Mender

## Mender (Lagur)

A rare form of Invid, the **Mender** (**Lagur**) is a dedicated field support, combat engineer and medic mecha.

## Background

The most commonly recognised Invid tactics are those that are focused on swarming their enemies with superior numbers of smaller Mecha. The Scout and its derivatives are the most infamous examples of these in action, with flights of the Mecha descending on their enemies with no regard for their own lives and usually fighting until either they or their opponents are destroyed. These tactics are repeated on every level from small skirmishes all the way up to naval engagements where swarms of Scouts would ram spacecraft in an effort to overwhelm their defences and bring them down. Similar tactics were also often used by the heavier Trooper series of mecha. Furthermore, due to their design, the destruction of an Invid Mecha would almost always result in the death of the pilot; if not due to immediate loss, then due to their dependence on their life-support systems.

Based on this, the existence of the Mender, a dedicated field support and medic mecha, would seem to be at first contradictory. The Mender is designed to fulfil two basic purposes. The first is to treat wounded Invid in the field, both through tending to the injuries of the pilot while also sealing holes in their Mecha to ensure the stability of their life support systems. The second is to help recover damaged but still viable Mecha, specifically those who's pilots are still alive and can be treated. Unlike other Invid, however, the Mender is not designed to directly engaged in combat and has next to no offensive capabilities.

As with most things related to the Invid, the rationale behind the Mender's existence can only be guessed at, but two theories are most likely. The first is that, despite their penchant for suicide tactics, the Invid are still a collective hivemind, linked to a single queen. The death of any Invid, no matter how minor, still diminishes the whole. As such, the Mender is there to help preserve life where possible, and to ensure that losses are kept to what is needed. A swarm of Scouts may kill themselves to destroy an enemy, but the survivors can be preserved and the injured recovered to allow the Invid as a whole to persevere.

The second theory becomes especially noteworthy based on what we now know of the Invid's plans for Earth. Within the seemingly endless swarms of the Invid, there are those rare, free-thinking individuals, the Keeper Caste, who are inherently more valuable to the Invid as a whole than those of the lower castes. Likewise, the Royalty caste, while only created on Earth, is even rarer while possessing even greater free will. The Mender may exist to help protect these rare and valuable Invid types to ensure that they can survive and continue to lead the Invid towards their ultimate goals.

Regardless of the reasoning behind its existence, the Mender is a rare sight within Invid ranks. The first service entry of the type is unknown, and it is unclear if it was used by the Regent's forces. The Mecha was rarely seen in action on Earth during the occupation, with its deployment being more confined to post-battle cleanup and recovery actions. Most of the time, Menders would be kept within Hives and only fielded as needed to fulfil their duties. It was exceedingly rare for the Mecha to be deployed to frontline combat, and most sightings of it come during large-scale battles.

All existing examples of the Mender were transmogrified along with the Regiss during the departure of the Invid from Earth.

## Capabilities

Due to its specialised role, the Mender has a number of differences in its design to other Invid mecha. The limbs are comparatively slender, and lack the traditional claws found on other designs. Instead, the Mender features a fully articulated, three-fingered hand for use in recovering Invid mecha and other such combat engineering roles. However, they may also be used in melee combat if needed. The feet feature three articulated toes, which are likely used to help with stability while moving heavy loads.

Like all Invid mecha, the Mender can fly and has a maximum speed of about 350 km/h. Its running speed is about 64 km/h. The Mender is fully sealed and can operate in space if needed, although it has to be said that it rarely does such. The mender uses six standard Protoculture cells for power.

Not being built for combat, the Mender largely lacks any sort of offensive capability. Its sole ranged weapon is a light laser that is more likely designed as a cutting tool, and as such, has limited range and capabilities. Its main utility tool is a set of nozzles that are built into the hands that can be used to excrete at least two different substances. The first is a nutrient fluid derived from the Flower of Life, similar to that found within the cockpits of Invid mecha. This is used to treat injured Invid pilots and promote healing. The second is a rapid-hardening foam that is used to seal in damaged Mecha armour.

As its role would indicate, the Mender is piloted by a Stage II, Worker-Caste Invid. It is likely that the pilot is often directly controlled by an Invid Brain in order for it to better prioritise treatment. Like all Invid mecha, the pilot is fully enclosed within a sealed cockpit, and is entirely dependent on their life support systems to survive. The mecha was fully environmentally sealed and could be operated in space and hostile environments with no loss of capability. The Mender is equipped with the typical Invid Protoculture sensor, as well as the low-powered secondary optical sensors common to other Invid designs. Likewise, it lacked any form of communication systems, instead relying on telepathic connections to Invid Brains and communication towers.

The armor of the Mender is composed of a composite of metals, ceramics, and organics unique to Invid manufacture. The armor stops all small arms fire, provides good protection against heavier infantry weapons, such as a 12.7 mm machinegun round, and fair resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3 mm HE autocannon round.

Note: The sensor eye is highly susceptible to damage, and any hit there will disable the mecha by penetrating the cockpit and killing the pilot.

## Weapons and Equipment

* **Light Utility Laser:** Mounted under the chin of the mecha on a pivot. Short-ranged with only limited anti-armour capabilities, designed more for use as a cutting tool than a weapon.
* 2 **Chemical Secretion Nozzles:** Built into the hands.