Rifts Up Close: Vibro Weapons

By Tim Willard

Designed in 2096 by Stratcorp Medical Systems, the vibro-system was originally to be marketed as the next generation surgical tool, following the sonic scalpel and laser scalpels, for poorer nations unable to afford the infrastructure needed for laser scalpels and sonic surgical systems. However, tests involving the maximum density of material that the field encased blade could cut through showed that it could slice through molecularly bonded military grade armor. Further tests showed that the "penetration field" could be bonded to virtually any sized blade given enough power, and prototype vibro-knives, vibro-sabers, and even vibro-axes and "vibro-saws" could be created.

The knowledge that the United States government would immediately restrict the technology, citing it's ease in use by insurgent forces and terrorist organizations, Stratcorp immediately sold the research and development done thus far to the US government, who turned it over to DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency) for military applications.

The vibroblade technology was also sold to QwikFire Rescue Technologies, who was also developing environmental body armor for fire departments, rescue operations, and emergency service personnel, for use in rescue operations involving the newly constructed (and the many renovated) buildings that contained hardened material. This was estimated to be especially lucrative in California and Tornado Alley, as there was often building damage due to earthquakes and tornadoes.

DARPA applied the vibroblade technology not only to fighting knives, but to sabers (bringing sabers and sword fighting back to Officer's Training), bayonets, and medical applications. When the field is on low power, it surrounds the blade in a silvery field that prevents the blade from cutting into anything, making it perfect for practicing with the actual weapon. Sword fighting classes became mandatory in Officers Training, and many Kendo classes were found on military bases. Knife fighting was taught in Basic Training, and knife fighting became a sport in the same class as Combatives Training.

After the coming of the Rifts, nearly every NEMA volunteer was issued vibroweapons, and these were often handed down from generation to generation, as they allowed someone with any type of protective gear to engage demonic entities with a chance of success.

During the Dark Ages, the Black Market and a few other groups offered new vibroblades to purchasers, although they were never very popular. Vibroblades were usually manufactured by the city of Iron Heart, and sold in enough numbers to make it profitable.

The Coalition States ignored vibro-blade technology for literally decades, until the unvieling of the Canine Soldier program, where hand weapons that would not endanger civilians.

The generation circuitry is only the size of a C-battery in width (3/4") and only 1/4" of an inch thick, no matter what the size of the field. The power conduit circuitry expands with the size of the blade, and the current known limit of the field is roughly 12 feet. Despite attempting to make the generation circuitry larger, it has been discovered that it makes no difference in the size of the field.

Vibro-Axe
Used primarily in rescue operations, most of these have been lost or destroyed over the years, and currently very few organizations possess them.

The energy field generation equipment is located in the central section of the handle, which is made of lightweight but military grade material. The lower section contains the capacitance gel and the kinetic charging system, allowing the axe to be recharged with a steady swinging motion (typically on the belt, or when worn across the back) in as little as 2 hours. The head is a solid wedge, with the field covering the edge of the axe. Roughly 40% of all vibro-axes are double-bitted axes, the rest having a pounding flat surface.

Weight: 9 lbs
Length: 1m
Charge Length: 4 hours
Recharge Time (internal): 8 hours
Recharge Time (Charger): 2 hours
Recharge Time (Fast Charge): 15 minutes

Vibro-Knife
A common fall back weapon, the vibro-knife contains the field generation circuitry, as well as the energy and capacitance gel compartment. The weapon is often used as a close in weapon by Juicers, MOM amplified soldiers, and as a weapon of silence or desperation by ground troops.

Weight: 2.4 lbs
Length: Blade: 6"
Hilt: 4"
Charge Length: 20 minutes
Recharge Time (internal): 4 hours
Recharge Time (Charger): 2 hours
Recharge Time (Fast Charge): 30 min

Vibro-Swords
A useful weapon up close and personal, the vibro-saber has a side-effect of creating a gleaming silver blade, even on low power (which safely encases the blade in a field that does not cut or slash), which has made carrying a saber once again fashionable in officer circles.

The blade's of NEMA military personnel are often engraved, usually with decorations referring to the branch of service or the Division, but some lifer officers had personal engravings on the blade.

The hilt contains the self-charging system, the capacitance gel, as well as the field generation system.

Saber:
Weight: 7 lbs
Length, Blade: 2 feet
Length, hilt: 6 inches
Charge Length: 1 hour
Recharge Time (internal): 4 hours
Recharge Time (Charger): 2 hours
Recharge Time (Fast Charge): 1 hour

Sword:
Weight: 9 lbs
Length, Blade: 3 feet
Length, Hilt: 9 inches
Charge Length: 2 hours
Recharge Time (internal): 8 hours
Recharge Time (Charger): 4 hours
Recharge Time (Fast Charge): 2 hours

Giant Sword:
Weight: 15 lbs
Length, Blade: 7 feet
Length, Hilt: 2 feet
Charge Length: 4 hours
Recharge Time (internal): 12 hours
Recharge Time (Charger): 6 hours
Recharge Time (Fast Charge): 3 hours

Vibro-Forearm Claws
Designed by DARPA for Force XXII, and field tested by USSOCOM, vibro-forearm claws have seen use in many a covert operation. The field generated wraps around two extendable hooked claws, allowed the operative to quickly cut down trees, sabotage military equipment, and block vibro-weapon swipes.

After the Rifts, these were largely unheard of, until the creation of the Psi-Hounds, which were rapidly armed with them.

Length: 9 inches, 6 inches past fist. 8 inches long housing chamber
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Charge Length: 4 hours
Recharge Time (internal): 4 hours
Recharge Time (Charger): 2 hours
Recharge Time (Fast Charge): 15 minutes

Charging Cradles
Charging cradles are found in police/fire stations during the time of NEMA, and in military armories. These are designed to use the studs (thought by many to be merely decorative) on the end of the hilt to charge the capacitance gel.

While normally a "trickle charge" is using to avoid ionizing the gel, they can be fast charged during an emergency. However, this has an 8% chance of ionizing the capacitance gel and rendering totally unable to hold a charge, or partially ionized so that power delivery is intermittent, or it only holds a partial charged, despite the fact it reads as fully charged.