M E A T B A G
"Woe betide those who deny the wroth of the Sun."
Intent: To create a Heavy Walker for use by the Thyrsian Hierarchy, and by extension the Golden Company.
Image Source: Immortal, from the Starcraft Wiki,
Canon Link: Guided Missiles.
Primary Source: Repurposed Canon Articles, Hyperion Solar Lances.
Manufacturer: Republic Engineering Corporation, The Thyrsian Hierarchy, The Golden Company. (Select, and Contracted Foundries.)
Model: TTH-HAW/01 “Khepri” - Pattern Heavy Assault Walker.
Affiliation: The Thyrsian Hierarchy, The Golden Company, Closed-Market.
Modularity: Yes; External Aesthetics.
Production: Minor-Scale Production.
Material: Durasteel, Flexisteel, Armourplast, Reinforced Duraplast, Manganese Brass, Agrinium, Glasteel, Dallorian Alloy, Various Walker Components (Internal and External.)
Classification: Heavy Walker.
Role: Self-Propelled Artillery, Heavy Assault Tank, Mobile Emplacement (Anti-Air, Anti-Personnel, or Anti-Vehicular.)
Size: Large Rating.
Length: 6 Metres.
Height: 11 Metres. (Including External Cockpit Crest.)
Width: 9 Metres (Including External Weapon Mounts and Legs.)
Weight: 72 Tonnes, or 79.4 Short Tons (Rounded Up) - Heavy Rating.
Minimum Crew: Two; Walker Pilot, Integrated Droid Brain.
Optimal Crew: Two; Walker Pilot, Integrated Droid Brain.
Propulsion: Quadrupedal Stabilizer Legs.
Primary Power Plant: Compact Fusion Reactor.
Secondary Power Plant: Solar Ionization Reactor with External Collection Arrays (Retractable Paneling.)
Speed: Very Slow Rating.
Maximum Speed: 60 Km/H (Flat and Stable Terrain Only.)
Maneuverability: Average Rating.
Armaments: High Rating.
- [2] Heavy Hyperion Solar Lances [Dual Barreled; Fast-Track Mountings, Fire-Linked.]
- [1] Missile Launcher Pod. [20 Guided Missiles.] (Back-Mounted, Retractable Housing.)
- [2] Rotary Blaster Cannons. (Chin-Mounted.)
- Reinforced and Ablative Armour Plating. (Corrosion, and Extreme Small-Arms Resistance.)
- Reinforced and Armoured Joints. (Exposed Leg Plating.)
- Serrated Legging(s), with Remote Degaussing Modules.
- Integrated Deflector Shield. (Overlapped Ray, Particle and Concussion Barriers.)
Passenger Capacity: No Internal Passenger Capacity.
Cargo Capacity: 150 Kilograms (Survival Gear, Repair and Maintenance Equipment Only.) - Small Capacity Rating.
STANDARD FEATURES
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade] Servomotors, with Gyroscopic Stabilization System.
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade] Fusion Drive System(s).
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade] Primary Fusion Power Plant.
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade.] Hazard and Damage Control Systems.
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade.] Life Support System(s).
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade.] Navigational System(s).
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade.] Ground-Penetrating Sensors (Navigational Hazards) and Targeting System(s)
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade.] Communications System, Holonet Transceiver with Encryption/Decryption Networks [Thyrsian Military Encryption Keys.]
- Walker Classification, [Military-Grade.] Environmental Control System(s).
- Integrated Deflector Shield.
- Integrated Droid Brain.
- Serrated Legplating and Integrated Remote Degaussing Module.
- Fast-Track Mountings and Fire-Linked Systems.
- Heavy Armament: As the "Khepri" comes equipped with a deadly combination of missiles, rotary blasters, laser cannons and the cycling solar ionization cannons, the heavy walker more than deserves its christened name as an assault walker. With its veritable bounty of weapons mounted to the chassis, the mobile gun platform proves to be more than capable to counter whatever threat ends up getting in its way with varying degrees of success. That being said, the heavy walker was more effective at closer ranges than it was at longer-distances and would be wisely deployed on the frontlines - where it could reap a bloody toll amongst the enemy and not worry about embarrassing themselves if their guided missiles fell short.
- Integrated Droid Brain: With an integrated Droid Brain equipped with heuristic processors, the massive walker was able to learn from its experiences on the battlefield like any droid, and offer assistance to the Operator’s whenever commanded to do so. While the acquisitional growth of its knowledge was restricted, the forms in which the integrated intelligence was able to render its services were not. Should the operational crew become incapacitated or killed in the line of duty, the "Khepri" was able to revert all of the command functions to its control and operate the massive machine until it’s last mission was accomplished, or it too died in combat.
- Integrated Protection Suite: With the installation of a generator that was able to project an encapsulating bubble around the heavy walker, the Khepri found much of its protection in the form of its serrated armour plating. That design choice had not only made it nearly impervious to small arms fire and corrosive weapons due to the metallic composition - but made it extremely resistant to tow cables, be they magnetic or harpoon-like in nature. The edges of the armour plating also made it difficult for courageous infantry to clamber onto the walker’s surface and made it difficult to adhere detonation charges to the chassis due to the integrated degaussing modules that would alter the polarity of the plating. (It should be noted that the latter was only possible if the Operators knew about the sabotaging charges being adhered to their chassis, as the module required a manual toggle and reset in order for the whole process to work.)
- Short-Range Guided Missiles: With the guided missiles being unusable at long ranges, due to their thrusters consuming too much fuel for a swift - but remarkably short burn time, they are most effective when deployed against slow, or immobile objects within a radius of approximately one kilometre from their launch point. This extremely short range renders their usefulness null-and-void at longer distances and when pitted against fast-moving targets and forces the Operator’s to choose another of their weapon systems to intercept an incoming target. Which, should they elect to use their other systems would result in a varying degree of effectiveness, depending entirely on what they’ve been ordered to take down.
- Slow and Purposeful: Due to the overwhelming weight of the machine, and the method in which it propels itself in whatever direction the operator so chooses, the Khepri adopts a ponderous pace. One that matches similar vehicles in its classification, but can easily be outflanked should these towering beasts be caught on the battlefield bereft of an escort. This often means that these units would have to be airlifted to the frontlines in order to be effective, or force the defenders to watch on in horror as they slowly make their way towards their fixed positions - allowing time for the base to strengthen its defences.
- Fixed Forward Firing Arc: While the upper torso is able to swivel about in any direction the Operator desires, the weapon systems mounted on its chassis are fixed in a frontal orientation that required the entire body-section to move in order to engage targets on differing vectors. This process takes time, due to the weight and various other factors found on the battlefield (Such as having legs in the way due to unstable terrain) which allowed an enemy to outflank and eventually overpower this ponderous beast - before the "Khepri’s" weapons were able to be brought to bear.
- Vulnerable Joint Plating: Although the joints that comprised the entirety of the walker’s propulsion drives were reinforced with armour that made them virtually impervious to small arms fire, they were highly vulnerable to the application of heavy anti-vehicular weapons. Should the deflector shield fail, and it was more than likely that it would, the "Khepri" would be exposed to the possibility of having its speed and maneuverability hampered should one of its legs be severed at these critical junctures. Or, should more than one limb be severed, the heavy walker would be rendered totally immobile as the armatures would be unable to evenly distribute the weight and cause further structural damages - should the Operator try to defy the odds and finish the fight with their sundered machine.
- Solar-Based Weaponry: While the power offered by the Solar Ionization Cannons were extraordinary, in order to harness their full potential, they required the light of a local Star to fuel its reactor. Thus, should the vehicle ever find itself fighting on a world where the light was scarce, or non-existent, it would quickly deplete the stored reserves of energy and render the weapon(s) inoperable until the solar cells were fully-charged once again.
With the rise to galactic prominence on the edge of the horizon, the infamous mercenary outfit known as the Golden Company sought to expand upon their readily available arsenal, to better combat whatever threats they may be pitted against in the future. To this end, One of the many items that came from this expansionist push for modernization was the TTH-HAW/01 “Khepri” - Pattern Heavy Assault Walker.
While much of the current technology utilized by the mercenaries had been designed to supplement their lightning tactics and strategy, the ever-shifting tides of war had always called for other methods to be employed - especially when the outfit was hired to protect or assail an enemy stronghold. As the vehicle’s overall design was still in its conceptual stages, the “Khepri” was imagined to be a towering monument to celebrate the steady and relentless advance of the Sun, as well as the devastation and rebirth left behind in its wake. Thus, the schematics focused heavily on it’s offensive and defensive capabilities, rather than how quickly it could maneuver over the battlefield - or how deftly it could traverse the terrain.
Due to its almost religious significance, and thematic appeal, the “Khepri” was outfitted with twinned Solar Ionization Cannons that could harness the power of the Sun, and unleash it upon their enemies - melting those that stood in its path. However, while these cannons were powerful enough to melt durasteel, and bypass the ionized barrier of conventional deflector screens, the level of intensity varied depending on the environment. As fighting at night, or in low-light conditions, would force the assault walkers to prey on their stored reserves of stored solar energy, which could swiftly deplete and render the primary cannons starved until the capacitors were replenished.
In addition to the Solar Cannons mounted on either side of the walker’s chassis, the “Khepri” was outfitted with a retractable rack of short-range missiles to further increase the assault walker’s lethality. However, while these missiles packed a punch, they came with their own shortcomings and lacked the longer ranges and speeds that were present in other rockets in the same classification category. This wasn’t an issue, initially, as they were supposed to be employed against slow-moving or immobile targets - which would ideally encompass formations of enemy armour of defensive emplacements. That being said, should the “Khepri” find itself facing off against hostile aerial support, it would have to rely heavily on its primary armament and luck to strike targets at long-range.
Ideally, the missiles were to be used as a last-ditch resort against enemy air support, due in part to their inability to intercept any fast-moving aerocraft until after they had reached the relatively short deployment range. Thus, the “Khepri” would be forced to rely heavily on specialized anti-air units to intercept any threat that may come their way, allowing the assault walkers to continue on with their destructive march towards victory.
Modification Summary:
- Updated OOC Section to Modern Factory Standards.
- Added Hyperion Solar Lances to Primary Sources Field.
- Updated Modularity Field.
- Hyperlinked Materials List to Respective Wookieepedia Articles.
- Reduced Ridiculous Dimensions to a more Realistic Numerical Value.
- Replaced Solar Ionization Cannons and Laser Cannons with the Hyperion Solar Lances.
- Updated Deflector Shielding to Include Concussion Shielding.
