Spet 42 Stun Gun

The Spet 42 is a minor advance on the Spet 40 (no one knows why they skipped a number). The biggest difference between the two models is the balancing in the rear, helping keep the shot on target (although the original models were technically hitting their targets, the stun discs always arc down before they impact, leading many users to think the laser targets were off.

The Spet works purely by chance. It needs to be charged with a high-voltage generator for at least ten minutes before it can discharge even a single disc. In some cases this involves a battery/generator to be worn on the back. In the case of the MCCS, the Spet has a special plug that connects it to the motorcycle, and it charges as the bike moves.

Once the gun is charged, a cartridge of 11 discs is loaded into the top, perpendicular to the base. The discs are moved towards the centre, one by one, and dropped into the firing chamber. The disc is then docked against the read of the chamber, charged to capacity, and stored there for up to 30 seconds before firing. After 30 seconds, the disc will have lost too much of its charge to be effective, and needs to be re-charged. A small but powerful training mechnism carries the disc down the barrel and out with a slight spin to help it stay upright. The entire firing process can happen in as little as 5 seconds, but an experienced operator will allow about 10, because squeezing the trigger too much tends to lead to the disc only half-charging, or getting lodged in the chamber (requiring a delicate disassembly).

The Spet is mostly banned in the "real" world. The LAPD uses some in low-risk areas, and there is a big deployment in the UN Peacekeeping armed forces, but most countries find the gun either too unreliable or too dangerous for widespread use. They are the perfect weapon in Monitor City, however, because they can seriously injure a criminal without requiring much in the way of medical attention.