((Half a soda can is a little thicker than I would've liked. Presumably amps are fairly compact, so is that mostly battery or mostly explosives that gives the thickness? Well, it's more compact than a kiloton charge either way, I guess.
And yes, mounting things other than the pods is exactly the purpose there.
I'm trying to think of a way to make the design process of the Modular MkIII as easy to comprehend as possible, and not really succeeding. I guess when you have at least four different addon sets for a given core design, that may or may not have interchangeable or intercompatible parts, things tend to get a little confusing. I'll figure it out later, there's still lots of stuff to work on and Anton is quite a ways away from having a MkIII in any case.
))
Anton sat back in the virtual chair. Despite a few hitches and failures, his designs mostly worked. "Mostly". Ugh, that brought back bad memories. Anton shrugged the bad thoughts off and tried to lose himself in the design process again. Saving and closing all other projects, he focused on what he suspected could be the best immediate addition to the arsenal. He realized that nobody would give it to him for free, and he'd have to pay for and do everything himself to be able to really put it to the test in the field, but personal gain had never been the primary cause behind his inventions. If it could further the war effort, and save a few innocent (or, he thought as he considered the HMRC, "less immediately guilty") lives to offset those his previous "invention" took with itself, then he had all the reward he needed.
Save and close all projects except the Gungnir. Lock and password-protect the incomplete Token and Modular suit projects.
Conduct testing of the bayonet-configuration electrolaser rifle to determine effects of the combined laser and electrical discharge on targets. Both laser and saber on standard settings, single 5s pulse, medium-short range. ((i.e. about 90m IIRC)) Test against: Human in casual clothing, MkI, MkII, and MkIII suits. Test against supercrete wall and steel bulkhead.
Repeat test with laser set to minimum power, and range reduced to short.
Repeat test with both laser and saber at minimal power, only against humans with and without the different suits. (tazer test)
Since the bayonet design was the only one that worked,
begin working on a custom mount for the Laser Rifle, so that any standard Tesla Saber can be used if the modified Rifle is purchased. The mount should mechanically connect the intensity knob to where the user can easily reach it on the rifle, as well as give the user a thumb button to activate the tesla saber on the rifle grip. Modify the stock of the rifle to work as a handle, allowing to wield the rifle like a two-handed sword or scythe (one hand on the perpendicular grip, another on the extended stock). See if it's possible to let the custom mount leave the saber's handle exposed, to allow wielding the rifle like a spear (two parallel grips) as well, so that the name Gungnir is more appropriate.
Assuming the design still functions after all modifications, save it and enter Duel. Set up Anton and two copies of him (stat-wise) in MkIIs, armed with Gungnirs, against two average humans in MkIIs, and some sort of robotic infantry (a-la Jim, but Anton never met him and, presumably, isn't aware that full-body cyber-prostheses are possible), all armed with standard Laser Rifles and Tesla Sabers. War-torn urban environment, with standard atmosphere and normal weather. Teams start in cover, 100m apart, but aware of the presence of others.
"
Okay, let's see if the whole is better than the sum of its parts."
Start simulation.((edit: I suppose it's prudent to clarify how to operate the rifle - aim, fire laser, thumb saber switch, in that order. Doing otherwise may result in the electrolaser misfiring and just forming the saber bayonet, since the arc may not jump to the laser's plasma channel if it's already found its own.))