HISP

Hexapedal Infantry Support Platform. A small-ish, meter-or-so wide and long mech, around half a meter tall with six legs and often a weapon on its back. Very remiscent of the Boston Dynamics dog, and even utilizing similar technology, though vastly improved of course. Used for infantry support, being capable of carrying heavy weapons and ammunition inconvenient for a normal infantryman, while still being more compact than, say, a HAST suit.

Uses

Infantry support. The two most common roles for a HISP are fire support and ammunition carrying. It has on board a simple AI system capable of agency when executing orders. The fire support role often consists of being used as a heavy weapons platform, whether engaging single targets, providing supporting fire or supressing fire, the platform is very versatile. When carrying ammo, the already large ammunition storage on the mech is expanded, and a automatic reload function is often also common. These carry ammo and often other supplies with them.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The core is a skeleton of mostly graphene and plastic, but with steel reinforcements. There's a small fusion reactor in the center of the mech, and under it is the ammunition storage, which can carry quite a bit. The legs use older designs of motor-based limbs, and the entire mech has thin plates of Carbon-Interlaced Aluminium Alloy covering it. There is often a hardpoint on the top, which can have a weapon attached. Common weapons include anti-armour railguns, rapid-fire dual coilguns, and even plasma weapons.

History

While the framework for such mechs has been around for a long while, it was only in the 2600s that a good balance between armour, ammunition capacity, AI, and mobility was achieved. From there, it took a while for militaries to adopt the mech, but nowadays they are quite common in the core regions, though far from ubiqitous.

Item type

Weapon, Ranged

Rarity

Mostly used near the Core Worlds, the mech has spread in use to around 70 or so lightyears from Earth. They're mostly used in heavy weapons teams, though they do see use as ammo carriers and resuppliers in other units as well.

Dimensions

100x100x50~60cm