https://newsdesk.gmu.edu/2015/02/pump-b ... hts-fires/
The idea: A slew of sound based battery powered devices for extinguishing fire. It uses base speakers projecting sound into a point at high wattage to basically stabilize fire and cause it to dissipate. The basic Wub-Wub is questionably useful in the face of the fire extinguisher backpacks, which explains why its probably only recently becoming used. The advanced research versions are where the good stuff is at.
Starting equipment: Atmos tech lockers each have A Wub-Wub. Works like a defib, where you have to wear a backpack with a battery in it and you can deploy the cone into your hands. Point it at fire and wub the fire away using battery power. Emagging disables the safeties and changes the frequency, causing it to aid the spread of existing fire and allow you to use it on single adjacent target as a mini honk blast.
Research can eventually make four new additions:
1. The hand-wubber. A battery powered re-usable grenade. Prime it, toss it, and for the duration of its battery it will wub the flames away. Emagging the safeties causes it to work similarly to the Wub-Wub, but it only activates on adjacent targets occasionally to prevent perma-stunning and allowing victims a chance to run away if they try hard enough.
2. The Mini-Wubber. Works exactly like the Wub-Wub but mounts on the belt instead of the back.
3. The Porta-Wubber. A device the size and shape of a security barricade that is a machine that you drag/push around rather than carry. It has two modes, and can either operate secured or unsecured. Mode 1 dissolves flames in all four directions for a somewhat short range (a few tiles), allowing you to either push it into a fire to create an opening or block fire from spreading a direction. Mode 2 only works if there's another Porta-Wubber nearby in one of the 4 directions, and allows you to create a wub-fence that blocks fire passage and has a slightly longer range than normal operation, but removes the wub effect in the unused directions. Emagging this device creates a rather useful tool for disabling people.
4. The Mega-Wub: A device that can be mounted on mechs, specifically designed for firefighting ripleys. Works like a Wub-Wub but on a mech scale.
Additionally, if filling extinguishers/containers/welders were nerfed to take a few seconds rather than be instant, these would be super viable. Trading off easy water spraying for a battery powered wub device.
Secret extra function:
NSFW:
Might prompt the usefulness of a traitor uplink item: Electronic filter + earplug. Use it to upgrade an existing commlink (can be removed to use on another uplink instead). Causes wearing your commlink to act as if you had ear protection from ear muffs, but without the sound being blocked entirely. Good for avoiding self-wubbing, but don't get emp'd or you might regret it.