Autolysis Weaponry

Autolysis, more commonly known as self-digestion, refers to the destruction of a cell through the action of its own enzymes. It may also refer to the digestion of an enzyme by another molecule of the same enzyme.

Before this natural process was employed as a weapon this simple scientific factor was nearly ignored by imperial scientists. However once weapons which invoked and accelerated the Autolysis process were mass produced, presumably first by the Keshke'Hwa Dynasty, weapons that utilized various radiation sources and emissions to trigger rapid Autolysis in living tissue began to steadily become more widely used. However with all Autolysis weapons there is a risk of the weapon causing harm to the user, as it is dangerous and lethal radiations which are used to invoke the rapid Autolysis of the target.

Theory of operation
"By the emperor...My arm, it's...it's..ah...AHHHHHHH!"

- a guardsmen whose arm was effected by a Autolysis weapon

Basic weapon mechanics
All Autolysis weapons function of the same basic principle, however the means each weapon achieves this depends on which organization or race is employing the weapon. The typical use of a Autolysis weapon is that the weapon carries some source of rapid autolysis inducing radiation and then either projects the radiation onto a target or launches the radiation source at the target. Typically the more the weapon is used on a single target aria the more the Autolysis inducing radiation will build making the target aria far more lethal to try and remain in as well as reducing the protective potential of any armor an individual may wear, this effect even applies to vehicles as eventually the radiation will effect the crew within. However not only is the potential of an allied unit walking into a field of this lingering radiation and suffering it's effects a possibility, but weapon failure could prove catastrophic for the user and his squad as they could potentially be exposed to a direct radiation source which would induce Rapid Autolysis of their cells.

Effects
Autolysis weapons though differing in form all invoke the same distinct effects. Rapid Autolysis forces the cellular structure of living tissues in a victim's body to begin to rapidly and suddenly digest themselves. In the initial few seconds of the Autolysis effect victims may feel intense pain as their nervous system cells begin degenerate, however this is cut short as soon they will lose all feeling from the now destroyed nerves. Even as this takes place portions of the body, or the entire body itself, will undergo a series of noticeable chemical reactions. The flesh will swell and generate heat, certain portians of the body will quickly rot while others, most noticeably muscle tissues, will degenerate and foam. Typically few victims live long enough to witness the final stages, however, those that due will watch as their skin simply detaches from their body and the ligaments holding their bones in place fail causing their limbs, if they haven't already, to fail and simply break away from their core. The final result of the Autolysis weapon that has taken full effect will be a pile of foaming bones with whatever war-gear and clothing the target had on hand laying them on or nearby.

Keshke'Hwa Variations
Debatablely the first organization confirmed to mass produce the Autolysis weapon, Keshke'Hwa Autolysis weapons are extreamly dangerious with no regards to user safety as the Necron using the weapons have no Organic components which would undergo Autolysis.

Autolysis rifles and Cannons
Keshke'Hwa Autolysis rifles and cannons utilize directed radiation beams to rapidly saturate a target aria with the necessary energy waves to induce rapid autolysis, while the users weapon itself retains the radiation source ensuring the Keshke'Hwa Necron using the weapon will not soon run low on ammunition.

Death Flairs
The second Autolysis weapon used by the Keshke'Hwa are the Death Flairs miniaturized Radiation sources that glow with the energy they emit. These are fired as artillery or dropped from a Necron Night Shroud over an enemy location. The radiation emitted by this is enough to instantaneously kill an entire village.

Weapon class advantages
After action reports from organizations which have made use of Autolysis weaponry, or fought those who make use of Autolysis weapons. Indicate that the Autolysis weapon has primarily been used as a aria of denial weapon preventing squads from advancing or slowly building up radiation around a pinned squad to eventually kill them. the weapon is able to penetrate almost all light armors and given time to build up radiation even heavier armors prove useless against the weapon's horrid effect. Psychologically the weapon easily creates terror in all but the most hardened squads as members will suddenly and rapidly, and gruesomely decay before the eyes of other members. Against races who insist on the use of light armor, or biologically engineered warriors the Autolysis weapon has proven exceptionally effective.

Weapon class Disadvantages
Despite the battlefield advantages of a Autolysis weapon the risk of weapon failure severely reduces it's value to field commanders. If a Autolysis weapon were ever to be destroyed or suffer a catastrophic failure the weapon's wielder and potentially his entire squad could instead turn into the victims of the weapon's horrible effect. Also against organizations and races more keen on utilizing non-organic soldiery such as the Necron, Tau battle drones, and even Eldar Wraitguards the weapon proves to be useless as these enemies have no organic cells which might undergo Autolysis.