Aegis (Heavy Metal Magellan)

This page describes a mech for the game Heavy Metal Magellan, from a mostly in-universe perspective.

Aegis

About Aegis.

Overview

Name:	Aegis
Model:	Custom Build; Hostility Escalation Exoskeleton (HEE)
Chassis:	Giant Humanoid Exoskeleton
Weight class:	Sub-Light
Weight:	5 tons (empty) 10 tons (Standard loadout, fully loaded) 75 tons (Maximum carry weight)
Height:	3.65 meters (12 feet)
Top speed:	195kph (120mph)

Description

Aegis is effectively, and by all external appearances, a standard humanoid sub-light mech. It is extraordinarily fast and structurally tough, but its armor is still on the light side.

Armaments

Standard armaments

The HEE can use most handheld weaponry from mechs its size and larger. Its hands are too large for HAS or human weaponry, and it is too small for standard hardpoint attachments. As such it is designed primarily around harrying and melee combat, as well as sabotage like its core, the HAS.

Vibrosabers

Aegis carries two swords in back mounts. These swords require power (via being wielded) to vibrate, but are perfectly functional blades without power. They are designed to remove limbs and cut through armor to expose internal components. They can be dual-wielded but are at their best when used two-handed. (2)

Kunai

The HEE carries four of these at a time, at mount points on each knee and both hips. These blades are meant only for stabbing or throwing; they have an extremely sharp point but no cutting edge. Each contains a burst battery capable of providing limited course correction via thrusters. If the kunai detect that they’ve pierced armor, they break open and blow the rest of their charge for an electromagnetic assault on the innards of the target. Rechargeable. (4)

Autocannons

Both forearms of the Aegis hold retractable rotary cannons that can use various ammo types, though they are usually stocked with anti-armor rounds. (2×100)

Shoulder Spikes

What appear to be standard weapon catching/deflecting spikes are actually further anti-armor weaponry. They are rockets, as opposed to missiles, filled with an anti-armor payload. As they are rockets, they can only fire straight out, making it often preferable to literally ram the opponent with the Aegis’ shoulder to get them lodged in the enemy’s armor before detonating them. (2×6)

Vulcan Cannon

Two barrels on each side of the head house anti-personnel rounds. (2×25)

Non-standard armaments

N/A

Subsystems

Microreactor

Batteries become unreasonable for the Aegis’ size and necessary power output. The reactor is an ultra-safe design meant for home and business use that has found a unique home. Athena has altered the limiter to let it run hotter than would be comfortable otherwise.

Boosters

Unlike the HAS, the HEE features a full-fledged rocket propulsion system thanks to its reactor. Still mostly used for jumps and evades, but is capable of short flights as well.

Mnemosyne

When the HAS and HEE are docked, Phoebe gains access to significantly more computing power, graduating her to a true simple AI. While Phoebe’s control over the HAS is relatively simplistic and reactive, Mnemosyne is a capable combatant in her own right. She can’t compete with human aces on an even footing, but combined with the Aegis’ high agility and speed relative to most mechs, can often outperform them. Athena has built in safeguards against Mnemosyne taking full permanent control; fully independent circuits detect if a human is in the suit every five minutes and eject the HAS if none is detected over two cycles. The HEE has no onboard memory and cannot house Phoebe, making Mnemosyne only possible when the suits are combined.

Failsafe Design

The HEE is designed under the same basic principles as the HAS. Unpowered walking speed is about 20 MPH.

Combat effectiveness

Strengths

The HEE has the same advantages as the HAS, but has improved firepower.

Mnemosyne

The AI can seamlessly adjust aim, avoid projectiles, and provide many other combat enhancements.

Weaknesses

The weaknesses are also similar for the most part, minus the glaring firepower and armor concerns.

Mnemosyne

The AI’s actions are not always seamless. More of a struggle for the pilot than for survival, Mnemosyne can take action without warning for the purpose of mitigating damage, as it has developed a desire for self-preservation. The actions of the Aegis not matching up 1:1 to the pilot’s movements can be extremely disconcerting for the uninitiated.

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