Titanframe
The demigods that would rule the world
From the fallen angel's body, she carved ten perfect spheres of varying size, and set about her work. The first, the Lemniscate, she used to temper the rest. Of the ten, three she set aside, and bound together in perfect harmony. The others she kept distant, but not separate. There was the toughest, Armis, which could shield a whole city with the strength of its resonance. There was the fastest, Feminam, which could react to any event without hesitation. There was the cleverest, Maxilla, which could always outwit the moves of any opponent. Finally, there was fiercest, Pugna, which could outlast any foe on sheer willpower alone. The others would come later - Cargo, Malleus, Bestia, and Colossus III. These were only the first, only the beginning. These were the demigods that would rule the world. - The Annals of Catalyst II (Revised)
Summary
Contained within the Etagard timeline are a kind of variant of the strider unit, called Titanframes, which were constructed over the course of over a hundred years by Paradise United. Though similar to biomechs and beast striders, Titanframes are made distinct by their power core, and what it allows them to do. They are also incredibly large, much larger than any strider unit in any of the known timelines. Unlike biomechs and beast striders, they are incapable of being autonomous by design, however they have a much more stable and independent "mind".Every One Unique
There are eight titanframes, all unified by their Geometrid Core, but made separate by design and intention. The first Titanframes to be constructed were Pugna, Armis, and Feminam, built together to serve as a team with all its bases covered. Pugna's raw power served as an unstoppable offense, Armis' impenetrable gave the team an impervious defense, and Feminam's speed and agility lent them the edge to achieve victory. Though followed by more complex designs, they remained a cornerstone of the eight, able to engage in nearly every situation, to cover each other's weaknesses when necessary, and to dominate no matter the cost. Maxilla, Cargo, and Malleus were to follow the completion of Feminam, specialized units with vastly different functions from the first three, and between each other. Maxilla's strength lay in its crushing jaws, Cargo served as a support unit for the rest, while Malleus wielded pure geometrite as a form of offense and defense. Their addition to the ranks of the other titanframes further strengthened Paradise United's growing military body. The last two titanframes, Bestia and Colossus III, would not see completion until many years later, with Colossus III taking just over a century to be completed. With designs bigger and more complex than any other titanframe, they could overwhelm their foes in more ways than one. Bestia's terrifying and uncanny appearance, paired with an adaptability function, made any enemy that remained to face it regret the choice quickly. Colossus III, a massive behemoth towering over entire cities, could annihilate whole armies in a single attack.Power Generation
Titanframes are set apart from other Strider Units by their Core, a Geometrid created by resonance tuning. Each Titanframe has a unique geometrid crafted specifically to accentuate or enable the Titanframe's special abilities. These geometrids act like any other Geometrite core, powering all other auxiliary units and electronic functions.
Though a limitless source of power, they do have a maximum capacity to how much energy they can output at any given time before they being depleting their actual mass. The bigger the geometrid, the higher the capacity, and therefore the greater the energy output. The geometrid's housing regulates this output, maintaining it at safe levels, and refining the raw power into the myriad specializations found among the Titanframes.
Propulsion
All eight Titanframes are capable of bipedal movement, but a few can move on all fours. Cargo was uniquely designed with a quadruped gait in mind, and can only move on two legs for very short distances. Maxilla runs faster on all fours, with a gate similar to an ape. In contrast to all the other titanframes, Colossus III is not primarily intended to move much, but its legs are still functional. Bestia, similarly to Maxilla, is able to move on all fours with a simian posture.
Levitation is a mode of locomotion specific only to the [Pugna-Lemniscate, and is enabled by integration of the Lemniscate. The combined mass of Pugna and the Lemniscate creates a geometrid with levitation capabilities strong enough to lift the Titanframe's internal structure and biomass. However, when using this ability, the pilot loses control over the Titanframe, and cannot dictate where it goes or what it does.
Weapons & Armament
Of the eight Titanframes, only four exhibit innate combat abilities: Pugna, Bestia, Maxilla, and Malleus. While Feminam, Armis, and Colossus III are capable of attack, they are not outfitted with any innate combat powers, and though Armis and Feminam can use their energy shields offensively, it is not the intended function. Cargo has no offensive or defensive abilities at all.
A pair of knuckle dusters, reinforced with geometrite, and capable of delivering a potent punch of electricity into a target.
The geometrite reinforcement can be shaped into an arrangement of deadly spines, capable of puncturing almost anything.
Armis:
An automatic rifle with medium range, meant to offset its lack of long-range fighting capability.
Fires energy bolts, making its ammunition infinite and negating a need to reload.
Energy is funneled directly from the geometrid core itself.
Feminam:
A single straight dagger, reinforced with geometrite; it can be thrown, and then returned to the hand through the will of the pilot.
If desired, the dagger can be split multiple smaller knives, even more suitable for throwing.
bound to a cuff/bracelet, which the dagger(s) are calibrated to return to.
Maxilla:
To be determined
Cargo:
The supply platform on Cargo's back can be switched out for mounted artillery; possesses the greatest range of all the signature weapons.
An arrangement of cannons can also be mounted on the platform for closer range combat.
The cannons and artillery must be operated by a team separate from the pilot, making Cargo the only Titanframe that is not self sufficient.
Innate Powers
The four Titanframes with built-in combat abilities are quite distinct from one another. Pugna, the poster child of the combat-oriented Titanframes, has a simple but effective kit. Using power from its geometrid core, it adds additional kinetic force to its strikes. Punches, kicks, and even body slams hit that much harder when using this power. Maxilla's power is in its bite force; its jaws are reinforced with pure geometrite, enabling it to crush almost anything at all. Only Armis' geometrite armor, enhanced by energy shielding, is immune; even Feminam's energy sheath armor is no match for Maxilla's teeth. The armaments of Malleus are quite complex, as this Titanframe can shape and wield geometrite in any form at will. Be it conjuring an eruption of deadly spires, or summoning the iconic hammer weapon that gives this Titanframe its name, Malleus has a flexible arsenal at its command. Similarly, Bestia's combat abilities are adaptable, and in fact adaptation is at the center of the Titanframe's technique. With a flexible skeleton, and flesh that mutates into teeth and claws, Bestia only becomes more lethal the longer a fight draws on.Custom Weaponry
Seven of the eight Titanframes possess signature weapons, crafted with each Titanframe's specialty in mind. With the exception of Colossus III, the Titanframes wield custom, adaptable weapons, called [insert technology name here]; these range from melee and close-quarter firearms, such as a blade or shotgun, to rifles and long-range weapons, including a sniper and a mounted artillery. Pugna:Armor and defense
When it comes to defense, the Titanframe Armis does it best, but all of the Titanframes possess at least a basic means of defense. Cargo is by far the weakest and most fragile, sacrificing both offensive and defensive assets in favor of utility and speed. Second only to Armis, Feminam's energy armor sheaths are extremely effective at negating damage, and it does so without adding cumbersome weight to the body.
Aside from specialized defensive assets like the ones Armis and Feminam sport, all Titanframes are outfitted with basic armor plating across vital regions of the body - mainly, the housing for the geometrid core. They can also regenerate injured flesh quite rapidly, but damage to the metal plating must be repaired outside of combat.
Communication Tools & Systems
Like all other units, Titanframes use radio frequencies to communicate, boosted by their geometrid cores to reach farther distances. However, they also possess a means of communication unique to Titanframe pilots, using the geometrids' ability to reach out to fellow resonant entities. They can also pass on complex information such as intact memories through direct physical contact with another Titanframe or other resonant entity, such as a human person.
Sensors
Due to their nature as a fusion of machine and biology, Titanframes boast a variety of sensory equipment and innate senses. From the five senses of a human, to the bizarre senses of a geometrid, there is very little a Titanframe can not pick up on.
Vision
Titanframes are not outfitted with optical units like other striders, and instead use highly sophisticated biological eyes set behind protective glass housing.Hearing
In addition to the standard range of a human, Titanframes are also equipped with microphones capable of picking up higher and lower frequencies than can be detected by the ear.Touch
Though Titanframes have far fewer nerve endings in their bodies compared to a human, they are still able to basically feel pressure and some textures, so long as they are not subtle.Scent
Less about aromas and more about discerning the meaning, origin, and makeup of particles in the air.Taste
There are no sensors built into the Titanframes to detect taste, but pilots have described tasting blood in some instances; these anecdotes are largely written off as a placebo effect.Additional & auxiliary systems
Of all the Titanframes, only Cargo possesses the ability to transport multiple individuals as well as supplies, thus giving the Titanframe its name. Its quadruped stance allows it to be loaded with crates and large containers, fitted with a cabin to accommodate passengers, or even saddled with heavy weaponry. This makes Cargo more akin to a standard strider unit, only differentiated by its geometrid core.
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