EX-Vuun V7.9 ARU
Churrian Autonomous Reconnaissance Unit
To the Sanguar Institute, when it comes to the exploration and documentation of new shards beyond the Homestead Gate, there are fewer resources as reliable and safe as that of the ARU unit. Named after a famous Churrian explorer and bearing the title of Autonomous Reconnaissance Unit (ARU), the Ex-Vuun V7.9 ARU unit is a common site throughout Churrian society due to its reliability and ease of use. Used primarily for exploration of new shards or maintaining vigil of Sanguar Institute borders, the ARU unit has a vetted history within Churrian society and, as such, remains a consistent technological companion.
First introduced in a manned form on Churr during the years leading up to and including the Final War, ARU units originally saw use as a means of finding exploitable weaknesses by Rimkathar raiders on other faction's settlements and military compounds. However, following the Final War, these units have been modified and repurposed to fit a far more humanitarian role as silent observers and scouts to ensure the safety of Sanguar Institute personnel and to prevent the wasteful use of the Institute's resources.
Utility
Generally used as exploratory units to investigate new regions through constructed Homestead Gates, ARU units are considered a safe way to determine the nature of discovered shards before further Sanguar Institute resources are used. Able to analyze important locations and events while preventing its own early destruction, these units are a safe and cheap way for the Sanguar Institute to perform reconnaissance without risking its personnel.
ARU units are also used to maintain observation of many of Sangaur Institute's established areas and borders for risk of intrusion, invasion, or anomalous activities. Cycling out only when their batteries grow low, these units can maintain a constant vigil against those who would seek to disrupt or destroy the Institute's humanitarian mission.
Civilian versions of the ARU unit have also become a popular gadget within Churrian society and as such it is not uncommon to see the modified versions of this friendly unit being used as a companion for a variety of situations, including helping with menial tasks or acting as information repositories for individuals on the move.
Manufacturing
Most Sanguar Institute facilities and divisions carry and maintain a stock of ARU drones for use in many different situations. This is due to the ease of creation that these drones have with the most complicated component being that of their limited artificial intelligence. While the chips themselves necessary to on-board the A.I. are relatively "easy" to make, provided there is a stock of the appropriate resources, many facilities maintain a centralized A.I. backup in the event of a unit's complete loss to prevent the painstaking process of re-establishing the necessary parameters and behaviors required for further ARU units to be successful.
Access & Availability
Available in different versions for civilian and institutional needs, ARU units can be found throughout Churrian society as companions and within the Sanguar Institute as a reliable, if expendable, reconnaissance and security workforce.
Complexity
Reasonably complex, these drones broadly use silent and efficient anti-gravity thrusters, A.I. intelligence, camera sensors, and, depending on the model, further modifications to allow them to perform a variety of different tasks and duties. This may include more advanced computers, larger batteries, and/or small mechanical graspers. It should be noted that weaponized versions of the ARU unit may exist, however, they are strictly prohibited within the Sanguar Institute and Churrian society save in authorized military capacities.
Discovery
In the events preceding and ultimately during the Final War, the Rimkathar found that information was not a primary resource they possessed. Relying upon lightning raids into enemy territories to gather essential components and resources before vanishing back into their hidden mobile bases, the Rimkatharian people were left with a significant disadvantage. Scouting required time to perform adequately and, as technology continued to improve across many of the Churrian factions, it left the Rimkathar with a considerable chance that their bases of operations could be discovered before it was time to attack. However, to blindly throw themselves into enemy territory was foolish at best and suicidal at worst. As such, development into alternative solutions was prioritized.
The end solution was a rough version of the ARU that is used now. Lacking autonomous functions, the first ARU drones created were instead manned and susceptible to low battery life, limited range, and exposure to the elements. However, they were essential to allowing the Rimkathar raids to continue as geological and military weaknesses were more easily identified and exploited by the raiders. Once complete, they could vanish back into their mobile bases for a quick relocation.
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