HRUNTING Mark III (B) Exoskeleton

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Cyclops
Production information
Manufacturer	UNSC
Model	Powered Armored Exoskeleton
Technical information
Shielding	None
Armament	Anti-building Jackhammer/Piledriver; can use it's manipulators in close range combat
Crew	1 driver
Usage
Year introduced	2531
Role(s)	Logistical Support Melee Combat Exoskeleton Building Destroyer
Era(s)	Human-Covenant War
Affiliation	UNSC

The Cyclops is a bipedal exoskeleton used by the UNSC Marine Corps during the early years of the Human-Covenant War. While it was originally intended for construction and other non-combat purposes, it was repurposed for combat against the Covenant for deconstruction proficiency on Covenant building structures. The modification for combat included additional armor plating around the operator and joints, and specialized equipment for demolishing enemy fortifications.

History

After the MJOLNIR Mark Is were found to be impossible to control, they were decommissioned with the majority of them being thrown into the titanium mines on Reach. Bitten by the failure of Project ORION, and suspicious of ONI, the Marine Corps under the UNSC Marine Special Operations division started their own power suit research division. They needed a form of shock deployment troop to fight the continuing rebel uprisings throughout the Outer Colonies and sometimes in harsh environments such as the Eridanus Asteroid Belt where Robert Watts was holed up after the rebels fled to the asteroid belt following Operation: TREBUCHET in 2513.

These power suits, often called “coffins” by those who had to wear them, did well in field tests but severe power problems, and the issues with the propulsion systems led to them being mothballed. Most of the power suits were assigned to support vessels where they were deployed alongside the base pods to construct the buildings once they were on the ground. The Cyclopses were used extensively during 2531, in the combat engagements on Harvest, Arcadia and a Forerunner Shield World. The power problem was eventually solved, directly as a side effect of Project ORION, and the suits were updated, but the deployment of Spartan-III soldiers in 2536 took them out of operation completely and they were mostly scrapped alongside the Mark Is on Reach.

Development

A trio of Cyclopes in an early build of Halo Wars.

Originally, Ensemble had designed the unit as a canon-accurate MJOLNIR Mark I suit, but deemed it too visually similar to the Spartans to easily distinguish at a glance, something that is very important in a heated battlefield. The Cyclops was therefore rebuilt from the ground-up as a unique unit, both larger and bulkier than the MJOLNIR Mark IV the Spartans wear. During at least one point in development the Cyclops lacked the reflective visor, instead having only a bare crash cage over the wearer.

Initially, fan reaction to the unit was poor, regarding it as an unrealistic "mech" addition. Over time, acceptance of the unit has not changed, and the fanbase is still polarized as to the legitimacy of the Cyclops.

The Halo Wars Cyclops is based on the Cyclops unit from Ensemble Studios game Age of Mythology, an actual Cyclops, which was similarly a large unit that dealt heavy melee damage. Even their alternate attacks are similar - when its bar has charged, the AoM Cyclops will lift a nearby infantry unit and hurl it at the enemy forces for additional damage. Pressing Y on the Halo Wars Cyclops will allow it to tear a vehicle apart, and hurl the chunks at enemy forces in a similar manner.

Combat

In combat, the Cyclops deals heavy melee damage, using its powerful arms, once used to carry heavy machinery and equipment, to deal devastating blows against enemy units and structures. It also possesses the ability to tear apart a destroyed vehicle and throw the pieces further at any other unit, including air units which they have no other offensive option on. If upgraded, the Cyclops can repair nearby vehicles and buildings. It costs 125 resource units and a tech level of one. Takes up one population cap. Has two upgrades:

• "Repair Kit", which allows the Cyclops to repair buildings and mechanized units. The upgrade costs 400 resource units and requires a tech level of two.
• "High-Torque Joint" which improves its movement speed. The upgrade costs 900 resource units and requires a tech level of three..

Although the Cyclops has heavy melee damage, when faced against multiple infantry squads it is weak, so it is advised that you back up the Cyclops with Warthogs and/or Marines. Unless it is holding an object it can throw, it is completely useless against air units, like Banshees. Also note that the Cyclops does heal buildings and vehicles, but it cannot heal infantry and airborne units. It also plays a big role the twelfth campaign mission of Halo Wars because they are the only units that can repair the power core of the UNSC Spirit of Fire.

The Cyclops is available only if Sergeant John Forge is the leader.

Trivia

The back of the Cyclops exoskeleton.

• To date, the Cyclops is, along with the Gremlin, the only UNSC ground vehicle named after a mythological creature, unlike other vehicles which are usually named after real animals and creatures.
• When used against infantry, the Cyclops will do "finishing moves" against weakened squads, such as breaking their necks or throwing them.
• If the Y ability is used on an infantry unit and deals enough damage to kill a member, it will pick it up and can throw it.
• The Cyclops design changed drastically during the game's development: its helmet was once similar to that of the MJOLNIR EVA and SPI armor and its body was bulkier and shorter.
• A Cyclops can repair Covenant vehicles in addition to UNSC, as long as they are on the same team.
• It is a well equipped multipurpose vehicle, repairing buildings and units similar to an Engineer and destroying buildings comparable to the Locust.
• If you look closely in the back of the Cyclops you can spot a glitch where you can see right through it.
• The Cyclops was a one-eyed giant in Greek Mythology.

Gallery

A development image of the Cyclops.

The final in-game model Cyclops