Rika Triumphant
Page 24
AM model mechs were a ‘torso only’ design, where none of the human’s arms and legs were retained. The original idea was to make their cores swappable with K1R models, but it turned out that the mechanized infantry design of the AM models was generally more effective than the ‘walking tank’ design of the K1R models.
AM models were versatile mechs which had swappable loadouts. The improvements over time were mostly centered around human-mech integration, armor, and power systems.
AM mechs were often outfitted with chainguns, shoulder-mounted railguns, and electron beams.
Without known exception, AM mechs were always male.
Sub-Models
AM-1 – The original model of AM. Fewer than 100,000 AM-1 mechs were made, and none were known to have survived the war.
AM-2 – The AM-2 mechs quickly superseded the AM-1s, with better armor, more efficient power systems, and superior human-mech integrations.
AM-3 – The third generation of AM mech had upgraded power supply systems, and an artificial epidermis to remove the need for periodical removal and cleaning. Some AM-3s were also AI capable.
AM-T – Design specs for AM-T mechs exist, but it is not known if any were made by the Genevians. The AM-T design utilized two AM-3 mechs working together in one larger body, controlling more limbs and separating motion and combat functions.
RR (Recon/Ranger)
The RR model of mech was the precursor to the SMI model. RR’s were based on both male and female humans, though smaller humans were used for RR models than AM and FR mechs.
These mechs were similar to AM models, except they were physically smaller and lighter. This allowed RRs to handle light aircraft/drop deployments.
As a compromise, they had smaller power sources, and could only operate for 2-3 days in the field.
Their loadouts were swappable with AM models, but they rarely utilized the chainguns.
Sub-Models
RR-1 – This model of mech began to appear on the battlefield around the same time as the AM-2 mechs. They utilized the power upgrade of the AM-2 mechs to have smaller power systems, but they also had a smaller power capacity. In theory, the new batteries of the AM-2 line should have worked, but they had overheating issues in the field, and more than one RR-1 had battery detonation when utilizing multiple firing systems.
RR-2 – The RR-2 mechs were rolled out around the same time as the AM-3s, and had few significant changes other than improved armor, and marginally longer-lasting power that no longer suffered from overload issues.
Second gen RR-2 mechs were also skinless, like AM-3 and SMI mechs.
RR-3 – The RR-3 mechs reached the field shortly before the end of the war, and were different in that they had partial legs, like SMI mechs. This was done as a cost/component-saving measure.
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 has heavy as an AM-3 without the armor.
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.
The mechs were built exclusively from small, lithe women who could fit in the mech 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.
3rd MARAUDER FLEET
4th DIVISION
Fleet Commander: Colonel Argon
Division 4 Complement (2 Ships)
Golden Lark
1200-meter heavy cruiser
64 fighters
Ship’s AI: Cora
Other Ship AIs: Jane & Frankie
Captain: Major Tim
XO Commander: Scas
Dockmaster: Chief Ora
Perseid’s Dream
650-meter destroyer
24 fighters
Ship’s AI: Moshe
Other Ship AI: Lauren
Captain Penny
9th MARAUDER BATTALION
‘M’ COMPANY
Note, not all personnel in M Company are listed. Full company complement is 380+.
Company HQ
Commanding Officer (CO) – SMI-2 Captain Rika
Executive Officer (XO) – FR-2 First Lieutenant Scarcliff
Flight Leader (FL) – RR-3 First Lieutenant Heather (Smalls)
First Sergeant – Barne
Gunnery Sergeant – Tex
General Council – David
Tactics and Strat AI (1 & 2P) – Potter
Tactics and Strat AI (3-5P) – Dredge
Lead DI – Staff Sergeant Chase
First Platoon
Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Leslie
Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Chris (AM-2)
Dropship Pilots (6 per platoon)
- Vargo Klen
- Ferris, “Ferryman”
- Charles, “Mad Dog”
First Squad
Squad Sergeant Aaron (AM-3)
4 Fireteams (19 mechs)
FT 1-1
- CPL Ben (AM-2)
- PFC Al, ‘Whispers’ (AM-2)
- PFC Kim (RR-3-F)
- PFC Harris (FR-2)
FT 1-2
- CPL Crunch (RR-3-M)
- PFC Kelly (SMI-2)
- PFC Shoshin (AM-3)
FT 1-3
- PFC Kerry (RR-2)
FT 1-4
- CPL Mitch (RR-2)
Second Squad
Squad Sergeant – Kristian (RR-2-M)
3 Fireteams (13 mechs)
FT 2-1
- CPL (K1R-T) Oosterwyk-Bruyn, ‘The Van’
- PFC Keli (SMI-2)
Third Squad
Squad Sergeant Karen (SMI-2)
4 Fireteams (19 mechs)
FT 3-1
- PVT Kyle, ‘Goob’ (AM-2)
- CPL Yiaagaitia, ‘Yig’ (RR-2-M)
FT 3-4
- Carolyn ‘CJ’ (RR-3-F)
Fourth Squad
Squad Sergeant – Kara (SMI-2)
4 Fireteams (20 mechs)
Second Platoon
Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Travis (AM-3)
Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Divinar (AM-3)
Dropship Pilots
Lieutenant Buggsie
Squad One
Squad Sergeant – Fuller (AM-2)
4 Fireteams (19 mechs)
Second Squad
Squ
ad Sergeant – Chauncy (FR-2)
4 Fireteams (21 mechs)
Third Squad
Squad Sergeant Bean (SMI-2)
5 Fireteams (25 mechs)
Fourth Squad
Squad Sergeant Kristina, ‘Abs’ (RR-2)
4 Fireteams (20 mechs)
FT 2-4
CPL Musel (AM-2)
PFC Bitty (K1R-M)
PFC Smitty (RR-3) (F)
Third Platoon
Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Wilson (FR-2)
Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Bookie (SMI-2)
Squad One
Squad Sergeant Char (RR-3-F)
4 Fireteams (19 mechs)
Second Squad
Squad Sergeant Mal (FR-2)
4 Fireteams (22 mechs)
Third Squad
Squad Sergeant Cory (AM-2)
4 Fireteams (19 mechs)
Fourth Squad
Squad Sergeant Lana (SMI-2)
4 Fireteams (20 mechs)
Fourth Platoon
Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Michael (AM-3)
Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Johnny (FR-2)
Squad One
Squad Sergeant Alana (RR-2-F)
4 Fireteams (19 mechs)
Second Squad
Squad Sergeant Aerin (SMI-2)
4 Fireteams (21 mechs)
Third Squad
Squad Sergeant Justin (FR-2)
4 Fireteams (19 mechs)
Fourth Squad
Squad Sergeant Val (RR-3-F)
3 Fireteams (14 mechs)
Fifth Platoon
Platoon CO – First Lieutenant Crudge (AM-3)
Platoon Sergeant – Staff Sergeant Sal (FR-2)
Squad One
Squad Sergeant Darla (RR-3-F)
4 Fireteams (19 mechs)
Second Squad
Squad Sergeant George (FR-2)
4 Fireteams (20 mechs)
Third Squad
Squad Sergeant Jessa (RR-3-F)
3 Fireteams (14 mechs)
Fourth Squad
Squad Sergeant Jynafer (RR-3-F)
3 Fireteams (13 mechs)
Sixth Platoon (Maintenance and Medical)
Platoon Commander – Lieutenant “Bondo” Carson
- Corporal Stripes (AM-2)
THE BOOKS OF AEON 14
Keep up to date with what is releasing in Aeon 14 with the free Aeon 14 Reading Guide.
The Intrepid Saga
- 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 Orion War
- Book 1: Destiny Lost
- Book 2: New Canaan
- Book 3: Orion Rising
- Book 4: The Scipio Alliance
- Book 5: Attack on Thebes
- Book 6: The Thousand Front War (2018)
- Book 7: Fallen Empire (2018)
- Many more following
Tales of the Orion War (Anthologies)
- Set the Galaxy on Fire
- Ignite the Stars
Perilous Alliance (Age of the Orion War - with Chris J. Pike)
- Book 1: Close Proximity
- Book 2: Strike Vector
- Book 3: Collision Course
- Book 4: Impact Imminent (2018)
Rika’s Marauders (Age of the Orion War)
- Prequel: Rika Mechanized
- Book 1: Rika Outcast
- Book 2: Rika Redeemed
- Book 3: Rika Triumphant
- Book 4: Rika Commander (2018)
- Book 5: Rika Unleashed (2018)
Perseus Gate (Age of the Orion War)
Season 1: Orion Space
- Episode 1: The Gate at the Grey Wolf Star
- Episode 2: The World at the Edge of Space
- Episode 3: The Dance on the Moons of Serenity
- Episode 4: The Last Bastion of Star City
- Episode 5: The Toll Road Between the Stars
- Episode 6: The Final Stroll on Perseus’s Arm
Season 2: Inner Stars
- Episode 1: A Meeting of Bodies and Minds (Feb 2018)
- Episode 2: A Surreptitious Rescue of Friends and Foes (2018)
The Warlord (Before the Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1: The Woman Without a Country
- Book 2: The Woman Who Seized an Empire
- Book 3: The Woman Who Lost Everything (2018)
Machete System Bounty Hunter
- Book 1: Hired Gun (2018)
More coming in 2018
The Sentience Wars: Origins (With James S. Aaron)
- Book 1: Lyssa’s Dream
- Book 2: Lyssa’s Run
- Book 3: Lyssa’s Flight
- Book 4: Lyssa’s Call (2018)
- Book 5: Lyssa’s Flame (2018)
The Empire (Age of the Orion War)
- The Empress and the Ambassador (2018)
- Consort of the Scorpion Empress (2018)
- By the Empress’s Command (2018)
Tanis Richards: Origins
- Prequel: Storming the Norse Wind (At the Helm: Volume 3)
- Book 1: Shore Leave (June 2018)
The Sol Dissolution
- The 242 - Venusian Uprising (The Expanding Universe 2 anthology)
- The 242 - Assault on Tarja (The Expanding Universe 3 anthology)
The Delta Team Chronicles (Expanded Orion War)
- A "Simple" Kidnapping (Pew! Pew! Volume 1)
- The Disknee World (Pew! Pew! Volume 2)
- It’s Hard Being a Girl (Pew! Pew! Volume 4)
- A Fool’s Gotta Feed (Pew! Pew! Volume 4)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Cooper likes to think of himself as a jack-of-all-trades (and hopes to become master of a few). When not writing, he can be found writing software, working in his shop at his latest carpentry project, or likely reading a book.
He shares his home with a precocious young girl, his wonderful wife (who also writes), two cats, a never-ending list of things he would like to build, and ideas…
Find out what’s coming next at http://www.aeon14.com