Melta

Melta is a heavy thermal close-range weapon designed to destroy the toughest targets with thick armor. Instead of traditional kinetic projectiles, it emits a narrow stream of superheated plasma and overheated metallic aerosols that burn through armor, concrete, and fortifications in mere moments.

Melta is extremely effective at short distances. The closer the shooter is to the target, the higher the temperature of the plasma and the deeper it penetrates the material. At long range, the stream quickly disperses, losing its destructive power.

A Melta shot is accompanied by an extremely loud blast. First, as the plasma heats up and metallic aerosols are pumped into the weapon’s barrel, a low hum of the generator is heard, after which the air in front of the barrel begins to shimmer from the heat, and in a fraction of a second the shot occurs. The heating of the atmosphere to ultra-high temperatures creates a shock wave. A plasma clot flies from the barrel, bound by a metallic nozzle-like substance. At bullet speed, the plasma flies, igniting flammable materials around it. At the point of impact, the metal glows white, the armor melts and drips in incandescent droplets, leaving behind a neat burned-through hole or a glowing breach.

Due to enormous energy consumption, most models are equipped with replaceable energy cells or compact reactor blocks. After several shots, the system requires cooling; otherwise, the automation blocks firing to prevent destruction of the emitter chamber.

In the Hetmanate’s troops, meltas are used primarily by Serdiuks-stormtroopers, heavy Terminators, and engineering units. They are used to breach fortifications, destroy heavy armored vehicles, combat robots, and sealed airlocks of space stations. In close combat, a single precise shot can turn even the thickest armor into incandescent scrap metal. Terminators often use single-shot melta-guns, which in close combat inflict catastrophic damage on the enemy.

Colossal Melta Launch Systems also exist, with which military starships are equipped.