Rook

Rooks are mobile FED HQs often deployed for traffic management and crowd control.
They take their name from their characteristic castellated platform mounted on a tall, generally square or cylindrical armoured tower reminiscent of a castle keep or stylised chess "rook"; although there are many variants in service (see StreetSweeper).

The turret platform provides a vantage point for surveillance and coordinating fire control with friendly units, it also serves as an ominous symbol of manifest authority.
From tank sized vehicles for front line engagements to siege breaking fortress crawlers, Rooks have a reputation for being slow but unstoppable.
It is popularly believed that they originated in rumoured past inter-GC conflicts.

Power Generation

Varies according to local FED tech clearance and budget.

Propulsion

Tracked versions are the most common, possibly inherited from their supposed martial origin. Smaller wheeled Rooks have been used in special operations while walker variants have been reported in several GigaCities.

Weapons & Armament

Rooks are specialists in crowd control bristling with "non-lethal" weaponry including gas and net launchers, baton wheels, tear gas launchers, rapid setting foam sprayers and super heavy water cannons. Weapons systems can be static mounted, swivel mounted, ball jointed, or track mounted.

Armor and defense

Rooks are specifically designed to resist boarding actions with spiked plates and electrified hulls common in the OuterBelts and low friction armour coatings and sonic dispersal systems deployed in the InnerBelts. McOlor displays help to sooth any rioters that come too close.
Sloped armoured gun ports punctuate the Rook’s tower like arrow slits. These can be fitted from the full range of FED approved modular offensive and defensive loadouts.

Communication Tools & Systems

Rooks can be fitted with Grid Nodes allowing them to operate as mobile tactical HQ’s for GigaSynts. Powerful Sonic Reinforcement Systems inform GigaCitizens of their rights before opening fire.

Sensors

Surveillance cameras employing facial recognition tech issue punishing automatic fines against any perceived perpetrator's UniCred allowances.

Hangars & docked vessels

Rooks commonly carry drone ports to launch support surveillance swarms, traffic control and road clearance drones.

Designation

From Class 4 to Leviathan

Motto

Gives way to no-one

Rarity

Common staple in most GigaCities and larger PicaCities

Length

30-300 feet

Height

30-300 feet

Weight

188-13500 tons

Speed

Up to 15mph

Complement / Crew

Rooks can carry multiple squads of street security officers and elite units of RoadGuard ShockTroopers in full Pacification armour.

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Rooks commonly function as mobile barracks and holding cells.