M4N-SDD, Novo-series Destroyer Droid
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
- Manufacturer: Techno Union (Blas-Tech & Czerka), Geonosian Industies
- Model: Novo-series Destroyer Droid
- Affiliation: The Confederacy of Independent Systems
- Modularity: Yes (Armaments)
- Production: Unique
- Material: Durasteel, Agrinium, Gadolinium
- Classification: Fourth Degree
- Weight: 3.5 metric tons
- Height: 3.83 meters
- Movement: Bi-pedal
- Shoulder-Mounted Grenade Launcher (6 grenades)
- Reinforced Durasteel-Gadolinium Shield
- Twin-Linked Repeating Blaster
- "Black Box" - Self-contained Datacore w/Emergency Energy Core
- Energy Cores (Power Source)
- Standard Audio/Visual Recorders
- Advanced Targeting Systems
- Standard Lifeform Scanner
- Standard Thermal Scanner
- Masculine Programming
- Standard Visual Sensor
- "Push" Thrusters
- Vox Comunicator
The Novo-series Destroyer Droid is a rather ambitious project undertaken by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Through the collaboration of three corporate entities, Blas-Tech Industries, Czerka Arms, and Geonosian Industries, a platform was designed and produced in order to fulfill the role of heavy engagement on the field of battle. As a whole, the single, flagship droid of this ambitious project, M4N-SDD, was built to last and to hit the enemy with an impressive sum of force. The entirety of its frame is composed from reinforced durasteel, upon which is layered thick plates of same metal. Through this, M4 gains an impressive sum of durability in the face of blasters, slugthrowers, and general concussive forces that it might be exposed to on the field of battle. Furthermore, the design teams did as typical of a modern-era droid of the Confederacy: the incorporation of an agrinium mesh about the internal systems and droid brain. Following the concept of a faraday cage, this highly-conductive mesh grants M4 a mild degree of protection against electromagnetic, electro-proton, and ion weaponry.
In terms of armaments, M4 boasts a single, twin-linked Repeating Blaster in addition to a heavy, reinforced shield composed of durasteel coated with Gadolinium. The shield itself, through this coating, is granted superconductivity to the point where it can withstand glancing blows from lightsabers; but nothing up-front and personal like a bonafide strike. (It is to be noted that, like any superconductor, prolonged exposure to the blade of a lightsaber will result in the melting of the shield; or the finite rending of it apart with a solid strike.) In addition, M4 has a single concealed, shoulder-mounted grenade launcher which opens to fire a total of six grenades. Prior to engagements, the type of grenades can be swapped out to suit the scenario; thereby allowing M4 to switch between such roles as riot control with tear gas canisters, anti-personnel with fragmentation grenades, and much more!
On another note, M4 is overall agility is as to be expected of its weight. One of the features installed in order to make this temporarily alleviate this slowness is a duo of thrusters located upon the rear of the legs, which can propel M4 over the ground. However, without these thrusters M4 is still capable of navigating a battlefield efficiently, albeit slowly. In terms of on the field performance, M4 can either be deployed alongside troops, given specific orders/objectives, or can be set to a "lockdown" mode in which it "guards" a tactical location, providing cover for friendly units.
Despite the great strengths of the Novo-series Destroyer Droid, however, the platform is not without its drawbacks. First and foremost, although an agrinium mesh has been incorporated into M4's design, it is not immune to the bane of all droids. As such, high-powered electromagnetic damage or even Force-based electricity can prove effective in combating it, as these will serve to forcibly overload its energy cores. (It is to be noted that the Agrinium mesh offers limited protection against the aforementioned types of damage to the point where M4 will not be "one shot" by an ion grenade or comparable armament.) In the event of this occurring, the platform will enter an immediate shutdown and will therefore be inoperable until its energy cores are replaced or repaired. Another drawback of the unit is the access port which houses M4's energy cores; a literal "Achilles Heel". If an enemy were to climb aboard the platform and open the port (located between the left shoulder and the neck), they would have a clear shot to the energy cores and could easily disable the unit.
Outside of combat, M4 is generally utilized for heavy lifting tasks, due to its considerable size and strength. Furthermore, it is able to understand Galactic Basic and Binary languages.
