I agree insofar that, at low tech levels, cybernetic enhancement is bound to be an awkward, disfuguring, mentally traumatizing process; however, we are talking about "adventure in the far future" here. Surely cybernetic enhancement by TL 15 would incorporate the manipulation of materials on the molecular level. It is not at all unrealistic to suppose artificial limbs can be "grown" to suit specific needs, be more versatile and powerful than their organic counterparts and yet be virtually indistinguishable from them in appearance. Why not reinforce the skeletal strucure? Why not regrow synthetic muscle? Why not give every Marine an integrated biocomp/pharmacope which would regulate his or her life functions and inject analgesics, coagulants, etc. when needed? Why not give them passive interface nodes (no, they don't have to be metallic sockets) to link with their battledress? Why not, when, upon retirement ALL of those enhancements can be removed and replaced with cloned tissue? My objection to the cybernetics "debate" in Traveller is that it does nothing more than replicate the very beginnings of our present day misgivings over cloning/cybernetics. Surely 3000 years have resulted in SOME new insights, and at least a degree of familiarity. By that point, at that level of technology, we're not talking about some shadowy, ill-understood Frankensteinian super-soldier experiment: we're talking about helping soldiers survive in a deadly environment with the tools at hand. Typically, technology becomes more user-friendly, not less so: in the traveller universe, with the technological level given, cybernetics need not disfigure the body OR mind.
T20 Military TO&E
- Thread starter justacaveman
- Start date
justacaveman
SOC-12
Due to the expense of cybernetics, IMTU they are only available to the various Special Operations troops. They are used to enhance combat capabilities with reflex enhancements, rapid healing nanobots, databases, skeletal reinforcements etc.. These enhancements and the training to use them properly, are time consuming and aren't cheap.
For the typical line trooper most of his technology is in his Battledress and related weaponry.
Special Operations soldiers are often in covert situations with mission parameters that preclude use of major combat equipment, and may need cybernetics to give them the edge in combat situtions. The Spec Ops trooper will have occasion to use Battledress, and will typically have state-of -the-art equipment (and possibly experimental equipment as well).
For the typical line trooper most of his technology is in his Battledress and related weaponry.
Special Operations soldiers are often in covert situations with mission parameters that preclude use of major combat equipment, and may need cybernetics to give them the edge in combat situtions. The Spec Ops trooper will have occasion to use Battledress, and will typically have state-of -the-art equipment (and possibly experimental equipment as well).
justacaveman
SOC-12
On page 424 of the T20 THB there is an example of a regular Imperial Marine from a line unit.
Armor: Combat Armor-14
Weapons:HUD equipped Gauss Rifle (w/HUD equipped FGMP-15's as support weapons). 1-8 grenades (1/2 Hand grenades, 1/2 RAM rifle grenades maybe?). Cutlass.
Other: Medkit, communicator.
Armor: Combat Armor-14
Weapons:HUD equipped Gauss Rifle (w/HUD equipped FGMP-15's as support weapons). 1-8 grenades (1/2 Hand grenades, 1/2 RAM rifle grenades maybe?). Cutlass.
Other: Medkit, communicator.
Originally posted by LordRhys:
On page 424 of the T20 THB there is an example of a regular Imperial Marine from a line unit.
Armor: Combat Armor-14
Weapons:HUD equipped Gauss Rifle (w/HUD equipped FGMP-15's as support weapons). 1-8 grenades (1/2 Hand grenades, 1/2 RAM rifle grenades maybe?). Cutlass.
Other: Medkit, communicator.
Hmmm...how about a space axe or two per squad?
I personally like the idea of retractable cryst-iron spike mounted on the forearm of combat armor. Real nasty in close.
