KAROGAN
Karogan are a sub-type of Frame designed for and employed by the Imperial Jade Navy. Standing at nine feet tall, the base Karogan model caused a significant amount of controversy. Heavily armed and armoured, they are subject to strict regulations and are formally controlled by the military at all times.
DESCRIPTIONThe standard Mark I Karogan is a Real Artificial Intelligence Frame nine feet (2.74m) tall, with an irridath and void-titanium battleplate frame cored by umi-tetsu synthetic fibre muscles. A coating of vitredur provides additional protection against directed energy weapons.
Hugely strong, fast and durable in comparison to biologicals, Karogans are purpose-built for combat. Their programming is specially adapted for combat, including tactical, strategic and operational capacity. They are highly modular for ease of repair, and their synth-brains are routinely backed up to Soul Traps so that, in the event they are destroyed, their experiences and developed personalities can be transferred to a replacement Frame. Karogans contain a short-range battlefield control suite that allows them to control multiple LANT-RN drones for reconaissance and surveillance, as well as engage in limited electronic warfare and countermeasures. They mount a 10mm coilgun on each wrist, with an effective range of 800m, a stock of Kasen Rocket Munitions, and a modified back-mounted WH-TIR coilgun autocannon for use against light to medium vehicles and aircraft. |
ORIGINS
Following the assault on Cass City, the Kokubusho decided that it was time to press ahead with developing artificially intelligent war machines. Government policy had long been opposed to weaponising artificial intelligences for a variety of moral, political and cultural reasons. It was feared that AI could not be trusted to exhibit the same moral caution and instincts as biological soldiers, and that entrusting them with inbuilt weapons and combat capabilities was too dangerous to be countenanced.
However, the advantages of automated combat units had been proven by allied forces in several engagements, such as the anti-piracy action at Lassero. Following heavy losses during the assault on Cass City, the Kokubusho reopened its investigation into the viability of frontline AI units. The successful integration of regular RAI Frames into the military, serving as common enlisted and officers, was used as evidence that, given the proper programming and socialisation, AIs could be relied upon in combat and military situations. |
The first Karogans were developed using the synthbrain patterns of volunteer RAI who were already serving in branches of the Jade military. Working to create a combat frame that was innate and intuitive for consciousnesses that had themselves been developed based on human and Yokari physiology, they developed the 9-foot tall humanoid Frame seen today.