M E A T B A G
Intent: To create a heavily-armed and armoured Automaton for siege-breaker operations, and lightning warfare.
Image Source: Earl-Graey DeviantArt Link. Recolour by Me.
Canon Link: Lava Cannon.
Primary Source: Repurposed Canon Articles, Hyperion Solar Lances.
Manufacturer: Republic Engineering Corporation, The Thyrsian Hierarchy, The Golden Company. (Select, and Contracted Foundries.)
Model: TTH/SD-01 "Apophis" Series Siege Dreadnought.
Production: Minor-Scale Production.
Affiliation: The Thyrsian Hierarchy, The Golden Company, Closed-Market.
Modularity: Yes; External Aesthetics and Combat Programming.
Material: Durasteel, Flexisteel, Armourplast, Reinforced Duraplast, Manganese Brass, Agrinium, Glasteel, Dallorian Alloy, Various Battle Droid Components (Internal and External.)
Classification: Fourth Degree Battle Droid.
Gender Programming: Masculine.
Weight: 2,700 KG.
Height: 7.7 Metres.
Width: 4.0 Metres.
Length: 6.0 Metres.
Movement: Quadrupedal Propulsion, Gyrostabilizer Armatures.
Primary Power Plant: Compact Fusion Reactor.
Secondary Power Plant: Solar Ionization Reactor with Retractable Solar Collection Arrays.
Armaments:
- [2] Gauntlet-Mounted Lava Cannons [Thirty "Slug" Capacity Per Charge/Cannon.]
- [2] Clawed Armatures, with Magnetic Adhesion Grips and Retractable Tow Cables.
- [1] Chest-Mounted Hyperion Solar Lance Array [Dual Barreled, Light Variant; Retractable Plating.]
- [2] Rotary Blaster Cannons [Mandible-Mounted.]
- Standard [Military-Grade, Battle Droid Classification] Ground-Penetrating (Navigational Hazards) Sensors and Targeting Systems.
- Standard [Military-Grade, Battle Droid Classification] Communications Suite. (Encrypted with Thyrsian Military Keys.)
- Standard [Military-Grade, Battle Droid Classification] Internal Damage Control and Hazard Suppression System.
- Standard [Military-Grade, Battle Droid Classification] Electronic Warfare Countermeasures. (Chaff, Flares, Deionizing Mesh, Etc.)
- Magnetic Adhesion Grips.
- Retractable Harpoons and Tow Cables.
- Duramentium Talons with Serrated Edges.
- Integrated Lava Cannons.
- Lava Cannon(s): Unlike anything seen on the battlefield after the sickly light of civilization was nearly snuffed out by the Gulag Plague, the "Apophis" Dreadnought comes equipped with a pair of lava cannons built into its arms. These weapons were capable of lobbing a magnetically contained blob of lava at their targets, encasing them within the highly flammable magma - and consigning them to be devoured by the molten liquid. While these weapons were devastating on their own, it was their area of effect/splash that occurred once the glob impacted an enemy target, bathing anything within the immediate area in Lava.
- Harpoon/Tow Cables: Similar to the modules found on the back of modified T-47 Airspeeders, the “Apophis” comes with several Harpoon/Tow Cable launchers built into the proverbial hands armatures. Through the inclusion of these tethered projectiles, the towering Droid is capable of catapulting his talons towards their designated target, and having them punch through relatively conventional armour; before activating their magnetic adhesion nodes. With the remotely activated devices adhering to their target, the Apophis would be capable of bracing it’s weight against the ground and retracting it’s cables - effectively pulling their target into range of it’s weapons.
- Short-Ranged Brawler: Designed for Urban and Siege warfare, the Apophis was equipped with an assortment of short-ranged weapons that were ideal for the tight spaces of a besieged city. However it’s combat capabilities were significantly decreased when fighting across open fields with a distant enemy. As it’s armament was incapable of dishing out damage against an advancing enemy force at range, a capable commander would utilize these droids as a flanking or skirmishing forces - despite their large size and ponderous speed. While far from ideal, such aforementioned factors would provide a Thyrsian commander options when facing down an enemy fortress, or a hostile army across the field.
- Harpoon Cabling: While the addition of magnetic harpoons to the Apophis’ outfitting proved to be lethal to any targets that were caught within weapon’s range, it came with a few setbacks that couldn’t be avoided. The first and most notable of these drawbacks were the cabling itself. Although it was made of durable lengths of fibrecord - they still could be severed by weapons-fire or a sharp edged weapon. This would effectively detach the grappling, and fighting claw from the siege droid; leaving the machine with a talon-less stub. The second, was that it would create a semi-conductive bridge between the target and the droid itself, which could be exploited by a cunning foe via electronic warfare.
- Overheating: As one would expect, the amount of heat needed to generate magnetically contained lava was immense. This meant that there was a massive possibility of the bearer of such arms suffering from the myriad of effects of overheating weapons - and the rare chance of said weapon losing it’s containment field; effectively killing the bearer. While the Apophis is the furthest thing from an Organic soldier, it still suffers from the myriad effects of overheating. Despite the hazard control systems, integrated into its structure, should the droid lose power during it’s firing cycle - the containment field surrounding the ionized magma would collapse and spill outwards - taking either the droid, or it’s surroundings into a fiery grave.
In a Galaxy engulfed in the flames of war, the only surest way to ensure one’s survival is to have the best and most advanced technology at their disposal. It was that ideology that drove the Sun Guards of the Golden Company to devise a new battle droid, that would serve alongside them in ways that were considered unorthodox and unconventional by Imperial strategists. However, as it seemed to be the staple for all sides to adopt analogous and rigid mentalities when it comes to warfare, it was in the Thyrsian’s best interests to eschew such restrictions. Because of their choices, the Sun Guard strove to remain the most effective fighting force in the galaxy, despite their size. They made ten men fell and fight like one hundred.
It was with such thoughts in their minds that the Apophis was conceived - as it was the epitome of unconventional urban warfare - something that the legendary Scions of Thyrsus were known for. The towering war droid conceptually began its life as several unpleasant boxes stacked atop one another, before being streamlined into its final and gilded aesthetic. This was because of a moment of confusion between the Thyrsian Enclave and the artificial architects, as those born of Coruscant knew little of the dangers that stalked the dunes of their cousin’s homeworld. When the horrors were made apparent, through a combination of feverish sketches and stories, the design was altered to flawlessly emulate the terror of the Thyrsian sands.
With the psychological horrors rendered unto metallic flesh, the Apophis was outfitted with a slew of weaponry that matched its terrifying appearance. Twinned lava cannons adorned its arms, and the war droid was also outfitted with a chest-mounted Solarized cannon to further amplify its terrible capabilities. The Apophis would live up to its aptly chosen name and destroy all that stood in its way with the unbridled fury of the Sun.
Modification Summary:
- Added Hyperion Solar Lances to Primary Sources Field.
- Updated Materials Field with Hyperlinks.
- Increased Production to Minor Rating.
- Replaced Solar Ionization Cannon with Hyperion Solar Lance.
