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In a galaxy consumed by conflict, weapons are a dangerous but necessary fact of life. The most common sidearm is the high-energy laser/particle beam weapon commonly called a blaster. The three main blaster manufacturer are, BlasTech Industries, Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc., and SoroSuub Corporation, and produce many different blaster models that vary widely in size and energy output, ranging from palm sized "hold-out blasters" to incredibly powerful E-Web heavy reapeating blasters. Vehicles and Starships often wield powerful blaster or laser cannons. Blasters offer many advantages, including reliability, portability, ease of maintenance and repair, and the ability to deliver a great deal of damage. When a blaster is fired, a small amount of high-energy blaster gas moves from the gas chamber to the gas conversion enabler (commonly called an XCiter). There the gas is excited by energy from the weapon's power source, which is a small power pack for hand weapons and a reactor or a power generator for a larger weapon. The excited gas passes into the actuating blaster module, where it is processed into a beam comprised of intense energy coupled with light. The prismatic crystal housing focuses the beam, which is further focussed, or "galvenned," as it passes down the blaster's barrel. The final particle beam, or "bolt," contains high-energy particles that cause tremendous damage to anything they hit; the bolt's visible light is a harmless by-product of this reaction. The BlasTech DH-17 blaster pistol is a standard-issue military sidearm used by both imperial Navy and Rebel soldiers. With its sturdy and reliable design, it remains a popular weapon with New Republic personnel, The DH-17 is designed for short-range combat, with an optimum range of 30 meters and a maximum range of 120 meters. Its blasts can pierce stormtrooper armor or penetrate a low level force field but won't puncture the hull of a starship. It is a perfect weapon for shipboard troopers, and on the low power "stun" setting a blast can knock a human unconcious for up to 10 minutes. The DH-17's blaster gas chamber carries enough blaster gas for over 500 shots, while its power pack supplies sufficient energy for 100 shots. An experienced trooper can change packs in about 5 seconds, and drained packs can be recharged in about 15 minutes.
Like most sidearms the DH-17 is semiautomatic, firing once each time the trigger is pulled. The weapon can be modified for fully automatic fire, although this mode drains the power pack in less then 20 seconds and excess heat may melt the internal components or cause an explosive overload. it has long been illegal for non-military personal to possess blaster pistols on many imperial an New Republic worlds, although they are widely available through the black market channels.
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