Hammond Robotics
Mastodon Heavy Walker Mark 3 Prototype
"Somebody call big guns" - 'Mastadon commander Bismark Alton, first field test of Mark 3'
The Mastodon Heavy Walker Mark 3, is a prototype heavy walker to be next in the venerable line of Mastodon heavy Walkers. Better quality armor than the Mark 2, along with being thicker, it's further added on with Adaptive armor systems first used in military units by the Steel Talons. This variation of the Adaptive Armor system had been further upgrade providing more protection against gunfire, this new variation is not in active service due to a major reduction in speed compared to the standard Adaptive Armor of Mammoth tanks. Currently, this Adaptive Armor system called, Mastodon Armor is being worked on to help make it where it has a reasonable speed while keeping high amounts of armor, most techs believe with current systems works best.
It is armed with 2 side-mounted twin rapid-fire Coil-Cannons, retaining a high rate of fire and damage, but can be overclocked to increase fire rat by a large amount, but causing heat sinks to reach critical heat after 30 seconds of sustained Overcharge, needed to cool down. Along with this 2 heavy rocket launchers, and 1 heavy barrage rocket system, being able to fire lockdown missiles, guided missiles, and other munitions. This barrage installation can be changed to a heavy drone deployment platform (HDDP), able to construct drones in large quantities and launch them out along rail launchers decreasing deployment time. Along Walker's chin, and rear is a heavy coilgun, with fast firing speed able to tear through infantry and light vehicles, and do a good amount of damage to medium vehicles. As well it was standard built-in repair drone deployment facilities, it cannot build as many drones nor as fast as the HDDP still produces high amounts of repair drones to repair it and other friendly units in the vicinity.
The HDDP can deploy a large variety of drones, most of GDI's light droned and medium drones. It can deploy repair drones, alongside heavy repair droned able to build most structures given enough time. It then can build point defense drones, using advanced laser systems to intercept munitions, protect the mark 3 and units in the vicinity. It can as well deploy swarm drones, in groups of 12, equipped with lasers, they are effective at hunting infantry. HK drones are heavily armed drones equipped with missiles, and rapid fore coilguns, with decent armor, coming multiple variations due to focus on modularity. There multiple other drones it can deploy with more being designed by R&D.
Alongside improvements to armor, and increased variety of weapons is general improvements to the chaise design and engineering. It is a far more advanced chassis than Mark 2, to allow for mounting of weapons and fitting new systems, as well as future-proofing design. The legs have been augmented with better motor systems, able to carry its colossal weight, and if the armor was as thick as Mark 2 it would be as fast. As well most systems are designed to be modular, for more future-proofing and allow commanders more adaptive use of Mastodons. They can be fitted in larger-scale construction facilities easily, and fitted for most forms of operations, to better adapt to the environment. A few examples would be giving Mastodon more support abilities to better serve as a vanguard, or outfitting it with more missiles to turn it into a long-range bombardment walker, and other configurations.
Current issues with design are the heavy decrease in speed due to adaptive armor compared to the Mark 2, making it a sitting duck for air fire without proper protection. While Anti-air abilities can be added with missiles be effective, still can be overwhelmed by larger amounts of bomber or gunships. Another issue would be heating issues from the sustained fire of heavy Coil-cannons, when paired with overdrive, leading to damage to sinks and craft if not used constantly. One more major worries of engineers are that enemy forces would focus fire on Heavy Coil-cannons or joints of legs knocking out its primary weapon or making it immobile. The last problem would be its cost, being far more expensive to build, and the time it would take to build on-field, requiring advanced construction facilities.
Even with these issues, it is far better suited for heavier battles than its older breathe mark 2's. Able to repair itself with its drone giving it far more survivability, and units it is supporting, and modularity giving far more adaptability. it can easily push through the thickest defenses, set up a foothold, and allow for reinforces to arrive and continue its push until the enemy is conquered. Mastodon Mark 3 is a walker that can change the tide of a battle, a group can change the outcome of a campaign, when put in hands of a capable commander, can change a war.
