| From: | DAVID M GIRARDOT <dmg5@***.CC.LEHIGH.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Combat Microswarms |
| Date: | Fri, 24 Jun 1994 22:37:28 -0400 |
sure about the money or essence costs ... but you get the idea. You
can keep any spelling errors you find. :)
Combat Microswarms
The combat microswarms were developed out of a defunct TAM&M nanotechnology
project. The scientists at TAM&M had devised a system of remote-controlled
micro-minature robots and was working on practical applications when the
funding ran out. The military picked up the slack and the result was
an advanced prototype which made use of the latest sensors, expert systems,
and antigrav technology. Called "microswarm", or more conventionally,
"bees" these robots appear to be a small (1M) cloud of irridescent
bee-bees floating in mid-air.
They receive broadcast power and commands from a remote-unit that can
be implanted in the body. The Remote Control Rig (RCR) sends basic
commands to the swarm. Each "bee" in the swarm has its own independent
processor that interprets the commands and acts on them, based on
information given it by its sensors as well. The "bees" also transmit
back to the RCR a wealth of sensory data across the entire electromagnetic
spectrum. When implanted in a human, the RCR can generate output fed
into a display link, smartlink, encephalon, recorder, etc. The RCR's output
is particularly useful for an orientation system. The "bees" allow
an extremely accurate and instantaneous map of the surrounding area.
Microswarms have a wide-range of uses but the army's prototypes
were developed specifically for combat. The combat microswarms, or
"killer bees" are tremendously effective for covert assault
operations.
Bees are deployed from a pod carried by the user, or built into
a cyberlimb. (A pod consists of backup systems and repair facilities
necessary to recharge the bees between uses. They weigh about a
kilogram and can come in a variety of shapes). Once deployed, a
typical microswarm can cover an area about 50M in diameter. There
are approximately 1 thousand bees in a swarm. Each bee can "cover"
an area about 1M in diameter, but their practical range is about 75M
from the RCR so they are designed to stay within the "green zone".
Bees falling out of range will quickly fail as their onboard batteries
carry only about 3 seconds of charge.
The link between the bees and their RCR is typically broadcast radio
or infared (scrambled) though there are at least a few prototype
units who employ microwave or satellite uplink type systems. All
microswarms are capable of adjusting communication frequencies
dynamically to avoid problems.
Bees are only clearly visible from a distance ... appearing as a cloud
of mist. Up close they are all but invisible except to electronic
imagers. (Think of them as hypersonic gnats). They're antigrav
systems can move them at great velocities for short distances and
a basic brownian motion is built into their motive control systems.
They are extremely difficult to "hit" (+6 to target numbers) because
they will actively avoid collisions. Furthermore, their antigrav units
cause a sort of repulsor field that absorbs the energy of most impacts,
greatly lessening it. The chance of a bee getting hit by a projectile
weapon or bullet is well nigh zero.
The combat effects of bees are considerable. A microswarm adds
its rating to all perception tests made by the user. Furthermore,
they add one-half their rating to all combat success tests when
combined with a smartlink. Any user with a smartlink AND an orientation
system gets the further advantage of getting half the swarms rating
in extra dice when firing upon multiple targets.
Bees are particularly prone to flame or concussive energy. In either
case, the +6 target number penalty does not apply and the bees in
the effected area will be destroyed. (Figure 5 bees destroyed per
meter of area).
For this reason, a microswarm user will typically have at least one
"backup" pod of replacement bees (purchased at 50% the cost of the
first).
Combat Microswarms "Killer Bees"
The swarms themselves cost no essence (they are external) and
cost $150,000. The "pod" costs .5 essence if installed internally
(nothing if inside a cyberlimb) and costs an additional $50,000.
Backup swarms can be purchased for $125,000 (including pod).
The RCR unit has an essence cost of 1.5 times rating, $75,000 times
rating. The RCR unit is INCOMPATIBLE with cranial deck systems
and vehicle control rigs.
Microswarms may operate for up to 10 minutes times their rating before
needing a recharge period in their pod. The recharge period is
equivalent to 10 times the period they were in operation. If bees
are not fully recharged they operate at half-efficiency (1/2
game effects).
-- David
---David M Girardot-----dmg5@***.cc.lehigh.edu---dmg@**.com---dmg5@******.edu-
------Staff Documentation: CorNet Ltd---Freelance Consulting------------------
---EdTech: Lehigh University------Residence: Easton, Pa-----------------------
------"My opinions are my own, even when they don't make any sense."----------
