Circe had learned a lot of the Hedge and technology. Primarily, how the former screws the latter. Hard.


Circe knew the more simple the design, the more reliable it would be. Cellular phones and walkie talkies are out. Same goes for drones, automobiles, night vision, thermal scanner, grenade machineguns, tanks, though probably Mama Deuce. LED lights seemed to be the most high-tech yet ultra-reliable thing that worked longest in the Hedge. Even parts can experience wear and tear whilst among the Thorns.


Hence, why she was working on her assault rifle. The bayonet and light were fine, but the rest? The rest could use some work.


A compensator or padded stock could help if Circe ever thought it was a good idea to sight the thing. She'd save the padding for the SKS. It was scoped and silenced, perfect for sniper work yet compact. That'd be fine. The bayonet? She was thinking on making a new one, specifically one that can penetrate armor to a degree. She'd researched some dagger styles that'd work, but it was not what she was doing now.


No, today was working on the assault rifle. Primarily, she was trying to make it a little less fragile.


The gun still had wooden finishing. Not Soviet, no she was fairly certain the gun was a subsidiary production from China or Angola. Still, the wood was old and a little varnish would NOT make it any more durable. Circe was actually worried the AK's stock and finishing was flaking off and rotting. Pockmarks and some splintering sections, it'd eventually have more problems down the line Iron Side, let alone the Hedge. Fiberglass on the other hand? That would be less fragile, more durable, and a bit lighter than the wood. Whilst she was at that, she might as well put a protective enamel paint on the exterior. Painters tape would protect the internal components as opposed to more advanced options.


The problem was, she needed to get the wood off first. Well, not a problem she had the right tool for EVERY job. Hedgespun is bullshit amuses her greatly.


Painting the enamel could be first as it was easy peasie, needed time to dry.


15 minutes plus dry



With that done quickly, Circe has to take the time to swap in the fiberglass.


75 minutes later



Cire thinks on a few other options for the assault rifle. A heat shroud maybe? Throw in a few old laptop heat sinks and it'd guarantee no barrel burnout unless Circe got her blue hands on multiple 100-round drum mags. The gun runners wouldn't approve. Padding the stock was just something that'd be cheap using insulation, glue, and electric tape. It was idiot proof if she cared not for appearance. Function over form, was why she had the riot gear instead of just the bulletproof skin suit.


The logistics of the shroud was the only thing to consider. Electronic surplus would work fine, and she could work the metal herself.


Reassembling the finishing onto the gun was easy enough. Same for the rifle stock, really good epoxy is stronger than steel. And a bitch to use more than once.


At least the gun looks a little better and Circe doesn't have to worry about the aged wood breaking on her.

This does not affect the stats of the weapon, it does however prevent deterioration that may have come from the aged worn wood.