HRUNTING Mark III (B) Exoskeleton

The HRUNTING Mark III [B] Exoskeleton, also known as Cyclops, is a bipedal exoskeleton used by the UNSC Marine Corps during the early years of the Human-Covenant war. Based on Mark III Exoskeletons, the B variant was built for primarily non-combat military roles but has found uses in other, more unorthodox ways.
==Overview==
After initially launching the Mark III line of exoskeletons in 2510, the Office of Naval Intelligence eventually scrapped plans for the armor and turned their efforts towards Project MJOLNIR. However, in 2513 the research team working at Weapons Research Facility T12A on Algolis, working on a separate project known as HRUNTING, evaluated the Mark III units and created the improved [B] variant called "Cyclops."
These one-man operated power suits, running off of a nuclear energy supply, could operate for long periods doing menial tasks such as construction, transportation, terraforming and dock work. However, Cyclopes have been fielded in combat situations repairing damaged vehicles and, even more rarely, engaging in the destruction of enemy materiel and fortifications.
Cyclopes served aboard the UNSC Spirit of Fire in 2531 and took part in engagements with the Covenant on multiple worlds. Parts of the Cyclops' technology would also be used by the Algolis group in the creation of a more advanced prototype armor known as HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL.
==Variants==
===Major Variants===
*Mark III [A]: The initial prototype that used neural interface controls instead of the active-impedance haptic interface exoskeleton used in later models.
*Mark III [B]: Unarmed production model.
*Mark III [B-II]: An unofficial designation for models which have redesigned feet and a more robust, sealed cockpits. Sometimes the power generator is replaced with hydrogen-burning turbines or high-density power cells.
*Mark III [B1]: An upgraded version created by Hannibal Weapon Systems. It has composite armor plating and weapon hardpoints for potential weapon installation. Paramilitary security forces in many Earth cities found these to be good choices.
*Mark III [M1]: An armed variant produced by Lethbridge Industrial and going through field trials with the UNSC Army. Has hardpoints on its shoulder for heavy weapons and Titanium-A plating.
===Minor Variants===
*Peacekeeper: A Mark III [A1] variant used by police SWAT teams on Earth. Usually comes equipped with a riot shield and an autocannon that can fire numerous types of riot-control munitions. Most were destroyed after being placed in active combat duty.
*Protector: These units are usually older B-II models. Used by firefighters and medical services to deal with situations where larger vehicles wouldn't fit but the serviceman could risk injury. One of these units usually has a large container for fire retardant foam, a high pressure projector, and a high-torque gripping arm used to sift through vehicle wreckage and break through Arcology walls if need be.
*Breaker: These vacuum sealed units are used for shipbreaking and construction. They can come equipped with plasma cutters, hydraulic rams, or assorted cutting blades. They are currently used to take apart ship hulks and stations in orbit around Earth or excavating building on glassed colonies.
*Hazops: Equipped with biolab-grade environmental sealing and a flamethrower, these units are assigned to Spartan assessment and containment teams investigating Forerunner sites with possible Flood samples. These suits are typically destroyed after being deployed because of difficulties in properly cleaning one of these units of all traces of flood.
==Gameplay==
===Development===
Originally, Ensemble had designed the unit as a canon-accurate MJOLNIR Mark I suit, but deemed it too visually similar to the Spartans to easily distinguish at a glance, something that is very important in a heated battlefield. The Cyclops was therefore rebuilt from the ground-up as a unique unit, both larger and bulkier than the MJOLNIR Mark IV the Spartans wear. During at least one point in development the Cyclops lacked the reflective visor, instead having only a bare crash cage over the wearer.1up.com - 10 Things You Didn't Know About Halo Wars
Part of the fanbase reacted poorly to the Cyclops; enough to garner a response from the development team.Halowars.com - Halo Wars Monthly Update 06.20.08
The Halo Wars Cyclops is based on the Cyclops unit from Ensemble Studios game Age of Mythology, an actual Cyclops, which was similarly a large unit that dealt heavy melee damage. Even their alternate attacks are similar - when its bar has charged, the AoM Cyclops will lift a nearby infantry unit and hurl it at the enemy forces for additional damage. Pressing Y on the Halo Wars Cyclops will allow it to tear a vehicle apart, and hurl the chunks at enemy forces in a similar manner.List of units in the Age of Mythology series
===Combat===
In combat, the Cyclops inflicts heavy melee damage, using its powerful arms, once used to carry heavy machinery and equipment, to deal devastating blows against enemy units and structures. It also possesses the ability to tear apart a destroyed vehicle and throw the pieces further at any other unit, including air units which they have no other offensive option on. If upgraded, the Cyclops can repair nearby vehicles and buildings. It costs 125 resource units and a tech level of one. Takes up one population cap. Has two upgrades:
*"Repair Kit," which allows the Cyclops to repair buildings and mechanized units. The upgrade costs 400 resource units and requires a tech level of two.
*"High-Torque Joint" which improves its movement speed. The upgrade costs 900 resource units and requires a tech level of three.Xbox.com - Halo Wars Guide
Although the Cyclops has heavy melee damage, when faced against multiple infantry squads it is weak, so it is advised that you back up the Cyclops with Warthogs and/or Marines. Unless it is holding an object it can throw, it is completely useless against air units, such as Banshees. Note that the Cyclops does heal buildings and vehicles, but it cannot heal infantry and airborne units. It also plays a significant role in the twelfth campaign mission of Halo Wars because they are the only units that can repair the power core of the UNSC Spirit of Fire.
The Cyclops is available only if Sergeant John Forge is the leader.
==Trivia==
thumb|The back of the Cyclops exoskeleton.
*To date, the Cyclops is, along with the Gremlin, the only UNSC ground vehicle named after a mythological creature, unlike other vehicles which are usually named after real animals. Its classification, "Hrunting," is the name of a sword, like the Longsword or Sabre.
*When used against infantry, the Cyclops will do "finishing moves" against weakened squads, such as breaking their necks or throwing them.
*If the Y ability is used on an infantry unit and deals enough damage to kill a member, it will pick it up and throw it.
*A Cyclops can repair Covenant vehicles in addition to UNSC, as long as they are on the same team.
*The back of the Cyclops has a glitch where the player can see right through it.
*The Cyclops was a one-eyed giant in Greek mythology. 
*The Amp Suits seen in the hit sci-fi film Avatar resemble the Cyclops.
*The Cyclops also resembles the SCV from the StarCraft series . Both are mechanized suits designed for construction which have been forced into combat situations. The only differences being that the SCV is faster due to thrusters built into the suit, and isn't anywhere near as effective in combat.
*During the end of the movie Aliens, the protagonist used a very similiar exoskeleton.This exoskeleton was also used for lifting, but reused for combat.
*The Cyclops follows the sci-fi tradition of an exo-suit designed for manual labor being adapted for combat situations.
==Gallery==
Cyclops-development.jpg|A development image of the Cyclops.
Cyclops-1-.jpg|The final in-game model Cyclops
IMG 0754-1-.jpg|Cyclops with operator visible.
UNSC_Cyclops.sized.jpg
HW2 Blitz Cyclops.png|Blitz artwork of the Cyclops
HW2 Blitz Reactive Cyclops.png|Blitz artwork of the Reactive Cyclops
HW2 Blitz Veteran Cyclops.png|Blitz artwork of the Veteran Cyclops
==Appearances==
*Halo Wars 
*Halo: The Thursday War 
*Halo Wars 2
==See also==
*HRUNTING Mark II (D) Exoskeleton
*HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark I Prototype Armor
*HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Armor Defense System
==Sources==
it:Cyclops
Category:Human Vehicles