The X-20 Laser rifle is a modified version of Terran laser weaponry combined with psionic circuitry reverse engineered from liberated Protoss technology. During development of new technologies against the Protoss, Zerg, "Rogue" Terrans, and whatever else comes along, one researcher came up with a bold idea. His pitch: when using a sniper rifle, what comes first the bullet or the laser? The laser of course, so why develop something that will eventually run out of ammo at the worst of times? This intrigued some of their sponsors enough to allocate a decent amount of funds into the researcher's project. What resulted was the creation of the first of a line of psionic-based energy weapons to be used by Dominion forces.