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Rika Coronated

Page 18

by M. D. Cooper


  The RR-4s use the same swappable weapons mounts as all mechs, but have high-output a-grav units in their thighs. These units allow them to fly at low altitudes (up to three hundred meters) and provide additional zero-g maneuvering options without using armor-based systems.

  Seven of the RR-4s took the option for an additional set of arms and the brain modifications required to control the extra limbs.

  FR (Force Recon)

  Force Recon mechs were mechs that had the lighter drop capabilities of the RR mechs, with the additional power and armor of AM-3 models. All FR mechs were skinless.

  Sub-Models

  FR-1 – The first generation of FR mechs were limited run, and had both weight and power load distribution issues.

  FR-2 – Second generation FR mechs solved many of the issues from the first generation, and were well regarded for their effectiveness.

  XFR – The XFR model is not known to have been widely produced. This model had additional power and carrying capacity to utilize shoulder-mounted proton beams and chainguns. However, the mech’s loadout made it almost as heavy as an AM-3 without the armor.

  FR-4 – Though there is no FR-3 model, Finaeus and the members of Rika’s Repair and Medical platoon decided to go with consistent generational numbering across all mechs.

  The latest FR model gained the XFR’s shoulder-mounted beam weapons: one an electron beam, and the other a high-output burst laser cannon. These weapons slot onto the wearer’s back and slide up over the shoulder, where they are each capable of two-hundred-and-seventy-degree motion, even with the meter-long barrel on each.

  Additional changes include a-grav stabilization similar to the AM-4s, and the same universal limb and weapons mounting system, as well as the MK99 chameleon epidermis.

  SMI (Scout Mech-Integrated)

  The final mech model produced at the end of the war was built out of a desire for a super-light mech that could be used in place of standard infantry in sniper/recon situations, and bring extreme fire to bear if desired.

  SMI mechs were also cost-saving mechs, as they retained more of their human body components, making for fewer prosthetic neural connections. They also leveraged progress in muscle and bone augmentation that had been used in RR and FR mech models.

  Mechs of this model were built exclusively from small, lithe women who could fit in the armor and still create a small profile.

  Unlike other mech models, SMI mechs were never deployed with two functional hands. One was always a weapon mount.

  SMI mechs are all skinless.

  Sub-Models

  SMI-1 – The first generation of SMI mechs had a short production run due to psychological issues. Because they retained more of their human bodies than other mechs, they ended up having additional dysphoria issues.

  SMI-2 – Second generation SMI mechs had improved physical integrations and psychological conditioning that caused the mechs to view themselves as less human. However, in the field, it was observed to have the opposite effect, and SMI mechs retained a strong connection to their humanity.

  SMI-3 – A few experimental SMI-3 models were produced near the end of the war. These models had more powerful legs and higher top speeds, and used a new short-barreled model of the GNR. Some SMI-3s were deployed with two GNRs and no ‘regular’ arm.

  SMI-4 – Though there had always been rumors of an SMI-3, no one in the Marauders ever saw direct evidence that the model was produced. Still, for the same reasons as the FR-4s, the SMI range moved to ‘4’ as well.

  The SMI-4 mechs had few visible improvements to their configurations, excepting that they received the MK99 chameleon armor. Advanced materials shed over ten kilograms, while adding additional batteries and stronger bone and muscle enhancements. The SMI-4 armor also possesses the same chameleon capabilities as their skin.

  While SMI-4s support the same universal weapons mount system as all mechs, they do not have the recoil control or power systems for some of the more powerful weapons, and stick to their tried and true rifles and GNRs.

  LHO (Lateral Hyper Operation)

  LHO mechs were a model created by Finaeus to suit the needs of shipboard operation in Rika’s fleet. As the human crews within the 7th Marauder Fleet saw the skill and precision with which the ISF created the 4th Generation mechs, they began to request mechanization.

  A problem the Marauder ships faced was that they were lightly crewed. To aid in solving this problem, Finaeus crafted a new mech body that was like an SMI in many respects, but possessed four arms and a slightly elongated torso. These mechs also had neural mods and brain alterations to handle operating a new set of limbs with full dexterity.

  The desired—and achieved—result were mechanized humans capable of performing a taskload of two people. This ability created greater efficiency in the smaller crews, while also creating a formidable shipboard force to repel boarders if a ship were to come under attack while the bulk of its mechs were away on a mission.

  The LHOs are all designated 4th Generation.

  It should be noted that Finaeus had told Rika that 4-limbed mechs were not advisable due to the time it would take for their brains to learn how to manage the extra limbs.

  This is why none of the LHO mechs have combat as a primary function, but are training for it. Some of the naval personnel who chose mechanization went for FR or SMI frames because they couldn’t afford to take the time to learn how to manage extra limbs.

  1st MARAUDER FLEET

  This is a partial list and does not contain the full fleet roster.

  Fleet Commander: Colonel Heather (SMI-4)

  Fury Lance

  4100-meter dreadnought

  420 fighters

  Ship’s AI: Piper

  Captain: Captain Heather (SMI-4)

  Navigation: Chief Warrant Officer Garth

  Weapons and Scan: Chief Warrant Officer Ona

  (Note: Ona and Garth frequently switch roles)

  Republic IV

  1100-meter cruiser

  44 fighters

  Ship’s AI: N/A

  Captain: Lieutenant Travis (AM-4)

  Undaunted

  1130-meter cruiser

  34 fighters

  Ship’s AI: N/A

  Captain: Lieutenant Ferris

  Chief Engineer: Chief Warrant Officer Lara

  Asora

  544-meter destroyer

  Ship’s AI: N/A

  Captain: Lieutenant Klen (RR-4)

  Weapons and Scan: Chief Ashley (LHO-4)

  Chief Engineer: Chief Glen

  Capital

  612-meter destroyer

  Ship’s AI: N/A

  Captain: Lieutenant Buggsie

  Dropship Pilots

  - Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-3) Charles ‘Mad Dog’

  - Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-2) Halley

  THE QUEEN’S GUARD

  Head of the Guard: Captain Chase (AM-4)

  Guard Members

  - Lieutenant Kelly (SMI-4)

  - Corporal Keli (SMI-4)

  - Corporal Shoshin (AM-4)

  1st GENEVIAN MARAUDER BATTALION

  In the shuffle where Rika became the Genevian Magnus, the Marauders were reorganized to have General Barne at the head of the military under the commander in Chief.

  ‘HQ’ COMPANY

  Battalion Commander (CO): Colonel Silva (SMI-4)

  ‘R’ COMPANY (M&M)

  Platoon Commander – Lieutenant “Bondo” Carson

  - Corporal Stripes (AM-X)

  Other company commanders

  Captain Meagan – SMI-4 (O Company)

  Captain Gytra – RR-4-F (R Company)

  Captain Crispin – K1R-4-X (S Company)

  Captain Penelope – RR-4-F (T Company)

  ‘M’ COMPANY

  Note, not all personnel in the Company are listed.

  Company HQ

  Commanding Officer (CO): Captain Karen (FR-4)

  First Sergeant: Tex (RR-4)

  Gunnery Sergeant: Aaron (AM-4
)

  First Platoon

  Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Chris (AM-4)

  Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Kristian (RR-4-M)

  First Squad

  Sergeant Crunch (AM-4)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  FT 1-1

  - CPL Ben (AM-4)

  - PVT Al, ‘Whispers’ (AM-4)

  - PVT Kim (RR-4-F)

  - PVT Harris (FR-4)

  FT 1-2

  - CPL Kelly (SMI-4)

  - PVT Shoshin (AM-4)

  - PVT Keli (SMI-4)

  FT 1-3

  - CPL Kerry (RR-4)

  FT 1-4

  - CPL Mitch (RR-4)

  - PVT Lauren (SMI-4)

  - PVT Wolf (AM-4)

  - PVT Matthew (AM-4)

  Second Squad

  Squad Sergeant – Corin (RF-4)

  3 Fireteams (13 mechs)

  FT 2-1

  - CPL (K1R-X-4) Oosterwyk-Bruyn, ‘The Van’

  - PVT Ainsley (SMI-4)

  - PVT Jenny (RR-4-F)

  Third Squad

  Squad Sergeant Carolyn ‘CJ’ (RR-4-F)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  FT 3-1

  - PVT Kyle, ‘Goob’ (AM-4)

  - CPL Yiaagaitia, ‘Yig’ (RR-4-M)

  - PVT Cole (RR-4-F)

  - PVT Fiona (SMI-4)

  FT 3-2

  - CPL Dave (AM-4)

  - PVT Chad (FR-4)

  - PVT Knight (AM-4)

  - PVT Rouse (AM-4)

  Fourth Squad

  Squad Sergeant – Kara (SMI-4)

  4 Fireteams (20 mechs)

  Second Platoon

  Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Fuller (AM-4)

  Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Chauncy (FR-4)

  Squad One

  Squad Sergeant – Alison (SMI-4)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  FT 1-4

  - CPL Fred (AM-4)

  - PVT Jenisa (SMI-4)

  - PVT Kor (AM-4)

  - PVT Randy (AM-4)

  Second Squad

  Squad Sergeant – Tre (FR-4)

  4 Fireteams (21 mechs)

  Third Squad

  Squad Sergeant Bean (SMI-4)

  4 Fireteams (20 mechs)

  FT 3-1

  - CPL Hidee (SMI-4)

  Fourth Squad

  Squad Sergeant Kristina, ‘Abs’ (RR-4-F)

  4 Fireteams (20 mechs)

  FT 2-4

  CPL Musel (AM-4)

  PVT Bitty (K1R-X-4)

  PVT Smitty (RR-4-F)

  Third Platoon

  Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Wilson (FR-4)

  Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Bookie (SMI-4)

  Squad One

  Squad Sergeant Char (RR-4-F)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  Second Squad

  Squad Sergeant Mal (FR-4)

  4 Fireteams (22 mechs)

  Third Squad

  Squad Sergeant Cory (AM-4)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  Fourth Squad

  Squad Sergeant Lana (SMI-4)

  4 Fireteams (20 mechs)

  ‘N’ COMPANY

  Note, not all personnel in the Company are listed.

  Company HQ

  Commanding Officer (CO): Captain Scarcliff (FR-4)

  Executive Officer (XO): First Lieutenant Crudge (AM-4)

  Gunnery Sergeant: Sergeant Johnny (FR-4)

  Tactics and Strategy AI: Dredge

  First Platoon

  Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Michael (AM-4)

  Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Alana (RR-4-F)

  Squad One

  Squad Sergeant Bruce (RR-4-M)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  Second Squad

  Squad Sergeant Aerin (SMI-4)

  4 Fireteams (21 mechs)

  Third Squad

  Squad Sergeant Justin (FR-4)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  Fourth Squad

  Squad Sergeant Val (RR-4-F)

  3 Fireteams (14 mechs)

  Second Platoon

  Platoon CO – Lieutenant Darla (RR-4-F)

  Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Sal (FR-4)

  Squad One

  Squad Sergeant Sarah (RR-4-F)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  Second Squad

  Squad Sergeant George (FR-4)

  4 Fireteams (20 mechs)

  Third Squad

  Squad Sergeant Jessa (RR-4-F)

  3 Fireteams (14 mechs)

  Fourth Squad

  Squad Sergeant Jynafer (RR-4-F)

  3 Fireteams (13 mechs)

  ‘Q’ COMPANY

  Note, not all personnel in the Company are listed.

  Company HQ

  Commanding Officer (CO): Captain Ron (AM-4)

  Executive Officer (XO): First Lieutenant Bookie (SMI-4)

  First Platoon

  Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Layna (AM-4)

  Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Boris (RR-4-F)

  Squad One

  Squad Sergeant Mela (RR-4-M)

  4 Fireteams (19 mechs)

  FT 1-1

  Corporal Harlan (K1R-X-4)

  THE BOOKS OF AEON 14

  Keep up to date with what is releasing in Aeon 14 with the free Aeon 14 Reading Guide.

  The Sentience Wars: Origins (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/James S. Aaron)

  - Books 1-3 Omnibus: Lyssa’s Rise

  - Books 4-5 Omnibus (plus Vesta Burning): Lyssa’s Fire

  - Book 1: Lyssa’s Dream

  - Book 2: Lyssa’s Run

  - Book 3: Lyssa’s Flight

  - Book 4: Lyssa’s Call

  - Book 5: Lyssa’s Flame

  Legends of the Sentience Wars (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/James S. Aaron)

  - Volume 1: The Proteus Bridge

  - Volume 2: Vesta Burning

  The Sentience Wars: Solar War 1 (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/James S. Aaron)

  - Book 1: Eve of Destruction

  - Book 2: The Spreading Fire (Sept 2019)

  Enfield Genesis (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/Lisa Richman)

  - Book 1: Alpha Centauri

  - Book 2: Proxima Centauri

  - Book 3: Tau Ceti

  - Book 4: Epsilon Eridani

  - Book 5: Sirius

  Origins of Destiny (The Age of Terra)

  - Prequel: Storming the Norse Wind

  - Prequel: Angel’s Rise: The Huntress (available on Patreon)

  - Book 1: Tanis Richards: Shore Leave

  - Book 2: Tanis Richards: Masquerade

  - Book 3: Tanis Richards: Blackest Night

  - Book 4: Tanis Richards: Kill Shot

  The Intrepid Saga (The Age of Terra)

  - Book 1: Outsystem

  - Book 2: A Path in the Darkness

  - Book 3: Building Victoria

  - The Intrepid Saga Omnibus – Also contains Destiny Lost, book 1 of the Orion War series

  - Destiny Rising – Special Author’s Extended Edition comprised of both Outsystem and A Path in the Darkness with over 100 pages of new content.

  The Warlord (Before the Age of the Orion War)

  - Books 1-3 Omnibus: The Warlord of Midditerra

  - Book 1: The Woman Without a World

  - Book 2: The Woman Who Seized an Empire

  - Book 3: The Woman Who Lost Everything

  The Orion War

  - Books 1-3 Omnibus (includes Ignite the Stars anthology)

  - Book 1: Destiny Lost

  - Book 2: New Canaan

  - Book 3: Orion Rising

  - Book 4: The Scipio Alliance

  - Book 5: Attack on Thebes

  - Book 6: War on a Thousand Fronts

  - Book 7: Precipice of Darkness

  - Book 8: Airtha Ascendancy

  - Book 9: The Orion Front

  - Book 10: Starfire

  - Book 11: Race Across Spacetime (2019)

  - Book 12: Return to Sol (2019)


  Building New Canaan (Age of the Orion War – w/J.J. Green)

  - Book 1: Carthage

  - Book 2: Tyre

  - Book 3: Troy

  - Book 4: Athens

  Tales of the Orion War

  - Book 1: Set the Galaxy on Fire

  - Book 2: Ignite the Stars

  Perilous Alliance (Age of the Orion War – w/Chris J. Pike)

  - Book 1-3 Omnibus: Crisis in Silstrand

  - Book 1: Close Proximity

  - Book 2: Strike Vector

  - Book 3: Collision Course

  - Book 3.5: Decisive Action (August 2019)

  - Book 4: Impact Imminent

  - Book 5: Critical Inertia

  - Book 6: Impulse Shock

  Rika’s Marauders (Age of the Orion War)

  - Book 1-3 Omnibus: Rika Activated

  - Prequel: Rika Mechanized

  - Book 1: Rika Outcast

  - Book 2: Rika Redeemed

  - Book 3: Rika Triumphant

  - Book 4: Rika Commander

  - Book 5: Rika Infiltrator

  - Book 6: Rika Unleashed

  - Book 7: Rika Conqueror

  Non-Aeon 14 Anthologies containing Rika stories

 

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