Based on the earlier Plasma Lance Cannon, the NAM Variable Speed Plasma Rifle VSPR-01a is a handheld power armor scale plasma weapon developed in YE 41 by Nepleslian Arms and Munitions. The VSPR is a multi-mode weapon that incorporates features from the earlier NAM Light Plasma Autocannon LPA-01b to fire in two modes: a relatively small but fast moving plasma lance intended to pierce through barriers and cause point damage; and a slower moving but more damaging blast of plasma.
The VSPR-01a was developed as part of the United Maintenance Plan that Nepleslia's military equipment undergoes every 5 years, where existing weapons and platforms are evaluated and new improvements proposed and developed. The VSPR, then, is a mid to long ranged plasma weapon intended to equip power armors such as the NAM Terratech Heavy Assault Armorsuit – “Aggressor” in combat as a direct fire support energy based weaponry.
Then the plan changed, and the VSPR's intended platform changed to the new successor to the AIR2 Lancer and new high speed assault platform, the NAM Terratech High Mobility Assault Armorsuit – “Slayer”. The weapon's role remained general direct fire support, but it would also be required to engage other fast moving platforms such as starfighters. New inspiration for the weapon came from the extant NAM Light Plasma Autocannon LPA-01b, which provided some internals and firing mechanisms for this weapon.
The Variable Speed Plasma Rifle is a high power plasma railgun1) that has two firing modes: Lance and Burst. Lance mode is faster firing, and uses a pair of magnetic rails to propel a semi-self sustaining fusion bolt at high speeds. Burst mode is far slower firing: a larger nuclear fusion reaction is actually generated within the weapon's firing chamber before each shot, which is directed out of the VSPR's barrel in a directed burst of high energy plasma.
The VSPR is a long weapon that requires power from an outside source to actually operate: the quarter of capacitors that jut out from the weapon's plasma generation barrel require copious amounts of energy to fuel the burst mode reaction.
The VSPR is a long weapon composed of two halves: the tuning fork split barrel that takes up the front 3/5ths of the weapon, and the bulky firing and power generation mechanism in the rear. The front tuning fork half varies the distance between both forks depending on the firing mode, with Burst mode requiring a larger than Lance Mode. The upper fork also features a fold out trigger and handle assembly similar to the W2911 cannons on the Mindy-1H. The rear of the weapon features four protruding energy capacitors in an x pattern. These capacitors are used to generate the fusion reaction for Burst mode.
| Firing Mode Damage Quickchart | |
|---|---|
| Mode | Purpose |
| Lance | Tier 5, Medium Anti-Armor |
| Burst | Tier 8, Medium Anti-Mecha |