May 06 19:38:30 109 PA - Switching Instructors for Heavy Weapons

From Chronicles

May 06 19:38:30 109 PA.

FIRING RANGE

It's a nice bright and sunny afternoon out at the firing range. A loud one, though, and not just because the weather has brought out more people than normal. Down on the heavy range, right on the edge of heavy weapons and ridiculous weapons area stands Pavel, near a number of drums of railgun ammunition and an absurdly outsized railgun tucked up beneath his arm. Now and then he takes long shots downrange, and is doing a fairly good job at knocking down what he's aiming at. Or at least, presumably what he's aiming at.

Bernard descends from the sky, cape flapping about him as he comes to a perfect landing, feet first, then walks into the range area itself, "So, why don't you show me what you know so far about that thing?" he asks, looking the railgun over a bit curiously.

Pavel hefts the big thing, keeping the muzzle pointed safely somewhere that Bernard isn't. << You know how to make a dramatic entrance, >> he says in Russian, knowing that somehow it will be translated for him. << It's new, I'm told that I'm still to break it in a little. >> A big hand pats the barrel, then he drops slowly to a knee. << I know how to assemble it, and load it. Clear a jam. Change drums. Hit at various distances with both bursts and what counts as a single shot with one of these things. Really, Bartholemew had me close to feeling like I knew what I was doing. I think that I just need some polishing. >> He grins, lips wide. << You here to inspect to see how much effort would be left in the polishing? >>

Bernard nods his head at that, "Well, I won't know what else you need to learn if I don't know where you stand already. Maybe Bart was a great teacher, maybe not. I don't know." He adds with a little shoulder shrug, "So how about you fire off a few rounds downrange, show me the techniques you've learned already."

<< Okay. Bart wanted me to fire from the hip, but that doesn't seem good. I'm quite good with a rifle, and you sure don't fire those from the hip, do you? >> Pavel's brow arches up, and he stands again, tucking the giant cannon beneath his arm. The chamber gets a glance - which is fair, as he'd been firing it only a moment earlier - and he lines up a target, defining specifically, << That big robot with the green head. >> There's a pause as he takes time to aim, then a BRRRRRRP as a short burst shoots out. It's not a dead-on shot, but it's quite good, tearing off a large chunk of torso and one arm. << That seems to be the most useful kind of shot in combat, if it ever came to needing this thing. >>

"Well, I don't think you can even put that thing to your shoulder, and the fact that it's a rotary means you're aiming off of where your bullets and tracers hit more then on a gunsight. Plus, it doesn't really have a rifle stock either." Bernard points out, "So hip shooting is your only real option." He says with a shrug, "So with that in mind, keep shooting how you've been taught to shoot." He says as he watches you fire off the rounds.

Pavel looks at the railgun, then looks to Bernard, shaking the weapon beneath his shoulder. << This is how I was taught to shoot. He told me to fire from the hip, or like this if it felt better - it feels better. The hip I can do, but it's not as accurate. Here. >> The big smith allows the weapon to be lowered, somewhat awkwardly as there's no strap on it at the moment. After another few seconds, a long BRRRRRRRRRR fires out. It shreds the remains of the robot's carapace, but clearly did it more as a 'spray the fire hose' shot. << See? It's better when I lift it. It might be too big for everyone, but I can handle its kick. Learned on other railguns like this, too, same carry. >>

Bernard shrugs his shoulders, "I'm just saying, it's not designed for shoulder firing in any way, it's designed primarily for a weapon mount, either a vehicle or a tripod, whoever made it never intended it to be fired that way." He gestures. "I can't really teach you how to shoot it, really though. You'll just have to put a lot of rounds downrange and get a feel for it, and since you've already learned on others like it I'll bow to your expertise on the weapons." He says, crackin a grin.

The Russian smiles. << I have learned enough to make it work for me. But there is more to learn, right? How to clean it. Or even other large weapons, like grenade launchers. I know that you think I should fire it a different way. Maybe you *could* show me how to do it better. >> Pavel grabs the hot muzzle and rests the butt of the cannon against the ground. << I only need some polishing, but I don't know what it is, so I don't know what to ask to be taught. >>

"Honestly, I could teach you to shoot it the way it was intended. If you want to learn your way you'll need to get tips from a power armor jockey I bet. But yeah, we can talk about missile launchers, and grenade launchers and the like as well. Plasma Ejectors are pretty important weapons too."

Pavel happily rests the weapon back on the ground, and gestures Bernard to where he's standing. << Please, come show me! If you're not strong enough, I can help long enough to have you help me. I *need* to learn this, Bernard. All of these things. railguns, grenade launchers, plasma ejectors, the works. I don't have time for anything cute, I'm a rather blunt kind of guy - though not figuratively all the time. >> The weapon is held out, offered for inspection and instruction.

"Well, do you have a tripod for it?" Bernard asks as he looks it over, "And I only have a Grenade Launcher, you'll need to rent practice guns for the others." he says with a little gesture down the range, "As far as weapon maintenance? I can maybe show you some basic things, but much of the workings of these guns you need a trained technician for."

The smith clicks his fingers and points to his pouch on the ground. << Payment is not a problem. The range has everything, right here. The weapons and the practice ammunition for rent, and I can pay it. I just need it as quickly as possible. We could... start this afternoon, if you were so inclined? I do have the tripod, it came with it. I was planning on recycling it into something more useful, like a plow, but haven't gotten around to it yet. >> Pavel jerks a finger backward to where the item is laying on the ground.

"And what happens if you recycle it, and you're helping defend a position, and you're going to be busy with your hammer but need the firepower as well. Without the tripod it's basically a worthless piece of metal for anyone besides you. Nobody else would be able to use it." Bernard shrugs, "And this afternoon is fine, I'll be here with my grenade launcher. You can check out any other weapons you want to practice with."

Pavel grins widely, more than happy to return home quickly to gather all of the appropriate gear, pay the range fees and collect whatever it is that he can get his hands on in the way of training rounds and practice gear. << I'll be here, Bernard! Thank you for helping! But what is your fee? >>

"I've no clue what teachin rates are, frankly. How does 500 per week sound for lessons?" Bernard asks, seeming genuinely unsure what the rates for such a thing are.

<< Five-hundred per lesson? That's fair, >> Pavel says with a big grin. << If you teach me how to shoot straight, I'll give you an armor plate for your efforts at the end! >> That said, he grabs his weapon and hurries over to the range-master's office, tossing over his shoulder, << I'll grab everything that I can and meet you back! >> Apparently he isn't worried or at least considering right now that the other man may have some traveling to do.

With the conversation over. Bernard takes to the air once again and is off. Zoooooom.

Bernard is on his way back down from the heavens, packing a grenade launcher under armor this time, he comes in for a landing though never quite touches the ground, purchasing a couple training drums for the launcher before moving to secure one of the heavy weapon stalls.

Pavel isn't expecting anyone to arrive by air. He's simply sitting among a great mound of equipment like a junkyard of weaponry collected in backwoods Alabama. Not that he has any idea what that term would mean. There are junk merchants in Russia, they just don't tend to traffic in high-end weaponry. As his lips purse, he whistles along a common working tune, something similar to what he uses to keep his hammer blows on point when he works.

Bernard comes to a stop nearby, setting the launcher and rounds down on the table at the stall, "So, what do you want to try first?" he asks casually, his feet finally coming into contact with the ground. "I figure we'll familiarize you with the weapons, then we can talk about care next time." He says.

<< Well, I suppose that for now, I should leave the railgun. I might not be shooting it properly as everyone else does, or leaving it useful for anyone else if I should drop it - but I *can* use it. What else do you have? >> he asks, looking over at the new launcher. Pavel pokes a big sausage finger. << I have always wondered what a grenade launcher felt like. Is it like throwing a ball? >>

"Sort of." Bernard says, tossing the heavy launcher of to you. It's a WI-GL4 Revolving Grenade Launcher. Built like a riot shotgun, just far bigger a bore. "It's effective out to about 1000 feet, and loads Fragmentation, or Armor piercing grenades."

Pavel catches the weapon easily, looking it over and thanks to Bartholemew, not looking into the muzzle to see what is inside. Still, it's somewhat small in his hands, not that he has a problem of holding it. The magazine is spun once or twice, but being completely unfamiliar with such a thing, he spends a significant amount of time searching for the safety, and also asking, << Is it loaded? >>

Bernard nods his head, "With training paint rounds, yes." he says, "Holds 24 grenades, can fire about as fast as you can pull the trigger." He says, "Go ahead and point it down range and try to hit a target."

The smith looks at his new instructor, nods and then looks at the weapon again. << It's a little bit like a rifle? >> he asks. Having been given no further clues on what to do with it, he does his best to raise it to his shoulder and fire it like what he knows of regular weapons. Nothing happens. He looks at it, makes sure that his finger is in the right place, then goes to shoot again. Nothing happens. Nothing happens three more times, either, despite the fact that he deliberately rolled different chambers - purely as a guess - to access other rounds. << I think it's broken, >> comes his professional opinion as he hands it back.

Bernard has one of those ah-hah moments, then grins, "Sorry." He says, then moves up, reaches out and touches the launcher, negating the spell upon it, "Try now. The magical attunement I've told you about? That was on my weapon so only I could use it." He explains. "And it is a bit like a rifle, yes. But less force on the projectile, and more of an arc."

Pavel takes it back, smiling, then grabs it by the muzzle, asking with a laugh, << I wonder if attuning a ranged weapon like this would negate it being used as a heavy club? >> A wink, then he goes back to an attempt to aim. There's a pause, and this time he's successful at firing it, though perhaps as expect, the slowly-fired practice round does a good job of taking a nose-dive only thirty yards or so downrange, if that. << Oops. It either, ah.. misfired? Or I need to do it like throwing a grenade. What's the range on this, anyway? Maybe I should just throw the grenade. >> The statement made, he lines up again, the muzzle slightly hire this time. *PLUNK* The next round is better. Not great my any means, but better.

Bernard shakes his head, "No, but if I were to attune say your hammer, it would just be a heavy hammer, none of it's magic would work for you." He explains, "It would just be a big metal hammer without any magical properties in your hand." He watches you fire, "1,000 feet." He says again, "With this weapon you need to be a judge of distance." He says. "Look out to the 100 foot marker." He says, "Then look to the launcher, it will have a mark on the sights for 100 feet. If you make that mark line up with the front sight then you will be able to hit your target. In combat, having a rangefinder, or being a good judge of distance can be quite helpful."

The smith smiles at the mention of his magic, but makes no comment. << One-hundred feet. Sights again. Bart wanted sights, yes. >> The launcher is raised, and Pavel takes his time to sight as told. After a time, there's another *PLUNK* and a training round fires out. This time it goes long by about a quarter beyond what as intended. << Well, at least it didn't explode in my face this time, >> he says, looking on the optimistic side of things. A quick check of the magazine shows that he has another round or two, and he takes the opportunity to use them. The last one marches fairly close to the mark, and the launcher is then handed back, as he has no idea what to do with it beyond pulling the trigger. << It is like throwing a ball, but without the satisfaction of actually throwing it. >>

"Most people can't throw balls nearly as far." Bernard says, "And you need to make sure that you have the front and back lined up perfectly, or you'll go long or short. You don't need to hit directly with these though, getting within a foot or two is generally sufficient."

Pavel nods. << Are all of the launchers the same? Or do I need to learn differently for each one, what they can do? I have seen, for instance, that throwing my own grenades have different blast areas. I guess we can't practice with those here? >> He smirks. << Unless a WI-GL4 Revolving Grenade Launcher is only used to mark a target with paint on the battlefield? >>

"You will need to know the grenades you're shooting, and what their effective kill radius is, yes. You will need to learn that for any weapon you use. The sights should be fairly similar for any grenade launcher you do use, though."

The smith reaches out his big hands, gesturing 'gimme' with his fingers. << Let me try it again. Putting a blast radius where it should go is better than being lucky. Of course, that's not what my father would tell me! HA! >> He lets out a big laugh. << Seriously, let me try again. Bartholemew had me accounting for range and windage, but I don't see that kind of setup here. >>

Bernard nods at that, "Of course. And I did tell you how to account for range. It's a lot more straight forward with a grenade launcher though. On the back sight, you see the numbered ticks? That indicates range. When you align that range tick with the front sight you'll have your range accounted for. And you can adjust if you're short, or long. Same with windage, you adjust to the left or right of where you last aimed at if it misses to the left or right."

Pavel bobs his head, acknowledging the range. << Yes, yes. I remember the range. Tried that, >> he nods. << But on the railgun that I was shown before, there was actually a dial back here. Back where a rifle sight would be. But, I suppose I'm only supposed to judge left and right? Okay. >> He shrugs big shoulders and aims at the big robot he'd been using earlier. << I'll try go guess a different distance. It's not always going to be one-hundred yards. >> With wind blowing out of the west, he deflects the muzzle to the left, and after another pause, there is a *PLUNK* followed by a bright orange paint round on a high arc impacting with a reasonable amount of accuracy near the robot. He lowers the muzzle, swishes his lips, then decides, << Probably would have been at the edge of the blast. >>

"With a grenade launcher you have a good judge of how far you were off if you guessed wrong as well, and you can quickly get the second round right on target. It's a bit different then your railgun. Your railgun shoots a lot straighter, for example. The velocity is much faster and the rounds much lighter. You'll have to learn to be a lot more flexible, and a lot more intuitive with heavy weapons in general."

Pavel offers another nod of his head, then looks at the rotary magazine. << Is the intention to fire one round at one man, or one group? Or to empty the whole thing on an area? >> Rather than waiting for an answer, he lines up and calls his target - << that thing that looks like a car >> - and fires off four shots in rapid succession. One of them is reasonably close, a second is pretty good, and two hit more or less on target. The weapon is dropped to his side, gripped in one hand, and he smiles. << Well, unless it was a very bad beast, it's dead! >>

"It depends what sort of round you have. Armor Piercing rounds are designed more for single targets, tanks, things like that, where frags you would want to saturate an area, or group to cause as much damage as you can." Bernard says at that, "It's designed to be a bit more versatile of a weapon, and you can fairly quickly change out a drum as needed."

<< Very interesting! Are they common, so that ammunition doesn't become expensive? Before I bought my railgun, I was looking at another, but even for me, the rounds were prohibitive. But, please... what else do you have? I was told this is a plasma ejector? >> Pavel laughs as he hands the grenade launcher back to its owner and picks up a new piece of equipment. << I'll return to that. But I don't have any idea what a plasma ejector is. >>

Bernard nods his head, "They are fairly common yes, they use the same type of grenades for all of their grenade launchers, Wellington Industries does." He glances to the plasma ejector you pick up, "Well, it's a weapon, that fires a plasma charge, similar to a bullet."

<< But it's not fired the same, >> Pavel states, pointing out the obvious. << The grenades, are they for everyone though, or just Wellington? Is there a common round? >> He asks this as he looks the ejector over.

"Just Wellington. But they're fairly common here in North America and easy to get. And they have several weapons that use them." Bernard says, "And there's no universal common round for anything, except for Magical energy." He says with a grin. "You fire the plasma ejector just like a rifle. You put it to your shoulder, aim, and pull the trigger. You have a little less to account for wind and a bit less for range, but sure it's still a factor."

Pavel listens and nods, having found the trigger mechanism and making sure that it really was loaded. Still, he gently make sure that the magazine is properly seated before bringing it up to he shoulder. This time, his looks much more comfortable, as it really is more of an oversized rifle than anything else. << Okay, that car thing again. >> He takes a long pause... then a large slug of blue energy pops out and flies very neatly right past the target. The large fellow grins. << I missed, but the guy next to him is dead! >>

Bernard nods his head, "With that you need to get used to the fact it's not firing a projectile, so much as an energy charge, so it reacts differently when you shoot it. Practice with it some and maybe we can talk about missile launchers, and basic cleaning later."

Again, Pavel listens and nods. << I will practice with this for a while. It is very different from anything else I have ever used, >> he confirms. << Perhaps next time we can move on to other weapons. The cleaning? Eh. I'm sure it would be good to be shown, but I'm also sure that the Gunnery would be more than happy to show a man how to do it, after he dropped that much cash on them! >> Grinning toothily, he then returns to his own Russian world with the plasma ejector, focused on something very new.