KRAKEN
ROLE: Heavy Security
ARMAMENT: Quad Impulse Cannons
THREAT LEVEL: High
DESCRIPTION: An Advanced security auto-op based on the Gorgon specification. Development of the Kraken was authorized by Juno off-world automation only because the project made use of the excess Gorgon units. Gabriel Kantor insisted on producing them to protect the Cronus Frontier facilities, despite no licensed spacecraft ever venturing past Jupiter.
GOLEM
ROLE: Ordinance Delivery
ARMAMENT: Internal Explosives
THREAT LEVEL: Medium
DESCRIPTION: The materials production pipeline for Devastator Missiles never achieved the efficiency expected, so most of them were re-purposed as Golem parts. Golems are a highly-effective delivery system for large explosive loads, but they are essentially half of a Devastator Missile shoved in the belly of a low budget operator.
SCOURGE
ROLE: Hybrid
ARMAMENT: Creeper Launcher
THREAT LEVEL: Medium
DESCRIPTION: The final operator produced in Cronus Frontier’s technology-sharing initiative, the Scourge shares many components with the Harpy, while delivering a more explosive payload. The Scourge excels in both security and mining roles while being affordable. Cronus Frontier has quietly begun selling it to asteroid belt corporations who regard another miner revolt as highly unlikely.
WYVERN
ROLE: Exploratory Mining
ARMAMENT: Missile Pod Launcher
THREAT LEVEL: Medium
DESCRIPTION: Designed to explore mines and cavern networks, the Wyvern is equipped with an advanced radar array hidden behind its main visor. This Auto-op moves quickly through existing tunnels while dispersing small explosives and searching with its sensors to detect new mineral deposits within solid surfaces.
HYDRA
ROLE: Exploratory Hybrid
ARMAMENT: Cyclone Cannon
THREAT LEVEL: Medium
DESCRIPTION: A more advanced version of the Wyvern Auto-op, the Hydra was designed to support both security and mining Auto-Operators. The Hydra is able to explore at a higher speed and longer duration than the Wyvern, but its Cyclone Cannon is more suited to security than mining, so its utility to Cronus Frontier has been limited.
REAVER
ROLE: Unknown
ARMAMENT: M-Class Driller and Internal Explosives
THREAT LEVEL: Very High
DESCRIPTION: The Reaver’s design and production documentation is mostly redacted, and never specifies the Auto-Op’s intended purpose, but is definitely an evolution of the Golem design. The specified AI routines appear barely changed from the Golem’s with weapon firing and target-selection systems being modified, but the latter code is encrypted.
GORGON
ROLE: Security
ARMAMENT: Dual Plasma Core Blasters
THREAT LEVEL: Medium
DESCRIPTION: The first autonomous operator designed exclusively for security. It was mass produced by Juno Offworld Automation in 2111, with many Earth-Mars Belt corporations making large orders. Following the miner revolts of 2113, some of the Gorgons were re-purposed as mining auto-ops, while others still serve as security in less populated outposts.
GOBLIN
ROLE: Low-Yield Mining
ARMAMENT: Dual Smelting Blasters
THREAT LEVEL: Low
DESCRIPTION: For nearly two decades, the Goblin-class auto-op has served as the backbone of Juno Offworld’s mining operations in the asteroid belt. When Cronus Frontier was established, Kantor had the Goblin shipped to Titan in significant numbers. Though it can operate continuously for long periods, its smelting blasters tend to overheat if not maintained on a regular basis.
SHREDDER
ROLE: General Mining
ARMAMENT: Dual Mining Blades
THREAT LEVEL: High
DESCRIPTION: Materials and algorithmic advances allowed for more balance and power in blade-centric mining in 2116, leading to the development of the Shredder operator. It has proven to be a proficient mining auto-op, with the only drawbacks being the amount of debris and noise it generates, and the high cost of replacement blades.
IMPULSE
Primary
Energy Usage: Low
Description: High-efficiency dual-firing energy cannons
Upgrade: More damage
Super Upgrades:
(Q) Four shots at once and higher energy use
(RF) Higher rate of fire, faster shots, and lower energy use
FALCON
Secondary
Maximum Capacity: 20
Description: High-speed, dumbfire missile
Upgrade: More damage, larger explosion, and more ammo
Super Upgrades:
(MX) Higher damage, rate of fire, and speed
(T) Missiles track towards operators
DRILLER
Primary
Ammo Usage: 2
Description: High-velocity projectile cannon
Upgrade: Higher rate of fire
Super Upgrades:
(DX) Higher damage
(M) Smaller, faster firing shots with reduced ammo usage
MISSILE POD
Secondary
Maximum Capacity: 100
Description: Rapid-fire micro-missile
Upgrade: Pods track towards operators
Super Upgrades:
(XS) Higher damage and more ammo
(ST) Better tracking
CRUSHER
Primary
Ammo Usage: 6
Description: Multi-shelled projectile cannons
Upgrade: Reduced firing delay
Super Upgrades:
(DX) Higher damage
(AF) Automatic alternating fire
HUNTER
Secondary
Maximum Capacity: 16
Description: Dual-fire, target-tracking missile
Upgrade: Higher Damage
Super Upgrades:
(W) Fire three missiles at once
(ST) Better tracking, faster speed, and more ammo
FLAK
Primary
Ammo Usage: 1
Description: Rapid-fire, short-range explosive cannon
Upgrade: Higher rate of fire
Super Upgrades:
(DX) Higher damage
(VK) Increased rate of fire with longer shots
CREEPER
Secondary
Maximum Capacity: 48
Description: Self-guided mines
Upgrade: Longer time until detonation
Super Upgrades:
(XS) Higher damage and more ammo
(ST) Better tracking
CYCLONE
Primary
Energy Usage: Moderate
Description: Triple-firing energy blaster
Upgrade: Shots travel much farther
Super Upgrades:
(X4) Adds central shot
(F) Higher rate of fire with faster shots
DEVASTATOR
Secondary
Maximum Capacity: 4
Description: Multi-fragment, high explosive missile
Upgrade: Manual detonation
Super Upgrades:
(PT) Hull-piercing and faster speed; more ammo
(XS) Higher damage with more devastating explosion; more ammo
THUNDERBOLT
Primary
Energy Usage: Unknown; resemble those of the “Super” Auto-ops encountered on Titan
Description: Not listed in the Cronus Frontier database
Upgrade: Shots can pass thru operators and hit multiple targets
Super Upgrades:
(MX) Higher max power and charging rate; faster shots
(RT) Shots track towards operators
TIMEBOMB
Secondary
Maximum Capacity: 6
Description: Unknown
Upgrade: Stuns all nearby operators
Super Upgrades:
(LT) Longer stun and time distortion; more ammo
(XS) Faster and higher damage; more ammo
REFLEX
Primary
Energy Usage: Moderate
Description: Reflective plasma cannons
Upgrade: Shots redirect towards operators
Super Upgrades:
(RF) Higher rate of fire
(L) Shots fly farther; better tracking
NOVA
Secondary
Maximum Capacity: 6
Description: Dumbfire missile with plasma tracking
Upgrade: Higher damage; better tracking; faster
Super Upgrades:
(XB) Higher damage, more blobs, and more ammo
(CL) Higher damage, better tracking, and more ammo
