M6 Spartan Laser

John-117 firing an M6/R during the Battle of Installation 00.

"The M6 is a splendid special application anti-vehicle/anti-materiel weapon – even if it is a little on the heavy side. The imprudent use of this weapon in the antipersonnel role, which is to say, against non high-value targets – grunts or drones for example – is strongly discouraged."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

The Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle (W/AV M6 G/GNR), colloquially known as the Spartan Laser, is a man-portable and vehicle-mounted solid-state directed-energy anti-vehicle weapon used by the United Nations Space Command. It is the only known infantry directed-energy weapon manufactured by humans, aside from the plasma rifle protoype created by Chalybs Defense Solutions.

Overview

Design details

A Spartan charges up an M6/V Spartan Laser.

"The M6 is one of those rare systems that simultaneously boosts morale, degrades the fighting spirit of the enemy and actually performs admirably as a weapon."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

The M6 G/GNR was originally created in concert with the GUNGNIR Mjolnir armor variant as part of Project GUNGNIR, a program designed to provide supplementary matériel for the SPARTAN-II program, hence the "Spartan Laser" moniker. The M6 G/GNR is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, directed energy weapon firing a solid-state laser. The Spartan Laser's Grindell/Galilean architecture incorporates a smart-linked Wyrd III optics suite, capable of 3× magnification for increased accuracy. Its reticule, whether on 1× or 3× magnifications, features a meter on the right side showing the charging status of the laser. The tick mark rests at the bottom of the circular shaped reticule while the laser is dormant, and gradually travels along the reticule's circumference until it reaches the point of origin, indicating that the laser is currently discharging. Certain variants of the M6, the M6/V and the M6/X, are equipped with foldable targeting displays, allowing operators to target enemies without the use of smart-linking on their heads-up display.

Development history

"The equipment required (PP-16979/AM-Sh) to recharge the non-removable battery (BA-53635/PLMD) for the M6 G/GNR does not and never has shipped with the weapon – and for some dang reason I’ve never seen them ship at the same time. Do people not realize that they are two different pieces of equipment?"

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

The M6 has gone through several iterations, but its changes have been mostly cosmetic. For example, the M6/R variant used during the Human-Covenant War is powered by a BA-53635/PLMD non-removable battery, which recharges with a PP-16979/AM-Sh charger, whereas the M6/X variant is powered by Series 6971 battery cells, with little-to-no changes in performance. Although the Spartan Laser was considered to be "ruinously expensive" at the time of its introduction, later refinements led to a reduction in production cost which is now only considered to be "extraordinarily expensive". Internal components have changed over time, incorporating incremental advances that have lowered production costs, and increased efficiency, but the significant advances in crystal doping and optoelectronic focusing remain largely opaque to end users.

Operation

"Our anti-air element was suppressed so I opened a request for fire support. A beam struck the trailing Banshee. The canopy separated from the fuselage and the pilot spilled out right before it burst into flames and pin-wheeled in."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

When the weapon is equipped, a shroud over the laser diode lifts up to expose it, presumably to protect it from scratches and battle damage when holstered. A small hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder on the left side of the shroud actuates the shroud where it is anchored to the chassis of the weapon. When the trigger is pulled, a red targeting laser is painted on-target accompanied by an audible whine as the weapon cycles up. The Spartan Laser will then charge for approximately three seconds before discharging the main laser. As the Spartan Laser charges, the charging tone gets noticeably louder and increases in pitch up until the laser is fired. The firing sequence can be aborted without discharging the battery as long as the weapon is not actually fired; for example, if the target moves out of sight or the operator needs to displace. Heat management forces significant downtime between shots, and so the weapon enters an approximately two-second-long standby sequence between shots.

An M6/R Spartan Laser destroys a Banshee.

When fired, the Spartan Laser emits a solid-state laser, a powerful microsecond-long pulse of energy capable of burning through thick plates of metallic laminates, nanocomposites, or hardened steel. The beam can also penetrate multiple obstacles and/or targets, provided they are aligned along a linear trajectory. The beam emitted by the M6 Spartan Laser weapons is typically a bright red. The beam is capable of eliminating all manner of targets in a very large range. When used against infantry such as Jiralhanae Chieftains, the lasers is capable of efficiently burning through the armor and leaving a clean hole through the target and also severely damage anything behind the initial target. A single discharge from the M6/R is capable of piercing the thick armor of a Ru'swum-pattern Phantom.

Usage

"Because of their cost and complexity the [M6 G/GNR] and like systems are not going to find widespread adoption. They will remain specialist weapons, at least for the foreseeable future."

— Anonymous UNSC E2-BAG/1/7 serviceman

While there are multiple M6 variants to facilitate various specialized roles, the M6 is typically used in both anti-vehicle and anti-personnel roles. When employed in combat, the Spartan Laser had a marked effect on both allied and enemy morale. During the Human-Covenant War, only Orbital Drop Shock Troopers and Spartans were given ready access to the weapon. Aircraft, such as the AV-22 Sparrowhawk, the G79H Pelican, and the S-930 Pegasus, are equipped with armaments that use the same technology.

Variants

There are four known variants of the M6 Spartan Lasers:

• M6/E Spartan Laser: The M6/E ("Enhanced") variant is upgraded to combat heavy armor, and functions primarily as an anti-tank ordnance. Its parts were miniaturized components derived from the M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Cannon mounted on AV-22 Sparrowhawks.
  • Endgame: Endgame is an improved model of the M6/E variant with a doubled battery capacity and reduced charge time. It has the downside of having less strength than its normal counterpart.
  • Selene's Lance: Selene's Lance is an advanced variant of the M6/E variant has a faster charge time and a longer beam duration, with 50% additional battery capacity compared to its normal counterpart.
• M6/R Spartan Laser: The M6/R variant is specialized in reconnaissance deployments and scouting maneuvers.
• M6/V Spartan Laser: The M6/V variant is designed with a larger focus on operator safety via a versatile focus canop