderson Lous, adopted the unconventional 'CSL' round chambering system. By integrating a small semi-barrel into the feed of the slide, the Henderson model allowed a user to load and fire more common ammunition such as the 9x19mm Parabellum, the 10mm Auto round and the .40 S&W round common in military and civilian weaponry for years. The smaller adapter barrel was able to be separated and unlocked with a simple flick of a slide on the pistol, allowing the user to load 5.7x28mm rounds when available then flick a slide and switch to using the secondary ammunition types. Small rifling in the adapter barrel allowed the secondary ammunition types an effective hit range of 32 meters compared to the 50 meter effective range of the 5.7x28mm rounds.
This compensator proved incredibly popular for it's additional flexibility and by 2012 most anti-Biohazard organizations had come to stock FN-71's in their armories, though many fell into the civilian market for the same reason.
RU 25-25 Sub-machine Gun - Created by renowned German gunsmiths Rusten-Urheber, the 25-25 was originally designed as a close quarters automatic weapon for special forces in 2008. It's key features were a much touted recoil-reduction system and a front-weighted weapon that could easily be controlled and handled in the field, but it also boasts considerable stopping power for it's size. Made of reinforced polymer framework centered around steel rods, it has a peculiar mechanism for the grips that is essentially a series of springs connecting the front grip and trigger grip to the stock of the weapon. This bouncing grip effectively dampens recoil force to a degree that allows the shooter to tightly group their shots quite easily.
The 25-25 boasts an impressive array of customization features as well, from a flexible and mod-able barrel and internal mechanisms to a short-lock magazine that can hold 30, 45 and 60 round clips by default. A circle-spike sight on the front allows a quick and effective aiming method while underneath the barrel is an attachment lock meant to hold flashlights, laser sights or other custom equipment. It has a single shot, three round burst and full-auto setting by default and it's parts allow it to handle a massive variety of ammunition and calibers.
By default however it was intended to be fired with the military .400 corbon and .440 corbon rounds, though the latter loads create substantially more recoil and render the floating grips less effective. By absorbing the recoil into the grips and springs the need for a stock is mitigated, but one is included for more precise targeting if it is necessary.
Though the 25-25 was a successful design, the originating gunsmiths were shortly put out of business in 2009 and a full production batch was never finished. Several individual test models, prototype runs and demonstration models survived and were available for a short time after the company went under but the 25-25 never saw official production until the middle of 2012, when one of the designers sold the specifications to the French firearm manufacturers Fabric' National Arms. FNA began a limited production run aimed at military units, touting it's heavy stopping power and features as a major selling point. FNA had much more success and continued production into 2012.
Baissier FN-12 Shotgun - Produced during 1998 as one of the first models of shotgun offered by Fabric' National Arms, the Baissier 12 is a remarkable shotgun known for it's durability and stopping power, as well as it's adaptability. Designed off a framework similar to the Mossberg 590 the Baissier 12 takes the design and retrofits it for heavy combat and long field operations. Reducing the moving parts of the gun down to the bare minimum the Baissier 12 also has only a back sight and has minimal gaps or separations of frame and barrel to prevent damage. Gas venting is performed via specific channels to the ejection port to facilitate faster firing and unloading, while manual shell loading is performed by an under-barrel loading slide which doubles as a secondary hand-grip for tight shooting, using a mounted rubber and steel grip.
Unyielding even when hit by direct fire and capable of operation in conditions that would stop operation of normal shotguns, the Baissier 12's major selling points are it's customization (The lack of integrated features leaves options open for all manner of attachments, tuning and custom work) and it's purposefully compact design. Measuring at only 750mm with a 17 inch long barrel, the Baissier 12 also has a stock that can either fold, slide or be removed completely. It contains a maximum capacity of 12 standard rounds, but it's feeding mechanism can have drum magazines attached for higher capacity without interfering greatly with it's operations.
With it's rugged, compact design and adaptive build, the Baissier FN-12 has survived years on it's base design and despite multiple production models including differing features the main model has remained a standard combat and riot shotgun across the world.
FN MG4-E Modular Combat Tool - A unique weapon for a unique purpose, the MG4-E is a singular entity even among the arsenal of Fabric' National which stands for being at the top of it's game. The MG4-E is not based on any other existing design but an entirely unique design hinged around a central modular unit that has a handle on top and a series of twist-locks, pins and switches for locking in specific settings. The core unit is made of steel-coated polymer with insert rods for strength and a heavy duty grip for function, but beyond that is essentially a box holding the workings of the action, chambering, ejection and slide. The rest of the weapon is completely modular.
Over seventy different parts have been manufactured for the MG4-E, from barrel magazines holding .50 BMG ammunition to the large, heat-sync framed barrel needed to fire them and even to that a tri-pod mount for prone firing. Customization and utility is the core of the MG4-E's design and it achieves this with revolutionary technology that allows parts to be swapped in and out with only the twist of a lock and the pull of a pin. Folding, flexible covers allow barrel, magazine housing and even certain internal components to widen, narrow or deepen to allow a variety of field customizations.
The core unit for the MG4-E is incredibly durable and conditioned to withstand anything short of a direct explosive round and the modular parts are robust enough to survive typical field wear, but they can wear themselves down quickly because of their designs favoring flexibility and not FN's typical ironclad designs.
The brainchild of Gabriel Rothchild, FN's director of design and prototype, the MG4-E was made as the answer to any field situation one could imagine; Short range, long range, medium range and even suppressive fire and crowd control options were invented to suit the weapon. The weapon is capable of swapping to a stunning amount of combinations, ammunition loads and with the right man or woman at the helm can even be made to jury-rig field equipment such as the barrels from assault rifles or the rounds from shotguns, but such personal customizations are rarely sustainable for wear and tear.
At first the MG4-E was a solution without a problem and most organizations and agencies had little use for the tendencies of the gun and it was mothballed in FN's design labs for five years after it's initial concept, only reaching any kind of real production towards the end of 2013. Marketed as the answer to any combat situation (Chaotic field conditions being a signature of B.O.W incidents), the MG4-E found it's way into most standing Military units and special police divisions in the US and abroad. Lauded for it's often cumbersome attachments but praised for it's flexibility and acceptance of almost all conventional ammunition, the MG4-E is a valuable field asset.
Survivor Crossbow - Used in places where ammo is scarce and requiring some small amount of ingenuity, survivors in 2020 have begun to go back to the Dark Ages for inspiration and have developed hundreds of variants of the basic (and effective) crossbow. Made with basic materials and a healthy supply of time, Survivor Crossbows are primarily made of wood but some can be made of plastic or even metal in one intends to make a stable or long lasting one. The main components can be found in almost any building in the world, including offices, and the only tricky part is putting it together properly.
Variable in length, size and power, a Survivor Crossbow is usually constructed by taking a long shaft of wood (sometimes a tree branch) and carving a rectangular hole in it, then carving a small groove on either side of the hole usually 3 millimeters deep. Then the user carves a channel from this hole to the end of the wooden stock for holding a projectile. The bows themselves are usually made of PVC pipe but any flexible, light material will do and by fixing screws to the ends, then attaching any kind of circular 'pulley' to the screws, the user draws some kind of flexible string or length through the pulley. Securing the stock to the bow is usually done with duct tape or clamps, but screws and nails function well for stable models. Finally a trigger is attached to the stock, usually made of wood and secured with a nail and loosened to allow firing.
Built more for function than form, a typical Survivor Crossbow will fire thin rods (bolts) up to 25 meters with moderate accuracy and enough force to penetrate wood at distance. Attachments like grips, slings, sights or anything else are heavily optional and usually ignored unless one has the time or need. A good Survivor Crossbow can easily kill an unarmored, flesh target with a single shot if the user is skilled but the power, accuracy and durability of the weapon is subject to the user's skill and materials. A novice survivor using a roughshod model can expect a few bolts of fire before it breaks; Expert survivors with good crossbows can hold them up nearly indefinitely.
Post Gun - In 2020, firearms are something of a luxury. Any survivor worth their salt can typically find a working gun and keep it in condition to fire, but bullets are a finite resource and with most resources slowly dwindling in any one location, people need a reliably fatal weapon that can fire anything able to be shaped properly without the need for gunpowder or complicated components. A Post Gun is essentially a broad term for such weapons and is essentially a handmade gun.
Typically made of wood or plastic, a Post Gun can be made to a dizzying array of specification but for practical purposes falls into three categories.
Spring powered Post Guns typically use heavy gauge springs and a gear to wind them back, with the spring attached to a pin or rod to propel the projectile. These are the most basic and easily made Post Guns. With the proper construction, one of these is actually comparable to a typical propellent bullet from a firearm; A sufficiently constructed, well made spring Post Gun can fire a small projectile at a velocity of 300-600 feet per second and can with the correct ammunition easily wound or kill soft targets. They are also incredibly reliable, being unaffected by anything short of blockage of the spring or damage to the weapon's shell. The major disadvantages are the necessity of some kind of cocking for the spring limiting firing speed, the noise created by the spring and the ease at which low-quality versions can break, typically by the spring destroying it's housing or attached components. High quality models can survive long periods of use, but cannot bypass the noise and firing speed. It is most commonly used for sniper or long-range weapons by survivors, as it's re-fire time is demanding.
Pneumatic powered Post Guns are typically the next step, powered by pumps and air reservoirs built into the weapon itself. Most are made by ripping the innards out of diving gear or air pressure systems in machinery, but some can be made out of less hard to find measures; anything that can hold air pressure can power most basic Pneumatics. More complicated than Spring Guns but less hard to power than Gas Guns, Pneumatics are capable of firing projectiles at a semi-automatic rate without the need for cocking but lose accuracy and power as air-pressure depletes. This then requires time consuming and tiring pumping of the air pressure to return firing conditions and as such is hard to maintain in any kind of real fight. They are also surprisingly powerful at good range, able to fire a large number of projectiles and easily wounding a soft target, with higher pressure shots able to penetrate thicker materials and as such make for very good rifle or shotgun replacements.
Gas powered Post Guns are the least common but most valuable types. By taking the basic designs of a gun and replacing the gunpowder with pressurized gas cylinders built into the gun (typically housing CO2 or another reactive, pressure-producing gas) fully automatic fire is finally capable with the proper gun. As with Pneumatic Post Guns, the gas is able to propel it's ammunition at reliably high velocities but without the need for hand-pumping and able to propel a much wider variety of ammunition. A typical Gas Gun is also easy to maintain and, with the proper equipment, refuel, but it is also the only type requiring any kind of external resource and in some places gunpowder is easier to find and use than any of the required gases. It also tends to be the most vulnerable to mis-fires or, in certain conditions, backfires as the gas is usually flammable or worse, toxic to humans.
Enclave Defense Gun - Far from a sanctioned, field tested weapon, the EDG is a post-2020 weapon devised by the best minds of the world and constructed for defending the new homes of humanity. Jury-rigged from car batteries, plastic housing and rickety wooden posts, EDGs are essentially very basic gauss guns without any flash or sparkle and look far from the futuristic 'railguns' most people think of. Taking two car batteries with a decent charge and hooking them up to a converter, then hooking the converter to a series of magnets and wiring, EDGs are easy enough to assemble out of what you could find in most cars, mechanic shops and hardware stores, but the designs tend to differ depending on where and how it is made.
The basic design and function of an EDG is straightforward however. By using wooden rods, rulers or even pieces of bent plastic to make holds inside aluminum coated 'barrels' made of whatever circular thing can be dug up (including the metal tubes used for holding toilet paper), an EDG can fire any magnetic object of appropriate size with enough speed to embed in bone up to fifty meters away. This, combined with their low sound emission and relative ease of use makes them appealing for defending fixed locations and most Enclaves have a small mounting of them for picking off the straggling dead that wander near their walls.
Though obviously of limited use in it's basic shape against hordes, larger targets or vehicles, some Enclaves with more resources and better materials have devised variants that allow wooden clips holding hundreds of metal objects to be loaded in via springs and rods for dealing with large numbers, while others have devised EDGs that can fire metal objects up to the size of rail spikes with enough force to penetrate armor on some military vehicles.
Some Enclaves and survivors with the know how also mount EDGs on vehicles, while others still have made tripod versions able to be taken into situations outside of a mounted position. No matter what it's use or design however, all EDGs suffer from similar problems. The car batteries and electric current are a dangerous, unstable mix and prolonged firing without a good conductor and stable battery can often cause explosions of battery acid that maim the operator and the breakdown of an EDG can happen from any thousands of problems, from a wire slipping or a piece of aluminum tearing and any one of these problems can render the EDG inoperable until repaired, which is obviously a disaster in any serious use of the weapon. In addition EDGs are often poorly sighted if at all and the magnetic nature of it's firing means precision is almost impossible if not a hazard to anyone in it's line of fire.
Clean Bombs - Devised post-2020 by survivors with need for cheap explosives as survival tools, Clean Bombs are a nickname for any explosive created by mixing certain household cleansers inside some kind of container; Usually plastic bottles linked together by some kind of tape or clamp with a block between the connection that is removed before placing or throwing. The chemical reactions it creates are capable of powerful, high velocity explosions.
These explosives, while far from comparable to conventional explosives or propellents, are easily able to do significant damage to weak points or soft targets and with the proper housing can turn into makeshift grenades, propelling shrapnel into soft targets remarkably well. In addition, the most uncommon variety of Clean Bomb is actually made to deal with humans, especially in enclosed quarters. With the proper housing and mixture, the chemicals do not become explosive but become reactive gas that causes immense pain inside the lungs and while not immediately fatal is long-lasting and toxic. Fatalities can occur over long exposure periods or with direct application of the chemicals to the body (i.e ingestion or injection) in shorter periods of time.
- Tools
Water Burner - With the release of the C-virus across most major areas of the world and the general disuse of most water purification systems afterwards, Water Burners are a survivalist's water purification system. Built by connecting a car battery to a hotplate and attaching all of this to a small pot the Water Burner is then covered by some sort of curved lid, usually a glass pot lid but any smooth lid with a point will do. When turned on and filled with water, a water burner of average size can boil unclean water into purified steam vapors and this steam then collects at the top of the cover, dripping down into an object held below. Most water burners also have cups to be put under the point, usually glass or metal cups tall enough to stand above the water line by a good two inches.
A water burner is almost necessary for sea travel in 2020, as they are one of the only ways to make clean drinking water from sea water. With a good car battery and a decent size pot, up to a gallon of water vapor can be collected and stored in roughly six hours. Larger models can make gallons in an hour and some sizable models, powered by either electricity or wood burning stoves, can cleanse enough impure water to supply small plumbing systems or at very least make enough clean drinking water to supply a small town. These also bypass the need for water purification tablets, chlorine or iodine for handling germs and disease in water.
Necessary and mildly disgusting to note, Water burners are also a safe way to make drinking water from urine if necessity demands it.