FENRIS-class rapid assault mech

From FABT

FENRIS-class rapid assault mech
"FENRIS"
FENRISmech1.png
Production information

Manufacturer:

Hahne-Kedar Solutions

Model:

Model W

Series:

RAGNAROK-series

Cost:

1,200 credits

Variants:

LAIKA-class

Technical specifications

Size:

5.2ft

Features:

  • 2, vertically aligned U-shaped red optics
  • Quadrupedal
  • Canine, varren-like
  • Flat-shaped head, bulky main body
  • Lightly armoured
  • Built-in taser
  • Very simple VI: incapable of complex tactics or thinking
  • Specializes in work suited for guard, police and war animals (customizable)
  • Can be modified

Weapon system(s):

X104 Taser (can be modified)

Role:

  • Security involving loss prevention, corporate, bodyguard work, patrol duties
  • Military and mercenary as combat infantry support or suicide unit
  • Domestic unit
  • Guard animal
  • Narcotics and contraband detection and seizure

Targeting system(s):

Heimdall-class VI

Usage

Era(s):

Asari Cycle
Pax Galactica Era
Human Cycle
Reformation Era
Dominion Era

Nomenclature:

  • FENRIS
  • Model-W
  • W-Frame
  • Dog mech
  • Man's best mech
  • Flatface

Commissioned:

24 March 2184 CE

Decommissioned:

22 November 2220 CE

Affiliation:

Hundreds of corporations and governments across the galaxy

Succeeded by:

SKOLL-class
LAIKA-class (continued by SFB Enterprises)

 

The FENRIS-class rapid assault mech (FENRIS-class RAM), also known as the Model W or W-Frame, and more simply known as the FENRIS mech, FENRIS or dog mech, was one of four RAGNAROK-series mech frames manufactured by Hahne-Kedar Solutions. Following the Battle of the Citadel in 2183 CE, the RAGNAROK-series mechs were designed and built by Hahne-Kedar as one of many new types of mechanized, automated forces in the face of the rising security challenges presented by the brazen geth assault on the galaxy's seemingly impregnable capital. The RAGNAROK-series proved to be the most popular and successful, and the FENRIS-class proved to be a highly versatile frame for use in a wide range of situations. The FENRIS-class was a small, varren-sized quadrupedal mech that sported light armor and was designed for bursts of speed, had a built-in taser for quickly neutralizing hostile targets in its proximity and to defend itself, and could perform a range of functions normally reserved for a police animal or war beast, with behavior and design made purposefully to emulate that of an Earth-based canine or varren. Whilst lacking internally built weapons of its own, the FENRIS-class could be modified to include mounted weapons and, in some military applications, could be loaded with explosives to be used in suicide tactics. The VI and CPU housing were situated in the mech's chest, and the mechs could be programmed en masse through a central computer mainframe. Unlike the LOKI and YMIRs, the FENRIS sported high mobility in a small, compact chassis, possessing moderate kinetic barriers that compensated for its lack of armor and was able to turn and gain speed quickly on a dime, rated at being capable of a top running speed of 61km per hour, which could be improved even further through RAGNAROK's signature modification capabilities, allowing customers to customize the frames as they saw fit. Variants such as the LAIKA-class (named for the Soviet space dog) were redesigned to remove their combat potential altogether, their VI removed and replaced with a custom fitted LAIKA-class VI designed to simulate the behavior of a domesticated, household dog, with the mech using part of its "maintenance mode" in order to force its optics into a permanent blue color, in order to make the mech less frightening and more appealing and welcoming. The FENRIS-class mech was outfitted with a Heimdall-class VI, which Hahne-Kedar specifically designed and programmed specifically to be used as the VIs in their RAGNAROK-series frames.

As it was, the FENRIS-class was used in a variety of unique roles and became a staple across the galaxy following its introduction in 2184 CE. FENRIS were often used by border police, customs agencies, law enforcement and militaries in lieu of the animals usually used for such roles, such as guard dogs, sniffers and war beasts. Hahne-Kedar was applauded for this decision, which was marketed as an ethical one designed to remove animals from the dangerous environments they were often subjected to as a result of the work they engaged in, replacing them with synthetic substitutes where the risk was far less. In this role, FENRIS-class mechs blended seamlessly, used to chase down convicts or neutralize hostile criminals in law enforcement, utilize sensitive equipment to detect hidden narcotics or contraband in place of a sniffer, or kill enemy targets with speed and efficiency. Human colonial populations, especially those in the Terminus Systems that could not rely on the Systems Alliance for protection, would buy a small army of FENRIS' to protect their colonies from attack and provide limited law enforcement and crime deterrence. Modified variants, like the LAIKA, were used in non-combat roles, acting as domesticated pets. Numerous mercenary and private military corporations bought FENRIS mechs in bulk to supplement their own infantry forces, either as cannon fodder or strategic assets, with Eclipse sporting hundreds of thousands of FENRIS' in their own arsenals: while FENRIS' saw far less use among Council militaries due to their inferiority to the usual soldier in regards to tactics and effectiveness, smaller militaries such as those of the Vol Protectorate and planetary city-states in the Terminus Systems utilized FENRIS' to bolster their own ground forces and act as force multipliers. Legions of FENRIS mechs would often be employed by corporations for either security or for use in their corporate wars, as was the case with conflicts such as the War for Garvug. The mech's name, much like all of Hahne-Kedar's mech-related products, is derived from Norse mythology, with the FENRIS mech in particular being named after the giant fame-wolf, Fenrir.

Like the rest of the RAGNAROK-series, the FENRIS mech would continue to remain in service right up until after the Post-Apocalyptic War, although by this time it was already becoming obsolete. The Systems Alliance, and later the Systems Coalition, supplementing the losses they took in the Reaper War, employed large amounts of FENRIS mechs. In 2218 CE, Hahne-Kedar unveiled the then-new ASGARD-series, which included the FENRIS' direct successor, the SKOLL-class. In 2220 CE, the FENRIS-class ceased production and was fully replaced by the SKOLL-class, and by 2240 CE, very few FENRIS' remained in service (with the exception of the LAIKA-class) as it was not only cheaper to simply replace them with SKOLL frames, but the parts needed to maintain them were no longer even produced by Hahne-Kedar, therefore making maintenance on the FENRIS' far too cost-prohibitive to be worth keeping. SFB Enterprises however was able to acquire the rights from Hahne-Kedar to manufacture the LAIKA-class officially, allowing the FENRIS-class to live on in the LAIKAs for several more centuries, surviving as far as 2870 CE, making it the only RAGNAROK-series frame to outlive its parent brand.

Design Details[edit | edit source]