ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

for

GURPS(tm) OGRE 

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Call this area a 'supplement' to GURPS OGRE(tm) based on the alternate DATAPULSE line of technology and events.  Here you will find additional material for GURPS OGRE(tm) and discussion of the various aspects of role playing in the OGRE future using the GURPS rules and DATAPULSE items / technology / events.  I will add in items and page numbers for material that you may choose to add to the GURPS OGRE(tm) rule book as you see fit to.  I will use the page numbers in the following format (GO) for Gurps OGRE and then the page number.  GO23 would then refer to page 23 of the GURPS OGRE rulebook.

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THE COMBINE- (GO23) Throughout the 21st century, the North American Combined Treaty Alliance (NACTA) is the most powerful democratic based political entity in the world.  The center of its power is the heart of the North American continent and only a handful of nations are powerful enough to defy it or withstand its polite but nonetheless firm political urgings.

GEOGRAPHY- The Combine first incorporated only Canada and the United States of America, forming the Canadamerican Union in 2015.  The North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) of a generation ago greatly eased the breaking down of the Northern borders and would work to eliminate the Southern border years later.  One set of laws became standard for all citizens from the panhandle of Florida to the top of Alaska and all territory in-between as both governments merged more or less with very little friction.  Five years later Mexico is admitted to the Canadamerican Union and the alliance votes to change the formal name to the North American Combined Treaty Alliance (NACTA) which is often simply referred to as the 'Combine'.  The unification of the North American continent for mutual defense and economics did not represent a loss of individual national identity.  The central economic, political, economic, and military controls were structured so as to be a benefit to all.

In the decades to follow, the Combine and its wealth would reach out to its poorer neighbors, often taking them in if they agreed to be governed by and live up to the ideals of the Combine.  Few of those who were invited refused for the power and persuasiveness of the Combine was great.  Trade with the Combine and its affiliates was also coveted, for the Combine was a hotbed of technology.  Freedom was a bright spark to the creativity of some of the greatest minds in the world, and the Combine actively recruited those it saw could positively benefit it.

Cuba was the first of the Caribbean nations to be absorbed by the Combine (see CUBA below) in 2021.  Two years later, the various other Caribbean nations and even Bermuda were members of the Combine and moving toward integration and standardization.  As the Combine spread, other nations around the world took notice with both jealousy and fear for while other nations were struggling with their economies, the Combine only continued to prosper and strengthen.  The Combine quickly spread down through the Central American countries, enveloping Panama in 2025 AD (and gaining ownership and the many benefits of the Panama Canal for shipping and the Combine Navy...).   The Panama Canal Zone (PCZ) became one of the premier Combine Naval and Aviation bases in Central America.  Using artificial labor and robots, the Canal was widened considerably to allow the next generation of Combine naval warships, so called 'smartships', to have access.

South America was slower to join and integrate, but even it succumbed to the economic might of the Combine by the end of the 2030's.

The United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and New Zealand also joined when faced with the awakening military giants that were Paneurope and communist red China.  As the world balance of power once again shifted to three distinct super powers, the lesser powers realized that they had better make a decision as to who they would support or be swallowed alive by those they didn't.  As Paneurope slowly came to power in a series of highly visible military actions and a vastly internally swollen China poked at its own rather limited territorial borders tentatively, the Combine matched each of their cautionary moves at every step with its own display of force, making sure that the Paneuropeans and the Chinese knew where they could step and where they could not.   There was not a lot of room to grow as a nation by the middle of the 21st century and both Paneurope and China understood this.  The stranglehold that the Combine was reinforcing only went to infuriate them further.  The Paneuropeans and the Chinese saber rattled with the Combine many times, sniffing at the ripe fruit that lay over the border, but until later in the 21st century, the political, economic, and military walls that the Combine built up around its members and affiliates were enough to keep the giant at bay.  The territories of Taiwan and Japan were especially attractive to China.   Japan, as one of the leaders in Combine scientific research and its deep technology base, was a prize worth going to war for.  The buildup of Chinese and Combine land, air, and sea forces on and around mainland Japan would last until the start of the Last War.  Combine citizens in Japan lived in constant fear of a red invasion for decades.   Australia enjoyed all the benefits of the Combine membership but still maintained some of its noble independence.  The 'land down under' became a major staging area for Combine naval forces in the area and was the kick off point for the defense of mainland Japan during the first Chinese push.

GOVERNMENT- The North American Council (NAC) started with rather strong powers to administer the defense and the economics of the Combine.   Officials are elected in equal numbers from each territory or region of the Combine.  Size and population have no bearing on how many members a region gets (a problem that the United States had long suffered under with its representation system).   Members were elected by direct popular vote of the people through a carefully maintained automated voting system.  The sweeping political reforms of the early 21st century were the basis for the much leaner and efficient democracy that powered the Combine.  Officials hold office for one term, which lasts for five years.  They may run again, but no one on the council is guaranteed a 'seat for life'.  The media pays close scrutiny to the Council members, and any wrong doings, slips of character or integrity, or other greedy act is vilified both in private and public by the media.   Integrity and honor are what holds the Combine together, rising from the ashes of the old democracy where money talked and those with the money often found that the law would bend in direct proportion to the amount of money spent on its behalf.  In 2030 AD, the politician is again a servant of the people, instead of the people being a servant of the politician.

CULTURE- The Combine Council is flexible, and meets to determine changes to the Charter that defines the existence of the Combine.  Any change to the Charter must undergo lengthy debate and research as to any far reaching implications.  The Combine holds the freedoms of the individual above all else but the needs of the many still outweigh the needs of the few.  Freedom of speech has been redefined and is more limited to being defined as 'freedom of political speech'.   Popular culture, driven to a frenzy by the all too willing corporate media, almost toppled the political and social structure of the Free West in the early 21st century.   Such rampant abuse of the basic ideals of individual freedom is no longer tolerated.  Freedom of speech no longer includes the freedom to be lewd or vulgar in public or in media expression.  The Combine does not offer compensation for what it considers vulgar media, including many of the arts.  The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, and where once minorities found that they had incredible power, their powerbase has been broken and shattered.  The Combine takes care of its citizens, all equally sharing the wealth of the most powerful political entity in the world during the 21st century.  Those who feel otherwise quickly learn to what extent their cries of 'abuse' will be heard. The culture of the Combine favors the overall of society, with the individual as the key element.  Those that disrupt society are looked upon with disfavor.  Life in the territory of the Combine is the richest and best that a person could hope to enjoy in the 21st century.  When the Combine extended membership to different territories, those in abject poverty were soon living like kings.  People are not quick to forget this and defend the ideals of Combine regulated society.

Popular sports continue to be a main stream event, as do the various forms of arts and media but the commercial motivation has been repressed.   Music continues to be a popular expression for all ages but especially for youthful independence.  Media forms that reinforce good or noble virtues are the most popular while those that reinforce greed, corruption, or other social degradation find that they are publicly shunned.  Society has once again shifted from the 'me' aspect to the 'us' aspect.  The nature of respect, integrity, honor, and other virtues are indoctrinated into Combine youth starting from the first year of education and continue on throughout their life.  Everyone works hard to better themselves, as long as what they do with their life also betters the Combine and others.  The Combine spends much time and effort increasing the comfort of the average citizen, only asking in turn that the citizen respect the Combine and work hard to uphold society as based upon its ideals.

Public servants (teachers, fire fighters, and police officers) are elevated to highly respected positions in society as the education systems are reformatted across all territories.  These elements of society are seen as the core building elements of the Combine, providing both education and security, the very basic building blocks of any society.  The teacher shortage of 2010 AD in the democratic West was a educational disaster that took nearly two decades to overcome and one that was not easily forgotten.  Public education is free through grade twelve and government grants are available (at easy to pay back rates) to those who wish to continue their education in a variety of higher education institutions.  A minimum of twelve years of education is required to hold any Combine related job within the government, and that is limited to only the menial tasks and lower echelons.

LAW- The standardized laws of the Combine are both fair and equal.  The legal system, a fusion of Canadian and American laws, works efficiently and quickly.  Gone are the days of commercial lawyers and lengthy appeals.  The legal system has been revamped to provide the fairest amount of legal attention per person per crime.  Nothing more, nothing less.

Some mistakes are made, but that is the price of an efficient and quick system.  Gone is the cumbersome legal system of the past century that did nothing but recycle criminals back out into society and waste tax payer's money.  The new system is both lean and harsh, criminals find that life on the inside is no where near as comfortable as life on the outside.  Punishment depends on the severity of the crime and is tailored to fit specifically.  The advent of advanced DNA testing and other methods of guilt proof mean that very few mistakes are made in all the efficiency.   The sentence of life in prison has likewise been commuted to capital punishment, the logic being that if a person were so bad that they could never be allowed into public again, then there was no reason in keeping that person alive, at Combine citizen expense, for the rest of their life.  The Combine protects its citizens.  Those who would do the citizen harm, the Combine casts a harsh eye upon, and is even willing to dispose of them for the betterment of the average citizen.

Capital crimes such as treason, dealing in contraband (drugs or other), rape, and murder carry the maximum sentence of public execution by hanging.   Punishment for minor offenses can range from simple fines and forced community service up to and including public floggings.  The psyche of the Combine legal system is that not only does crime not pay, but it is also embarrassing when it is exposed.   Stronger punishment for non-capital crimes is limited to years spent served on one of the many Federal Labor Forces, often in the outlying regions and territories of the Combine.  Most of the new territories of the Combine (including Cuba) were standardized using cheap criminal labor.  In the Combine, prisoners of the legal system do not sit idle all day, they are put to public work building roads, clearing terrain, landscaping, and doing cleanup along the highways and roads.  They are put to work doing the menial tasks of society.  Prison force labor is economical and plentiful.  Prisoners must earn their keep in the prisons of the Combine, and those that do not work do not eat.  Repeat offenders are given longer and harsher sentences under the system, in increasingly harsher labor areas.  Three time offenders for the same crime are remanded over for capital punishment.

MILITARY SERVICE- The Combine has worked hard to integrate its military with both discipline and technology.  The Combine armed forces are the best trained and equipped military forces in the world during the 21st century.  Any weaknesses in the chain of command and the basic structure have been eliminated.  The armed forces are a service of distinction and pride whose members enjoy many benefits in society.  Advanced education within the armed forces is free to those who choose to do so and required of officers and higher ranking officials.  Military personnel enjoy full room and board, full medical and dental benefits, and a above average salary.   Travel is often not only a perk, but a requirement in the Combine military forces, though the Combine tries hard not to ship native soldiers off to outlying territories (a soldier in Japan would not be forced to serve in Cuba, for example, as soon as they signed on) but the needs of the Combine often dictate the reallocation of personnel and materials to hot spots around the world.

Benefits of military service include discounts in society (via a military identification card) at a variety of services, cheap government insurance and provided medical care for the soldier and any immediate dependents.  Career soldiers or those who serve more than a single term are eligible for continuing benefits when they muster out.  Military law is far more strict that civil law as the code of a soldier is held in higher regard.  Discipline is paramount, but is reinforced with training and benefits.  The Combine wants soldiers, not conscripts, and as such, does not have a 'draft' unless in times of war.  Serving as a soldier in the Combine is an honor in society and looked upon as such for the average citizen realizes that the soldier is the first line of defense against those who would take away what the Combine provides.

COMBINE CITIZEN-  The average Combine citizen enjoys the following advantages and benefits.  Literacy (B21), Status level 1 (if educated to grade 12) or Status level 2 (if advanced education has been completed) (B18), and a starting wealth of $15,000 for Status level 1 and $25,000 for Status level 2 (B16).   The enhanced education base that all Combine citizens undergo also gives each citizen the Versatile [5] advantage.  The average Combine citizen will have their own independent or cultural language, plus English making them bilingual.  This trait and advantage is seen more in the outlying territories than in the central North Americas.   Combine citizens from Canada, for example, might speak French and English, while those from Mexico or Central America would speak Spanish and English.  Spanglish is a common tongue as well, a mixture of English and Spanish that is used widely among the lower echelon citizens of the South American Combine.

CUBA-  The political assassination of Fidel Castro in 2019 led to massive social upheavals in the small Caribbean country.  The Cuban army, if it could be called such, rapidly fragmented into factions led by individual warlords.   As Havana burned and riots swept the streets, the Combine 5th RDF Rapid Deployment Force was dispatched from the panhandle tip of Florida.  The Combine 'invasion' of Cuba, known officially as "Operation Open Hand" (and unofficially as "Operation Open Hand Grab") lasted less than forty eight hours.  The air mobile and mechanized 5th RDF landed on multiple fronts and with lightning speed, converged on the capital, removing all native occupational forces and bringing much needed relief to the helpless citizens of the small island.  Combine medical corps units moved through the country side, administering medical aid from armored convoys to the villagers.  The Combine media had a field day with the images of the 5th RDF bringing peace and order to a poorer neighbor of the Combine.  Many other nations saw through the media smoke screen and decried the Combine's invasion, claiming that "Operation Open Hand" was just a poorly disguised opportunistic move of a greedy capitalistic driven giant that was out of control.  The objections to the Combine's handling of the Cuban Crisis of '19 never developed past vocal and written protests and those were in their very nature, carefully worded and never very loud.  The Combine was rapidly growing into the very thing that it had been called in mocking; a capitalistic giant driven by the free market economy and the politics of democracy.

From 2019 to 2021, the Combine continued its 'invasion' of Cuba, bringing about modernization with the induction of nearly 100% native workforce employment.  The modernization of Cuba would take five years but the Combine turned the tiny island nation into a garden spot of the Caribbean, and a showplace for what democracy and money could do.  When the Combine flag rose above the capital in 2021, a year long celebration began.  The wealthy once again returned to Havanna and the wealth of the country grew in leaps and bounds. 

Combine Standard Military Personal Equipment

(All prices listed are for MILITARY purchases (considered to be in bulk lots).
Private prices will be 2x to 10x higher)
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Standard Soldier's Kit- All soldiers who enlist with the Combine are issued a standard soldier's kit which includes the following items:

5 Pairs of standard GI woven socks, monocolor
5 Pairs of GI underwear (female enlistees also are issued GI bras), unmarked, monocolor
5 GIT-shirts, unmarked, monocolor
2 Pairs GI military combat boots- black, laced, reinforced heel and toe, non-conductive
1 Footwear maintenance kit (spare laces, brushes, buffs, polish, etc.)
3 Complete sets military GI BDUs (pants, shirt, adjustable belt, soft cap)
3 Sets basic insigna (name, unit, Combine patches, all 'brass', etc.)
1 Parade uniform with dress cap, complete ("dress" BDUs)

1 Toiletry kit (includes materials for proper dental and personal hygiene as well as items for personal grooming and shaving.  Kit lasts one adult 60 days of field use.  Refills available at PX or GI services)
1 Military identification card (includes embedded microchip containing medical, military, and personal history)
1 Set GI standard electronic dog-tags (all medical, military, and personal history recorded on an imbedded microchip)
1 Military identification chip implant (contains info identical to dog-tags and ID card)
1 GI Chronometer (see below)
1 Pack moldable ear plugs, flat black memory foam (reuseable, 20 plugs per pack, reduces noises by 30 decibels when used)
1 GI sunglasses- non-glare, adjustable, with hard case and cleaning instructions and supplies, belt clip included as well on case
1 Sewing and maintenance kit for BDUs and other issue clothing
2 Penlights (one white light, one red light for night ops, each uses an AAA cell for 72 hours continous use)
1 GI flashlight- (operates off of an A cell for 14 days continous operation, includes clip to attach to helmet, webgear, weapon, etc.)
1 Greber Multi-tool with belt pouch (adds +1 to all repair skill rolls even when a tool kit is not present)
2 Pairs of heavy duty gloves with reinforced palm and back of hand areas, non-conductive
1 Pack nasal filter plugs in hard case (UT2, p76)
1 TI (Trinity Instruments) PDATI Personal Data Assistant Tactical Interface
1 TI (Trinity Instruments) PCS Personal Communications System with ultra-light headset and boom-mike

1 Dose Steresthai (sterility drug) (required) (GO p66)
1 Battery of broad spectrum general immunity injections (health +3 to avoid any common disease)

2 Emergency First Aid Kits (UT, p42)
1 Flat olive drab bag with strap.  Holds up to 2 cubic meters of gear and clothing.   Has 4 large pockets and 10 small pockets. 1kg, $10
1 GI Field Pack (SOps, p95)- can carry 250kg, $30, 3kg due to advanced light weight carbon fiber frame
1 LBE Load Bearing Equipment- (SOps, p95)- $10, 2kg
1 LBV Load Bearing Vest- (SOps, p95)- $20, 3kg
1 Plasticeramic combat helmet
1 Greber Mark V combat knife

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Plasticeramic combat helmet- The standard issue Combine field helmet is a form fitting yet stylized design easily recognized the world over.  It is provided in a flat color but has attachment points for a variety of camoflage meshes and skins (takes 2 turns to apply an appropriate combat skin or mesh).  A wide elastic strap that runs around the circumference of the helmet allows the user to 'store' a variety of other items such as lotions, playing cards, etc. or whatever small item the soldier fancies.  The helmet is constructed with multiple attachment points for standard communication, electronic, vision enhancement aids, and digital still or video feed units.  There is a thick (DR2) retractable visor that is polarized against glare and bright lights.  The combat helmet has PD 3, DR 20, weighs 3kg, costs $150, and covers areas 3-4, and the back of 5.  Thick ear pads screen out 90% of the background noise, offering superior hearing capacity through natural filtration.

Each helmet kit comes with a removeable breathable inner liner, adjustable / removeable head / chin strap, one standard bottle general maintenance application (4oz), one standard bottle water repellant (4oz), two expandable nets, and two expandable bands.  A modified version of this (identical except for slight aesthetical and physical appearance differences) is used for vehicular crews.

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Trinity Instruments PDA-TI Personal Data Assistant Tactical Interface- The PDA-TI is the soldier's companion.  It is a full digital assistant and is about the size of a paperback book.  Most of the unit is a high resolution view screen with touch activated graphic user interface and limited voice recognition capacity.  A small stylus is included in the design of the case for use in making notations on the screen.   Each member of the Combine armed forces is issued a PDA-TI unit and their duties often revolve around constant use of the unit.  The PDA-TI links into the local area network (securely) through both digital technology or hard lines (two ports).  The onboard dual microproessor can handle very advanced graphics and local storage capacity of the unit is 25 gigabytes of information.  The PDA-TI's main utility is in the transmission and receiving of orders, work schedules, personal calendar, and other such trivial functions.  However, the PDA-TI also contains a inertial compass (programmable) that can display a 3D topo map and can be used to download and store maps, as well as vital information on local conditions.  Mechanics use their PDA-TIs to download, store, and recall service and maintenance manuals for the items of equipment that they are currently working on.  A audible text to voice modulator allows the PDA-TI to 'read' out instructions or data to the user and to respond to simple commands such as "next topic" or "Skip to how to reinstall a fuel pump".   The text to voice modulator can also double as a voice to text assembler, allowing for dictation of personal notes, letters, etc.  Formal stationary can be stored as images and transmitted to respective offices as such, producing hard copy on various printers located there.  The PDA-TI even contains a personal calendar (200 year capacity, ability to store up to 1000 items of interest per day), chronometer (variable), alarm, and a personal security code system.  Many soldiers download games or novels on their PDA-TIs and use these as escapes from the boredom found in barracks life.   Soldiers can communicate via Email and even real time video using their PDA-TIs, though the network has to be fairly free of any type of artificial jamming (non-battlefield use).  Synchronization software allows one soldier to adapt or update not only their own PDA-TI, but their friends, partners, and commander's PDA-TIs respectively as well.  The digital camera system included in the PDA-TI is capable of still shots, taking direct video, and even limted editing of the video / images (using included software).  The resolution is quite high, being very high definition, but the field of depth is rather limited.

The PDA-TI is complexity 2 and runs for a year on a A cell.  It costs $600 and weighs one pound.  The software is proprietary, built into the hardware, and cannot be copied to another (civilian) machine though the information stored locally on the machine may be though the interface ports are (delibertly) different and will require adaptors.  The PDA-TI includes ports to hook up a standard keyboard, one other alternate form of cursor control device ("mouse"), a video output (to a larger monitor or a holographic projector), a port for direct connection to another PDA-TI (allows hardwired data transfer), a port to an output device (printer, etc.), and an input port (digital camera, scanner, recorder, etc.).  The PDA-TI has software and a microphone built in which will allow it to also record and edit sound.  A port on the bottom of the PDA-TI allows it to be 'docked' to a larger workstation for data transfer as well.  One standard cartridge slot is located at the bottom of the unit for the addition of hard data cartridges (entertainment, technical manuals, etc.).  Most of these cartridges are available through the PX or in the case of most tech manuals, stored at the respective areas of work.

A internal comm unit has a three mile range and can link in with Combine military networks (user ID verified and some rights may be reserved or disallowed completely based on rank, status, etc.).  Range can be boosted indefinitely depending on communication repeaters and nodes and the unit can take advantage of LOS communication through the use of a infra-red transmitter / receiver port.

In an Information Society such as the Combine prides itself on being, the PDA-TI is the ultimate companion to the soldier and one pocket of the standard CDUs is even constructed to hold the PDA-TI exclusively on the hip.  Referees are encouraged to find new uses for the PDA-TI which should be all invasive to the soldier character's life.  Being out on the town on a date and having your CO video tag you and order you back to base for a briefing.  PDA-TIs are also available in civilian models, with greatly reduced features and no military application.   Ports for civilian models are, by necessity and design, different than the ports for military models.  The miltiary has adaptors to convert their PDA-TIs to civilian equipment and interfaces, but these are not readily available to the civilian sector and when found, raise some hard to answer questions.

Trinity Instruments PCS Personal Communications System with ultra-light headset and boom-mike- The standard Combine light tactical headset is produced by Trinity Instruments in Vancouver and Dallas to military Spec IV standards.   It consists of a self contained transmitter / receiver and a boom-mike.  The unit is very light weight, at just 3 ounces and fits comfortably behind either the left or right ear with a simple adjustment of the boom mike position.  The unit affixes to the wearer behind their ear.  All units feature full digital clarity as well as burst compression and scrambling as well as private channel selection.  Fifty channels are available on the base model, and advanced 'command' models feature up to 200 channels.   Range is three miles (boosted indefinitely with comm drones and other comm equipment or repeaters).  GI cost is $300.  Models with more features will cost more.  An omni-link allows the unit to link to the PDA-TI above for information transfer capacity.  Standard models are molded in flat black polymer and come with a protective storage hardcase small enough to be carried in a CDU pocket.  One AA cell powers the unit for constant use for a year.

Greber Multi-Tool(tm)- Standard issue to all military personnel, the Greber Model 353 Multi-tool is a compact, folding unit which includes a variety of folding and locking tools.  The standard model is patterned after a set of needle nose pliers, with a built-in wire cutter attachment.  Other tools which fold into the handles of the pliers and unfold and lock are: standard screw driver, Phillip's head, awl punch, can opener, saw, file (rough on one side, fine on the other), and single edged utility knife.   The non-slip grips are labeled on one side in inches (zero to four inches, in 1/10" increments) and on the other side in CM (zero to 10cm in 1mm increments).  A small kit is included with the Model 353 which includes a special attachment tip which secures to the Phillip's head.  This tip allows the use of several 'bits' which conform to the various 'safety' and 'security' tips used on various pieces of Combine military equipment such as weapons and computers.  Ten bits, numbered, are included with the Greber Model 353, as is a flat black nylon belt pouch to store the tool and the bits.  In game use, the Greber allows a character to make simple repairs to items and equipment.   It allows the character to operate at normal skill level instead of any negative DMs which might be associated for not having access to the proper tools.  While no replacement for 'full-size' tools, the Greber is invaluable in a pinch and the stories of its usefulness are many.  Available as a civilian model (identical except for some of the bits included which are proprietary Combine...) and in either polished or flat finish.   The military issue is flat black issue.  Weight is 1/2 pound and cost is $30.

GI Chronometer- The GI Chronometer is a digital, multi-function, flat black, non-conductive, non-reflective high precision military watch.   The chronometer includes green numerals and easy to read backlit illumination.  Functions include time (12hr/24hr mode selectible), date, dual stop watch function, pedometer function (measures distance travelled), digital compass (reads magnetic north), and a alarm that can be set for either audible (beep) or silent (vibrates / buzzes).  A synchronous time setting allows the unit to interface with similar units within a 3 square meter radius and automatically set all functions to be the same for each unit for which the synchronous function is activated.  This last function is used to synchronize the chronometers of all members of a team during a critical operation, and other similar tasks.  Late TL8, runs on a AAA cell for 5 years, negligible weight, costs $300.

Military CDUs / Fatigues- The standard Combine set of CDUs (Combat Dress Uniform, so called to avoid any confusion with the term "battledress" which could mean power armor)) consists of a four piece kit; a cap (called a "cover"), jacket, pants, and adjustable belt.  Each piece is individually adjustable through straps and bands to one size smaller or one size larger.  Real (as opposed to the cheaper 'civilian copies) Combine CDUs are olive drab colored, and constructed of a fully synthetic fire resistant (Thermgard(tm)) material.  The material is naturally tough (PD1, DR2) and is reinforced at the elbow, knee, forearm, and shin locations with double thick material that includes a layer of poly memory foam cushioning (PD1, DR4).  The material is also waterproof and water repellant.

The pants of the set include four standard sized pockets (two front, two rear), a map pocket (front), two large storage pockets (expandable, thigh), and two large pockets (expandable) on the rear of each leg.   One pocket is located on the left leg and is designed exclusively for the inclusion of the soldier's PDA-TI unit.  The jacket includes two large chest pockets, a pair of shoulder pockets located on each arm, and a pocket constructed for protective eye wear or sunglasses to be stored in.  Cold weather CDUs weigh and cost twice as much, but give the wearer +5 to HT to resist cold weather or associated environmental concerns.  A hot weather version is intended to be used in arid climates like the Middle East and confers a +5 to HT to resist hot weather or associated environmental concerns.  Cost for the hot weather version is twice that of a normal version, but weight is one pound less.

CDUs cost $100 for REAL GI issue, and about half or one third that for 'cheap' civilian imitation models.  Surplus CDUs can be had for the price of brand new civilian imitation CDUs in some surplus chains / stores.   CDUs are available in a variety of colors, though olive drab (referred to as Combine Standard #42) is the base color.  Civilian colors range from standard, to gaudy neon colors.  Camoflage colors are available in theater patterns and are generally issued to sector troops before deployment.  Each soldier is issued four sets of CDUs upon reporting for basic training.  Other sets of CDUs are issued depending on normal wear, damage beyond individual soldier repair, or special missions as required.

Combat Boots-  As everything else, the foot gear of the soldier continues to advance in design.  The standard Combine combat / duty boot (CDB) is a black, synthetic pliable material that 'breathes' to release humidity and heat.  Gel-pack cushions support the feet during strenous activity (running, jumping, standing guard) and reduce fatigue levels (add +2 to HT to resist effects associated with these activities).  A anti-bacterial / anti-fungal material layer is included in the interior design to reduce foot discomfort and disease.  A non-slip tread pattern is also applied (add +1 to all DMs for slippery or uneven surfaces) and the design of the boot is such that it is actually quieter than its predecessors (add +1 to stealth based die rolls when trying to do something quietly and wearing CDBs).  CDBs offer PD3, DR6 to the feet and lower leg of the wearer.  Any kicking damage done while wearing these heavy boots is increased by +2 points of damage.  The toe is also reinforced with a thin BPC plate, offering PD4, DR15 to that area.  The basic color of CDBs is black, which can either be polished to a high sheen or dulled down to be non-reflective.  Special panels allow the insertion of camoflage plates, and special colored / camo patterned versions also exist, being assigned as mission or duty requires.  GI issue CDBs cost $50, imitation civilian versions (without the BPC plate and only offering material with PD2, DR2 resistance) cost about half of that.  Surplus CDBs are generally available for half price.

Combine Combat Flashlight and Field Signal Kit- The standard Combine tactical flash light, known by the designation of TPFL-12, is constructed to take severe abuse and still work.   The light is powered by a pair of A cells and functions for up to 30 days continuous use.  It is 'armored' and waterproof, having a PD of 1 and a DR of 5.   All DR must be eliminated before the unit quits functioning.  A clip is built into the unit for attachment either to standard webgear or duty rig or to a standard belt.   The clip is magnetic, allowing the TPFL-12 to be attached to a surface for hands free work as well.  The beam of the TPFL-12 can be adjusted from wide angle to spot light, and will illluminate an area two yards across at up to one hundred feet away as if that area were in bright daylight.  A duty holster is provided with the TPFL-12, as well as a small booklet of instructions and a cleaning kit.  The TPFL-12 can also be attached to the standard assault rifle using an included adaptor and a plug in pressure switch which allows instant on/off operation.

The Field Signal Kit allows the TPFL-12 to be used for a variety of clandestine and covert methods.  A filter kit allows for a quick change of lens color (green, red, blue, and yellow are included) for signaling.   An infra-red adaptor allows the unit to project an infra-red beam, visible only to those operating with infra-red optics.

A smaller version of the TPFL-12, known as the TPFL-6, is issued to commando teams and anti-terrorist teams for mounting on their sidearms.  The TPFL-12 weighs 1 pound and costs $20.  The Field Signal Kit package weighs one pound and costs $30 (includes IR illumination unit).  The TPFL-6 weighs 10 ounces, and costs $20.  A IR illumination kit for the TPFL-6 costs $20 and has limited availability, mostly to SpecOps units and is not generally available through general requisition.

Combine T5 EVOU Enhanced Visual Ops Unit-  The T5 is standard issue to most 'soft' armored soldiers.  It is a two piece multifunction visual enhancer that is microprosessor controlled for greater accuracy and clarity.

COMBINE MILITARY STANDARD PERSONAL WEAPONS
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NORINCO Model 2025 10/6mm Cone Bore Automatic-  The year 2025 will be remembered as the year that the Combine threw away all of its primitive toys (dumping them onto the third world market at wholesale prices and making a killing) and bought new hardware for its military forces.  The firearm manufactory of Northern Industrial Co-op (NORINCO) Limited was contracted to design two new weapons that would be symbolic of the Combine and easily recognized the world over.  These two weapons were the Model 2025 sidearm and the M25A1 advanced assault rifle (AAR). 

The Model 2025 became the standard issue light service sidearm pistol of all Combine military services and branches in 2025 (hence the model designation).  The NORINCO was a semi-automatic cone bore repeater designed of laminates and polymers.  It had an ergonomic design that allowed fast weapon on target acquisition.  It was rugged, reliable, and effective, three things that every soldier liked in a weapon.  Ambidextrous fully adjustable sights, ambidextrous polymer grips, a lanyard ring, and dual position safety were all part of the design.

The Model 2025 was the standard issue sidearm of officers, but was also issued to medical corps, off-duty soldiers in high security zones, and eventually became the standard issue sidearm of most vehicle crews.  Special variants were constructed for covert ops teams and included additional features not found in RPO versions.  The Model 2025 will accept any standard handgun combat accessory of the time including but not limited to a folding or fixed stock, extended round cassettes, various sights, and various target designation devices such as laser pointers or white spot tactical lights.

The NORINCO Model 2025 fires a composite 10/6mm caseless round of which 20 are carried in a disposable cassette which is loaded into the handgrip of the weapon.  The cassette includes an integral crystal storage medium battery that will power the electric motor of the action and the ignition system for 20 shots. The electrically driven action is completely enclosed, decreasing maintenance and negating the need for any type of spent cartridge extraction or recollection system.   Upon firing, the 10mm round was slammed forward into the cone bore of the weapon and the fluorocarbon sabot was started to be converted entirely to gas via the ignition process.  The expanding sabot pressed down on the 6mm round tighter and tighter, as the barrel diameter decreased rapidly, forming a venturi which elevated projectile speed.  The 6mm high density round exited the barrel at hyper velocities, often in excess of four klicks a second with the fluorocarbon sabot that once measured a full 10mm diameter now having been converted completely to inert gas behind it.  Barrels were made of artificial diamond monofilament, the only material known at that time to withstand the extreme pressures generated by the cone bore operation principle.

The standard pistol, in military kit issue, comes stored in a polymer case and includes a secure flap-style holster (the Combine emblem is stamped into the flap material) that will affix easily to any duty belt or dress belt in a variety of ways.  A maintenance kit and full shop manual is included with the case, as well as three completely loaded cassettes.  The weapon weighs 4.25 pounds unloaded.  Each cassette is a quarter pound.  New, preloaded cassettes are one quarter pound, and cost $5 each.  The price of the weapon listed below is for the 'deluxe' kit described here.  Prices for incomplete or lesser kits will be less. An optional shoulder holster is available for crews working in areas where the waist holsters might present a problem. Shoulder holsters are quite popular with vehicle crews (who don't want to snag on something while trying to clear the hatch of a burning vehicle).

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NORINCO M25A1 7/5mm / 30mm AAR Advanced Assault Rifle- NORINCO produced the winning design for the Combine's need for a integrated family of sidearm and assault rifle to carry its armed forces into the next century.  The advancements that had been made in cone bore designs were integrated into the design of the new weapons to provide very high power in extremely compact packages.  The M25A1 was a combination weapon system, mounting both a 7/5mm cone bore repeater and a 30mm grenade launcher capable of launching a variety of munitions.  The M25A1 was to become the standard assault rifle of the 21st century, being sold to other nations and becoming as numerically prolific (and as easily recognized) as the Kalishnikov AK-47 had been in the previous century.

Produced from advanced polymers and ceramics, the M25A1 is a compact design which features polymer ambidextrous combat grips, ambidextrous dual position safety, and a nylon multi-position combat sling.  The end of the barrel has a joint muzzle brake and flash suppressor incorporated into the design.  An attachment point is included under the barrel for a standard Combine light bipod ($15, 2#) which allows the weapon to be fired from a braced position when the bipod is deployed.   The M25A1 includes built-in gyrostabilization, a laser designation sight (adjustable to infra-red spectrum at the touch of a switch in the fore grip), and a integrated electronic 6x adjustable scope with both high resolution infra-red (HRIR) and low-light thermal imaging capacity.  The laser may also be used as a target designator and if switched to infra-red operation, may only be seen by those with other infra-red visual aids or by looking through the electronic scope of the M25A1.

The M25A1 is capable of fully automatic fire, three round bursts, or single shots.  Set on fully automatic, the rifle is capable of firing half of its cassette in one turn, such is the cyclic rate of the electric action.  Up to three, 3 round bursts or three single shots may also be fired per turn instead.  Switching between modes of fire takes no time due to the intuitive nature of the design.   Ammunition is provided in 100 round disposable cassettes.  Power to activate the electric action and to fire each round is supplied by a high density crystal battery included in the design of each cassette.  One cassette is loaded at a time, across the back of the weapon from the rear sight to the end of the stock.  The ammunition is stored in a helical format allowing for the compact size and the high number of rounds per cassette.  Reloading a full cassette takes one complete turn.

The high speed electrically driven action is completely enclosed, decreasing maintenance and negating the need for any type of spent cartridge extraction or recollection system.   Upon firing, the 7mm round was slammed forward into the cone bore of the weapon and the fluorocarbon sabot was started to be converted entirely to gas via the ignition process.  The expanding sabot pressed down on the 5mm round tighter and tighter, as the barrel diameter decreased rapidly, forming a venturi which elevated projectile speed.  The 5mm high density needle-like round exited the barrel at hyper velocities, often in excess of four klicks a second with the fluorocarbon sabot that once measured a full 7mm diameter now having been converted completely to inert gas behind it.  Barrels were made of artificial diamond monofilament grown as one perfect crystal, the only material known at that time to withstand the extreme pressures generated by the clamp down rounds of the cone bore repeaters.

The 30mm grenade launcher is a autoloading model with a manual option.  It is similar in operation to automatic hunting shotguns but is an integral part of the M25A1 and may not be removed from the weapon for independent use.  The 30mm grenade launcher is loaded much like a shotgun, with individual grenades being shoved up into a loading breach where they are pushed forward into a four round (plus one in the launcher itself) tubular magazine.  One grenade may be fired per turn.   Reloading a grenade takes one turn per grenade.  Standard grenades were available in a variety of warheads ranging from high explastic to prefragmented anti-personnel to chemical.  A small booster charge integral to the grenade gave it the initial boost and range.  Later models of grenades, most notably the 'brilliant' grenades, were also available as ammunition for the M25A1.

The M25A1 comes issued with a full maintenance kit, maintenance log / manual, dust caps for the sight and barrel.  Most Combine soldiers will also be issued ten cassettes and a belt pouch containing 15 grenades; 5 HE, 5 HEAP, 3 AP, and 2 chemical smoke.  The cost below includes this kit but no ammunition.  One cassette weighs two and a half pounds and costs $10.  Each grenade weighs 1 pound and cost per grenade varies according to grenade type.  The weapon itself, unloaded, weighs seven and a half pounds.  Half of the weight of the weapon is ammunition!

Later in the Last War, a variety of 'clever' grenades were introduced, semi-intelligent homing munitions that were target designated.  When these become available, cost increases for each type of grenade by an additional $30.   Weight increases an additional half pound but size does not change.  Using 'clever' grenades (see UT55), the M25A1 is a capable squad support system.

A heavy barrel 'sniper' version of the M25A1 exists, the M25HBA1, issued to police, ESWAT, and MP groups or to combat snipers (non-MI).  It costs $150 more, the ACC rises to 15, and it is incapable of anything but single shot fire.  The grenade launcher is removed, a more powerful 10x electronic scope is added, and the bipod is included as part of the integrated package.  The M25HBA1 is fed by a smaller 30 round helical cassette ($5, 1 pound) and includes a different stock assembly designed to better absorb recoil.  The barrel is 50% longer for greater accuracy and the rear stock includes a cheek pad that can be switched for either left or right handed shooters.   1/2D rises to 1500, and Max rises to 5000.  Available in 2027 and after.   LC is 2 and the M25HBA1 is often used in civilian competition matches and sport shooting.

Grenade Types produced for the M25A1 launcher system

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Colden M4c / M4C2 LIWS 6/4mm Cone Bore Repeater-  For close in work on soft targets, the individual battledress soldier carried a compact suit / system integrated sidearm, known in the Combine order of battle as a LIWS or Light Integrated Weapons System, simply called the 'Lews' among those it was issued to.  The M4C 6/4mm was a caseless cone bore repeater that was standard issue to all Combine and client state MI troopers and was fed from a 1000 round helical stacked disposable cassette, of which five spare cassettes were carried by each trooper as part of their standard field kit.   The barrel was grown as a single perfect synthetic diamond to handle the immense bore and internal pressures generated by the unique clamp down round operation of the weapon.  The free floating electric action was magnetically locked during the discharge of each round and all internal parts were treated with a near frictionless coating.  The hardware and software of the Colden 4mm allowed it to be fully integrated into the SquadNet system, and made the M4C a valuable point defense tool as well as a precision select fire option up to and including highly accurate single shots placed against softer targets of opportunity via the enabled sniper mode and targeting uplink.  The software was modular, integrating itself easily into the OS of the battlesuits, and was designed for the end-user in mind, meaning that even the battlesuited trooper could work on his weapon and solve any software or hardware conflicts that might arise.  With the servos / myomers of the battledress locked for recoil, the Colden M4C became a very stable weapon for precision long range fire and while not as devastating as the M35 DIWS, it was also cheaper and easier to employ.  The M4C series sidearm was anchored to the battledress by an armored tether / data cable that allowed quick weapon retention and carried the necessary input from weapon to battlesuit computer that allowed for the seamless operation.

The Colden fired a light 6/4mm caseless subcaliber round with a dual purpose design.  A hard seated high density needle shell surrounded a much softer malleable core of explastic, offering good penetration and excellent stopping power.  As each round employs a explastic charge integral to the design, damage does not fall off with range.   Practical rate of fire was 3500 rounds per minute with an effective range of 3000 meters.  Accurate to twice that, and the Colden became the premier sniper weapon system of the Combine as well.  Integrated with SLICS and PLIEADS, the Coldens provided adequate point defense against incoming rounds and above average suppressive fire.  With the capacity of 3000 rounds per minute practical rate of fire, interlinked through SLICS, a typical squad could lay down 5000 rounds of 4mm caseless at any target within 3000 meters in just under 20 seconds.   Short bursts from SLICS integrated Coldens were enough to provide overwatch protection from incoming artillery and indirect fire rounds.  With the M4C2 model, SLICS compatibility as well as integration into the PLIEADS system.  The M4C2 model became available at the same time that PLIEADS went on-line and older models of the Colden were relegated to training or sold to client states.

GURPS OGRE INTEGRATION- The Colden is a 6/4mm cone bore repeater designed to be used by a battlesuit equipped soldier.  It cannot be used by a non-suited soldier or character as the safety interlocks and the basic operating system require the suit computer to function.  The Colden fires a 6/4mm spin stabilized needle with a explastic core running through the design.  As such, armor protects at half DR but any damage that penetrates is doubled.  The Colden uses the GUNS: NEEDLER skill to be used effectively.  When fired, the Colden does not generate any drain on the suit batteries (each round provides its own motive power).  Spare disposable cassettes each with 1000 rounds loaded in a helical array costs $100 each and weigh 2.5 pounds.   The weapon itself, unloaded, with all cables and attachments, costs $5000 and weighs 15.5 pounds.  The weapon comes with a field service kit, all software, and a digitally stored owners manual which can be read using any battlesuit computer interface.   If targeted separately, the Colden has a -2 size modifier, 6 hit points, PD4, and DR 20.  It is a very well built weapon.

The electrically driven action is completely enclosed, decreasing maintenance and negating the need for any type of spent cartridge extraction or recollection system.   Upon firing, the 6mm round was slammed forward into the cone bore of the weapon and the fluorocarbon sabot was started to be converted entirely to gas via the ignition process.  The expanding sabot pressed down on the 4mm round tighter and tighter, as the barrel diameter decreased rapidly, forming a venturi which elevated projectile speed.  The 4mm high density round exited the barrel at hyper velocities, often in excess of four klicks a second with the fluorocarbon sabot that once measured a full 6mm diameter now having been converted completely to inert gas behind it.

Point defense by the weapon utilized the same software and operating system of larger vehicles.  The effect was that the entire squad acted as a unified point defense system, each suit scanning for, identifying, and then lending fire to knocking out any incoming projectiles or rounds.  Treat a squad operating with LIWS and the SLICS system as having a dedicated PDS as described on page 61 of the GURPS: OGRE rule book.  Each 'use' of the PDS feature by the squad fires one 20 round burst from each weapon in the squad per incoming round attempted to intercept.

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AGM M35 DIWS  (Dedicated Integratable Weapons System) 10mm IBARRA- Standard infantry support weapon for squad positions One, Two, and Four was the tried and proven M35 DIWS Ibarra cone bore repeater.  The Ibarra, produced under contract by American General  Motors (NAGM), was a very well balanced weapon system, designed from the start as a integral part of the SLICS system.  The AGM M35 DIWS featured internal redundant gyrostabilization, on demand extendible-retractable bipod assembly with 360 degree traverse hinge and anchoring capacity, heavy synthetic diamond barrel grown as a single crystalline structure, thermal barrel insulation, active weapon cooling, ceramic enclosed high speed triple feed semi-rotary action on a free floating receiver, fluid recoil absorbing hydraulic assembly that encased both the action and the barrel array, and its own dedicated fire control system which included redundant target acquisition sensors, software, and software backup systems.  Exhaust gasses from the ignition of each round were also used to  cool the action and the barrel itself, the pseudoflourocarbon sabot that contained the round was entirely consumed during the firing process, being reduced to vapor as the round left the barrel.

The Ibarra fired a heavy 10mm caseless subcaliber round using the cone bore 'squeeze down' principle of operation.  Each round could be stripped off of one of three separate attached 300 round cassettes through one of three different 90 degree opposite loading ports located at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock position respectively.   What type of round that was loaded was determined either by input from the sensors of the weapon, drones, SquadNet of the user or by direct selection of the user.  The full rotating breach allowed the action to strip off a round from any of the three feed ports / cassettes.  The first round in a burst could be taken from the port cassette, the second from the starboard cassette, and the third round of a burst could come from the ventral cassette, fire selection and feed was highly variable.  Each soldier assigned an M35 DIWS also carried three spare cassettes.  Rate of fire was variable, up to 3600rpm (60 rounds per second), and adjusted on the fly by direct commands from the software and the user, from single shot to the ability to unload all three cassettes in just under 15 seconds.

The barrel of the Ibarra was artificially dense (giving to over 60% of the total weapon mass) and as such, even with a advanced friction reducing hyperplating coating, required that the barrel be pulled and replaced after 10,000 rounds.  The process took the better part of thirty minutes and could be accomplished in the field.   However, general maintenance of the weapons was responsible for this, and few MI squads carried spare barrel assemblies into the field.

GURPS OGRE INTEGRATION- The Ibarra was designed from the start as a squad support weapon that would utilize the combined aspects of all available squad resources.   Each weapon can be loaded with up to three different types of ammunition.   Available ammunition types include high explastic (HE), high explastic armor piercing (HEAP), a dedicated pre-fragmented anti-personnel round (DAPR), kinetic energy armor piercing (KEAP), and kinetic energy armor piercing explastic round (KEAPER).   The last two varieties were subcaliber munitions utilizing a disposable sheath type array to achieve very high velocities.  Typical load out was a cassette each of explosive, armor piercing and anti-personnel though mission doctrine ultimately dictated what loads were carried.

The Ibarra is heavy and well constructed to take the rigors of battlesuited infantry combat.  Unloaded the massive weapon weighs 90 pounds, costs $50,000 for the weapon, all software, attachment and interface cables, a spare barrel, minor replacement parts, a field maintenance kit, and a digital access owners manual.  The Ibarra is very unwieldy to an unarmored person (if they can even lift it) and it simply cannot be used by a non-battlesuit equipped soldier or character.   The safety interlocks and the software required to operate the DIWS simply will not allow it and even if they could, the process of firing the Ibarra by an unarmored person would result in serious injury or death due to the massive recoil of the weapon.   Each disposable cassette contains 300 rounds, weighs 10 pounds, and costs depends on ammunition type (see table below).

Each firing of the weapon draws no suit power (each round provides its own power source).  The weapon if targeted separately, is +0 to size modifier, has 35 hit points, is PD 5 and has a DR of 50.  The nature of the design of the Ibarra is that EACH round may be selected individually by type according to ammunition present.  Thus the firer could choose to fire sixty rounds during the turn, of these, any one of the 60 individual rounds in the burst could be chosen separately, mixed, and matched.

Ibarra Ammunition Profiles

* Armor protects at 1/2 DR, damage that penetrates is not halved.   Damage that strikes organic components is multiplied by 5x.
** 10 foot (3m) burst radius.  DR doubled against fragmentation.  Contact hit does damage times five to personnel.  Effective against 'soft' targets only.  No effect against even lightly armored vehicles or heavy armored personnel (i.e. battlesuit equipped).
*** Armor protects at 1/2 DR.  Damage that penetrates is also halved.

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LEWIS-CARMICHAEL "CYCLOPS" Advanced Optical Targeting System- As a single shot precision first shot kill (fishhook) anti-personnel sniper or counter sniper system the Ibarra illustrated just how stable it was as a integrated firing platform.  When used with the CO-designed Lewis Carmichael 'Sharp Eye' hardware and software package for sniper and anti-sniper mission  profiles.  Version 3.85 Delta was standard and very stable, though some specialized two man MI sniper / counter sniper teams were updated to the more advanced Lewis Carmichael 'Cyclops' dedicated FiConSys which was an additional ten kilo mass Plug In Self Integrating Module (PISIM) for the weapon system and the suit itself.  The Cyclops became the standard issue rig in 2078, it was available in only limited batches from 2068 to 2069 and never before that.   A pair of 1.5 meter, 3mm plasticeramic armored 5mm width through band data cables provided the hardwired high speed pipes through which the weapon and the suit communicated so effectively at ten gigs per second.  The Cyclops suit module had a powered array that attached directly to the upper glacis of the battledress (the 'helmet') and could be cycled through a variety of 'notches'.  Later models decreased in physical size and increased in capacity and effectiveness.  The visual resolution and multiple phase rendering capacity of the Lewis Carmichael Cyclops unit was unparalleled given its quadruple microprocessors, double density viscous liquid optic filters, and nano-adjusted digital pixel remanipulation.  A cryogenic coolant pack for the quad mpc array doubled effective capacity in 2088 but added three additional kilos to the suit mass and a noticeable dull black blister on the rear left shoulder, the 'beauty mark' of a sniper.   Tales of the cryogen mixtures being fatally vented directly into the fighting compartment after severe damage to the coolant array were greatly exaggerated...  In fact, there were only sixteen known instances of this failure documented.

Effective engagement range of fishhook profiles was 6000 meters given LOS permissions.  The Cyclops unit had a capacity of 6000x or 1:1 actual ranging (a man sized target at 6km appeared to be 6 meters away through the Cyclops system) making fishhook not only possible, but a tactical operational doctrine, especially against the Paneuropean soldiers who carried the Cerebus systems.  The Paneuropeans fielded a similar unit, though never as good as the Lewis-Carmichael 'Cyclops' system, the Dragunov-Gurivich (DraGu) system was at least comparable on a purely strategic level, if not wholly on a tactical one.

GURPS OGRE INTEGRATION- The Cyclops fire control system is a marvel of fluid optical technology.  It allows the firer to target items at a apparent 1m:1km ratio.  That is, anything at one kilometer range or less would appear as if it were only a meter away.  Two klicks range would be two meters distance, etc.  This only affects targeting and to-hit rolls.  It does not affect the actual weapon 1/2D or MAX ranges, nor does it affect damage in any way.  The system is heavy at 45 pounds, and fits to the rear pod, shoulders, and helmet (turret) of the battlesuit.   The system draws 7kw of power per turn of use.  An internal battery for the system (included) stores up to 7000kws for a total operational time of 1000 seconds before it has to use suit batteries for power.  An integral power off function is utilized to prevent drain on the suit.  In stand-by mode, the system only uses 2kws of power per turn.  The Cyclops fire-control system includes advanced optics through microprocessor technology which enhances the range of all suit optics and sensors / scanners to the range of the Cyclops unit, allowing IR, thermal, and low-light out to max range.  IFF is standard on the unit via a tight beam receiver that is part of the optical array.

The system, if targeted individually, is -1 to hit, has PD 5, DR 40, and 50 hit points.  If the system becomes damaged in any way, roll for failure each turn that the system is used.  On a VER (CRIT.) failure result, the cryogenic mixture that cools the Cyclops unit is catastrophically vented directly into the fighting compartment of the battlesuit, doing 8dx5 worth of chemical freezing damage directly to the battlesuit wearer and all electronics / components mounted inside the suit.  In this case, suit PD and DR do not help at all and any armor worn by the suit operator protects only at 1/5th normal DR.

Cost of the CYCLOPS system is $40,000, LC is 0, and it is available only to the Combine.  The Cyclops system may be mounted on any Combine battlesuit (including the engineering suit) but this is a difficult process and requires a field maintenance depot for the work to be done.  Installing and integrating the CYCLOPS system to an existing suit takes (24 hours minus armory skill of technician installing the system) to incorporate into an existing suit.  The installation is straight forward in integration, and unless the technician is hurried or working with inadequate tools, no skill roll should be required.  If the system is installed in less time, then mishaps could occur.  The game master is free to use this to their advantage.

In the event of a battlesuit possibly being captured with the Cyclops unit intact, a demolition charge is included that does 10dx5 of damage directly to the unit itself (1/2d to the user inside the suit if they are still inside the suit when the charge is detonated).  This charge is detonated immediately if the battlesuit operator life signs fail and there are no friendly IFF codes in operational range.  MI squads This demolition charge can be activated by remote or by the battlesuit wearer and includes a time delay to allow the wearer to escape from the suit if need be.  The time delay can be for up to 5 minutes.

NORINCO Thompson T4D 3cm Squad Support Weapon Systems (SSWS)- Support at the squad level was provided by the big, semi-portable Thompson T4D spread bore fluid to gas injected pseudorecoiless mass repeaters.   The Thompson T4D was officially classified as a 'support' weapon providing both area and point cover fire, but its additional ability to easily defeat unarmored to moderately armored vehicles at close range was legendary.  T4Ds were designed with two dedicated tactical microprocessors operating in tandem with the tactical onboard of the suit the weapon was assigned to, in turn coordinating joint T4D operation seamlessly into the whole of the SLICS system.  The T4D was designed to operate in tandem with another T4D unit in order to achieve optimal field performance, some said this was a built in design from NORINCO so that the Combine would have to buy twice as many T4Ds as it initially started out to buy (one per squad...), but the effects of this overlapping and inter-coordination among one weapon system and two output points was never argued, at least not by those who relied on the T4Ds in the field.  With the PLIEADS incorporation into the battledress suits, T4Es were produced with PISIM that allowed up to 18 T4Ds to operate on their own coordinated subnet processes, another reason that PLIEADS was such a success.

Three hot swap hardware ports were incorporated into the design of the T4D system, with the 30% lighter and 28% deadlier T4E system, seeing field service in 2072 having four ports.  The hot swap ports allowed additional modules and enhancement / battle packs to be installed on the fly, or changed out as required by mission protocols.  Typical packs included the C45 Barris Enhanced Intel / Recon (BEIR) pack (same as carried by position One of the standard squad), a ECM / ECCM blister pack which enhanced the operation of the T4D user and the squad as a whole, and a host of other packs.  A very aggressive ECM and ECCM blister pack was introduced for use with the T4E systems (incompatible with the T4Ds due to port and hardware configuration differences) that greatly enhanced the PLIEADS system and the subprocessed T4E network.   With the plug in module capacity, the T4Ds, and later T4Es, became legendary among Combine units and feared among the Pan counterparts.

The cassette that fed the T4D was helical in design and loaded along the underside of the weapon, to the rear third, holding 90 three centimeter caliber rounds.  The 3cm caliber rounds were 'caseless' in only the strictest sense of the word, because the T4 family was operated on the fluid to gas injection pseudo recoilless principle using a series of computer controlled injectors to deliver a small supply of X4X fluid into the action of the weapon, the amount is determined by several criteria; range to target, target armor capacity, target hit location, target speed, target facing, and direct or indirect fire mode.  The tougher or farther away the target was, the more fluid propellant was required and the greater the recoil.  A six liter tank of X4X fluid was mounted to the rear of the weapon, atop and linear through the top feed fluid zero reverse flow magnetically sealed port.   X4X fluid had the unique properties of remaining liquid only in a complete vacuum.   Upon contact with air, it expanded rapidly in the direction in which it was initially ejected from its container.  A few milliliters of X4X gas, dispensed at point blank range, would create a wavefront capable of crushing bone and inflicting massive damage to internal organs with its shockwave but it rapidly lost strength as the X4X gas evaporated at an exponential rate, diffusing to the surrounding atmosphere.   While commercial and civilian use of this gas, sold under the trademark name of "Exfourex (tm)" were limited, the military prospects of a propellant were easily recognized.  Using a reinforced action and hammer lock magnetic field dampening capacity, the T4 utilized the unique characteristics of the X4X gas to produce pressures that only a barrel that was manufactured as a single, perfect synthetic diamond could withstand.  Velocity was variable depending on what was required and could range from an easy overhand indirect launch / toss to a atmosphere scorching eight klicks per second (ten kps with scramjet assisted rounds).  Range of the T4 family was phenomenal, almost 3000 meters at full velocity.

Ammunition was designed to be switched rapidly and up to three helical cassettes could be stored in a rotary array, allowing the firer to choose ammunition types on the fly.  Generally a mixture of  KEAP (a osmium pencil with a multiple branching Refrax 4 high explastic vein structure running down the middle for after penetration total kill capacity), high explastic, high explastic anti-personnel, and flechette anti-personnel.  A specialized type of armor defeating round appeared with the advent of the first cybertanks, the scramjet enhanced KEAP exploding round (SEKEAPER) capable of ten klicks a second velocity.  The scramjet used a solid fuel in the main body and a reinforced penetrator head which could also carry a micro-nuke warhead.   The SEKEAPER, once it left the barrel, riding the X4X shockwave to its initial velocity of 8 klicks per second, began to take air into five special micro intakes equally located directly behind the penetrator head.  This super compressed air achieved the supersonic ram effect necessary to reach ignition temperature and sustain the scramjet process, accelerating the round in a flat trajectory to very high hypersonic velocities with considerable kinetic residual energy.  Trajectory with SEKEAPER rounds was amazingly flat throughout their range and a SEKEAPER could dig a half meter deep crater in the BPC hide of an OGRE and set up sympathetic armor fractures which would be compounded by follow up rounds.  The effect could be compounded even more if a good biting angle could be had, again proving the value of so called 'mobile infantry' in getting close to the giants and at the 'right' angle to deliver the proper attack.  Some sniper teams of MI carried a T4E into the field with them to hunt Mark I and Mark II OGREs.  A few 'sweet spots' in these units allowed quick kills against the CPU when two or more sniper teams worked in coordination (possible with the advent of both SLICS and further enhanced with the introduction of PLIEADS).

GURPS OGRE INTEGRATION-

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Dedicated Remote Weapon System (DRWS)-4   The DRWS4, or "Draws 4" as it was commonly termed, was a squad level support  weapons system (SLSWS) built around a semi-independent model four processor based Type II drone chassis mounting a plasticeramic light armor shell and dedicated electronics.  The drone was slaved into the SLICS system on a base array and appropriated as a resource by all members of the squad as needed when needed.

Each squad was equipped with one to three DRWS per squad member with the DRWSTAC4 acting as the squad member's heavy anti-armor capacity.  Generally one or two units were carried and assigned to positions One, Two, and Four.   Positions Three and Five carried two DRWSTAC4 units and sometimes three units depending on the nature of the mission.  The launchers on the drones could be reloaded rapidly in the field given the availability of munitions.  The DRWSTAC4 had its own dedicated FiConSys and SLICS / PLIEADS uplink / information buffer hardware.   Typical squad level light TAC missile strength was rated at from 20 missiles nominal to 60 missiles maximum.  Sometimes this was exceeded as 'orphan' DRWSTAC4 units were integrated into surviving squads, platoons and companies during action.

Almost two meters long and half that wide, the DRWSTAC4 was the most common squad level drone system.  A small nuclear plant fed four ducted fans in armored nacelles were almost whisper quiet and provided not only lift but directional thrust and could maintain a speed equal to the squad, meaning that where the squad went, the DRWSTAC4 followed.  A defensive software suite allowed the DRWSTAC4 to protect itself by using available cover and terrain masking.  Normal operation of the DRWSTAC4 was based around advanced terrain masking and pop up snap shots being handed off to designating units.  A light armor shell was proof against small arms fire but too light to protect against anything heavier.  All electronics on the DRWSTAC4 were shielded and based around fiber optic relays.

The DRWSTAC4 systems were useable by any member of the squad and were logged as squad available resources in SquadNet.  Two might fire a TAC missile from a launcher that was assigned to Five, if that was the nearest missile launcher available to deploy a munition at the target that Two was painting, and so on.

The DRWS ("Draws") drone chassis was also modular, allowing the 'core' of the unit to be replaced quickly with modular weapons packages.   Throughout the Last War, the DRWS was home to many different types of armament and tactical packages.  These could be changed out within an hour or less at a Level III field depot or by the squad members if they had access to a new package.  Each new package was built around a SCRIBOL based processor for easy integration into the system, SLICS, and PLIEADS.  The following modular packages were used by the Combine on the DRWS based chassis.

Specialized Equipment

SLICS

PLIEADS

MEDICINE AND MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

IN THE WORLD OF DATAPULSE

WHITE TEAR

BLACK TAC

ARTIFICIAL SKIN PATCH

SPRAY SKIN

TEMPO

SHAKER

PURGE

CASTAZINE

SLAMMER

SYNTHDORPHIN

STANDARD ACCEPTED GURPS EQUIPMENT

The following items are used in the DATAPULSE / GURPS OGRE conversion.   They are taken straight from the individual rulebooks and as such, their descriptions are not repeated here, merely the mention of the item, and a reference to the volume and page number in which it appears.  Those familiar with GURPS should have most if not all of these books.

GURPS ULTRA-TECH (#1)

Communications Equipment (P30)
Com scrambler (P31)
Digital Camera / Helmet Video (P31)
Anti-Glare Goggles (P33)
Light Intensifier Goggles (P33)
Infra-red Goggles (P33)
Multi-View Goggles (P33)
Seismic Sensor (P33)
Televiewer (P33)
Mininukes (P76)
Chameleon Armor (P77)

GURPS ULTRA-TECH (#2)

Mini AESA (P24)
Sonic Motion Detector (P24)
Personal Radar Detector (P24)
Tactical Sensor Array (P24)
Homing Beacon (P40)
Digital Mini Camera (P43)
Digital Gun Camera (P44)
Smartsight (P62)
Holographic HUD (P65)
Rigid Armor (all types available) (P74)
Nasal Filter Plugs (P76)
CBW Coating (P76)
Near Miss Indicator (P76)
RAM Coating (P77)
Concertina Wire, Fragwire, Sensorwire, Electric Fencing (P79)
Watchdog (P80)
Blackout Paint (P85)
Ghillie Suit (P85)
Slow Chamosuit (P86)
Slow Chamoarmor (P86)
Drug Analyzer, drug patch, ESU (P88)
Portable microsurgery unit (P89)
Castazine (P89)
Slammer (P91)
Synthdorphin (P91)

GURPS SPECIAL OPS

Assault Vest (P94)
Protective Mask (P95)
Field Pack (P95)
Load Bearing Equipment (P95)
Load Bearing Vest (P95)

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