 April 11, 2017 - 5:58pm | Ground Fleet was created in the fires of the Sathar War but subsequently its funding for personnel was slashed in favor of Space Fleet. The view being that Space Fleet is the first line of defense and Ground Fleet can always be brought back to higher readiness through the training cadres retainned at the end of the war. This is perhaps an overly optimistic presumption made by the politicians but one Ground Fleet has had to live with for decades. Thirty years after the War with the most experienced instructors retiring or taking more lucrative jobs with corporate outifits or mercenary groups Ground Fleet initiated the RICETIC program: Robotically Instructed Combat Education & Tactical Initiative Cirriculum. It was designed to ensure that Ground Fleet could rapidly train new recruits if called upon to reactivate to war footing for another Sathar invasion. The program called for robotic instructors in basic combat and tactical techniques. Tacton collaborated heavily with Ground Fleet expecting a contract for thousands of units but in the end the politicians at the Council of Worlds gutted the budget and only 600 units were purchased. Tachton immediately began marketing to militias, mercenaries, and corporations to defray development cost. This made the "Sgt. Ricky" bot one of the most recognizable combat training robots throughout the Frontier. They did not stop there. Tacton created the Combat Career Centers LLC (also known as C3) as a subsidary and franchised combat training throughout the Frontier. Anyone wishing to recertify their weapon's training at a higher level can pay for training at a C3 center and be trained by a Sgt. Ricky for half the price of a flesh and blood trainer. C3 centers have a dojo, holographic gun range, class rooms and gym. All military skills except demolitions can be learned at a C3 center for half the price but the appropriate time of instruction. Sgt Ricky is a level 6 anthropomorphic robot with all combat related robotics programs. He is covered in durable poly-vinyl rubber for skin. He can also teach tactics and leadership. For X ammount of credits, 1-5 exp, and two weeks time he can teach a leadership seminar. Attendees will recieve LDR points equal to the number of EXP they spent. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
April 11, 2017 - 6:02pm | Combat Careers Center's logo is a target with cross hairs with a c3 super imposed over the target. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
April 11, 2017 - 6:03pm | Planning to stat out the robot, and map a C3 center. plot hooks? Sgt. Ricky is a fully operational combat robot that is capable of search and destroy. Being level 6 he could take command of a squad or company of combat or security robots. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
April 11, 2017 - 6:06pm | working on a robot for issue 21 and it was either Sgt. Ricky or "Dealing with a SAD robot" (SAD= Search and Destroy) I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
April 11, 2017 - 6:08pm | ways that Sgt. Ricky could be used primarily as an antogonist: 1. corrupted programming makes him an opponent. 2. level 6 is self programming so could he hire the PCs? 3. "Sgt. Ricky sent me." 4. reprogrammed robotic assassin I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 April 13, 2017 - 8:22pm | Sounds like a subsidiary of something Wartech would have come up with. After all, can't let rank amatures using their more advanced weapons. In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same. |
April 14, 2017 - 3:25am | Sounds like a subsidiary of something Wartech would have come up with. After all, can't let rank amatures using their more advanced weapons. Good point: Wartech developed the RICETEC program and purchased the robots under contract to TACTON but the Council of Worlds cut funding leaving Wartech holding 1000s of units that Ground Fleet never purchased. These means Sgt Ricky will periodically recieve updates from Wartech to ensure that he has the latest info on new weapons systems- this could be a plot hook in that party A is looking for data X and wants the update file stolen by the the PCs who are cut outs so as to not lead back to party A. Sgt Ricky being a fully capable search and destroy robot begins tracking the PCs Sgt. Ricky will be a powerful robot with potential to aid or oppose the PCs as the situation warrents. The fact that he is level 6 and can actually reprogram himself means the referee can opt to have him do something that is outside his stated mission of training people in combat arts. It could be that he views his help or interference with the PCs as part of training them. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
April 14, 2017 - 5:42am | Espionage plot: insider within Wartec is stealing company secrets. He transmits them via the update sent out to all the Sgt Ricky robots at the C3 centers. One update going to location X is different. There is hidden data. When the coconspirators says a code word or flashes a light in the robot's eyes the data can be down loaded without the robot having a memory. Sgt Ricky serial # 902108675309 recently did an audit of his teaching performance and discovered time stamp discrepancies with a particular client. He's also noticed now that this client seems to remain at the same weapons qualification despite supposed hours of instruction. This last fact is a personal affront to Sgt. Ricky serial # 902108675309 because he takes his training mission very serious. He's looking to hire investigators to find out what's going on but since he's not a sapient being he doesn't have a bank account or any credits. What he can offer is free training and will negotiate that. Edit: the recruitment is by spam- free E coupon sent via chroncom for 1 free hour of holographic rifle range time. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
