Mecha design and illustration by AMY BORDEN (borden@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu).

THE KRAKEN INORGANIC

BACKGROUND

The most dangerous aspect of the Kraken is its stealthiness. The antigravity generator that propels the inorganic is virtually silent, allowing the robot to approach and attack its victim without making a sound. Krakens can lay hidden in trees, streams, rubble, etc. for days, weeks, months, or even years, and only pop out to attack when a potential target draws near. Unlike the Inorganics constructed by the Regent, the Kraken does NOT need an Invid brain to control it, and can operate on its own without any outside help or control. The inorganic does possess a limited amount of intelligence; for example, it will know enough to not attack a large heavily-armed party of resistance fighters since it would almost definitely be destroyed. Instead, the Kraken may track the resistance fighters at a distance and try to pick them off one by one while they are resting. Whenever a Kraken encounters a target it will communicate the location and type of contact to the nearest hive within its communication range, and the hive brain may give it special instructions at that time, if necessary (i.e. "capture a prisoner" instead of "kill the entire party").

The Kraken Inorganic was first encountered in the central United States area in early 2044. Distribution of the robot has been restricted mostly to the eastern half of North America, though some have been reported in Europe. They are most commonly found in the central plains/great lakes region (Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio) but it is likely that the design shall spread to other sectors if deemed successful by the Stage 6 Invid.

RPG STATS

M.D.C. BY LOCATION

[1]  Main Body                     150
[2]  Eye Tentacle (1)               45
     Claw Tentacles (2)             35 each
     Spike Tentacles (4)            35 each
     Heavy-Duty Tentacles (4)       50 each
     Laser Tentacles (2)            35 each

[1]

Destroying the main body will completely destroy the Inorganic. The smoking remains will fall to the ground and crumble into scrap metal.

[2]

Destroying the eye tentacle will deprive the Kraken of its main sensor capabilities. It will not be able to see its targets and will flail its tentacles around rapidly trying to strike anything close to it (-5 to strike). If the eye tentacle is destroyed the Kraken will usually try to retreat and return to base for repairs (it can find its way back without sensors). The eye tentacle is a small target and imposes a -4 penalty to hit for attackers.

SPECIFICATIONS

Flight:

Stationary hover to 400 mph (640 kmph) in open air. Cruising speed near ground level is usually 100 mph (160 kmph) or less. The Kraken can use its antigravity generator to lift itself up to 300 ft (91.5 m) above any surface.

Swimming:

The Kraken can propel itself under water at speeds up to 75 mph (120 kmph) and can dive up to 2 miles below the surface.

Space:

The Kraken can operate in space or without air. However, without nearby mass to push against with its antigravity generator it will drift helplessly in zero gravity.

Height:

Main Body: 2.5 ft (0.75 m)

Width:

Main Body: 7 ft (2.1 m)

Length:

Main Body: 4.5 ft (1.3 m)

NOTE: The tentacles on the Kraken can extend up to 15 ft (4.7 m) in any direction from the main body. They can also retract completely into the body when not needed.

Weight:

2 tons

Cargo:

The antigravity generator (which was designed for speed and stealth instead of strength) can carry up to 5 tons.

• Flight - 85%
• Tracking: Humanoid, Mecha, or Land Vehicle - 70%
• Tracking: Protoculture Powered Mechanism - 88%
• Navigation: Air, Land, Water - 90%
• Prowl - 70%
• Detect Ambush - 55%
• Detect Concealment - 65%

• Thermal (passive infrared sight) - Range: 1000 ft (305 m)
• Nightvision (passive night sight) - Range: 2000 ft (609 m)
• External Audio Pickup - Range: 300 ft (91.5 m)
• Audio/Video Communications - Range: 25 miles

WEAPON SYSTEMS

1. LASERS: Two of the Kraken's tentacles end in high powered lasers that serve as the inorganic's main weapons. Since they are mounted on tentacles they can be fired in virtually any direction and can even fire around corners while the Kraken remains hidden.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Defense
   • Range: 4000 ft (1200 m)
   • Damage: 3D6 M.D. per laser blast. Bursts are not possible, but the laser can be fired in a continuous stream for cutting/demolition if necessary (2D6x10 M.D. per round).
   • Rate of Fire: Four attacks per melee. Can also be fired in a full melee continuous beam, but suffers a -4 to strike a moving target.
   • Payload: Unlimited
   • Bonuses to Strike: +1 to strike, plus protoculture targeting bonuses.

2. PARALYSIS BEAM: The two clawed tentacles on the Kraken contain an experimental paralysis beam built into the center of the claw. This beam temporarily overloads the nervous system of a humanoid target, effectively paralyzing him or her. Involuntary reflexes (breathing, heartbeat) are USUALLY not affected, but there have been a few reported cases where the paralysis beam has been fatal. The beam can even work through high-tech body armor, but has an extremely short range.
   • Primary Purpose: Capture
   • Range: 30 ft (9 m)
   • Damage: None, but the victim must roll under his (P.E. - 12) or be paralyzed for 1D6x10 minutes. The character gets a +1 to his roll for every 25 points of MDC between him and the beam, including body armor and mecha. Characters with over 200 MDC are automatically immune to the beam. If the character rolls a 20 on his P.E. roll, he also goes into shock and takes 4D6 S.D.C. damage, directly from hit points.
   • Rate of Fire: One shot per tentacle, per round.
   • Payload: Unlimited
   • Bonuses to Strike: +1 to strike, plus protoculture targeting bonuses.

3. HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT. The tentacles of the Kraken make it a deadly hand-to-hand combatant. Four of the inorganic's arms end in vibro-blade spikes that can cut through high-tech armor easily. The other four tentacles are powerful constrictors that can crush a human to death even through body armor (P.S. of 50).
   • Attacks Per Melee: 4
   • Hand to Hand Bonuses: +1 to strike, +3 to parry, +6 (!)to dodge in flight, +3 to roll with impact.
   • Damage:
     • Vibro-spike slash: 2D6 M.D.
     • Vibro-spike jab: 3D6 M.D.
     • Vibro-spike power jab (counts as two attacks): 1D4x10 M.D.
     • Claw Jab: 1D6 M.D.
     • Claw Crush: 1D6 M.D. per round.
     • Strong Tentacle Slap: 1D4 M.D.
     • Strong Tentacle Constrict: 2D6 M.D. per round.

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Last Updated: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:59:13 PST