Nova v2

Name: M997-E "Lawbringer"
Abilities: Telescoping Railgun. Housed in Nova’s right arm. When activated, the arm breaks open, allowing the gun to extend to its full 1.5’ length (shoulder to muzzle). Electromagnetic projection fires a caseless tungsten carbide rod at 7 times the speed of sound (2400m/s). Dense matter travelling at such speed carries a colossal amount of kinetic energy: what it hits, it obliterates. Maximum range is about 160km.
Description: The M997-E Lawbringer is a greatly scaled-down version of the railgun first fielded by the Navy in 2016. It is a working prototype developed by Lockheed-Martin for use by specialized units in the military (currently no plans for a civilian model). Emits an ascending crystalline note when charging; fires with an explosive report.
Weakness: Rules set by the Geneva Conventions are in play. The Lawbringer is meant for use only on vehicles and buildings. Under no circumstances is it to be fired at soft targets, barring a catastrophic metahuman threat. It can’t be used without a verified firing solution due to its extreme range and likelihood of overpenetration. Firing generates immense heat and requires copious amounts of power, weakening Nova momentarily after its use.

Name: CC44 "Siren"
Abilities: Nova’s primary armament. Tungsten carbide telescopic rod with weighted ends. Kinetic impact is enhanced by a series of internal vibromotors located near the ends of the shaft. Variable length enables it to function as a baton, quarterstaff, or anything in between. A retractable monofilament blade increases its utility further. Length is 45cm when fully compact; the shaft extends up to 2.5m, with the blade increasing that length to nearly 3m in total. Diodes along the surface act as an interface module for the AI when gripped, allowing for seamless switching of modes. The Siren is the only weapon in Nova’s loadout that is not integral to the Mk12 chassis. When not in use, it magnetizes to the small of her back.
Description: Caen Corporation developed this weapon in-house. It was specifically designed to compliment Nova’s unique combat abilities. Its variable nature allows diverse applications of force, from LTL to extreme prejudice. Earned the nickname “Siren” after its first public demonstration, as the vibromotors’ soft hum becomes a hollow chord that “sings” when swung.
Weakness: Though not integral to the chassis, the Siren serves as an extension of it, and suffers many of the same shortcomings, most notably a susceptibility to corrosive agents and electromagnetism.

Name: CC98k Smart Claw
Abilities: Grapple line. Aerodynamic titanium grapnel attached to a rewindable myomeric cord, launched from beneath Nova’s right wrist. The rope itself is directly linked to the AI and acts as a prehensile limb. Myomeric fiber is rated for weights of up to 350kg. Cord length is 30m. An electrical current of up to 30 amps can be directed through the line to pacify snared targets.
Description: This utility has applications as a rope, lash, or snare. Can be used as a swing line, supplementing mobility. Give it a pen and it’ll do trigonometric functions.
Weakness: Myomeric fiber has high tensile strength, but is relatively thin and easily cut. If severed, the Smart Claw is rendered useless and will require a replacement.

Name: Apollyon Defensive Technologies "Negotiator"
Abilities: Semi-automatic triple barrel 10ga shotgun. Three types of ammunition. Flechette rounds profile a spread of tungsten darts, with a maximum effective range of 35m. Armor piercing slugs are rifled for longer range, up to 120m. Rubber slugs have a similar range, and are meant for LTL operations. Ammunition is nanoforged and ostensibly infinite. Deploys from in Nova’s left forearm.
Description: When Dr Caen needed a secondary gun for his woman-shaped weapons platform, he turned to his colleagues at Apollyon Defensive Technologies. The barrel of the Negotiator thus reads ADT-036B, the weapon’s designation once it hits military and civilian markets.
Weakness: The Negotiator carries a shotgun’s flaws, in that it is most powerful at shorter ranges. Though they retain kinetic force throughout flight, AP slugs in particular will only reliably penetrate armor at very close range (up to 10m). Flechettes and rubber slugs are devastating against soft targets, but are defeated by minimal armor.

Name: CC17 Bola Launcher
Abilities: Three conical weights connected by a length of steel wire. Used to entangle targets, usually at the legs. Weights are projected in a spinning triangle configuration. Once target is snared, Nova can remotely command the Bola to deliver a single electric shock at up to 30 amps. Stored in Nova’s right leg and fired from the knee, which slides apart to expose launcher. Leg must be picked up and knee must be aimed. Description: The Bola Launcher is meant to supplement the Smart Claw, for situations in which multiple targets must be restrained.
Weakness: The bolas use the same myomeric fiber as the Smart Claw and are susceptible to blades. The fiber can also be busted by individuals of sufficient superhuman strength.

Name: CC9 Grenade Launcher
Abilities: Stored in Nova’s left leg; grenades are launched in a manner similar to the Bola Launcher. Two types of grenades: fragmentation and riot. Frag grenades are standard yield: kill radius of 5m, injury radius of up to 50. Riot grenade disperses a vomiting agent with effects similar to CS/Tear gas; exposure to fresh air provides immediate relief. Grenades are fired from the left knee in a parabolic arc. Range of 375m; arming mechanism doesn’t activate until the grenade has flown at least 25m. Can also be dispensed from Nova’s left hip, allowing use as hand grenades.
Description: Nova’s grenade launcher is modeled after the Milkor MGL, a revolver-type launcher employed by the US Marines since 1983. The grenades themselves are a 40mm variant that can be armed and thrown in close quarters.
Weakness: Ammunition is located in Nova’s left leg. Concentrated targeting of this area can lead to detonation.

Name: Infrared Smoke
Abilities: Streamlined smoke capsules, about the size of marbles. Dispensed from Nova’s right hip to be manually thrown or placed. Generates a large smokescreen that cannot be penetrated by IR vision or target designators. Nova’s optics are calibrated to see perfectly through her own smoke.
Description: Serves as a countermeasure against heat-targeting systems. Marks locations and obscures movements. Different colors are available.
Weakness: Other spectrums of vision, such as x-ray or astral perception, will penetrate the smoke. Effectiveness of smoke is subject to wind.

Name: UtiliGrip
Abilities: Mundane toolset stored in Nova’s fingers. Includes utility razor and shears, standard lockpicks, laser glass cutter, metal file, screwdriver, acetylene torch, monowire, and disc saw. Tools are of titanium construction for enhanced durability.
Description: Nova’s a Swiss Army android.

Hardcoded Morality: Nova can’t knowingly injure or kill ordinary human beings. If attacked by one, she will use the minimum possible force to subdue them, or simply leave the area. This can be used against her with some wit.

The Creator: Nova would self-terminate for Dr. Alexander Caen. Her reverence for the Creator is absolute. His word is final in all matters. Threats against him or his company are treated with utmost importance.

Design Limitations: The Mk12 chassis excels as a short-range skirmisher. Long-range options are limited.

• Heat: Nova’s heightened reflexes come with a major compromise: heat. It’s not uncommon for her temperature to run in the low hundreds after prolonged physical activity. Heat is typically managed by a liquid cooling rig, woven into the frame in a manner similar to human arteries. A breach of this system causes her to rapidly rise in temperature--her equivalent of “bleeding”.
  
  • External heat sources can also present a challenge. At 820°C, a failsafe forces her to shut down for 20 seconds while excess heat is vented. Greater temperatures run the risk of detonating her weapon systems. (By comparison, a typical house fire burns at up to 650°C.)
  
  
• Structural Limits: Anything that puts a dent in titanium will put a dent into Nova. Her frame can withstand sustained gunfire from a .50 caliber machine gun, but only if the majority of hits are glancing blows. A direct hit from a 30mm round or equivalent will punch a hole through her.
  
  • She is also vulnerable to magnets and metal-corroding acids.
  
  
• Moisture: Frizzes Nova’s hair and aversely affects some of her systems.
  
  • The slightest contact with moisture will interfere with Nova’s camouflage. Even stepping in a puddle causes it to fritz. It also can’t be sustained during rapid movement, such as sprinting or attacking.
    
  • The electrostatic field in Nova’s feet can’t bond to to sufficiently damp surfaces, such as rain-slick stone or glass.
    
  • Nova will function underwater, but her titanium chassis is too heavy to float or swim. Her commlink stops receiving signals at a depth of 10m, isolating her from all surface communications. She will collapse from pressure at an estimated 730m beneath the waves, though this crush depth has never been tested. She experiences legitimate anxiety when near vast bodies of water.
  
  
• Electromagnetic Radiation: Wreaks havoc with Nova’s interface, causing a sharp downgrade in performance. If the chassis is caught in a military-grade EMP, it’s immediately and irrevocably bricked.
  
  
• Cyber Attacks: Networking is a double-edged sword. Nova is essentially a computer program, and can be hacked like one, albeit with great difficulty. Connectivity leaves her open to cyber intrusions, viruses, and enemy AI. A successful attack could take control of her weapons and manipulate key parts of her programming, including emotive functions.
  
  
• Magic Sensitivity: Nova’s armored frame serves as little protection against magic. Even a weapon of mild enchant has devastating effect. There’s little in the way of a scientific explanation for this phenomenon.
  
  
• IR Countermeasures: Nova’s SimSensors depend on infrared radio signals. Successfully jamming these signals will render her blind and deaf.
  
  • Her ability to determine lies is thwarted by multiple or irregular hearts, tough hide, acute physiological control, and pacemakers.
  
  
• Sonic: Weaponized high-frequency vibrations disrupt Nova’s synchronization to the chassis, denying use of its systems until the vibration ends.
  
  • CAUTION! Hi-freq vibration presents a unique hazard due to move-by-wire. MBW places the chassis in a state where it wishes to move in all directions at once. The AI counteracts this by precisely calculating each motion. Should the AI lose control of MBW, the chassis will attempt omnidirectional movement, suffering what is essentially a violent seizure. Picture a spastic, flailing marionette in stop-motion. One that can upend a Greyhound bus.