Work in Progress

The Carousel Arms Loader essentially takes whatever weapon the user is holding from them (rifle, sword, etc) and puts another ready in position to grab - automatically holstering the weapon it took.

By allowing a powered-armour or frame to dual wield and carry additional weaponry in its shoulders, this opens up many new tactical options without compromising either the main weapons or tactical equipment of a unit. With augmentation, it can allow a shoulder hardpoint to carry a complete hand-weapon and fire it.

This act of swapping weapons or 'cycle' can be repeated in rapid succession and requires no special training.

Also important is that since at no point a weapon is not attached to something, the exchange can even be performed during high speed maneuvers.

A weapon cycled into the shoulder bay can be fired, though its accuracy does not match that of the direct-fire systems such as a hand-held rifle.

Any carried weapon can be purged on command. Any held weapon can be cycled into the bay system.

The Carousel comes with a wide range of options, depending on different users. When pricing up weapons, total only the cost of the specific augmentation rather than all of those which come before it - though each integrates every feature which comes before it by design.

Example:

• Basic unit (500KS) + Slave Arms (500KS) = 1000KS
• Slave arms include:
  • Fire-Control
  • Passive tracking
  • Twin Mount
  • Slave-Arm

A basic firing mechanism, fire selection mechanism (via granular locking) and slaved targeting system in the clamp itself can be used in order to track and fire at targets, though its mobility and aim are very limited. This can be useful with weapons such as rockets, missiles and scatter-weapons such as shotguns up close.

Enhancing the mobility of the Carousel, a joint is fitted between it and the shoulder allowing for some extra articulation which allows the docked weapon to completely track a users aim - either what their hand-held weapons point at or what the user is looking at - switching between the two firing modes or assisting the user's balance when not in use, as well as providing its normal weapons-cycling function.

This opens up the potential for high velocity kinetic rifles and automatic weapons, including miniguns and other anti-vehicle weapons.

Essentially losing the rotary exchange function, both arms of the carousel can be adapted to simultaniously carry two weapons, expanding the shoulder-bay capacity. This has the side-effect of upsetting the balance and mobility of most powered-armour and frames.

Important is that if a disposable weapon is fitted to the secondary bay and rapidly expended, it can be purged, freeing up the second bay and returning the rotary exchange capability. This option can be ideal in the opening strikes against an opponent or if carrying a tactical payload.

Designed to be fitted to the back of the shoulders, the back of the torso or hips, these retractible telescopic arms replace the single joint that previously filled in the gap between the shoulder and the carousel, granting extra recoil and aim augmentation while also ruggedizing the whole assembly. These are ideal for heavier weapons, such as grenade launchers, shock cannons, rail-cannons and lightspeed weapons. If structol coated for extra strength (200KS), this includes larger crew-servicable weapons.

When retracted with no fitting weapons, it remains quite light and portable.