Comments - DrWeird

Yes, the slide is such that the cartridge is grabbed from the magazine on the return, just earlier in the action than a traditional rear-orientation loading weapon. As for the shells, these are chemical batteries that through activation in the chamber, combine to generate the extremely high temperatures necessary to generate plasma from the gasses within the cartridge. The plasma is conveyed out of the barrel from a magnetic containment bottle within the "barrel" which allow exit through the front, charging the plasma ball such that it maintains shape as a "projectile" until it encounters a hard surface, or runs out of containment at the end of its range, and disperses as a hot cloud of gas (albeit small). The plasma generated acts as the force to cycle the weapon, just like a traditional cordite weapon, lending the reuse of older technologies (as modern day automatic weapons) on a modern weapon. The individually compacted plasma cartridges gives the freedom of ammo distribution, and removes the need for a huge generator to superheat the gas within the "barrel."