Many dangers lurk in the galaxy, and many wars are fought. The most common weapon is the blaster pistol. These are high-energy laser-particle beam weapons, but the term blaster has become synonymous with the sidearms.
Since there are so many blasters in use, it is not possible for one manufacturer to produce them. There are in fact three main manufacturers, Merr-Sonn Munitions Inc, SoroSuub Corporation, and BlasTech Industries. These companies produce a very wide variety of blasters, ranging from the standard blaster pistols, to blaster cannons found on starships and vehicles.
The great success of the blaster pistol is due to its size and ease of maintenance. They can be easily concealed, but can pack a lot of punch. The actual process of firing a blaster bolt is quite complex within the pistol. High-energy blaster gas is pumped from the gas chamber to the gas conversion enabler; the enabler is often referred to as the XCiter. The blaster’s power source then plays its part, and excites the gas. The power source for a hand weapon is a small power pack, usually placed on the side, and a power generator or reactor for the heavier blasters. The bolt’s beam comes from the actuating blaster module, where the excited gas is turned into an intense energy beam, also made up of light. Just before the barrel of the pistol site the prismatic crystal housing, which focuses the beam fir the first time, while the barrel focuses for a second and last time. The end result is a particle beam which heavily damages almost anything it hits. The coloured light of the bolt is a by-product, and is harmless.
Within the New Republic, the BlasTech DH-17 is probably the most common sidearm for the infantry and personnel. With a range of 120 metres, but an optimum one of 30 metres, the DH-17 is a short-range blaster. The bolts are powerful enough to penetrate low-level force fields and stormtrooper armour, but are useless against starship hulls. The stun settings are fairly powerful, and the lowest setting can render a human unconscious for ten minutes.
The gas chamber carries enough for five hundred shots, while the power pack has enough energy for one hundred. The packs are easily changed, and an experienced soldier can swap them over in about five seconds, even during heavy combat. The packs can be recharged later using a generator, which takes around fifteen minutes. Although the blasters are semiautomatic, they can be set for automatic fire, but this is not advisable. It has been known for the excess heat produced to melt the internal components, or even cause an overload that results in the pistol blowing up. If none of this happens within twenty or so seconds, however, the power pack is drained and the blaster is empty anyway.
Shipboard troopers are often armed with the DH-17, and many a boarding party has successfully taken an enemy ship using this trusty weapon.