Canon

HRUNTING Mark III (B) Cyclops

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HRUNTING Mark III [B] Exoskeleton
A cropped screenshot of a HRUNTING Mark III (B) Cyclops.
Production information

Manufacturer:

Product line:

HRUNTING

Model:

Mark III [B]

Technical specifications

Width:

3.7 meters (11.7 feet)[1]

Height:

4.3 meters (14.2 feet)[1]

Maximum speed:

48 kilometers per hour (30 mph)[2]

Armament:

1 Anti-structure titanium-enriched jackhammer and piledriver; manipulator units (standard)

Crew:

One operator[1]

Usage

Year introduced:

2513

Role(s):

Military engineering vehicle, logistical support, structure demolition

Affiliation:

United Nations Space Command

 

"You sending a vehicle after me? Suckers."
— A Cyclops pilot during the Second Ark Conflict.[3]

The HRUNTING Mark III [B] Exoskeleton, also known as the Cyclops, is a bipedal powered exoskeleton used by the United Nations Space Command.[2] It was produced after Project: HRUNTING evaluated the then-defunct Mark III exoskeleton and made several of their own breakthroughs, which culminated in an entirely new variant of the exoskeleton, known as the HRUNTING Mark III [B].[1]

Overview[edit]

Development history[edit]

The original Mark III exoskeleton line was launched in 2510 but quickly became defunct, with the Office of Naval Intelligence scrapping their plans for the armour and focussing their efforts on the fledgling Project: MJOLNIR instead.[1]

However, in 2513, a Project: HRUNTING research team working at Weapons Research Facility T12A on Algolis[2] began an evaluation of the defunct Mark III sets and made many of their own development breakthroughs. These led to the creation of a revised variant, the HRUNTING Mark III [B], which was nicknamed the Cyclops. The Mark III [B] was intended to perform non-combat military roles such as construction, matériel transportation, terraforming, and dock work. The Cyclops eventually saw limited deployment as a logistical support unit with the Marine Corps. Operators were forced into combat on rare occasions, during which the Cyclops proved very effective as an ad hoc anti-matériel and anti-fortification platform.[1]

Numerous variants of the Cyclops have been designed since the introduction of the Mark III [B], including some versions that are armed and up-armored; others are marketed toward civilian agencies.[2] Following the development of the Cyclops the HRUNTING project was merged with the similarly oriented YGGDRASIL project, resulting in the creation of several exoskeletons and armor defense systems beginning with the Mark I Armor Defense System.[4]

Design[edit]

The Cyclops is a very large platform, standing 4.3 meters (14.1 feet) tall and 3.7 meters (12.1 feet) wide.[1] The operator is harnessed within a sealed cockpit that features a transparent canopy and a roll cage. In order to make controlling the Cyclops feel more natural the operator is encased in an internal active-impedance haptic interface exoskeleton that controls the movement of the vehicle itself and provides force feedback. As a result the Cyclops feels like an extension of the operator's body despite not being "worn" in the same sense as smaller powered exoskeletons such as MJOLNIR.[2]

The most prominent feature of the Cyclops is its two large arms, which feature powerful hand-like torque-amplification gauntlets. These manipulators can effortlessly crush a Sangheili's body and, with the assistance of a wrist-mounted pile driver, can shear large pieces from Wraith tanks and even citadels, the latter of which possess starship-grade armor plating. In keeping with its intended role as a support unit the Cyclops can use its manipulators and various arm-mounted tools to repair vehicles and structures. Due to the Cyclops' nimble design these repairs can be completed very quickly, even in the field.[5]

The Cyclops is surprisingly lightweight for its size thanks to the advanced materials created by the engineers and scientists on Algolis.[2] It is also quite agile, capable of outpacing even SPARTAN-IIs at a speed of just over 48 kilometers per hour (30 mph).[2] Hydraulic-buffered shocks in the exoskeleton's feet ensure that rough terrain does not hinder the mobility of the Cyclops and allow it to jump short distances.[5] Like the original Mark III exoskeleton the Cyclops features an externally mounted fusion reactor as its power supply,[5] though the unofficial Mark III [B-II] variant often replaces the standard reactor with an alternate power source.[2]

Models[edit]

The Cyclops' ease of use and load carrying capacity have led to the creation of numerous iterations of it as of 2558:

Major variants[edit]

  • Mark III [B]: This is the initial, unarmed production variant used for structural demolition[2] and logistical support.[1]
  • Mark III [B-II]: An unofficially designed variant of the [B] model, this exoskeleton features redesigned feet and a more robust, sealed cockpit. Many are equipped with alternate power-packs that replace the expensive fusion generator with hydrogen-burning turbines or high-density power cells.[2]
  • Mark III [B1]: An upgrade to the [B] model, this variant is produced by Hannibal Weapon Systems. It features composite armor plating and hardpoints for weapon installation. This model is popular with paramilitary security forces on the cities of Earth.[2] It can be equipped with a missile pod.[6]
  • Mark III [B1] with arm mounted missile pod.
    Mark III [B1] with arm mounted missile pod.
  • Mark III [M1]: Produced by Lethbridge Industrial, this variant is armed and are used as multi-purpose assault platforms with heavy weapon hardpoints installed on the "shoulders". They are protected by Titanium-A armor plating. This variant is currently undergoing field trials with the UNSC Army.