Zofia Marek
Master and Commander
Intent: To create a unique and interesting form of transport that is one part anachronistic nostalgia and one part modern viability on the battlefield.
Development Thread: N/A
Manufacturer:
- Military Standard - Produced by various manufacturers on Ganath, specifications and parameters set by the RGTC, global standardization set by the Ganathan Crown.
- Civilian Variants - Produced by various manufacturers and craftsmen on Ganath.
Model: N/A
Affiliation: Ganath, Ganathan Military, RGTC
Modularity: Keval Mounts only come in light, medium, and heavy versions. Outside of this, Keval droid brains/AIs can be altered and modified as can the Keval frames and bodies to some extent (i.e. better gyroscopes, terrain prediction, combat algorithms, etc. [NOTE: some aspects reduce abilities in other areas, modify with care])
Production:
- Light - Minor
- Medium - Mass
- Heavy - Limited
Material: Alusteel, durasteel, plasteel, duraplast, electronic components, droid brain components, and other construction materials
Classification: 4th degree
Height:
- Light - 1.4m at the shoulder
- Medium - 1.7m at the shoulder
- Heavy - 2.0m at the shoulder
- Light - 450kg
- Medium - 650kg
- Heavy - 850kg
Movement: Quadrupedal
Top Speed:
- Light - 100k/h
- Medium - 85k/h
- Heavy - 70k/h
Misc. Equipment: Sensors typical of standard Class 4 droids, animalistic AI similar to that of a Basilisk War Droid
Strengths:
- Fleet of Feet - Keval are fast, the fastest non-repulsor or flight capable machines in the Ganathan military. Despite their variations and classifications, all Keval mounts are capable of top speeds well above any equivalents in the galaxy.
- Versatile - Used for everything from combat to every day use, the Keval mounts fill a wide array of roles both inside and out of the Ganathan military. Even programming can be altered to better suit the Keval to the role needed. Military Keval mounts are programmed for survivability and feature combat routines to help defend their rider while civilian models sometimes feature programming ensuring safety or even terrain prediction for breakneck speeds through rough ground or dense woodland.
- All Terrain Vehicle - While not necessarily a vehicle, per se, the Keval is capable of traversing difficult and broken terrain where other vehicles cannot go, especially when outfitted with appropriate modifications such as improved gyroscopic stabilizers. An age old saying on Ganath states that where a Keval can go, a Ganathan can go and where a Ganathan can go, he can take a gun.
- Unarmed - While a traditional form of transport on Ganath and a common sight both on and off the battlefield, Keval are unarmed outside of combat algorithms that utilize the Keval's limbs and body as a basic weapon.
- Anachronistic - While the Keval can go where most other vehicles cannot, many vehicles can do what the Keval cannot. In many ways, this makes the Keval inefficient on some areas which can often greatly reduce the droid's effectiveness or even prove detrimental to the force using it (i.e. Charging machine gun nests in the open, moving across open fields when someone brought howitzers that have the range, playing target for air/orbital strikes, etc.)
A traditional staple of Ganathan military and culture, the Keval is a quadrupedal droid reminiscent of an ancient and now-extinct animal once found on Ganath by the same name. Used in ancient times as a beast of burden and as a war mount, the Keval has found its place among the modern galaxy through tenacity and tradition.
Military Use
Though most militaries utilize speeder bikes or dedicated light vehicles, the Ganathan military has a solid tradition utilizing the Keval mount dating back dozens of generations. While they acknowledge the usefulness and practicality of speederbikes and cargo vehicles, there are limits to what those vehicles can do and where they can go. To this end, the Ganathans have adapted many techniques and tactics to ensure the Keval remains viable on the modern battlefield. The primary tactic is using the Keval mounts for scouts and light units where mobility in all terrain is a necessity. Other tactics include maneuvering through terrain to shield Keval mounted troops from attack or to use the Keval as a mode of personnel transport for infantry who mount their Keval to quickly maneuver across the battlefield where they dismount and rejoin the fight. In addition, it is not uncommon in the slightest to spot officers mounted on Keval depending on the battlefield conditions (i.e. usually ones without opportunistic snipers). Lastly, Keval mounts used for direct combat are those utilized for anachronistic cavalry charges where the speed and mass of the charge into melee fighting can turn the tide of a battle, even routing the enemy entirely.Civilian Use
Keval are more than just war machines and their use in the civilian world is clearly evident of that fact. Whether for racing, recreation, work, or sport the Keval can easily be found all over Ganath in a myriad of roles. The most popular uses of the Keval is Keval racing where individual Keval mounts are raced around a oval track. Modifications to the racing Keval are heavily restricted and monitored to ensure that the race is won primarily through skill and luck rather than technological edge. The other use is casual riding where Keval riders leisurely wander through hill and vale in the wilderness or even engage in extreme sports such as racing through the wild at breakneck speeds (something only the very brave or very reckless often do).Tradition
One aspect of the Keval mount that bears noting separately is that the Keval is not produced by a single manufacturer and therefore most Keval are not exactly alike depending on whichever company or individual produced the droid (the exception to this are those produced for military service which follow strict standards, though even in the military there are some exceptions if one can afford a custom model that meets or exceeds military standards). In addition, Keval built by noted or famous craftsmen are often maintained and kept in very good working order as they are often viewed with a great amount of respect and prestige. Lastly, should one of these 'Special' Keval become irreparably damaged or outright destroyed, the parts are often recycled into a new, custom Keval in some way or fashion, often rebuilt by yet another master craftsman. A peculiarity derived from this tradition or custom is that after a certain number of builds and rebuilds where parts are recycled repeatedly, the resulting 'descendant' Keval is sometimes copied and reproductions made. When this is done, the particular Keval series is referred to as a 'Line' or 'Lineage'. While individual modifications are widespread throughout the planet, this is the only way for a set design featuring any of these modifications as the standard can be produced in numbers.
