DSI9S Side-Sword V1

Description
The mostly widely produced "hardened" weapon in use by the Dominion and one of the most primitive. The DSI9S, unlike most other ancient designs is produced in bulk quantities and can be found as a tertiary complement to standard loadouts.

The 9S is a 105 cm long dark-matter blade with a hardened red matter tip and self-repairing monomolecular cutting edge. It has a simple crossguard to minimize profile and a button located on the handle. The 9S masses barely a hundred tons and is easily used with one hand, although the grip is balanced to allow for two if greater control is needed.

Long and thin, the 9S is a Side Sword variant, designed primarily for thrusting but with moderate slashing capability (greater than that of a Rapier or Estoc). Thrusting is preferred as the red matter tip can punch through even an infantry battlesuit if aimed correctly. The edge is very effective against soft targets but wears easily and takes time to repair, it is ineffective against hard targets and therefore often not used.

The "secret technique" of the 9S is a tiny explosive in the tip that can be primed for contact detonation by pressing the button on the handle. The explosive produces an incredibly hot plasma and is powerful enough to send the tip flying. While fairly weak when detonated outside a target, once penetrated an internal explosion is devastating and the tip will punch straight through like a bullet. This allows for very powerful first strike capability but renders the weapon near useless.

Limitations
Very limited range.

Very weak against shielded targets.

Explosive is powerful against a single target but limits the weapon to slashing only.

Slashing is useless against most hard targets. Edge is monomolecular and wears easily, requiring time wasting repairs.

A last resort/crisis weapon. Very low effectiveness rating against SMHLT (Shielded Mobile Hardened Long-Range Targets).