M3-01 Daniel

A unique quadruped design, the **M3-01 Daniel** was an early combat walker used by the UEDF.

## Background

Early UEDF experiments with walker designs had yielded mixed results. Both the Cestus and the Stoneman had proven to be viable designs, but neither of them was the giant war robot that they had been aiming for. Both stood three meters tall, were lightly armed and armoured and were driven by the pilot's own legs extending into those of the Mecha. As such, while they were considered to be successes, they were seen more as evolutionary steps rather than mature designs.

The next step was to develop a walking war machine that would function completely mechanically and independent of the pilot. However, issues of control and balance hampered the project, to the point that it was jeopardising the entire development process. However, at the same time, a parallel project had yielded some promising results through using fully mechanical quadruped walker platforms. Drawing on robotics research dating back to the Global Civil War, the development team had created a viable prototype of a four-meter-tall, four-legged platform that had achieved levels of speed and mobility that far exceeded that of their humanoid prototypes.

Not wanting to put all their eggs in the one basket, the UEDF ordered the development of a fully functional combat platform based on a quadruped frame. The intended design was to be made ready as soon as possible, forcing the team to rely entirely on proven technologies rather than waiting for a number of other projects (such as laser and particle beam weapons) reaching a production-ready stage. Should it prove to be successful, it would serve as the flagship for a series of other quadruped walkers.

The end result was a somewhat mixed bag of a design. Designated M3-01 Daniel by the UEDF, it was their first fully operational mechanical walker design, but still fell short of the heavily armed giant combat platform that they desired. Standing 5.4 meters tall and weighing 16 tons, it was far larger than any previous humanoid combat platforms. It was similarly more rugged, with its armour resistant to heavier weapons than the extant Power Armours, while its entirely mechanical frame meant that the pilot was (theoretically) less liable to be injured. The Daniel could reach a top ground speed of 82 km/h, while its design gave it excellent mobility over broken terrain. As an added benefit, the Daniel's quadruped design gave it a level of redundancy, allowing it to survive the loss of one leg while still retaining some mobility.

Despite its shortcomings, the M3-01 Daniel entered mass production and was issued to a number of UEDF units, although it was again seen as an interim design. However, the proposed further, larger walker designs were shelved indefinitely as the UEDF researchers made a series of breakthroughs that allowed them to finally develop a fully humanoid platform. With the Destroid program now rapidly progressing, the Daniel now appeared to be redundant and quickly approaching obsolescence. Production was discontinued, with the lines retooled to produce the first Destroids.

The UEDF chose to keep the existing Daniels in service, at least until sufficient Destroids were available to replace them all. However, all further development of the design was cancelled, including the enclosed cockpit. Those that were replaced with Destroids were filtered down to second-tier units, where they were often used as infantry support or scouting platforms, roles that their smaller size and lighter weaponry were better suited to. Daniel units did see action against AUL forces on a number of different fronts, where it proved to be effective in these new roles.

Due to their being a purely terrestrial design, no examples of the Daniel were bought on-board the SDF-1. Most examples were destroyed on Earth during the Zentraedi Rain of Death, but a number survived in out of the way locations, ironically saved by their obsolescence. The reborn UEDF and UEG had no interest in the Daniel, and no new examples were constructed after the Rain of Death.

However, the surviving examples were salvaged by emergent governments and other powers during the Reconstruction, most of which were willing to take whatever weapons they could find. These ranged from nation states to warlords, mercenaries and bandit groups. While nascent the Southern Cross is known to have used some examples, they were quickly passed off to their allies. These walkers saw action across the world against enemies from Zentraedi Malcontents to bandits and insurgents. While effective against conventional forces, in engagements against either Zentraedi or more modern Human Mecha designs, the Daniel proved to be hopelessly outclassed.

The Invid Invasion destroyed most of those survivors, but even then, it was not the end for the Daniel. A handful of examples are known to have been used by resistance fighters during the Occupation, although their effectiveness against Invid Mecha was questionable at best. Ironically, despite its being obsolete over two decades prior, the Daniel had managed to out-last many of its contemporaries, including those designs that had replaced it.

## Capabilities

The Daniel was a fully functional walker utilising a mechanical quadruped chassis driven by a primitive Protoculture engine. This platform lacked the full humanoid capabilities the UEDF was hoping for, but made up for it with excellent all-terrain capabilities. The Daniel was equipped with a then-modern sensor suite, with the equipment split between the torso and a pair of pods on the forelegs (some illustrations of the design erroneously depict these as weapons).

Primary detection was provided by a short-range battlefield radar mounted in the front of the walker. Secondary systems included passive detection through infra-red and thermal optics, night-vision and the like. Data was presented on a heads-up display. A pair of searchlights were mounted on the side of the Daniel. Communications were provided by at the time contemporary battlefield radio systems; there were plans to update the Mecha to the mode advanced video systems introduced by the UEDF, but these were never implemented.

The plot was accommodated in an open cockpit on the left side of the body, protected only by a construction machine-like rollcage. This was seen by the designers as a temporary measure, with the intent of replacing it with a fully enclosed cockpit after several other development projects, chiefly those regarding sensors or interfaces, were completed. As planned, the Daniel would have been eventually fitted with an armoured cockpit featuring displays akin to those found on the Destroids. The open cockpit proved to be unpopular with pilots, even with these promises in mind. A large shield mounted on the side of the main gun provided some additional protection for the pilot. Finally, the walker was equipped with a smoke grenade launcher on its side to provide additional cover. While not officially sanctioned, two to four soldiers could ride on the Daniel's back in the field.

However, the Daniel's weapons were considered to be somewhat underwhelming. The sole weapon was a four-barrelled 35mm Autocannon. While effective against light to medium armour and soft targets, the weapon's effectiveness quickly degraded against heavier armour. Furthermore, the gun was largely fixed in place with only limited traverse, requiring the pilot to move the entire Mecha in order to aim. Furthermore, due to its design, the Daniel could not quickly rotate to track fast-moving targets.

The armor on the Daniel is composed of a standard Chobham laminar developed in the late 20th century and improved with the materials science advances made during the Robotech era. This armor was mainly designed to defeat projectiles and other kinetic weapons. The armor stops all small arms and heavy infantry weapons fire, provides excellent resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3mm autocannon round, and fair resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the GU-11 Gun Pod's 55mm round. The pilot remains partially exposed, and as such, is dependent on their own body armour (if any) to protect them.

## Weapons and Equipment

* **Four-Barreled 35mm Autocannon:** Mounted on the right side of the bow, facing forward with limited vertical and horizontal traverse. The weapon fires the same 35mm ammunition as used by the Karyovin. It is effective against light to medium armour, but its effectiveness falls off quickly against heavier protection. The cannon is fully automatic and is fed from an internal magazine.

## Game Statistics

* **Required Rank:** 1

* **Designation:** M3-01

* **Stats**
	+ **Armour – Mecha:** 1
	+ **Structure – Mecha:** 2
	+ **Hardware Points**: 3
	+ **Speed** – **Running:** 100 kph / 160m / 16 Ground Units

### Weapons

* **35mm Autocannon:** The Daniel's only weapon is a four-barreled 35mm Autocannon mounted on the front of the torso. It can hit targets up to medium range and inflicts Mecha-scale damage. Destroying this weapon eliminates the Bulletstorm Equipment Suite. [H]

* **No Melee:** The Daniel cannot engage in melee except to make Ramming attacks.

### Features

* **Terrestrial:** The Daniel can only be used in an Earth-like environment

* **Smoke Launchers:** The Daniel is equipped with smoke discharges it can use to help conceal its profile [H]

* **Shield:** The Daniel is equipped with a shield on its right side to help protect against weapon fire. The Shield can be destroyed to negate all damage taken from a non-area based Attack. [H]

### Equipment Suites

* **Bullestorm:** The Daniel can saturate an area with fire from its autocannon, hitting targets in a cone in front of it. Make an attack at Short range with a Cone area of effect. When all uses of this Equipment Suite are expended, it can no longer make attacks with its 35mm Autocannon. [C]
	+ **Uses:** 2
	+ **Skill:** 3

* **Smoke Mortar:** The Daniel comes equipped with the ability to launch smoke. This helps the tank advance into or leave a combat zone. Use this benefit to defend against enemy fire. Destruction of the Smoke Mortar destroys this Equipment Suite
	+ **Uses:** 2
	+ **Skill:** 3

* **Quad Platform:** Due to its four-legged design, the Daniel is very adept at maneuvering over difficult terrain, even compared to Humanoid Mecha. Use this Equipment Suite when navigating heavy terrain. [H]
	+ **Uses:** Unlimited
	+ **Skill:** 2