North (2)
John Brown had found the direction for anti-demonic beast firearms: the double-barrel shotgun.
Of course, a single-barrel shotgun would be far superior in terms of production, cost, and maintenance. But Brown couldn't give up on the double-barrel.
Double the barrels. Double the shells. Double the firepower. Double the production cost...
'No need to rifle them.'
Shotguns didn't require rifling by nature. They weren't for precisely hitting distant targets but for spraying shot over relatively close ranges. Skipping the cost and time for rifling would offset the expense of the extra barrel to some degree.
One gun that maximized both utility and romance. There was no reason to settle for a single-barrel when this existed.
Pull both triggers for a rapid spray of shot, break open the gun to eject the spent shells. Then grab two fresh shells and load them simultaneously. Cock both hammers and fire again.
"...Damn."
How romantic was that?
Of course, choosing between single- and double-barrel shotguns would be up to the Empire's high command or the Northern Duke.
For now, they decided to produce prototypes of both the single-barrel shotgun and the double-barrel shotgun.
But that wasn't the end. No matter how good the gun, it was just a launcher for bullets. A gun's true power came from its ammunition.
Brown began pondering the shells.
First up: 12-gauge. Birdshot, buckshot, or slugs. Standard fare from his previous life. Buckshot's thick lead balls could take down mid-sized game like boars or deer. Slugs could handle elephants without issue.
But would it work on demonic beasts? Fine for low-rank ones, maybe, but mid-rank? It might need more punch.
10-gauge. A bit bigger. Still not sure.
'Even more firepower...'
2-gauge? Overkill. The recoil alone would be brutal, and lugging it around? More cannon than gun.
Brown pondered briefly.
'Let's just make them and see.'
Buckshot and slugs in 8-, 10-, and 12-gauge. Test them all.
Next issue: shell casings. What material?
'Plastic...'
It offered good strength and waterproofing, but no chance. Petroleum research was still ongoing.
Left with metal or paper.
'Metal casings for testing...'
Solid metal casings would be quicker to produce. Test and deploy those first, then transition to paper later.
Two shell types in three sizes. Single-barrel shotgun and one double-barrel variant. Plan finalized. Time to design.
As demonic beast appearances ramped up, soldier fatigue built.
Injuries rose too.
They mobilized knights as much as possible to mitigate it, but knights tired just the same. And the beasts were appearing more frequently, over wider areas.
They could hold for now. But if the numbers kept climbing? Could they?
"Hoo..."
The Northern Duke settled his turbulent thoughts and gathered his aura. White smoke rose from his armor joints.
Before him lay a mid-rank demonic beast, sliced apart.
Not a challenge for him. But his expression was grim.
'Exhausting.'
No one knew how or where the beasts appeared. Why were they massing near the territory? A mother beast nearby? Or...
He moved to clear his head, but the worries only multiplied.
"Handle the beast cleanup."
"Yes, sir!"
Ordering the soldiers, the Northern Duke returned to his domain.
"No word from the Empire yet?"
"No, my lord."
It had only been days since requesting the anti-demonic beast firearms. Too soon for a reply. But he couldn't help anticipating.
"What about the investigation?"
He'd ordered probes into the surge, but no answers yet. Hearing the report, the Duke turned to his remaining duties.
"One barrel... or two..."
"Yes, and two shell types in three sizes..."
The Research Director listened to Brown.
"Skip the mid-size shells. Test two sizes."
"Yes, ma'am."
With approval, Brown ordered the prototypes. Time passed.
"Ahh..."
The prototypes arrived.
Slugs and buckshot. 8- and 12-gauge. Six each.
Two single-barrel shotguns. And an 8-gauge double-barrel.
Sunlight glinted off the barrels.
"Grr..."
Brown grabbed the 12-gauge single-barrel first. Flick the lever; the lock released, chamber exposed.
Push in the metal shell, close it up, cock the hammer, tie off the trigger.
Bang!
Smoke billowed from the muzzle, shot sprayed. The target rag shredded.
Next: slug.
Bang!
Perfect. Now the 8-gauge single-barrel.
Bang!
Brown ran more tests. Conservative design held up to pressure. No rifling and lower chamber pressure than rifles helped.
Break-action design raised worries about joints or chamber, but all clear.
Now, double-barrel.
Two barrels joined. Same as single, so no issue.
Load shells, cock both hammers, aim.
Pull trigger; one hammer falls.
Bang!
Heavy recoil hit his shoulder.
"Urgh..."
Buckshot, then slug.
Bang!
Heavy kick, massive lead slug rocketed out. Missed the aim point but power was evident. For accuracy...
'Rifle the slugs...'
Lead was soft; easy to rifle.
Tests clean. Now field effectiveness.
'Hmm...'
Where to get a mid-rank beast?
"Need to test on mid-rank beasts?"
"Yes, Director."
"Hmm..."
Next day.
"It works."
"Huh?"
Did the Empire have captured beasts somewhere? Results came fast.
"8-gauge double-barrel it is."
Production greenlit.
"Whoa..."
Brown marveled at the speed. But no time to slack.
"You mentioned paper shells and slug accuracy improvements..."
Work not done. Brown dove into next phase.
Shotguns would field-test in the North, then decision on Empire-wide deployment. If approved...
'Trench guns too...'
He held faint hopes.
"The firearms have arrived."
32 double-barrel shotguns. 8-gauge buckshot and slugs.
"Shells in two weeks, second batch of guns in a month."
"Got it. Distribute to the troops first..."
The Northern Duke ordered immediate allocation.
"They say this is different."
"Pfft. What's it got over matchlocks?"
Veterans doubted. Operators grumbled en route to training.
Bang!
"This feels different."
"How?"
Soon they buzzed, explaining the power.
"Hm. That good?"
"Try it yourself."
"But my guess."
"What?"
"Won't patrols ramp up with this?"
"?"
Rumors swirled: not a fatigue-reducer, but more hunts due to firepower.
Soon, a chance to test.
"Low-rank beast sighted. Move out."
"Yes, sir!"
Squad under squad leader heads out.
"Shoot at me and you're dead."
"Heh. Won't happen."
Buckshot for low-ranks. Operator carries spares: two slugs, four buckshot.
Fiddling with shells en route, they encountered it.
"Battle ready!"
Shields up to block. Beast charged on sight.
"Hey! Derun! Shoot!"
Impatient soldier yells as it closes.
"Just a bit closer!"
Derun gauges distance, aims.
Pulls trigger.
Bang! "Kyeng!"
Beast tumbles, rolls dead.
"Another!"
Bang! "Kyeng!"
"..."
"..."
Soldiers stare blankly.
One speaks.
"This thing's the real deal."
Word of the shotgun's power spread to all troops.