The M26 (Imperial designation Rifle, 5.56mm, M26) is the standard-issue rifle of the Imperial Military and a recognizable weapon within the Frencoverse. Described as an efficient, reliable weapon, the M26 is an advanced bullpup rifle descended from the American AR series (M16, M4, etc). Lacking the advanced systems of other standard-issue rifles (such as the Mecharussian AV-38m or the Lunarian A3), the M26 is a standard ballistic weapon. However, the hard-hitting, high-velocity 5.56 plasma round it is chambered in allows it to keep up with it's peers fairly easily. It easily supports a myriad of modifications and attachments, such as underbarreled weaponry (shotguns, micro-RPGs, gauss launchers, etc), hybrid sights and exosuit integration, allowing the Frenkish soldiers to be fairly self-sufficient in any given situation.
Notable Users and Uses
- It is the primary weapon of Corporal Radiana "Radio" Jackson during Imperial Operation Sandstorm in To Struggle In The Way of Allah, and is used frequently by her throughout the first half of the story. After using it to fight through several battle and skirmishes, it is lost in an ambush in Damascus after her capture by Islamic militia. During her escape with Mendoza, Bykov, Grishenko and Bulyagin, however, it is recovered by Bykov and returned to Radio, where she later uses it's underslung gauss launcher to dismember (and by extension kill) Caliphate leader Volker. It is unknown what happened to this particular rifle after the group's rescue by Trotskaya, though it is likely locked away in some Mecharussian armory for trials and testing of Frenkish weaponry.
- Likewise, a SOPMOD variant of the rifle is the primary weapon of Imperial Ranger Mendoza in Struggle up until the ambush. His is never recovered, though unlike Radio, he was temporarily made a Spetsnaz operator and used an AVP up until his death.
- Alvin Bloomfield uses a carbine variant throughout Struggle.
- IIA SOG Operative Jonathon Rollins uses an M26 during the Ranger ambush in Dixie Mine, though it is quickly lost during the confusion.
- The M26 is standard-issue for RallCorp mercenaries.
Trivia
- The M26 is based off of the M85 from the Killzone series. Like the M26, the M85 is also implied to be an advanced bullpup configuration of the M4 and it's relatives.