>>6343261The weapon was complete. Something to counter the damn Grach. Smaller, with only three barrels, it was the result of answering everything that was wrong with it's gun, known internally known by it's Pact designation as the "Cope."
The whole assembly had been mechanically simplified. Bulky equipment and apparent workarounds were removed. A variety of high endurance sensors and adaptive algorithms instead harmonize the weapons operation, regardless of it's relative state. Part of that simplification had been a reduction in rotary barrel count, as well as a drastic reduction in scale. A pure electric drive was buried between the three barrels further improving packaging. The smaller weapon ended up with a net increase in the percent of it's mass dedicated to stiffness and anti-vibration. Caseless ammunition removed another headache, and allowed for an attached magazine and small onboard generator. A caliber smaller and less "energetic" propellant were selected, allowing the weapon to enjoy longevity between maintenance cycles that it's Pact counterpart would never know. Finally it was limited to a sensible rate of fire rather than the Grach's "Mad moment". With such endurance instead of having to "shoot and scoot", it could support the fleet for protracted engagements and provide flexible utility in battle.
A handful of incomplete Ryus were selected for the task of testing this new system, perhaps shaping the way for future reverse engineering. The hulls stripped of their normal weapons compliment and mounts, along with any command utility. Instead they were plated with additional armor and installed with an outsized turret ring assembly, allowing twin rotary cannons a degree of freedom It was the philosophical inversion to the cobbled together "Toes" the Pact then uparmed and armored with whatever material was available.
It had no name yet, but it was everything the Grach was not, and for the particular Raihan who were tasked with reverse engineering the Thunderbird Heavy, that was the best possible outcome.
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>It needs a name. 