Pretorian

The code name Pretorian, is used to refer to a very specific class and make of Robots in the East Istrese Army. They are defined by their human intelligence, and unique organic design, the Pretorian project results in being the first complete robotic project completed without the resources from the Western industry that had been responsible for the majority of the country's hardware in the past.

Their functions are specifically geared toward aiding human ground forces, and deterring the West's heavier mechanoid forces. Their mostly human shape allows for them to both interact in human environments and to allow the new pilots to better adapt to the new form. However, they range in being taller than average humans, this both allowing them greater leverage on the field, with the added bonus of soldiers rarely getting curious enough to approach them.

Development history

In response to West Istrese ever growing army of mechanoids and access to more tech and vehicles, the East developed a robotic unit of their own.

Their original project had intended for the robots to be VI controlled. Original tests with the VI proved usable, but not effective. Without the ability to adapt or learn to changing environments, they were not reliable for their intended use and even at times proved to be dangerous as statistics caused them to make decisions that endangered soldiers as it was statistically better. Because the society placed a ban on AI, for fear of complications of potential sentience, that was not considered a valid option for the project.

As the best results came from remote pilot control of human users, research was initiated to see if it was possible to copy an existing human's knowledge to the body, and use it as a base for their VI control. Early procedures either resulted with no transfer at all, harm to the subject ranging from minor to severe, partial transfers, and finally death of the subject with a full transfer. Despite their efforts, it was never found why the host dies after the mapping completed. Despite this, it was determined it was a sacrifice to be made, and to better their conscience, the procedure was offered to dying soldiers who consented.

Munin was the first of the successful human brain mapped transfers, and to date, was the only one to experience any errors after the brain-mapping. He had been confined for testing and monitoring for a year before determining the true successfulness of the procedure and potential to move forward. Avis became the second unit to the team, as he suffered no memory complications that seemed to plague their first test with Munin, the project was deemed a success, and Avis became the flagship model presented to the public as the new protective units in the East Istrese army.

Features and Technology

Uniquely designed in comparison to the West's technology, the Pretorians are much more organic in appearance and overall construction.

Pretorians come in 3 main structures: Light, Medium and Heavy. Light class Pretorians differ in certain materials, being more carbon fiber than metal. They flex much more than the rest of the units, allowing them to either dodge attacks with greater ease, or bend on impact to prevent snapping. Light class mechs are also intended flight, using a separate attachable unit to fly for either surveillance or combat. With the use of their limbs, they provide a unique advantage in the air that a typical fighter jet does not have.

Medium class Pretorians are intended for general ground work and assistance with soldiers and other ground units. They lack the speed of the Light, or the raw power of the Heavy, instead their usefulness lies in their versatility. The Medium class offers the most in the range of usable weapons, both held and integrated, and can cover more ground faster than the heavy class. This makes them suitable for a number of roles in any potential mission.

Heavy class Pretorians sacrifice their flexibility for sturdiness, giving them far more mass and a wider stance than the rest of the units. Their primary purpose is intended for dealing with the West's heavy tanks and other large artillery. Attachments include an anti-materials class chain gun, as well as an anti-air back mounted missile launcher, effectively making them humanoid tanks. Unarmed, they have enough strength and support to tear through armored hulls of a number of units. Due to their build, heavy class Pretorians are rarely ever below 8ft in height.

The red highlighted areas indicate the locations of the brain and secondary brain

Due to the difficulty of the Brain-Mapping technology, and the complications involving volunteers, a redundancy system is set up for the 'brain' in the hopes of giving the unit a chance to be revived in the event one is damaged. Brains in the head and chest run simultaneously, so as long as one is still active, the consciousness remains. However, this can lead to certain complications, if the link between the two is severed or damaged, if it is not repaired it could result in one overwriting the other, resulting in loss of memory or merge of information.

View of the head without it's trademark 'mask' to show the placement of the eyes

Two sets of optics, giving them a very wide field of vision, obscured by the colored lense visor of their 'masks'. Internal settings can be changed for thermal, night vision and other potential settings, depending on the unit's combat specifications. The smaller lenses near the front of the face are intended for particularly close zooming, used often for fine detail work, or even reading. This particular feature often is the most difficult for the new pilot to adapt to, some do not ever use it at all.

Seams in the palm allow for greater mobility in the already flexible material

Unique to the Pretorians, in comparison to the robots constructed, they are not built with solid palm hands. In order to maintain as much flexibility as possibly, much of the construction was set to closely mimic a human bone structure. This also makes it easier to adapt to in spite of all the other changes.

The palm is the only spot on a pretorian with any 'soft' parts. While the rest of the body has no pain reception, or any actual feeling to speak of, the hands are the only part of the body that has the ability to feel anything. Since the sensory in hands lends a great deal to how weapons are handled, or interacting with other living beings, the palms of the hands are capable of feeling certain kinds of textures as well as heat and cold and exact pressure sensitivity. The 'skin' also gives for a better grip than just what would be achieved if it had been kept metal.

The most unique feature for the Pretorian units, however, would be the nanite system. Their use in Pretorian units make for the first non-manufacture application of nanites since their development. A hive-minded VI controlled set of nanites, assist in the upkeep and repair of the Pretorian units. While certain large replacements still require repairs from a technician, the addition to the nanites in their system allow for on field damages to be repaired easily.

Pilot Coverup

Though the uses of Brain-Mapping for these units are not against any East Istrese held policies, the subject of human consciousness being ripped from people and placed in metal bodies is still regarded as a subject of controversy, and as such, the information has been held from the public. Likewise, few soldiers, apart from certain raking soldiers of the Tesca Base, are fully aware of the origins of Petorian Consciousness.

After the process is completed, all next of kin for the soldier are informed of the death of the volunteer, and all records are filed as Killed in Action. New files are created for each member, only accessible by specific members of the East Istrese military, are the only proof of their connections to their old identities. To further the separation, they are provided with code names that they are required to be addressed by. The ornamental designs of the face masks and other small elements serve to provide the Pretorians a final source of individuality.

Their post map life is sequestered to a single wing of the base, where interaction with the rest of the base is discouraged. Their living quarters allow for individual rooms, a seating area, and certain entertainment activities. Contact with the outside world is highly restricted, even the act of contacting family is not permitted. They are allowed to write and send letter that, unknown to them, never reach their intended destinations. This is only kept as a means of keeping them psychologically sound, giving them the sense of contacting family while still keeping the truth of the Pretorian unit secret from the public.