Laser Rifles Make Very Little Sound

[Commander Melody Sawyer] meanwhile was scanning the body readings on the infrared, memorising where they were inside the buildings. She took [the Captain’s] as-yet-unfired laser rifle from him without resistance.

“Time we put a stop to this!” she declared, bolting the stairs to the tower with eight generations of Alabama marksmen behind her.

Laser rifles make very little sound. Melody picked off three of Racher’s [terrorist] dozen before they knew what hit them. One was the lieutenant who had pleaded for retreat. He fell inches from his leader, who never turned to look. The others, recognising futility at last, wheeled and ran….

— Strangers From The Sky, Chapter 9