Chelae (Weapon)

Chelae Claws are melee combat gloves whose focus is to dismember or take out chunks of the adversary.

## Usage

In combat situations, a set claw are used as both a shock and psychological weapon. A crippled screaming enemy that can no longer use weapons will make most enemies think twice of continuing the fight.

### Mechanics

The glove is composed of the two large claws that in resting position are closed and the bracer is a simple system of spring mechanisms destined to retract and keep the claws in an open position.

The claws work by releasing stored energy at the push of a trigger, prompting the claws to snap shut, dealing grievous damage to the target.

Usually a pincered limb will be crippled, with a chance of dismemberment. The chance to dismember goes down the more armored the target is, but will deal non negligible damage to armor as well.

The claws are single use by default, with some more advanced models needing to be reset using a winding stem.

## Modes

Several variants of Chelae systems exist. They mostly differ in how the system is reset for use, some requiring mechanical assistance, others using the user's brute strength.

### Windup system

The mechanism can be reset by the user's own strength, but this is rarely a good option until the user is decently strong. Using a winding stem, the claw can be reset for use. The process is quite long however, with novice users taking up to 45 seconds to rewind, but with training can be reduced to 20 seconds. Also, winding speed is determined by the users strength.

### Contact shuttering

The default single use mode where the claw snaps shut when contact is made with the adversary. Work using a hair triggered claw mechanism that activates when contact is made with the claw, inspired by dionaea muscipula plants. This mode is essentially a single punch that can dismember a target.

### Nipping

Decreases strength requirements and disables dismemberment options, in order for the claw to be easier to use and reset. Nipping is the preferred mode for inexperienced users.

## Techniques

Chelae are extraordinary psychological weapons, the ability to dismember, behead and cripple enemies is a net advantage to any combat situation, and remains a game changer for most unarmed or melee focused combatants.

### Clarke Method

An animation where the user will dismember the target.

### Forceful reset

Not a variant, but sufficiently strong users can bypass using the winding stem by forcing the mechanism open for reuse. This however heavily damages the claw.

#### Crushing morale

An action where the user grabs an enemy by the head and crushes it, dealing massive psychological effects to other nearby entities (both friendly or unfriendly).

## Bracer Models

Chelae bracers are where the mechanisms are placed, leading to some unique models

### Suchus

The suchus variant captures the targets limb and spins around rapidly in order to break off or cripple the limb. This variant is only attached to large vehicles such as walkers or exo armor due to the forces generated by the spin function.

### Jaws of life

The jaw of life model allows the ability to wedge/break open a door using the Chelae. The jaws of life is considerably slower in application, but exerts far more pressure than other models.

## Claw models

Claw models are adaptable to the enemy, with some claws being used for special tasks.

### Eagle claw

80 KSC Usually reserved for capturing limbs rather than damaging or cutting.

### Lion jaw

130 KSC, these claws are very large to account for maned or thick haired targets.

### Shark Maw

800 KSC standard claw for crippling limbs with chances of dismemberment.

### Tyrannosaurus

1600 KSC most powerful claws made purely for dismemberment.