Experimental Tactical Humanoid

"The future of warfare."--The ETH's tagline
The Shade Dynamics Experimental Tactical Humanoid (ETH) is a combat-based line of robotic infantry units designed for usage during the Insurrection. Firing 12.7x99m NATO rounds from it's arm-mounted HLMG (Heavy LMG), the ETH is truly a devastating foe to encounter on the battlefield. Though being over a century old, the ETH is still used in place of the newer ATH (Advanced Tactical Humanoid) by rebel forces and local militia due to their reliability and expendability. 
== Development History ==
Shade Dynamics, well known for their Type-2 Dividing SMG and the Mobile Auto-Turret Unit, began manufacturing the ETH in the late 25th century, around the onset of insurrections on the Outer Colonies. Robotic infantry were not a new concept at the time of this, with some examples being two centuries old and still being used throughout the Inner and Outer colonies. The one thing that separated the ETH from a common FACU (Fully Automated Combat Unit) is it's arm-mounted HLMG. For centuries, most robotic units relied on standard infantry weapons (or, in the case of a few, energy weapons). This allowed the ETH to be more reliable than the FACU and cheaper to produce due to the need to not produce additional assault rifles, battle rifles, or any other weapon carried by human infantry.
The first prototype was ready by 2493 and was displayed at the Fiftieth Annual Luna Robotics Expo. Shade showed off it's high level of intelligence, it's ability to read environments and judge the best move to make in combat situations, and even count the amount of people in attendance and their range away from it. Truly one of the most advanced robotic infantry unit, the ETH was displayed on the covers of many robotics magazines, where it was dubbed the future of warfare. By 2499, six years after the prototype was displayed, the ETH was ready to be deployed for combat.
From here, the ETH would serve with the UNSC for over a century, fighting in many important engagements throughout the Insurrection and the Human-Covenant War. They became the universal symbol for the "advanced" soldier and the "perfect" warfighting machine. Unfortunately, their near--perfect record was tainted after several instances were obtained by the insurrectionist organization, the Red Hand, in 2599. They would be used to attack the trading city of Kirkland, Mars. This caused many controversies, as Shade had often stated that they were automatically programmed to serve the UNSC and engage any insurrectionist threats. Unfortunately, they were unable to get an answer as Shade Dynamics had been shut down twenty years ago after being bought out by the now defunct Standard Robotics. Despite this, they are still produced by Vesuvius Robotics, who claimed the rights to Shade's properties in an auction.
== Design ==
=== Artificial Intelligence ===
All ETHs are controlled by an extremely advanced AI that had great knowledge of warfare and countless strategic maneuvers, some being centuries old. The AI could also note the range, threat level, identity, and weapon of an individual when engaging in combat, allowing it to plan out it's tactics wisely. This combined with it's HLMG made it one of the most threatening foes that you would have to face in battle (except for the Covenant).
=== Armor ===
All ETHs are clad in heavy-duty, bulletproof armor made of titanium/aluminium laminate matrix, similar to a pelican dropship. This allows an ETH to stay active when constantly being attacked, allowing it to carry out it's mission.
=== Weapons ===
An ETH only carries one weapon, an arm-mounted HLMG. This is where the robot gets it's fame from and why it is so commonly used by Outer and Inner colonies. Firing 12.7x99m NATO, the HLMG shreds through both armor and walls alike. This guarantees that there is no way to face an ETH up-close.
=== Flaws ===
Though the ETH was paraded as the "greatest" robotic infantry unit to ever exist, it is in fact, quite flawed. The HLMG constantly either breaks or jams, forcing it to be replaced. Though Shade promised that the ETH is automatically programmed to serve the UNSC and can not be reprogrammed, this is false, as seen in the Kirkland Incident.
== Controversy ==
The claims of it being the future of warfare led many soldiers to being worried that they would be replaced by these robots. More controversy arose when heavily wounded soldier Brandon White received a brain transplant in 2532, allowing him to continue serving in the body of an ETH. Not many people took too kindly to this, especially his family members, but nothing was done in response but constant threats of lawsuits. These lawsuits never did come.