In 1883, after two years of brutal war with the Confederate States of America, The United States decides that not only must Gatling production increase, but they must become more versatile. Stunning routes in Maine and beyond have convinced the War Department of the necessity of a pattern of hand-crank rotary gun which can be deployed and shifted on slick, snowy, or muddy terrain while also being able to break down into man-portable components: The gun and carriage can be removed from the skid. The skid can then fold in half and can be drug with a rope from the loop at the center axis, either by an animal or a soldier. The gun and carriage further break down with the removal of the rear axis pin, each piece being more or less light enough to be shouldered for traversing difficult terrain.

Inspired by Harry Turtledove's novel How Few Remain.