Battlesuit Autonomous Movement.

“The president is never in public without a protection detail of eight battlesuits. Four of them are always close to him, the remainder work a few metres out as an outer screen. At least one of those suits is empty. You can’t tell which with the tinted faceplates.

Any sign of trouble and that hollow suit engulfs the president. Four suits then take off in different directions while the others act as a rear guard. It doesn’t matter if the president is wounded, unconscious or wants to stay, that suit will not stop until it has him in a safe area.”

In a previous post I examined the idea that battlesuits might be able to move when unoccupied, effectively becoming hollow-centred androids. I also touched on the idea of battlesuits moving irrespective to the wearer’s volition. A squad of empty SWAT battlesuits might take hostages on board and transport them out in armoured safety while a firefight might still be in progress. This concept is likely to be used by other services, such as fire departments or mountain rescue.

A battlesuit or similar device capable of autonomous movement might have other applications.

For example, a major obstacle in learning to hang glide must be learning to “throw yourself off a cliff”. A battlesuit could take over and perform such an action when necessary. Training for parachuting involves at least a day of drilling so that you do not hesitate when you reach the door. A battlesuit could be programmed to automatically walk the occupant to the door and jump. Likewise, the suit might perform related skills such as free fall or wingsuit manoeuvrer and safe landing. Potentially individuals with no relevant training could jump like experts, whether they want to or not!

Capability for autonomous movement has other applications. High diving is an obvious one. If a soldier has to jump off a high cliff into a lake the suit may take over. Continuing with the theme of jumping the suit might be programmed with pakour/ free running-type movements, allowing the user to jump from rooftop to rooftop or branch to branch like an expert. The suit’s rangefinders and its ability to precisely regulate the force used for a jump are an obvious advantage. Likewise the suit may advise the wearer when a jump just cannot be made.

A friend of mine suggested that a suit could be programmed to override a wearer’s flinch reaction when hit by non-penetrating weapons fire. This suggests that actions such as dashing between cover might be autonomous. Perhaps the wearer selects the next desired position and lets their suit select the best way to reach it.

Autonomous movement capability has various advantages but is likely to concern some potential users. It can be argued that the user is surrendering control of their fate and free-will. Suits can be programmed to perform certain actions even if the wearer does not want them to. A sabotaged control system could deliberately put the user in hazardous situations and is potentially a means of kidnap or assassination. There may be battlesuits that are deliberately incapable of autonomous movement. Distrust of battlesuit control system might be a possible quirk, and a reason for discharge from the military.

Combat Cybershell Packability.

To many people the term “combat robot” conjurors an image of a man-shaped machine with machine guns for arms. Such are not unknown in the world of Transhuman Space but the majority of “robotic armoured tactical systems” (RATS) take other forms. Some are armoured fighting vehicles. Many others have reptilian (snakebots, mecha-geko) or arthropoid (spider, crab, millipede) configurations.

Many RATS are designed to have high levels of packability. A typical armoured personnel carrier or infantry fighting vehicle can carry between five and eleven baseline humans. A lot of internal space is used for seating, equipment stowage or just elbow room. A similar vehicle may carry a dozen or more RATS. Many RATS are designed to occupy a cubical envelope of space when inactive. Such “packages” can be tightly stowed in a vehicle, stacked from floor to ceiling. Smaller RATS may be fitted in the spaces between. The RATS have algorithms that help them load or disembark as rapidly and as efficiently as possible.

Packability is a major design criteria for “jump-RATS” [TS 3e p.101]. These systems must fit into the interior of containers resembling 2,000lb glide bombs. Assume these to be cylinders with internal diameters of a shade under half a yard. Jump-RATS are designed to stow as cylindrical or “cake-slice” shapes.

Highly packable RATS offer some interesting potential applications. A deadly fighting machine can be hidden in places where no human could. Is the human security guard’s reception desk really just furniture?

Cling Nets for GURPS

The cling net is a device unashamedly lifted from Judge Dredd. It is a device that may be encountered in any scenario where technology has achieved tangler weaponry.

The cling net consists of a handle and a number of long, weighted cords. The cords are made from an electrically influenced myomimetic polymer. The entire device folds small enough to fit in a typical belt pouch so can be carried by any patrolman. The cling net follows the rules for nets given in the Basic rules, 4e p.411. It has a range of 2 hexes so may be used at C, 1 and 2 range. A successful hit from a cling net is treated as a one hex tangler warhead hit but the target is not allowed an extra dodge [THS 3e p.159 or Ultra-tech 4e p.155]. The cling net will hold on to its target until a key or code is entered into the handle. The cords are ST 30 DR 10 and not susceptible to tangler solvent.

Grigori: Watchers in the Heavens.

Achieving stealth in space is very unlikely. To hide you need something to hide in, and most of space is nothing. Monitoring systems operate over a considerable breadth of the spectrum, including radio waves and infrared. Even if a ship could perfectly match its background colour at one wavelength range it is likely to be plainly visible at others. The temperature difference between a ship and its surroundings is such that it is the equivalent of a lump of coal on a white bedsheet.

Strategies such as directing waste heat in one direction or hiding behind another astral object have only limited success. This only works with respect to a single viewpoint and the solar system contains many Grigori.

The Grigori are small unmanned surveillance vessels that monitor the movements of objects within the solar system. Typically they travel well away from the spacelanes. Some use photon sails for propulsion, others solar-powered ion drives. Grigori are not particularly fast, but they do not need to get anywhere fast. They are designed to operate independently for years at a time.

Each spaceborne nation has launched a number of Grigori and monitors their transmissions. None of these nations are forthcoming about how many they have operational at a given time. There is even a story that China (or some other nation) has a fully-automated factory ship producing Grigori somewhere in the asteroid belt. A small part of the lunatic fringe maintains this ship will consume all of the asteroid belt within a century or so!

Grigori cannot hide in space any more than any other vessel. What protects the Grigori is their remoteness. To get within weapon range of a Grigori a ship might have to travel days or weeks. Even if unmanned vessels such as AKVs are used this is a poor use of resources. For each Grigori destroyed there are a dozen more observing and reporting the location of the aggressor.

Mini-mores and Flying Claymores.

The Mini-more is the late 21st century version of the Vietnam war-era Claymore mine. Improvements in explosives formulation and technology have resulted in a weapon that is lighter and less bulky without any reduction in effect. The focussing of the blast force is better controlled, resulting in a reduced backblast area. Use the profile for a standard Claymore in High Tech 4e p.189 but reduce the weight to that given below and make the backblast range 5 yards. Even beyond this distance it will be dangerous and unpleasant to stand too close!

A Mini-more is the size and shape of a typical paperback novel so will fit within most pockets or equipment pouches. It weighs 1.2lb. The resemblance to a book is increased by the presence of a hinged plate that resembles a book cover. This plate can be locked at various angles and serves as a stand for the mine. The plate is skeletonised providing numerous openings by which the stand can be nailed, screwed or tied into position. Older versions of the mine also have an adhesive pad on the mounting plate. This used a glue similar to that used on adhesive rodent traps, allowing the mine to be stuck to a variety of surfaces and removed again if not used. More modern versions use the same biomimetic sucker cups or NewtGlu utilized by smaller limpet mines (THS 3e p.159, Under Pressure 3e p.115). The mounting plate has a range of movement exceeding 180 degrees, allowing the mine to be used as a door-breeching charge or limpet mine. Vehicles sometimes mount the mines on armoured plates with the charge facing outwards for local defence.

Mini-mores may be command-detonated by radio signal or fibre-optic hardline. The latter resembles monofilament fishing line and is less susceptible to jamming countermeasures that radio signals or conventional wire. Mines may also be triggered by a variety of plug-in sensor modules such as motion detectors or “tripwire” lasers. A long-life battery and small solar panel keep the mine’s electrical systems charged.

The lower weight and size of the Mini-more has led to new tactical applications. A Mini-more may be carried by relatively small UAVs or ground robots. The “flying (or crawling) claymore” can stealthily approach a target, using terrain features as cover and concealment and accessing building through small openings.

Shiner VIP protection UAV.

The Shiner is a quadcopter UAV designed for VIP protection duties. A typical model is about half a yard in width.

The Shiner hovers several yards above the principal. In this position its camera feed may contribute to area surveillance. If there is a threat to the principal the Shiner drops down to a position between the principal and the potential threat. The Shiner then activates its powerful floodlight system, dazzling anyone looking toward the principal. This effect is particularly potent on magnified vision systems such as cameras or sighting devices. The light source also serves as a countermeasure against the smaller or less sophisticated types of laser-guided munition. The floodlight varies its wavelength output to counter countermeasure attempts. The deployment of the Shiner buys vital seconds for the principal to be removed to safety.

Some Shiners carry a smoke grenade that can be dropped to mask the retreat of the principal. Floodlights may also have a strobe or LED incapacitator option to further disorientate a threat source.

Shiners have a secondary role as flying illumination sources so may be see accompanying search and rescue units.

Deunan Parahuman.

“There are quite a few of the Deunans around here. You don’t really notice the bigger craniums since most of them have a good head of hair. They’re quite attractive once you get used to the big eyes. Funny thing is when I first saw them I had this nagging feeling of familiarity. Could not put my finger on why! It was Felix who eventually pointed it out. They look like animie characters!”

Like many parahuman designs the Deunans are intended to have increased intelligence and reduced susceptibility to many of the medical conditions baseline humans are prone to.

The most distinctive feature of the Deunans are their larger eyes. Their noses tend to be small and not particularly prominent. The cranium and forehead are larger but this is not particularly noticeable. Baldness is rare whilst females lack leg and axillary hair.

Skin shade is typically a golden brown, although there is considerable variation between individuals. Skin can tan to much darker shades of brown. Prolonged exposure to weaker sunlight and low vitamin D levels can cause skin tone to lighten.

Natural hair colours include various shades of blonde, grey, white, brown, red, orange and black. Eyes may be grey, blue, yellow, brown or green. Actual hair and eye colour may be different due to cosmetic procedures.

Like many parahumans the Deunan constitute a visibly distinct ethnic type. Deunans were designed as mukokuseki. While they closely resemble baseline humans they do not appear to belong to any of the distinct baseline human racial types. They are not particularly Oriental, African, Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern or European. They would most likely be mistaken for being of mixed race if it were not for the larger eyes.

Deunan Parahuman. +67 Points.

Attribute Modifiers: DX+1 [20]; HT +1 [10] IQ+1 [20].

Advantages: Acute Vision +1 [2]; Night Vision 2 [2]; Attractive [4]; Longevity [2]; Extended Lifespan 1 [2]; Resistant to Disease (+8) [5].

Features: Taboo Traits (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability, Myopia, Hyperopia, Astigmatism, Allergic reactions); No appendix; Light menses; Unlikely to sunburn.