To: Nemesis

From: Orion the Hunter

Re: Selection of Field Arms and Ammunition for Conquistadores team

Date: March 30

While the standard instruction for the team has been useful, and will doubtless continue to afford new opportunities for Conquistadors team members to demonstrate their humane and humanitarian values, I feel there is a distinct lack of concentration on suitable tactics for frightening our potential foes, and most especially for engaging in conflict levels that may convince our foes it is best to resolve their ground (flee) or move into immediate resolution (surrender).

As a person conversant with firearms, and in make armed contact with enemies under stressful circumstances, I can tell you, smoke and flash-bang can go a long way to unnerving your normal run of the mill combatants. In most cases, criminal and soft-heated rebel groups have little or no experience with assaults aided by such things, save for those with direct combat experience or who have engaged in stand-off actions.

Therefor I have engaged in serious study of options for police tactics suitable for a team like ours, that hopes not to kill anybody, and yet, must move quickly in attack to provide any worthwhile shield for potential hostages and non0-combatants on the field.

You will see simple lists, of three kinds of support combat gear. These are 1) combat or riot level 12 guage shotguns, 2) a standard firearm for those trained to use them (I think that is limited to you and to me), and 3) and smoke grenades suitable to multiple kinds of field usage.

I recently upgraded from my old Sig Sauer P226 to the P229 DAK Elite. I have tried a half dozen other weapons in this class, but this one is, overall, the best for purposes of rapid engagement at mid to close range. It is also a fairly standard firearm among US military and some police departments, and can be equipped to fire mercy bullets, in this case, jacketed Teflon hardened rubber. While I am NOT a big fan of mercy bullets in combat, I do understand how the team is to be deployed, and can agree, under many field circumstances to carry such mercy bullets as my main load. I also feel a limited amount of regular and armor piercing bullets may be advisable. I am planning to ad a field jacket (vest) to my uniform, to carry special equipment into combat, and would recommend the 18 shot clips, 2 for mercy bullet loads, one loaded in the weapon, and one for normal 9mm shot, and a fourth for armor piercing rounds. And no, I am not suggesting we put armor piercing rounds in our enemies. However, their vehicle engines and locks may be useful targets.

I recommend one of four semi-automatic weapons for our standard combat arm, and suggest that anybody who can hit the side of a barn in our team learn to use whichever one we use. I especially enjoy the Beretta A400, which I have used as a means of gaining entry to breach hard targets in the past, and which has fairly flexible loads. While I have not used the Benelli M4 Tactical Shotgun, it is the standard Marine shotgun, and has quite a sound reputation in the field and for breaching targets. I've worked with several teams with people using the earlier version of the M4, and found it a trustworthy field weapon. Most the of rounds I suggest we consider at 2 3/4 or 3 inch standard shotgun loads, and are less lethal (there really are no totally non-lethal loads for any gun, you know) selections. However, I think you and I may want to carry both Armor Piercing and Bolos rounds. Now, the use of color coded 5 shot cartridges would enable us to be relatively sure we are loading the type of roads we desire to use. And then, we might consider not carrying AP rounds for a sidearm, although I would frankly miss them.

The Bolos Rounds I have never used, I have to admit.However, I have heard stories about their use. They are quite useful at capturing your enemies, and while they can result in terrible wounds, and moderately frequently, in wounds resulting in amputation of limbs, they do add a factor of shock and awe to any push our team makes. A demonstration in front of enemies may frighten them into submission.

I would understand if you wanted to eliminate the Bolos from the ammo kit I propose. To be honest, their use in our efforts leaves me a bit uneasy about how the public may receive their use.

When you have time, please come and talk to me about these options.

Oh, I also have considered asking JACE to add a heavy field lighting set to his costume. However, asking JACE to do something like that is really up to you and Phi. So I have not.

Thanks and pleasant day. See attached lists and detailed discussion sections attached.

Given my past employment, this is the first research report I've ever written. Please let me know if I can do something to make this kind of thing easier to read.

I've just found some photographs of Bolos rounds damage in human beings, from the US Marine Corps in Iraq. I believe, given the kinds of injuries depicted, that the rounds should be removed from any standard issue ammunition. See Appendix G.

= Orin the Hunter

Sig Sauer P229 DAK Elite
9mmx19mm Parabellum
20 round clip
6.5/8.5 pound trigger
16 lb. recoil weight
accessory rails
forged stainless steel frame

Winchester Super X2™, 3" & 3 1/2" Magnum Composite Auto-Loading Shotgun
Beretta A400 Xplor Unico Auto-Loading Shotgun, 12ga, 26", W/ Kickoff
Benelli M4 Tactical Shotgun 12 gauge (Black)
Benelli Super Black Eagle II (Black)
Rubber Rocket Projectile 12 guage (5 shot cartridge)
Power Punch Projectile 12 guage (5 shot cartridge)
12 guage Armor Piercing (5 shot cartridge)
12 guage Bolos Rounds (5 shot cartridge)
12 guage Flash Bang (5 shot cartridge)
12 guage OC Tear Gas
12 gauge Taser XREP-FL Rounds

MIl-Spec Smoke Grenades
(white, red, blue, green, orange, yellow, black)