Fiction:Drakodominatus Tyranny/Army/Infantry/Synthetics

Chiliarch


"You know you're in trouble when the average infantry of the other guy is a 4 meter tall metal monster which will stop at nothing to break you for the Tyranny."

- Anonymous


 * Name - Chiliarchs
 * Race - Cybernetic
 * Type - Shocktroops
 * Height - 4 - 5 meters
 * Long-Range Weaponry - Varied
 * Melee Weaponry - Varied
 * Armor - Chiliarch Armor. Shield Generator
 * Abilities - Strong, Tough, Accurate, Powerful
 * Relative Threat - Medium-High

The Chiliarchs are the most powerful of the synthetic infantry of the Tyranny and also the rarest, even rarer than the Arcanii. They take the form of imposing 4 meter tall cyborgs, have heavy armor plating, shielding and "hands" allowing them to carry varied armaments. Prior to Stahl's reforms there was only one type of Chiliarch which only had one default loadout, and these Chiliarchs had to be led by Overseers for anything other than rudimentary small unit tactics. After Stahl's reforms variants were made by giving the Chiliarchs different loadouts. The adaptive intelligence of the Chiliarchs means that while they all start out somewhat identically, that they can rapidly adapt to a certain variant and as the battles go on that their experience and specialization as that variant improves. There are many different types of Chiliarch, not all of them mutually exclusive. Loadout differences are not just limited to differences in weaponry as some Chiliarchs are more armored than others, some are faster among other things. Chiliarhcs universally posses both shield generators as well as their existing armor plating, which allows them to endure rather heavy punishment, and their universally powerful weaponry allows them to dish out large amounts of damage. Their regenerative nanobots and repair systems also allow them to recover and fight once a skirmish is over even if they have been damaged. However, in general, they are rather slow and ponderous in comparison to other types of infantry, being slow but purposeful in their advance. Furthermore, they have a more sophisticated AI than the Myrmidons and Arcanii, a kind that is closer to the kinds found on vehicles than those on infantry, and have adaptive learning algorithms as well as machine learning and data mining technology. They use varied tactics when on the offensive and defensive, often times flanking and ambushing their enemy in weak points. They seem to attack in a rather well coordinated manner, and like the Arcanii before them are somewhat capable of providing anti air against comparatively slow moving aircraft and enemy aerial units. They often serve as the Tyranny's shocktroopers against well fortified positions and are often seen spearheading Tyranny assaults. They also generally come equipped with various grenades and other combat items. Stahl shifted all synthetic infantry production to Chiliarch Production when he assumed partial control of the Tyranny's military production lines. Normal ranged Chiliarchs are 4 meters tall while melee Chiliarchs are 4.5 meters tall. Elite Chiliarchs are often transferred to better bodies that are 4.5 and 5 meters respectively for ranged and melee Chiliarchs and are known as Apex Chiliarchs and given enhanced versions of their regular weapons. Known Chiliarch variants are listed below.

"We thought we had them beat with our defensive positions on the ship. No! When the doors exploded, before we could react the room was filled with plasma fire and bolts of energy everywhere. Then the grenades followed, blowing up our barricades and more of our men. Those of us who weren't burning husks by that point were too shocked to counterattack and ripped up when they got into melee range. I don't know how I got out of that ship alive."

- Anonymous

"When we landed, we were expecting swarms of Myrmidons, enemies that we had grown accustomed to smashing and perhaps the odd Chiliarch. But when I saw that they were deploying Chiliarchs as their standard infantry unit I started worrying that this was going to be a very long campaign. As if to confirm my suspicion, a metal slug made my buddy's armored head explode as I finished thinking that thought and I quickly ducked for cover to avoid the Chiliarchs."
 * Assault Variants carry either a particle chain gun or a disruptor shotgun. These weapons are specialized for close quarters combat but suffer in terms of long range accuracy as they are made for maneuverability, and either area saturation or an extremely rapid rate of fire. They also carry a one handed melee weapon which they can use if they sheathe their long-range weapon. They are typically used in close quarters combat such as in urban fighting, storming fortifications, dense terrains, as well as boarding actions. In order to improve them in this role, they have boosters which enable them to move quickly and in an agile manner for short bursts of time.

- Anonymous

"Dug into our bunker we thought we could stave off the offensive till reinforcements arrived. Thats when I saw 2nd squad's bunker get demolished by a Chiliarch carrying a bigger gun than I had ever seen it carry before. Then I realized that we weren't so safe in our siegeworks after all."
 * Tactical Variants generally carry a selective fire (semiautomatic or automatic) railgun rifle or a missile rifle as well as a one handed melee weapon which they must sheathe their rifle before they use. Their weapons are best for mid-range combat, which given the technology of the Dominatus and their enemies is generally anything in their line of sight. They are the most common variant of the Chiliarchs and are generally used in every battle that the Dominatus fight.

- Anonymous

"Honestly its bad enough to worry about them coming at you on the ground."
 * Annihilator Variants carry heavy armaments such as gatling railguns or disintegrator cannons or mini-magnetohydrodynamic cannons and do not carry any melee implements. They take a support role and provide extra long range firepower to Dominatus forces and can be outfitted to engage anything from armor to large groups of infantry to fortifications to low flying aircraft. Extra equipment is given to their sensors to enable them to more accurately and quickly acquire then strike the target. Unlike other Variants they cannot fire effectively while on the move and must be stationary to accurately fire at their targets.

- Anonymous

"We went through the trees at first we were three, then we heard a boo and then there were two. We didn't know what had been done and then there was one."
 * Valkyrie Variants have jump jets enabling them to be dropped from orbit or somewhere lower in the atmosphere. However, these jumpjets operate based on jet turbines instead of the more expensive antigravity ones that overseers use. They are obviously used for aerial and orbital assault and come equipped with the weapons of Assault Variant Chiliarchs.

- Anonymous

"As if dealing with shapeshifters that torture and consume you during sex isn't bad enough."
 * Stalker Variants have a combat sniper role and are equipped with a wave motion sniper rifle as well as a cloaking generator. They also carry a single close combat weapon which they must sheathe the wave motion sniper rifle for in order to use. They are more lightly armored than other Chiliarchs in order to compensate for the space needed to add the cloaking generator as well as the fact that they aren't intended to engage in slugfests with the enemy.

- Anonymous

"I saw one get close to my squad of militia. I blinked and I saw a whirl of blades. I blinked again and I just saw blood and bone on the floor. I blinked again and ran away as fast as possible."
 * The Shadowknife Variants are used by Military Intelligence and has varied armaments, and serve as general extra muscle for Succubi . They have cloaking generators which also have the capability of shielding their size through their more advanced cloaking generators. They are generally less capable than normal Chiliarchs because of the need for this cloaking generator but are still rather formidable in combat.
 * Breacher Variants are Chiliarchs specifically designed to be in the first waves of fortress assaults when overseers are not there or do not constitute the entirety of the attacking force. The Breacher Variants are all equipped with a weaker variant of the Steelguard shield on one hand and either of the Assault Variant's long-range weapons locked into the shield. In this way, the Breacher is always firing from cover. Furthermore, the Breacher's armor is augmented by further ablative armor and while not as armored as a Minotaur Variant, can still take more damage than other Chiliarchs. The tradeoff is that the Breachers are slower and less maneuverable than other Chiliarchs.

- Anonymous

"I thought i was safe inside my AFV until someone cut out the side of our vehicle. It was awkward to stare in the Chiliarch's eyes to say the least as he prepared his second strike."
 * Gladiator Variants carry two close combat weapons of varying choices and are designed with agility and speed in mind. Thus, the space freed up from not having to contain two weapon systems is shifted to equipment designed to make this particular Chiliarch type much more agile and maneuverable. Gladiator Variants specialize in engaging and destroying large amounts of normal enemy infantry in close combat and do so with brutal efficiency. Combat reports describe them as whirlwinds of steel which only leave puffs of ichor and gore after their actions.

- Anonymous

"Honestly, its not like they need to be any harder to kill."
 * Minotaur Variants carry one massive two-handed weapon and are designed with protection and power in mind. They are the most armored of the Chiliarchs and also the most powerful in terms of the damage that their weapons do. The tradeoff is that with such weight they often strike after their enemy in combat, though their heavily armored bodies are designed with taking the first blow and shrugging it off then repaying the enemy with a massively powerful counterstrike. They have been described as being powerful enough to cut through small groups of lesser enemies with their weapons.

- Anonymous

"We were facing them down and our current deployment was fending the incoming Tyranny forces off. Then I heard the crash of Chiliarch cavalry into our flank and then I knew it was time to retreat."
 * Steelguard Variants carry a giant shield as well as a close combat weapon. They do not favor either power or agility as the Minotaur and Gladiator do respectively but instead the ability to utilize the shield properly in combat. The shield is immensely protective and is even harder to penetrate than the Minotaur Variants thick carapace. Furthermore, Steelguards are known to link up into shieldwalls that prevent the possibility of flanking and present a nigh-impenetrable front to the enemy. An infamous tactic used by them later in the Mirus Campaign is to have ranged weaponry equipped Chiliarchs fire from behind them while the Steelguards form a shield wall.

- Anonymous

"They're already worrisome enough when acting by themselves. The last thing we needed was someone to direct them around and make them even more powerful."
 * Cataphract Variants are the rarest of the Chiliarchs and carry a lance that doubles as both a melee and long-range weapon. They are armored almost as much as Minotaur Variants but preserve most of their agility. They are mounted on a hover-bike and are used for cavalry assaults as well as occasional reconnaissance. One of the most frightening sights for enemies is to see them conduct cavalry assaults in tandem with Horsemen of Destiny Overseers under the cover of combined arms fire.

- Anonymous


 * Officer Variants of the Chiliarchs of which there are varying ranks are equipped with knowledge of small unit tactics and general strategy. They can be distinguished by their wearing of greatcoats and peaked caps over their cybernetic body, a design choice made in homage to officer's uniforms during the Unification Wars and equipped with the weaponry of the Variant they are meant to lead for the ones leading from the front or merely binoculars and extra sensors as well as a sidearm for those directing ground forces in general. Officer Variants for Melee Types do not carry overcoats and peaked caps to demarcate them being officers but instead capes and more ornamented armor as well as occasional crests or plumes on their helmets. Officer Variants which have frontline duty instead of farther away roles also generally come equipped with a more reinforced chassis.