#combots

From the time of its founding to the time of its present, the machine legions of the Robotnik Empire have terrorized and dominated the planet in the name of its founder Doctor Robotnik. The armies of Robotropolis come in a dizzying array of shapes and sizes, and it is the largest collective of military robots to have ever been assembled in all the history of Mobius. Only the drone divisions of GUN come close, and even that is paltry compared to the sheer number and variety of robotic killing machines created and deployed by the Robotnik Empire.

The armies of Robotnik are near numberless. Standard units are churned out on assembly lines by automated factories, ready to fight and kill in Robotnik’s name upon activation. No matter how many are destroyed, there will always be more in the waiting to take its place. Mindless, fearless and unquestioningly loyal, the greatest danger of Robotnik’s machines isn’t their armaments of strength- it is the fact that there is absolutely nothing that they will not do when ordered, and once they start nothing short of destruction will halt them. There is no room for empathy, pity or doubt. There is only Robotnik and his will.

Assembled here is a small dossier of the various lines that comprise Robotropolis’ war machine. Over the years the variety and scope of Robotnik’s armies have expanded and adapted to reflect the ever-changing face of war, from the conquest of the empire’s early years to the Freedom Fighter insurgencies that continue to plague it, as well as renewed aggression from the United Federation and GUN. Even as the fortunes and size of his empire waxes and wanes, one thing is certain- Robotnik’s imagination is as endless as it is depraved, and there will never be an end to the new and terrible machines he creates to blight the world he despises so thoroughly.

SWATbots

The SWATbot line is a venerable one that dates back to the Great War, when then-Warlord Julian Kintobor created the first SWATBots (then known as “Peace Bots”) to replenish the depleted ranks of the Kingdom of Acorn’s military and workforce. The first SWATbots were deployed purely in a support capacity, before eventually supplanting Mobian soldiers entirely to become the bulk of the Kingdom of Acorn’s military. These robotic soldiers would be crucial in turning the tide against the seemingly unstoppable military machine of Overland, delivering victory for the Kingdom and her allies in the Great War. That same army would then be used by Julian, now styling himself as Ivo Robotnik, to conquer the Kingdom of Acorn from within and then enable Robotnik’s first wave of conquest afterward.

The SWATBot is the workhorse of the Robotnik Empire. In all corners of the empire they can be found, in every facility and factory. The Mark-1 SWATBot model forms the backbone of Robotnik’s military, serving as the standard rank-and-file infantry. Standard SWATBots are designed as something of a jack of all trades, having moderate strength in multiple areas while not truly excelling at any of them. SWATbots are at their most dangerous when in groups, but even a lone SWATbot can be a lethal adversary, for while they represent the most standard of Robotnik’s soldiers they are still stronger and more durable than most organics and come equipped with built-in lasers and armor. There’s a reason that SWATbots were able to bring the once unstoppable armies of the Overland to its knees, and fighting SWATBots without weapons or special abilities is often a death sentence.

Since the time of its initial development the SWATbot line has expanded considerably. There now exist multiple, specialized variations of the original SWATbot chassis, and the Mark-1 model shows no signs of going anywhere anytime soon. They are a constant within the empire, and whatever challenges arise? There is no doubt there will be a new, improved SWATbot model to meet it. 

Troopers

The skull-faced Troopers were developed in the early years of the Robotnik Empire, being created specifically for the various “Pacification Campaigns” that arose after the empire had secured its grip over the former Kingdom of Acorn and Overland. With these territories now firmly in Robotnik’s iron grasp, the nascent tyrant turned his attention outward to the other nations of Mobius, seeking to expand the scope of the “Pax Robotnika”. It swiftly became apparrent to Robotnik that waging a war of conquest and expansion was going to be a different matter entirely from the relatively defensive position fought in the Great War. A pressing need for specialized first strike units arose, and thus was born the Trooper line.

Troopers are the specialized assault force of the Robotnik Empire, designed to hit hard and fast in the first wave of attacks, shattering enemy formations and fortifications with overwhelming firepower before allowing the SWATBots to swarm in and deliver the killing blow. In addition to serving as the empire’s shock troops, Troopers also see capacity as occupiers of newly conquered territories and as overseers in labor camps and prisons. While SWATBots are programmed to be emotionless and mindless soldiers, Troopers by contrast are programmed to exhibit personalities... and those personalities are uniformly that of a gleefully sadistic bully.

Whether it is out in the field of battle or patrolling the streets of a conquered city, Troopers will heap endless amounts of abuse and cruelty on anyone they can find. This is done as a form of psychological warfare in conjunction with their skull-like visages... a SWATBot will simply kill you, but a Trooper may very well shoot off a limb and then laugh about it.

Troopers are usually found in the outer territories of the Robotnik Empire, either working as enforcers in the cities where organics are permitted to live or patrolling the borders of the empire making sure nobody can escape. Ruthless taskmasters and programmed for cruelty, all who deal with the Troopers quickly learn to despise them. 

Combots

Combots are among the elite units of the Robotnik Empire, designed to be bigger, stronger and most importantly smarter than SWATBot or Trooper units. Combots, as their names would indicate, are designed as the Robotnik Empire’s own elite commandos. The Combots were developed in the later years of the Robotnik Empire, in response to the rising successes of the various Freedom Fighter groups that formed in opposition to Robotnik. The Combot chassis was derived from both the SWATbot and Trooper chassis, combining the best traits of both before being further modified to suit Robotnik’s need for elite soldiers.

Combots possess advanced “Dummy” AI that gives them considerable tactical insight and adaptability without granting them the capacity for ‘true’ free will. Designed for deep deployment in enemy territory, Combots typically operate as specialized units and usually only see mass deployment as security for the empire’s most important installations. Physically imposing and with a versatile number of built-in weapons, the Combots most dangerous tool is a built invisibility cloak that obscures them from view. While their heavy metallic frames don’t do much for their stealth, being able to turn invisible still grants them a tremendous, deadly advantage, especially when their tactical AI gives them the insight to compensate for said heavy metal frames.

The Combot stealth cloak is an upgraded version of the stealth cloaks used by the Newtralizer Badnik models, which was first utilized in a prototype stealth assault robot deployed in the Jungle Zone. While the prototype was destroyed by Sonic and Tails, its performance was deemed acceptable enough that it would go on to be utilized for the future Combot line.

The Combots do possess one notable flaw- while they are not truly sentient, they none the less have developed superior view of themselves compared to ‘inferior, outdated’ SWATbot and Trooper units. This arrogance often leads Combots to treat other units as being more disposable, and while dissention in the ranks is impossible, it does lead to unacceptable losses and wastefulness.

P.A.W.N.s

The P.A.W.N. (Power Assault Warfare and Nullification) line was created to serve as Robotnik’s super-heavy units, comparable to bipedal tanks. These towering monstrosities are among the toughest and most dangerous machines to be fielded within the Robotnik Empire’s armies. PAWNS are subdivided into three specialized models- the Gun Pawn, the Shield Pawn, and the Bomb Pawn, with a fourth model known as the Guardian Pawn being an upgrade of the Gun Pawn. Where PAWNS go the earth shakes, quite literally.

Gun Pawns are the most commonly encountered pawns, serving as mobile heavy artillery units. They are armed with a staggering three heavy plasma cannons in addition to missile launchers. Very few things can stand up to them or their weapons, and they attack with overwhelming force until nothing is left standing.

Shield Pawns by contrast exist as living barriers, absorbing heavy fire against their reinforced frames before getting close and demolishing targets with their heavy fists. Few sights are more terrifying than that of a Shield Pawn lumbering forward impassively, refusing to fall even under sustained heavy fire. Disturbingly, they are the most likely to be encountered within Robotropolis itself, often camouflaged as literal walls within the city.

Finally, there are the Bomb Pawns. Bomb Pawns are anti-fortification specialists, enormous grenade launchers on legs designed to waltz across the battlefield, blowing apart armored vehicles and heavy fortifications alike. Even worse they contain a high powered thermal explosive payload in their bodies, and with their thick armor they are more than capable of shrugging off enemy fire long enough to deliver said payload.

Guardian Pawns are the rarest of the PAWN series. They are improved, elite variants of the Gun Pawns, with upgraded weaponry and built in force shields. As their name would indicate, Guardian Pawns are used almost exlusively in a defensive capacity, guarding the most important facilities in the Robotnik Empire, even defending Citadel Robotnik itself. Rarely they are sent out to attack due to the difficulty in making them, but their success rate is nothing to sneeze at. Rumor has it that entire armies have been destroyed by Guardian Pawns.

Stealthbots

The terror of the skies. Stealthbots are the ultimate air combat drones, and the undisputed masters of the Robotnik Empire’s airspace. Much like the groundbound Combots, Stealthbots are not only armed to the teeth but also in possession of similarly advanced Dummy AI that grants them tactical supremacy in the air. And that’s without getting into the stealth systems that grant them their name. Stealthbots are infamous for seemingly appearing out of thin air before diving in, destroying targets and then vanishing away from sight. Even more horrifyingly, Stealthbots have been known to engage in a degree of psychological warfare- one favorite tactic is to periodically strafe the same target at a specific time again and again, letting stress slowly build-up before going in for the kill.

Besides the standard Stealthbot units, there are also the aptly name “Death Pods”. Death Pods are upgraded Stealthbots, designed to be smaller, more maneuverable and equipped with even more firepower. While Stealthbots proper are designed for air-to-air combat and to act as bombers, Death Pods are an attempt to bridge the gap and create the ultimate air-to-ground combat drone, a machine that is just as capable of eliminating ground based targets as it is the air. So far the Death Pods have seen limited deployment, but thier successes paint a grim picture for the enemies of the Robotnik Empire.

Badniks

Badniks rank along with Swatbots as the most numerous and widespread of Robotnik’s forces, and a potent symbol of his need to subjugate and twist all aspects of life on Mobius towards his own demented ends. Officially known as B.A.D.s (Biologically Augmented Drones), Badniks are as much an assault against the environment as they are against Mobius’ people. Badniks unlike other machines within the empire are powered by Mobinis who serve as both organic batteries and as a kind of wetware CPU all in once. Whereas SWATBots represent standardized military machines, Badniks are far more specialized by comparison, and are designed to operate for long periods of time without supervision in the many wilderness areas of Mobius.

Technically speaking the Badniks are the oldest line of Robotnik’s military machines, predating even the SWATbots. The Badniks were first devised before the Great War, back when Robotnik was still known as Dr. Julian Kintobor. Using misappropriated funds and resources, Julian labored in secret researching the potential of organic lifeforms to serve as a power source of machines. His way of making endangered species ‘worth protecting’, in his own words. Once that barrier was broken, Julian swiftly realized the military applications and with the aid of his assistant (and future chief scientist) Dr. Grimer he swiftly built the first Badnik prototypes. When Julian later became the Kingdom of Acorn’s Warlord, he built his Badnik army in secret even as he was built his SWATBot army in public, and when the day of the Coup arrived great swarms of Badniks surged forth to assist their SWATbot brethern in conquering the Kingdom of Acorn.

Usually modeled after Mobius’ wildlife, Badniks serve as a reflection of Robotnik’s disdain of the natural world and his need to declare that there is nothing in it that he can’t ‘improve’ upon. Fittingly, Badniks tend to act like an invasive species, deployed into the wild areas of Mobius to capture more Mobinis to be utilized as battery fodder before raiding settlements and attacking military installations. Badniks require comparatively little upkeep and can be stationed for many months without need of repairs. They are created to strip the world of respite from Robotnik’s tyranny and to choke the life out of the wilderness, making sure nobody can escape his grasp. Worse than that, Badniks are also used to attack enemy crops and farmlands, despoiling lands to deny them use by Robotnik’s enemies. They form an integral part of the artifical ‘eco system’ of the empire’s cities, hiding and lurking in shadows like ambush predators waiting for prey driven to them by SWATbots and troopers.

The sheer variety of Badniks is nothing short of astounding. Even more powerful Badnik models known as Prime Badniks (AKA “Super Badniks”) act as field commanders for the regular models, which are collecively known as the Badnik Horde.

Eggrobos

Modeled after the Eggman himself, Eggrobos are a special class of machine that serve as the administrators and officer corps of the Robotnik Empire. The Eggrobo line first emerged during the Angel Island Assault. In the aftermath of the infamous Death Egg crash landing upon Angel Island, Robotnik swiftly realized he would need more than mere techbots if he was going to get the mighty Death Egg up and running fast enough for his needs. The Eggrobos were conceived of as machines that would serve the duel purpose of security for the Death Egg as well as high intelligence technicians needed to conduct repairs at the rate Robotnik needed.

While the Death Egg’s final destruction would occur despite the best efforts of the Eggrobos and Robotnik himself, Robotnik none the less saw the potential of the series. Eggrobos are designed more for intelligence than they are pure combat, though they are far from defenseless. Armed with heavy plasma cannons and high powered jet backs, they are surprisingly dangerous for “brain bots”. The Eggrobos have since gone on to become an all purpose command class of machine, ranking behind Prime Badniks but otherwise serving as Robotnik’s proxies within the empire. Eggrobos are subsequently subdivided by programming- warfare, research, intelligence and even medically inclined models exist.

Their bulky bodies designed to house high processing powered AI and powerful communication tools, the robotic soldiers of the empire become notably more dangerous when Eggrobos are present, especially ones programmed for military operations.

E-Series

Building upon the technologies that went into the Eggrobos, the E (”Eliminator”) series were created to serve as the elite assassins and infiltrators. The E-Series was first devised when the Robotnik Empire, weakened by repeated Freedom Fighter insurgencies, found it beset from the outside by the re-invigorated forces of GUN. Building upon Great War era information provided by surviving remnants of its sister nation of Overland, the United Federation re-structured GUN’s tactics and technologies with an eye towards taking the fight to Robotnik after a decade slow retreat in the face of Robotropolis’ encroachment into the Federation. Devising a new war doctrine built upon picemeal tactics and a robot army of their own to challenge Robotnik’s, the United Federation took advantage of Robotnik’s weakness to chip away at his borders and liberate captured territories.

Faced with an existential threat now capable of fighting on par with him in addition to the domestic troubles brought on by the Freedom Fighters, Robotnik swiftly realized he would need machines capable of getting into the heart of enemy operations and then cutting that heart out. Thus was born the E-Series, lethally intelligent and relentless assassins building on the best of the Badnik technology. First deployed in the Station Square Front, Robotnik has repeatedly upgraded the initial E-100 series and even created variant models. While the original E-100s were powerful, there was a disturbing trend towards rampancy in their AI- units Gamma, Sigma and Omega all eventually turned against their core programming. Since then Robotnik has tried to find a proper balance in the AI to retain the lethal potential of the E-100s while ensuring zero chance of future betrayal. While not quite the stuff of their predecessors, the current E-Series remain among the most ruthlessly efficient and lethal machines within the empire, elite assassins and terror machines par excellence.

While the E-Series was initially conceived of as assasins, Robotnik has explored other avenues with the line, deviating from the base mold to create more specialized variants. The E-500 series was an attempt to create a more standardized sniper variant, while the subsequent E-1000 series was an attempt to mass produce the E-Series while trying to retain as much of its effectiveness as possible. The E-2000s deviated even further from the base mold, serving as a mobile weapon platform for an experimental heavy laser cannon. While devastatingly powerful, the E-2000s have seen only limited deployment due to faults within the cannon, notably its long charge time.

Metallix

In many ways the Metallix series represent the cream of the crop of the Robotnik Empire’s various war machines, as well as being indicative of Robotnik’s deeply warped mindset. The Metallix are killing machines in every sense of the word, and ones built in the image of Robotnik’s most hated enemies. The oldest and most infamous of the Metallix series proper is Metal Sonic, Robotnik’s second-in-command own personal attack dog. While originally designed to mimic Sonic, the Metallix series has since expanded to act as mirrors for all of the major Freedom Fighters and assorted heroes who have bedeviled the doctor and stymied his ambitions. It is even joked that the surest sign you’ve ‘made it’ in the war against Robotnik is when a Metallix pops up in your image. The Metallix are no laughing matter though- by deign of being designed to counter specific and very powerful Mobians, they are easily the most lethal of Robotnik’s forces. Where the Metallix go, only death follows... especially when the Metallix in question is Metal Sonic.

The Metallix have their origins in the Pseudo-Sonic Badnik, which can be considered a prototype for the entire Metallix Line. Robotnik had long hoped to build a high-speed robot capable of countering Sonic the Hedgehog. After forays into various “Speed Bots”, Robotnik finally refined the technology to create the Mobini powered Pseudo-Sonic, a machine designed to not only kill Sonic specifically but to also besmirch his reputation. While Pseudo-Sonic was defeated, the proof of the concept would eventually lead to the creation of the first ‘true’ Metallix- Metal Sonic, first deployed in the Little Planet Raid. Since that time Sonic has only been able to just barely keep his metal doppelganger at bay, and Robotnik has gone on to expand the scope of the Metallix Series to create more like Metal Sonic. The Metallix have since gone on to become the true elite of the Empire, few in number but deadly beyond measure.

There has been at least one attempt to mass produce the success of Metal Sonic. The most prominent attempt was made by Robotnik’s chief scientist Dr. Grimer, who converted the old Special Zone Fortress to become an automated factory churning out Metal Sonic drones, with an ‘Emperor Metallix’ guiding everything. The project ended in catastrophic failure and the near usurpation of Robotnik by the Emperor Metallix, and since that time there have been no further attempts to ‘standardize’ the Metallix.

Infiltrators

Designed to mimic organic life, the Infiltrators (also known as Auto-Automatons) are the premier spies of the Robotnik Empire. The Infiltrator line was first developed in response to the various hidden sanctuaries that sprang up within the boundaries of the Robotnik Empire that would then go on to become hotbeds of organized military resistance. Initial models were based upon pre-existing Mobians who served as templates after being captured by Robotnik. Initial research was carried out on an island facility that doubled as a labor camp, but progress was stymied when the prison was infiltrated and destroyed by a young Sonic the Hedgehog (with the help of Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel). While the original facility was lost, Robotnik was able to escape with the research and several captives, and successfully created the first units in a separate facility.

Since that time the Infiltrator series has only become more refined. The need for pre-existing organic templates is now a thing of the past as Mobian identities are crafted wholesale, and the technology has advanced to the point where the Infiltrators can mimic organic behaviors such as eating without giving away their true, mechanical nature. The main production facility for the Infiltrators is the best kept secret in the Empire. More insidiously, some Infiltrators are being deployed with fabricated memories and no knowledge of their true origin, acting as sleeper agents.

Misc Robots

Beyond the standardized units and the elite models deployed en-masse by the Robotnik Empire, there are also the countless non-standardized units that proliferate Robotnik’s domain. Mission-specific war machines, experimental units, even machines built on a whim to satisfy Robotnik’s curiosity... all these and more can be found in the Robotnik Empire, ever ready for the opportunity to inflict just a bit more misery on whatever unfortunate organics they come across.

These non-standardized units vary wildly in terms of design, armaments and intelligence. Some are attached to deployments of SWATbots and the like as part of official military operations, while others still are simply wandering menaces that attack anybody unfortunate enough to come across them. This is done both to draw out Freedom Fighters and to torment the organic communities that remain within the Empire. Either the Freedom Fighters will blow their cover or the communities will be destroyed by inches. And if said communities fight back? Then, having broken the law, the community will be culled by Robotnik and the survivors Roboticized as a message to the others.