Soft Target Acquisition Control Kit
The Soft Target Acquisition Control Kit (also known as STACK) is a module for Stormer Tactical Zeoforms that adapts the firing patterns of heavier weapons to better engage smaller, organic targets. Its development was initiated by multiple GuardCorps studies revealing that two staple Stormer weapons, the Gulo and Claviger rifles, had difficulty reliably striking enemy support troops at medium and long ranges even when the rifles utilized their Seeker rounds.
The STACK relies on semi-conscious mental input from the pilot to calculate firing solutions based on the target’s movement patterns. In essence, the pilot’s brain shares the load of predicting the target’s speed and positioning with the STACK targeting system, enabling the pilot to aim in the general vicinity of the target(s) and allowing the module to control the zeo’s actual manipulation and firing of the weapon.
A zeo pilot can configure the STACK to suppress large groups of enemies (while sacrificing lethality and accuracy) or retain a lock on individual targets even amidst groups of enemies. Most commonly, pilots use the STACK to focus on specific, high-value support targets, such as engineers, snipers, or officers.
The use of STACK has proven controversial in urban pacification scenarios, where GuardCorps spokespeople claim that it allows pilots to target only hostile or armed members of civilian gatherings, such as protests or riots. According to multiple media outlets, however, the use of the STACK has merely provided a convincing cover story to justify the practice of indiscriminate fire on civilians.
