Gabriel Audemars
Cassus Vhonte
Intent: To provide the wielder with a very versatile explosive capable of hunting and killing targets with a deadly payload.
Development Thread:
Manufacturer: ArmTech Systems Incorporated
Model: ArmTech Hunter Killer Drone Mark I (AT-HKD1)
Affiliation: Mandalorians, can be purchased by individuals. Anyone else has to take it up via Gabriel.
Modularity: The initial payload can be modified, the range gets an increase if the payload is smaller.
Production: Mass-Produced, they're not too difficult to make.
Material: Axidite surrounding the Baradium payload, but the rest of the drone is made of Carbon Fiber for lightness and also for sharp, durable and deadly shrapnel when the drone detonates.
Description: AT-HKD1 is an all new type of explosive developed by ArmTech. They anaylsed the Thermal Detonator's destructive potential against structures and vehicles and against personnel. But there was one flaw, the parabolic trajectory that it took reduced range and required a lot of effort to reach even a mid-range target. And also that Rocket Launchers were bulky items that not every mercenary could carry, so the Hunter Killer Drone serves as a form of medium between the two. The tip of the drone is a tracking sensor, designed to track targets picked up by the built in scanner. But alternatively its' flight path can be controlled via a datapad. The scanner also allows it to change paths provided the obstacle didn't suddenly appear. (Basically, it'll fly over a wall, but if you were to suddenly place a shield in front of it, it wouldn't have time to react.)
The scanner essentially detects foes by barraging the area with invisible, harmless IR Lasers, and modifies its flight path to hit that target. The drone mostly functions on its light weight to glide, meaning that (obviously) the harder you throw it, the further and faster it can travel. However it is also equipped with a tiny rocket motor, which can propel it at a speed of up to 300mph for a short time, but this gives it by far enough force due to its' light weight to travel up to 700 meters before autodetonating. The drone can also be autodetonated with a datapad or any form of remote detonator which comes with the bundle.
Essentially, the same amount of Baradium is used in a Class-A Thermal Detonator, giving this little drone a blast radius of over 20 meters.
Alternatively, the drone can also be controlled via the datapad itself, allowing for a faster reaction time and can make the drone take unorthodox courses. Or, if the user possesses a tracking system, it will follow the target that the thrower 'painted' with the system.
A downside is the fact that the drone isn't anywhere near as fast as a rocket. But it's still a very portable and handy system to possess.
It's also not as effective at close range as a thermal detonator, as the miniature droid microprocessor won't react quickly to very close range targets. This can be bypassed by simply throwing it straight at an object, there is also a small button to disengage any droid function, allowing for just a gliding explosive. The standard "A-class" model is hardly very reliable in close situations anyway, a 20 meter blast radius is more suited for mid range combat, but payloads can be lessened for a 1km range as the motor has less weight to propel. Without the aid of a second tracking system or a "laser painter", the reactions of the drone are a lot slower, so they can be dumbfounded by fast maneuvers.
When thrown, a number of events happen:
The wings fold out, as they usually stay pulled back when inactive to reduce space in whatever pouch or utility belt they were stored in.
The drone travels slowly at first as it attempts to find enemy targets via IR Laser barrage or target identification with Tracker.
When target is found rocket motor stage 1 activates.
When Stage 1 fails (either via malfunction for whatever reason or if the drone has passed 500m and it runs outta juice) Stage 2 activates to propel it up to 100 meters more (250 with a half-payload)
Classification: Explosive
Size: Handheld
Status: Purchasable by Mandalorians and approved individuals.
Length: 15cm with tail folded. 25cm when unfolded.
Weight: 650 grams.
Ammunition Type: Explosive.
Ammunition Capacity: One explosive per drone used.
Effective Range: 600-700 meters depending on payload.
Misc. Equipment: Sensors, Scanners, Tracking Systems, Wireless inputs from User
Movement: Gliding, 2 Miniature rocket motors
