Here's a little something from my friend Mike.
Any and all feedback would be helpful.
If anyone wants to write a story based on this, please e-mail me and I'll
passs it on to Mike.
Passing it on to you since you know the Patlabor world better...
Remember the idea I had back in College? The "SWAT-Labor" concept? I just
thought of a few technical notes for story of that thing. After all,
Patrol-Class Labors were designed first and foremost with Labor control and
crime in mind, right? Too bad i'm too busy to write this (That and I have
three or four fics LONG overdue already)... If you or someone you know
wants to write this, okay... I'll only want to stay on as a "Technical
Consultant" to the SWAT Concept... Argh... I am getting sleepy...
...Must play more Police Quest: SWAT and Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear. Yes,
must...
Well, here's the concept:
Tech Background:
Chicago, USA, is well-known for it's street gangs. It wouldn't take much
imagination to figure that some gangs would steal Labors and jury-rig them
into urban combat types. Obviously, this gives them an advantage in urban
combat, even against Shinohara Patrol Type Labors. This concept comes from
the "Technicals"---Afrikaaner slang for civilian vehicles modified with
extra armor and weapons, as seen in Somalia. After all, street gangs
customize cars, why not Labors? This'll put enough of a pinch for Chicago
Police to call for a SPECIFIC type of Labor intended for Urban combat: One
that's not quite a military type, but definitely tougher thatn your usual
Patrol.
Story Background:
Two Prototypes have been built by Shinohara in conjunction with
General Motors in Chicago. However, someone has managed to get the jump on
the labor manufacturers and manage an attempted sabotage, destroying number
1 and badly damaging number 2. The Chicago PD technicians manage to salvage
enough to repair number 2. Fearing worse, Chicago has decided to send the
test unit to Japan's Shinohara factory for more testing. What luck, when
the team assigned to assist with the field testing happens to be good old
Unit Two.
Making matters worse is that the SWAT unit's pilot just HAPPENS to be
Kanuka's old boyfriend. (Kanuka Angst! Kanuka Angst!). This, and the fact
that the guy immediately gets off on the wrong foot with the rest of the
team, adds a bit of friction. Add that to the point that some people see
the SWAT Labor as a threat to society, and wish to shut it down, and you
got yourself a Techno-thriller... ^^x;;;
Some Hits:
(After observing Ohta and her old Boyfriend go at it in the hangar)
Kanuka: "Jeez, the testosterone's so thick in this place all of a
sudden..."
(Noa just gave Kanuka a piece of her mind about Kanuka's boyfriend)
Kanuka: "That's... nice, Izumi. But there's one problem. I DIDN'T dump
him... He dumped ME."
(Long Pause as Kanuka gulps a glass of...Scotch...)
Noa: ".....oh...."
(Afterquote)
Shige: "He dumped Clancy? That Chicago kid IS nuts..."
(After finding out that Alphonse was cannibalized for parts)
Noa: <Horrified Screaming>
(Best one-liner)
Ohta: "Kanuka? I wonder if you could get your uncle to sign my copy of Hunt
for Red October?"
Unit Type:
Shinohara/GM AV-98-00S
Prototype SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Patrol Labor
Pilot: 1
Equipment:
- 20mm Cannon-Rifle (40 rounds/clip, 2 clips spare)
- 30mm Cannon-Pistol (8 rounds/clip, 1 clip spare)
- 30mm Cannon-Sniper (Proposed)
- Labor Knife
- Canister Launcher (Left Shoulder. Currently unavailable)
History:
The "SWAT"-Labor is built on the venerable AV-98 chassis for its
maneuverability. It has a military-grade joint system which gives it at
least as much flexibilty and speed as a Helldiver, although the 00S can
move much faster due to lighter armor. It is encased in thick kevlar armor
with steel inserts. As it is, it is armored enough to deal with light
weapons (machine guns, hand grenades), but not against antitank/anti-armor
weapons; most jury-rigged labors don't carry much in the way of anti-armor
weaponry. The interface is like the AV-98's only with a better telescopic
system (For Sniping purposes). The first run consisted of two Prototypes:
Number 1 which featured the 30mm Pistol and Labor Knife, while Number 2
showcased the Rifle and the Launcher System.
Unforeseen circumstances allowed someone access to the testing range,
sabotaging both units. The result was the near-complete destrcution of Unit
1 and the crippling of Unit 2. Local technicians were able to save Unit 2
with the legs and some scrap parts from Unit 1. It is lucky that the
intruder was unable to destroy the weapons (Which were stored in a separate
building), but the Launcher system was too badly damaged to repair
acceptably. Fearing further attacks, Chicago PD sent the unit and a small
SWAT unit to Japan for testing...
Weaponry:
The weapons of the SWAT unit are designed as both Anti-Labor and
anti-personnel weapons.
- The unit packs 1 30mm Cannon in the form of a clip-fed Pistol. The weapon
is capable of either single-shot or double-shot fire (Double-Tap). The
30mm's power makes it the ideal round for this kind of weapon: Extremely
close-combat (for Labors, that is) situations wherein sheer stopping power
is important. This weapon, as well as two spare clips, are located in the
Labor's right leg. The Clips were designed so that the Labor could reload
its weapon without having the pilot get out and reload them physically
(Reference: Patlabor Movie 1)
- The only close-fighting weapon provided is a Labor-Sized knife. It is
much smaller than Labor Stunsticks, but is not powered. Basically used as a
fighting knife or cutting instrument (or as a spike to pin a pesky Labor to
the ground). The weapon is constructed of steel wrapped around an iron
core, but it's usually expected to be wrecked on use. Only used as a weapon
of last resort, as SWAT dosen't normally go into hand-to-hand---especially
not with Labors.
- The main weapon fo this unit is a 20MM Autocannon in the form of a
Submachinegun. It uses the smaller 20mm round like the Vulcan gun on the
Helldiver, but with a limited amount of ammunition, and loaded from
45-round clips. The rifle is set to automatic fire, but at a slower rate
than a full machinegun would, as to reduce stray fire, gain accuracy, and
most importantly give more firing control than the Helldiver's gun. Rate of
fire is a relatively okay 8 rounds per second at full burst (Meaning 5
1-second bursts/clip). Though it lacks the sheer power of the 30mm round,
it is more ideal for longer ranges and for "peppering" (Firing short,
controlled bursts at an opponent) enemy labors. It works less well on
heavily armored Labors, but works beautifully on the average jury-rig
combat Labors. Like the 30mm Pistol, it is clip-fed. Clip is stored
alongside the Knife in the left leg housing.
- The 30mm sniper Cannon Rifle is still in the proposal stages. If
implemented, it will provide long-range ability for the SWAT Labor, but the
American FBI are in outcry, saying that this gives it the potential to be
used as an assassination tool, and that a rifle that size would already
fall under the military category under grounds of National Security. GM and
Shinohara are currently seeking to overturn that ruling.
- The Launchers were initially used to deliver either Tear Gas or
Flashbangs (Stun Grenades), but were damaged beyond repair in the sabotage.
The weapon is a fixed launcher that carries three barrels, one round in
each barrel. There is a Labor Stunner under testing--A grenade designed to
short-circuit a Labor's Circuits and interface if in close enough range.
Controls:
The SWAT Labor shall be familiar, even comfortable to one who has been
in the cockpit of an AV-98 or Helldiver series Labor. The basic components
and interface are so much alike that an Ingram can be cannibalized for
parts needed in the SWAT Labor (Scream, Noa, Scream). It does not use a
Shinohara OS, though. Instead it uses the RSE-OS: rumor has it that it is a
rudimentary OS developed by US Forces, but there is no support for this
theory. The RSE works similar to the Shinohara OS, but it is more dedicated
to network communication and exchange of information between SWAT-Labors
(As SWAT units have a need for teamwork)
The differences only turn up in a combat situation. The SWAT Labor's
sensors are more acutely tuned than the regular AV-98, and can detect a
human hearbeat through a foot of concrete when concentrated at its highest
setting. Targeting and Fire Control are also a factor in the machine, as
HUD and Telescopic gunsight displays show.