SOAT-bot

Background

The SOAT-bot, or Special Operations All-Terrain Robot was the primary infantry unit utilized by Dozle in The Dozle War. Initially produced by Paladin Arms, a joint Taka/Resi Corporation venture, they were deemed too expensive to make at six million US dollars per unit. Only 200 000 were made but after Adam (in the body of Prince Dozle) stole the plans, nearly half a billion were produced.

Each SOAT is armed with one automatic coilgun and one lascannon, as well as two clawblades per arm. The coilgun is primarily used to engage soft targets while armoured targets would be attacked with the lascannon.

Neotitanium plates over vital areas, with a titanium polymer skeleton makes the bots all but impervious to small arms fire, though the eye slot, shoulders, and under arm areas are unarmored to allow mobility, it would take a sniper with a high caliber weapon to hope to deal enough damage to put a bot down with a single shot. The best course of action is to drown the bot in a stream of constant fire, literally ripping it into pieces, because short of completely dismantling the bot, they will continue single mindedly on their mission. EMP weapons were found to be effective as well, although the SOAT-bots themselves were designed to resist at least weaker forms of EMP attacks - such as from EMP grenades.

It was never clearly established if the SOAT-bots themselves had an independent “mind” such as a primitive AI, but the commonly held belief is that they were controlled by the AI “god” Dozle. During the Dozle war, the SOAT-bots demonstrated an ability to travel underwater, send up flack for low-flying aircraft, and some more advanced models (the “Infiltrator”) demonstrated remarkable cunning. It is not known if they were able to pilot any vehicles (such as hovercrafts or tanks) or merely rode along.

After the Dozle war, rumours have it that Vrak, along with a team of domestic FKC and international experts have been developing advanced weaponry from the war booty.

Update

2005.01.18

Recent intelligence reports indicate that Vrak has built 6000 SOAT-bots and has activated about half. From that total, roughly 1500 have been deployed to assist in the defense of Clairmont while the others are, apparently, in reserve. Although the Vrak Military High Command has refused comment, it is widely speculated that SOAT performance in the battle will be closely monitored.

Update 2

2005.03.02

In a controversial decision, the Resi Corporation announced its plans to produce an updated version of the S.O.A.T., dubbed the SOATmkII for sale on the open market. Two nations that prefer to remain anonymous have converted the majorities of their armies into these new SOATs. The new SOAT design can be found on the ResiCorp storefront: [1]

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