Boom Walkers
Mobile Explosive Delivery System - Executive Summary
The Mobile Explosive Delivery System (MEDS) project goal was to create a reusable method of delivering explosive devices without risk to the user. The MEDS is designed with construction, mining, and military uses in mind. Due to the current siege, mining and construction uses have been prioritized, and testing for those considerations will be delayed until the end of the war.
Initial testing of the MEDS has been positive, although some opportunities for improvement have been identified. The fundamental requirements of the project have been achieved, and progress has been made towards the secondary goals. An increase in the department budget will allow for final testing to be completed, and the expected improvements in MEDS survivability would offset the increased costs after a deployment period of 18 months.
With the focus on military uses, the bomb design shifted from focused concussive damage to wide-range concussive and shrapnel coverage. While the ability to direct the explosive energy to specific spots has been reduced, the pure destructive power has increased substantially. Survivability of enemy combatants approaches zero within 15 meters of the unit due to the shrapnel damage, and the concussive force is still effective for a further 15 meters. The friable parts of the bomb casing have been designed to spare the delivery system as much as possible, although this does create some areas where the shrapnel density is below the density required for guaranteed kills.
The mobile unit has exceeded expectations. Survivability goals have been met, with an average redeployment time of 2.75 days. In one case, the unit was able to be reactivated with no repairs, although the maximum speed was reduced by 50%. Analysis of that unit has led to several new directions of study to improve the survivability of other units. Maximum speed is much higher than initially hoped, with the ability to go from standing still to over 20 kph in less than a second. The units are resistant to most forms of damage as well, allowing them to take significant amounts of punishment while moving to their target.
The bipedal system allows them to traverse most terrain with ease. They move as quickly over broken ground, dense vegetation, or extreme slopes as on a flat surface. The claws allow them to grip slick surfaces, and their internal gyroscopes ensure even balance at all times. They are immune to poison and biological agents, most acids, concussive force, necrosis, psychic force, and radiation. While they are able to withstand the temperature of lava, moving through the dense stone is enough to slow them.
In conclusion, the project has been a rousing success. The cost overruns on the walker units are within expected parameters and can be easily absorbed by the military budget. Further funding will allow us to finish the testing of several methods to improve the survivability. If we can consistently deploy units twice or more a day, the state of the war can be changed in an instant.
Social Impact
When the initial prototypes were deployed, they were considered a qualified success. The kill count was lower than hoped, due to the frightening nature of the 3-meter tall walkers charging at full speed. The enemy tended to scatter on approach, allowing some to escape the worst of the blast.
The survivors of these first attacks were horrified by the carnage. Tales of the weapons spread, and the Solbarrans were able to push back against the invaders. But ultimately it backfired on the Solbarrans, as it galvanized more people to join the invading army.
In the waning days of the Solbarran Empire, research and development of weapons of mass destruction became the primary focus of the government and most of the industry.
The MEDS, colloquially known as "Boom Walkers", were originally a project to create a remote detonator for mining explosives. When the war began to close in, the research was redirected to military uses. The focus became to build a quickly deployable unit that could make it to enemy lines and detonate, taking out large numbers of enemy combatants.
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