V5 High Explosive

The  is a low yield form of high explosive; jokingly nicknamed "blasting chocolate" for it's color and ease to work with. With its simple nature; Tasfira Armaments has been known to sell it for use in mining and utility works; rather than combat operations.

History
V5 was developed as a formulation of plastic explosive developed by Tasfira Armaments, with the specific aim of developing a precision explosive to compete with some of the focused plasma cutters on offer from other Technomage companies. From the start, it was clear that it wasn't what they were looking for. V5 had the low explosive yield that they wanted; but attempts to focus it failed. However, the staff working on it noticed that the brown explosive lump was easily shaped with their hands, and the low yield was effective for an area of the market few were interested in. From there, research began on finalizing V5 as a training and support explosive.

Attributes & Usage
Typically shipped in rough blocks, the brown plastic explosive is easily shaped in the hands and totally safe to handle as long as no detonator was affixed. However, explosive yield is lower, pound for pound, than most other conventional explosives on the market. Due to this, it is normally seen at training academies; both to make more "threatening" demonstration weapons than known duds for training troops to disarm explosives and also so that trainees can get a feel for shaping and setting up explosives before moving on to higher yield varieties.

To many at Tasfira Armament's shock, military forces had more interest in V5 than they expected. While focused plasma cutters were superior for fast; covert operations, commandos reported that the lower yield from V5 made it effective at blasting doors off hinges for the instances where they need to go in fast and hard. Due to this, most military forces will have some V5 on offer, as will police anti-siege and counter-terrorism forces; typically for similar reasons.

Out of the military; these explosives have found use in the mining sector as a low-yield "safe" blasting option for sites with risk of cave-in; as an icebreaker for polar operations, and to help punch through rubble where required for emergencies.

Standard from Manufacturer
pending

Customized Examples
pending

Known Users

 * The United Federation Polar Operations Group is known to employ V5 in multiple uses, typically as an icebreaker that can work both above and below water. One of the operatives known to employ these explosives is the Red Group member Carlotta the Seal.