Kewu R'shi'k-pattern plasma rifle: Difference between revisions

The '''''Kewu R'shi'k''-pattern rifle'''{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=290|Detail=Blood Hand image caption}} is a [[design pattern]] variation in the [[plasma rifle]] series of weapons employed by the [[Covenant]] and its [[Covenant remnants|remnants]]. In common lexicon, the ''Kewu R'shi'k'' is colloquially known as the "'''blood-hand'''" by [[Jiralhanae]],{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|CFNoble}} and consists of a modification of the standard {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}} intended for Brute use - earning it the moniker of '''Brute plasma rifle''' among [[human]] forces.

Unlike the standard plasma rifles, historically constructed by [[Iruiru Armory]], the Brute plasma rifle was specially-commissioned for manufacture in the [[Sacred Promissory]] by the [[Prophet of Truth]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

The Kewu R'shi'k-pattern plasma rifle is visually almost identical to the standard Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle plasma rifle employed by standard Covenant infantry. While identical in overall shape and form to the Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle plasma rifle, the variant employed by the Jiralhanae features a distinctive crimson red outer shell, as opposed to the traditional blue-purple of most Covenant weaponry including the original plasma rifle. The white to red indicator lights on the original plasma rifle are replaced with blue to purple indicators to better stand out against the recolored body. Like other plasma rifles, the precise surface texture and grip design varies from model to model (presumably dependant on [[design pattern]] differences), though all function very similarly. Due to its origins in Covenant design language rather than those of the Jiralhanae (such as the [[Jovokada Workshop brute shot]] or the [[Paegaas Workshop Spiker]]), it is one of few Jiralhanae weapons that doesn't retain a primitive design language and the iconic blades found on almost all other brute weaponry.

As its name suggests, the Jiralhanae plasma rifle fires [[plasma]] as opposed to ballistic ammunition. The weapon is powered from an internal battery cell, and when firing has a power output of 100-150 KV @ 2~3 dA, and can fire 360~540 rounds per minute in fully-automatic fire thanks in part to its dual plasma collimator design.{{Ref/Reuse|FieldGuide}}  Placed atop one another, these collimators fire in a "stagger" taking the slow automatic fire of each individual collimator and combining it, this design allows a faster rate of fire and more rounds per second. The Kewu R'shi'k-pattern rifle design boasts a far greater rate of fire than standard Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle plasma rifle variants, alongside a more powerful plasma projectile - though this is mitigated by the more rapid rate of overheating.

While two major designs of "standard" the Kewu R'shi'k-pattern plasma rifle have been seen observed in use, several major sub-variants additionally exist;

*[[Sorrow of Teash]] - an improved Kewu R'shi'k-pattern plasma rifle design with better heat dissapation and accuracy.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Sorrow of Teash [[List of REQ cards/Power Weapons|REQ card]] description}}

*[[Scale of Soirapt]] - a rare Kewu R'shi'k-pattern  plasma rifle built in the image of the [[Soirapt|lifeless corpse-moon]] that orbits [[Doisac]], with secrets that only the most cunning Jiralhanae can unlock.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Scale of Soirapt [[List of REQ cards/Power Weapons|REQ card]] description}}

[[File:HRoa 1 Atriox.png|thumb|[[Atriox]] firing a Brute plasma rifle in ''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''.]]

The Brute plasma rifle was in service in some capacity by at least around [[2548]], with several employed by [[Atriox]] and his clan during the [[Algolis Invasion]].{{Ref/Comic|RoA|Issue=1}} By [[2552#October|October 2552]], Jiralhanae equipped with Brute plasma rifles were present in the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] during its [[Battle for Earth|attack]] on [[Earth]], with Jiralhanae [[Battle of Mombasa|deployed]] into [[New Mombasa]] brandishing the weapons.{{Ref/Level|ODST|Tayari Plaza}} By this time, the weapons were known to the [[UNSC]], though their method of operation and significance were largely unknown to [[human]]ity.{{Ref/Reuse|FieldGuide}} Jiralhanae wielding their plasma rifles were later encountered by [[John-117]] during the [[Fall of High Charity]]{{Ref/Level|H2|Gravemind (level)|Gravemind}} and [[Thel 'Vadam]] during the [[Battle of Installation 05]]{{Ref/Level|H2|Uprising}}, wherein they used them to combat [[Sangheili]]-led [[Covenant separatists|separatist]] forces. The fall of High Charity to the [[Flood]] ultimately resulted in the Brute plasma rifle becoming a rare weapon, and by the time of the later stages of the [[Battle of Voi]] and [[Battle of Installation 00]], Jiralhanae troops had begun employing the standard and more easily accessible regular plasma rifle instead of their dedicated Brute counterpart.{{Ref/Game|H3}}

Despite the collapse of the Covenant, Brute plasma rifles have seen prominence in the hands of Jiralhanae warlords and raiding groups in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts]], with newly-manufactured specimens originating from currently-unknown suppliers.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFNoble|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-noble-intentions|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Noble Intentions}}{{Ref/Game|H5G|Brute Plasma Rifle [[List of REQ cards/Power Weapons|REQ card]] description}} In [[2553]], a heavily modified Brute plasma rifle was employed by [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]] during his [[Ambush at Duraan|ambush]] of ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', with his regular Brute forces employing non-modified Brute plasma rifles.{{Ref/Novel|SoI}} Brute plasma rifles have since become a mainstay of the [[Banished]]. By [[2558]], Brute plasma rifles and several sub-variants have been incorporated into [[UNSC]] [[War Games]] simulations, in which they are wielded by [[Sangheili Warrior]]s.{{Ref/Mode|H5G|[[Warzone]]}}