Vibroweapon



In the fictional Star Wars Expanded Universe, melee weapons run the gamut from simple clubs and axes like the Gamorrean guards for Jabba the Hutt wield, to the legendary and exotic Jedi lightsaber. In between in effectiveness and exoticness lay vibrolades. Vibroweapons are a family of weapons that utilize high-speed sonic vibrations to turn a regular object into a deadly weapon; most commonly found on swords, vibrogenerators can also be found on axes, pikes, knives, etc. Almost anything with a blade has the potential to be turned into a vibroweapon.

Method of operation
Vibrogenerators, most often found in the hilt or handle of the weapon, send out high-frequency sonic pulses that cause anything attached to the generator to be sent into an extremely quick vibration. When said object contacts something, notably organic tissue, the vibrations ripple across the material, destroying a much larger portion (in addition to the simple fact of the blow cutting more) and damaging the target more devestatingly then the original weapon. This causes even the slightest glancing blow potentially become a gaping wound.

Contraband status
As per the vibroweapon's devastating efficiency in crime, and its subsequent usage by many criminals, vibroweapons have been outlawed in almost all of the civilized systems, but they retain their presence in crime through the lesser-governed worlds.

Vibroblade
Vibroblades are usually ordinary swords or similar weapons that are fitted with a vibrogenerator, usually in the hilt. Vibroblades are most often 1-bladed, and can so be dual-wielded. A vibroblade can be anywhere from 6 to 25 centimeters long.

Vibroshiv
A vibroshiv is a 5 centimeter knife, that is similar to a switchblade, but with a mounted vibrogenerator. Vibroshivs are commonly used in a Jar'Kai stance as an offhand weapon; however, they can be more deadly by combining elements of the Jar'Kai stance (duel weilding) and Trakata (waiting for the opportune moment to spring open the weapon on an unsuspecting opponent).

Vibrostave
Vibrostaves are one of the deadliest types of vibroweapon; this melee weapon features a long staff, with a rounded hilt roughly three feet long that contains a vibrogenerator. The hilt also contains one 2.5 feet long blade, sharpened to a razor's edge, that can be activated instantly. The blades' cortosis weaves allows it to parry the blows of lightsabers, energy swords, or blaster bolts.

The efficiency and combat-effectiveness of vibrostaves comes from their double-bladed approach; with skill, the wielder can create a whirlwind of motion where he utilizes the spinning stave to seriously injure and eviscerate opponents. Also, with great skill, two vibrostaves can be wielded, one in each hand; this effectively gives the four blades to attack with, but leaves him more open to attack.

Double-bladed vibrostaves (Vibroswords) were the predominant weapon of choice for Royal Guard trainees. Taking an idea from his deceased apprentice, Darth Maul, the Emperor had double-bladed vibrostaves crafted to equip his newly formed corps of Imperial Guards. Palpatine employed one of the greatest melee weapons designers in the galaxy, Kolvo Weapons Manufacturing, to produce a limited number of these weapons. Once the order was completed, the manufacturing facilities were the subject of an assault by TIE Bombers, effectively destroying all blueprints and machinery capable of producing these unique weapons. A Royal Guardsman trained in the martial art of the Echani could wield these durable, lightweight weapons almost like a third limb in combat (an excellent example being Kir Kanos in Crimson Empire); although when they were officially guarding something, they used their usual forcepike.