Biological and Chemical Weapons

(Redirected from Biological Weapons)

Under BattleTech game rules, bio-chemical weapons (or biological and chemical weapons) - a catchall term representing a wide variety of substances, toxins and pathogens - are treated uniformly to the point where effectively no distinction between the two subtypes is made.[1]

Such weapons are categorized into 5 classes or tiers of effect. Lower tiers include non-lethal irritants; higher tiers are designed to kill or inflict suffering, remain active and dangerous for prolonged periods of time to serve as scorched earth or area denial weapons capable of destroying entire worlds, and are considered Weapons of Mass Destruction.[2]

Class I[edit]

Class I chemical weapons (or bioweapons, if applicable) are "legal" weapons, such as tear gas, which are intended to subdue or incapacitate targets while avoiding bloodshed. The effect of this type of weapon is immediate, typically short term, and usually not lethal.

Class II[edit]

Class II chemical weapons or bioweapons are more dangerous versions of short term damaging weapons. This type of weapon is used to subdue targets when there is no specific need for the victims to survive the attack; while still primarily intended to incapacitate, they can easily kill targets if left untreated. This class usually causes severe internal damage or significant chemical burns to the the target. Examples of this type of weapon are chlorine gas or mustard gas. This is the lowest tier to be considered Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Class III[edit]

Class III are exceptionally dangerous fast acting bio-chemical weapons, usually nerve agents, which are designed to kill immediately; survivors usually have lasting permanent disabilities.

Class IV[edit]

Class IV weapons are typically engineered, slow acting bioweapons or toxins, usually designed to get into the water or food supply of a target, where it will affect the populace. These are usually poisons which won't show major effects until at least a day after contact. If left untreated, these weapons can be lethal to any victim who comes into contact with them.

Under game rules, Class IV agents are the only case where chemical weapons are treated differently from biological weapons, with bioweapons being slightly harder to evade, taking longer to take effect, and remaining potent for (much) longer in contaminated areas.

Class V[edit]

Class V weapons are similar to class IV weapons, except in that they are designed to kill. This type of weapon is also used as an area denial type of weapon, as they are typically engineered to have extremely long lifespans. They poison everything they come into contact with, which will prevent habitation of the affected area for extremely long periods of time. This type of contagion is also highly infectious, and will typically travel from person to person rapidly, unless proper precautions are taken to stop or minimize contamination. The bioweapon known as the Curse of Galedon is a prominent example of this class of weapon.

Bibliography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. See the summary rules in Interstellar Operations, pp. 178-182
  2. Interstellar Operations, p. 178