GLM GIQ-20

==History==
In late 2018, Albrecht Ryman of Rycorp approached the American Coalition Armed Forces in the hopes of selling Rybots to the North American power. A meeting was later arranged between the Rymen and Captain Rebecca Waters of the AmC's Army Procurement Division, which resulted in an agreement for procurement of a limited 50 unit test group in October. By December, however, initial performance tests had shown mixed results, primarily regarding the RyAI controlling the Rybots. The APD was nonetheless aware of the Rybot's potential effectiveness, given their performance under the control of a highly hostile and competent artificial intelligence during the 2018 Halloween Massacre, and interest in the product remained enough for the initial deal of ten thousand Rybots to follow through.
The AmC-spec Rybots, bereft of their standard Osmium armor and weapons, largely remained in ready-reserve status, with a few at a time undergoing periodic performance tests. Various departments of the AmC military, including the Department of Asymmetric Warfare, had expressed interest or at least curiosity in the viability of autonomous combat drones on the battlefield.
In 2019, the formation of the European Federation saw pressure introduced from the Coalition Strategic Advisory Committee to reduce reliance on European technology and equipment. Although Rycorp was technically established in what was now a no-man's-land, Ryman's prominent German accent proved convincing enough, and a program was launched to produce a comparable replacement, using the original Rybot as a benchmark. Great Lakes Manufacturing was contracted to design and produce what would eventually become known as the GIQ-20 humanoid combat drone, designated internally as the GLM-TF01. Einsoft, a prominent software corporation within the AmC, developed Solenopsis, a simulated intelligence system allowing the robot to retain basic autonomy and combat aptitude. The deployment of Solenopsis proved highly successful likely due to the absence of infernal influence despite being a "blank sheet" design.
Formally adopted in mid 2020, the "Raptor", as it has come to be known as, continues to undergo testing and evaluation, but has already been accepted to supplement reservist units and certain high-security areas.
==Design==
Raptors are designed with a humanoid shape. This allows them to blend in with regular humans given sufficient covering, despite their height, as well as allowing them to make use of the same standard equipment issued to most soldiers. The production model features shaped boron carbide plating, reinforcing their humanoid appearance without reducing their durability. Raptors can be given a number of different colorations, but the standard factory model is produced with a greyish-black color, with light grey markings on the face, shoulders, forearms and calves, which identify the machine's vital areas. The plating covers layers of gel-filled imitation-muscle pneumatics, which allows the machine to move with fluidity in addition to providing extreme hydraulic strength.
The wedge-shaped head casing of the Raptor plays a large role in the machine’s nickname. They are capable of producing clipped, sample-generated human speech and can understand spoken commands quite well thanks to their sensitive aural sensors and their advanced SIS. As they do not possess true self-awareness, conversation topics are limited to patrol reports and status updates. Technically, Raptors can even speak to one another, though this is extremely uncommon, as the preferred method of communication between GIQ units is entirely wireless. Should electrical interference cause wireless communication to become unreliable, Raptors will instead utilize verbal codebursts issued at frequencies too high or low for a human to perceive. Should even that fail, Raptors are still capable of communicating via flashing lights and even subtle gestures.
==Variants==
===GIQ-20A1 Rifleman===
The standard model of Raptor and the one most commonly fielded, the GIQ-20A1 is the “rifleman” variant, though a benefit of their humanoid design is the ability to utilize and human-use weapon, resulting in “rifleman” models also occasionally being outfitted with shotguns, submachine guns, light machine guns and anti-tank weapons as the situation demands. The A1 variant also features a "flip-up" clamp behind the right shoulder that accepts a Mk 153 SMAW anti-fortification launcher. The clamp is also compatible with the US Army-developed M141 SMAW-D disposable launcher, should the Mk153 be unavailable or insufficient for the assigned mission. Other compatible weapon options include the FIM-92 Stinger and M252 81mm mortar. Rather famously, the Raptor Rifleman can also utilize the AGR-20A Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System to fire a single modified Hydra 70 rocket. Alternatively, the entire arm can be replaced to mount a LAND-LGR4 rocket pod containing four rockets. These munitions are laser-guided using a simple designator that can be attatched to the head case.
===GIQ-20A2 Fire Support===
A variant distinguished by redesigned sensors and strengthened arms and legs, the Fire Support model is intended to take advantage of the inherent benefits of a mechanical body to deploy heavy weapons onto the battlefield. These weapons can take the form of an M230 chain gun, M195 cannon, and similar weapons. The most common weapon system employed by the Fire Support model is the LAND-LGR23 rocket pod, containing 23 laser-guided Hydra 70 rockets. 
Due to a substantial increase in per-unit cost, GIQ-20A2s are thinly spread throughout the Raptor’s overall number. Due to the weight of the primary weapon and requisite ammunition, GIQ-20A2 carry no other weapons or supplies on them.
===GIQ-20A3 Support Carrier===
A squad support variant designed to carry additional unmanned vehicles on it’s back. The GIQ-20A3 features an additional battery pack dedicated to servicing attached UGVs or UAVs, most commonly an RQ-11 Raven, ANDROS bomb disposal robot, or Switchblade loitering munition . GIQ-20A3 also possess a limited ability to perform field repairs on other Raptors using a small selection of spare parts contained in the carry pack.
===GIQ-20A4 Commander===
Featuring a smaller head unit with a distinctive "horn" aerial and markings, the commander variant acts in a role analogous to a squad sergeant, commanding and controlling the squad’s actions. As the other Raptor SIS are slaved to the commander model's, the squad as a whole is a literal extension of the command unit, allowing for a level of coordination between individual units limited only by the sophistication of the SIS driving the command platform. This is made possible through the GIQ-20A4's role as a nexus for the inter-squad Simulated Intelligence Network.
Among other modifications, the A4 lacks the over-the-shoulder launcher of the A1, instead adding a second T-17 taserblade to the right forearm.
===E1 Series===
GIQ-20 variants with the E1 designation are Raptors fitted with anuetronic fusion reactors taken from their Rybot predecessors. As the internal workings of the AF reactors remain proprietary of Rycorp, the AmC currently has no way of producing more of them, necessitating that the reactors be transferred wholesale. The older reactors provide a much greater operational range than the LMO PCS produced by the AmC, though there are doubts that Solenopsis is currently advanced enough to long term operations independent of human control.
===GIQ-20A4E2===
In a similar vein to second-generation tactical dolls, this Raptor variant carries an encephalon module, allowing it to host an AI, which then can allow it to control a whole squad of Raptors.
Category:PACYOA: TE
Category:TE Technology
Category:American Coalition
Category:Drones