Ke-M2-W4300 Aether Whip

Developed by Ketsurui Fleet Yards in YE 43, this weapon allows the user to inflict aether blade-like slashing damage on a target well outside of arm's reach. Essentially, it's an aether-coated chain with a handle at one end and an edge at the other.

The Ke-M2-W4300 Aether Whip was developed after musician Kwabba-an Ternifac-xuralkhi wanted to incorporate her proficiency with string instruments with her appetite for melee carnage. She came up with a crude drawing (see the Appearance section) illustrating the concept, which she sent to Ketsurui Fleet Yards to develop into a prototype.

One reviewer enthused:

<blockquote>Have you ever thought to yourself “I really want to cut that thing with an aether blade, but it's just too far away?” Not any more! Sacrificing some of the damage of an aether blade to gain a modicum of range, the Ke-M2-W4300 Aether Whip is an excellent tool for those who wish to inflict melee damage without being within arm's reach.</blockquote>

• Designer: Kwabba-an Ternifac-xuralkhi was responsible for the concept, but the technical details were worked out by Ketsurui Fleet Yards research and development.
• Manufacturer: Ketsurui Fleet Yards
• Name: Aether Whip
• Nomenclature: Ke-M2-W4300
• Type: Aether
• Role: Anti-Armor, Anti-starship surgical Attacks, Hull cutting tool.
• Length: approx. 7.6 meters (25 feet)
  • Handle: approx. 30 centimeters (1 foot)
  • Chain: approx. 7.3 meters (24 feet)
  • Chain width at handle: approx. 10 centimeters (4 inches)
  • Chain width at tip: approx. 4 centimeters (1.5 inches)
• Weight: 68 kilograms (approx. 150 pounds)
  • Each of the 139 chain links weighs on average 0.45 kilograms (1 pound) gives 62 kilograms (136 pounds)
  • The handle weighs 6 kilograms (13 pounds)
• Production: Prototype.

Simply put, it's an approximately 7.5 meter (24 foot) Zesuaium chain attached to an approximately 30 centimeter (1 foot) Zesuaium handle. The handle contains a retractable cable that plugs into the forearm of a Ke-M2-4 Series "Mindy" Armor or any compatible power armor. When activated, the handle emits an aether coating along the length of the whip coming to a devastating edge just beyond the end of the chain.

The chain uses the same principle as a whip in that it tapers in width from its widest point at the handle to its narrowest point at its tip. This design translates the motion of the heavier section of chain at the handle to a much faster motion at the tip. This allows the tip of the whip to break the speed of sound in atmosphere and cause some amount of damage even without activating the aether coating.

The handle features a retractable cable that plugs into the forearm of a Ke-M2-4 Series "Mindy" Armor or any compatible power armor and powers it indefinitely. The handle is too small to fit a useful battery, so if the cable is cut it simply becomes a chain with a handle.

* Purpose: Heavy Anti-Armor (Tier 5)

This weapon has an on/off switch on the handle to engage/disengage the aether coating.

• Ke-M2-W4300 Aether Whip: 10,000 KS

• Ke-M2-W4300 Aether Whip Handle: 6,000 KS
• Ke-M2-W4300 Aether Whip Chain: 4,000 KS

Hyralt created this article and drew the prototype sketch on 2021/01/15 10:10.

• Approved by Andrew on 1/16/2021 in this thread.