The 'zovedsom' (lit: Zip Gun) is a fascinating family of handheld weapons. Although the Nahha do not permit the mass manufacture of weapons, they do have some examples of advanced weaponry.
'Zovedsom' are manufactured under special licence from the Profession of Law Enforcement. There are dozens of different models but the older ones are quickly outdated and become museum pieces. This is mainly due to changes in technology and ammunition but is also a desire to 'invalidate' the illegal weapons out in the field.
Most uses of weapons are authorized by the Profession of Law Enforcement during an engagement with organised crime where they suspect the criminals have access to their own weapons.
'Zovedsom' sizes range from a small pistol to a much larger assault weapon in size. They have a larger top body, elongated and squat triangular in shape, with the pointed end forming the barrel. The rear of the weapon can have a screen that shows what the weapon is currently targeting. The image can be taken from detectors on the front of the barrel or from nearby video feeds such as 'vimb' (dust) or 'katim'. Normally the image is broadcast directly to the user's 'katim'. The weapon is always keyed to the user's katim, thus the weapon is unable to be fired by anyone but the authorized weapon holder.
Most of the weapon's volume is made up of a shaped 'crystal' of compressed ammunition. The individual ammunition itself is very small, normally just under 2mm in diameter and about a centimetre in length. The ammunition can vary in type but the most common, or general type is very flexible. The bullet is intelligent and is configured by the firing gun according to the requirements of the shooter by selecting an 'Engagement Profile'. A small propellant charge inside each bullet can be fired at the most optimum time and the bullet can change shape in flight to affect its flight path.
Some examples of 'Engagement Profiles' are below: -
1. Masonry: The bullet explodes on contact with the surface.
2. Metal / Armour: The bullets explode immediately prior to contact turning the head into a small molten pellet designed to 'abrade' the target.
3. Smoke: The bullets will explode inefficiently in mid-air at a pre-set distance forming a cloud of dust particles.
4. Infra-red: The weapon is fired up into the sky and the falling bullets will locate an infra-red signature that they then engage, usually exploding on, or just prior to, contact. The explosive is used as rocket fuel in final transit.
5. Motion: As for infra-red but looking for targets moving against the background.
6. Stun: A short burst of bullets will explode loudly by the head of the target otherwise they will detonate 'lazily' making them less harmful.
7. Incapacitate: The bullets will penetrate the flesh and attempt to penetrate bone, but will not explode.
8. Kill: The bullets will partially explode and penetrate the flesh of the victim before exploding inefficiently again, disseminating the remaining casing and explosive/propulsion as a poison.
9. Okumim: The weapon is fired up into the sky and the bullets will try and locate an 'okumim' using several EM bands, and if they find one will attempt to engage.
As you can see, a single weapon is very flexible and the larger weapons have several thousand rounds of ammunition. The rate of fire is high (hence the name 'zov' - or 'zip' - after the sound the gun makes. The range of the weapons is normally below 300 meters and they are not really suitable as sniping or hunting weapons. They do excel at close combat and an experienced shooter in the confines of a building can prove to be most effective.
There are variations in the ammunition which allow the bullets to slow-burn the explosive as rocket fuel for increasing the range and/or using them as incendiaries.
Reloading is simply a matter of replacing the top body. All models are waterproof although most models will not fire under water as a safety precaution.
An interesting anecdote; the ammunition is programmed never to harm small humans - i.e. children. One nahhumar trading in child slave labour saw fit to use very young children as body armour by literally tying children onto their chests and backs. Although only armed with clubs and knives the Judges who were remotely overseeing the raid were so disgusted at this inhumanity they gave permission for one of the officers to mount a 'weapons engagement'. The officer then selected whom she believed to be the ring leader, notified her 'zovedsom' of the sole target and instructed a 'Kill' engagement profile. She then opened fire with a short burst into the air. The weapon fired ten rounds at low velocity. On reaching the top of their flight path they turned, located the top of the head of the criminal and then killed him. The rest of the nahhumar surrendered. No child was hurt by contact with the Law Enforcement officers except for some minor cuts and bruises. Some members of the nahhumar had, prior to the weapons engagement, deliberately injured some of the children but 'katim' and 'peyrit' evidence convicted them.