Konflikt 47

As British research and development continue in the embryonic fields of automation and automotive intelligence, the combination of automated control units and armoured vehicles is a logical progression. With no requirement for crew comfort and with a greater tolerance to shock, noise and impact, an automated vehicle offers the opportunity to place larger weapon systems on relatively small, agile and hard to hit platforms. The initial trials proved largely successful, with the combat potential of these vehicles deemed worth the occasional processing glitches and failures. With trials completed, the deployment of large numbers of automated carriers is the first large-scale field test of this concept. Using the ubiquitous universal carrier as a base, two automated infantry units are hardwired into the vehicle, one as a driver and the other as a gunner. With any redundant limbs or body parts removed, the AI units take little space which allows a mounting of a twin auto-cannon weapon system. This firepower would be unworkable with a human crew due to the recoil, noise levels and cramped crew space, but works with automated crew perfectly.

In order to test new equipment and technology coming from the UK’s Rift-tech labs and workshops, the 7th Bn Grenadier Guards were seconded to the Rift Research Department in order to provide troops to trial new equipment and technology. Once initial trials were completed, platoons of the Battalion would deploy forward to test the equipment on the front line, often to the benefit of the infantry they were supporting, but occasionally proving a project a disappointing failure. Over the past two years, the Battalion has developed a greater understanding of the weaponry at its disposal and is now considered an elite shock unit as much as an R&D unit. This, of course, fits nicely with the role the Grenadiers and the Guards Division has played in the British Army’s history. Although technically still part of the Guard’s Division, the unit is often referred to as The Grenadiers, or more recently, the Rift Grenadiers. Contains 10 miniatures.