STORY: Cross (working title)

Narrative Concept - Comic / Animated series

A super future setting featuring space travel, cyborgs, mecha and AI. Emphasis on military combat action, drama and schoolyard yucks.

In far off non-specific future the method of choice for military training and simulation uses miniature scale replicas of soldiers and vehicles and puts them in a replica battlefield. These mini-troops are controlled remotely by their builders and used as avatars/surrogates/player characters/personas/drones/toys/dolls/models/etc. to interact with each other and objects inside the simulation space. This story focuses on a military academy space station and research base. The students, staff and AI are all responsible for building and maintaining their own replicas and use them to complete simulations and tests with and against each other in a 4 year curriculum. New designs and technology are tested here on the small scale before being produced and tested in full scale and all students are encouraged to study, work and develop their own unique ideas.

In this time, cyberization is commonplace but expensive. Many people cannot afford to have their bodies modified with prosthetic limbs or complex organs. However, digitization of the human brain is also common and much more cost effective. The dead and the dying are sometimes saved through copying their neural net to a data core (crystal data storage device). After that they cease being legally human and become products under the custody of the state and may be used or sold as Artificial Intelligence. This story focuses around one AI who must come to grips with his new existence without flesh or death. He and the other AIs at the academy interact with the students using their own remote controlled avatars inside the simulation field.

The students are from all walks of life and are able to study and practice every form of military service. They are there to study and learn to think creatively and learn the strategies and tactics and equipment that will keep them alive in actual military service. Even with their avatars there is no replacement for real world training so the students receive a truncated variation of what a career of service might be like during their 4 year attendance. As with any school there are lessons, tests, teachers, cliques, parties, vacations and struggling for exams. The better a student performs in their studies the more promotions and replicas they receive for use in the simulation zone.

This concept tries to adhere to logic in terms of science and technology but for the sake of fun and entertainment a lot of stuff is let go, so just roll with it. And this is all based on scaling so there's lots of room to play around with in terms of designs. This concept combines a lot of ideas, visuals and terms from many other well known sources (Ghost In The Shell, HALO, STRAIN, and more)


BUILD YOUR OWN Mini-TROOP (name?)
All "avatars" are built from a stock skeleton "frame". Builders have limited room for modification to adjust for height and build. Depending on how much money the builder wants to spend they can then cover the frame in several body "shells". Plastic molded bodies are the cheapest and most common but give a clearly unrealistic look to the figure. The military academy uses a special fabrication system to cover the frame in a composite skin to ballistic gel. This gives the figure a more realistic look and feel but can complicate repairs or replacing parts. The most expensive kits feature a nano-polymer shell that can be modified electronically to take any shape and is considered the most life like and the best choice for having unique faces and moving mouths or body shapes. The academy uses nano-polymer for their head parts for more advanced students to give their avatars their own faces.

The builder then chooses a kit to apply their choice of clothing and equipment to their avatar. There are many kits available on the civilian market with special kits issued to to groups like the academy or police forces. Most kits feature mock plastic "dummy" replicas but the academy uses miniatures made of real materials and in accurate configurations. The students are responsible for assembly and application of these coverings using their own hands as well as their avatar's.

Avatar weapon kits are mostly dummy shells but for builders who participate in combat simulations they use mini laser "blasters". These are made to look like the real current energy weapons of the time and can be modified to alter performance. The academy uses a more advanced set of tools and kits that allows for superior realism to their full scale counterparts. Larger weapons like launchers, missiles, rockets or grenades are simulated at the academy with the equivalent of firecrackers, pistol bullets or even rifle ammo. These are not normally allowed at civilian competitions or used by private builders as they can do permanent damage to their expensive replicas. The academy uses such live-ammo weapons in simulations for greater realism and to teach the students more about maintaining and repairing their replicas.

An average finished "mini-troop" stands at approximately 4-5 inches tall and comes with a uniform, armor (including helmet), a Primary Weapon, a Secondary Weapon and a Melee Weapon. Academy mini-troops feature specific color coded and role based equipment and uniforms to identify their team, rank and job.

For the Academy AIs, this is their only body and only way of interacting with the real world outside of a terminal or hologram projector.


CUSTOMIZE YOUR Mini-TROOP WEAPONS
Most civilian kits feature dummy weapons but the academy uses special replica blasters. The technology of the day sees a mix of solid and energy munitions but for the sake of efficiency and safety the Academy uses mostly laser replicas and excludes plasma, arc and incendiary weapons entirely. Many of the replica vehicles use chemical explosive rounds and no-lo power guided munitions while some of the largest feature miniaturized magnetic 'railgun' cannons.

Power - Emitter
The strength of the weapons emitter increases the frequency of the beam varying damage and color. The Academy and civilian players use low power red lasers for their replicas by default but test and include more powerful lasers on their spacecraft replicas. The more powerful the laser the more power it consumes, requiring more frequent battery changes. Students receive special kits periodically as rewards to boost the power of their favorite avatar weapon. Actual damage is calculated by the Academy's computers as well as the effect, but it is a popular method of identification among senior students.
[Red = 1, Green = 2, Blue = 3]

Speed - Capacitor
The capacitor takes energy from the battery and modulates it for use in firing. The bigger the capacitor the longer it takes to fill (slower rate of fire) but the bigger the shot (more damage). A smaller capacitor allows for a more rapid rate of fire and more individual shots but it will cause the unit to overheat faster.
[Small, Standard, Large]

Range - Gain 'lens'
The range of a laser is effectively infinite and at a constant speed inside the battle zone. The type of material used as a gain medium (erroneously but popularly called the lens) will impact the intensity of the beam. The computer monitors the laser strike and calculates stats and probabilities then determines the effect. Special kits are sometimes issued to students as rewards for marksmanship. With greater intensity the beam becomes brighter and more noticeable, challenging the player to be more conservative and precise or allowing them to be more obvious and distracting.
[Level 1, 2, 3]

Capacity - Battery
The traditional magazine is replaced by a swappable battery. The bigger the battery the more shots can be made, but the heavier it becomes. There are 4 sizes of batteries for these A=Pistol or small weapons, B=Rifle or average weapons, C=Heavy Infantry Weapons, D=Vehicle mounted or otherwise unmovable. Civilians have access to higher quality batteries in the same sizes but for the sake of efficiency the Academy uses all the same type/brand.
[A =1, B =2, C =3, D=4+]

Attachment - Barrel
A laser blaster gains no advantage from a longer barrel except maybe to hide the emitter. However there are plenty of attachments available that require an appropriate mounting point to use. Also, sighting in a longer barrel becomes easier and easier to adjust while aiming, but it makes the weapon more cumbersome in tight spaces or while running.
[Bayonet, Grip, Launcher, Light, Bipod]

Stability - Stock + Grip
A laser blaster has no recoil and an avatars hands don't shake the way a person's do. However while moving a properly fitted grip assembly will allow a user to aim and fire more quickly and accurately. Though a full size stock makes the replica heavier and more cumbersome in tight quarters.
[Short Grip, Long Grip, no grip, Short Stock, Long Stock, no stock]

Accuracy - Optics
A laser blast is straight as can be and will cross the map but a good optic may still be required to see your target and line up that shot. Advanced optics kits are specialized rewards that require sufficient training with one's avatar to receive, construct and use.
[Iron, Reflex, Scope, Finder]

Cooling - Air
All avatar replica blasters are air cooled and as such suffer similar cooling and overheating effects as their full size counterparts.

Shell - Body
The physical appearance of the blaster is irrelevant when calculating stats and only serves as an aesthetic choice.

BUILD YOUR OWN Mini-VEHICLES
The academy features scale replicas of most every vehicle and weapon system known and in use (meaning not yet obsolete or otherwise top secret classified). Larger vehicles like space craft are built by staff and entire classes (scaled down doesn't automatically mean small or simple). Smaller vehicles like tanks, jets or mechs are built by teams of students training to be crew for that vehicle. While particulars like size, appearance, payload and armor can be customized and original designs can be built from scratch all vehicles fall into one classification or another and are scrutinized to real world T&D standards.

Space Vehicles
Interceptor - A small 1-2 person space craft intended to combat other interceptors first then to attack larger space craft en masse.
Destroyer - A small 1-3 person space craft intended to combat larger space craft directly with heavy weapons.
Shuttle - A small craft designed to ferry people and cargo between space craft. Equip little to no weaponry or defenses.
Drop Ship - A medium sized craft designed to carry people, vehicles and cargo between space craft and  a planet's surface. Equips moderate weapons and shielding.
Carrier - A massive vessel that transports every planetary combat asset as well as Interceptors and Destroyers and acts as the core of a fleet. Features considerable armor and armaments for self defense.
Dreadnought - A huge vessel designed for space to space and space to surface combat. Features heavy armor and the most powerful weapons in any fleet and is capable of precision ground strikes from orbit.
Cruiser - A large high speed space craft designed mostly for transport but is equipped to combat larger or smaller space craft in hit and run combat.
S Drone - An unmanned support weapon system that can be deployed by smaller craft or launched in droves by larger craft. Tend to feature low-medium power weapons and little to no armor.

Air Vehicles
VTOL - A transport craft designed to carry troops or small amounts of cargo to and from precise locations quickly. Features light armor and ground support weapons.
Fighter - A high speed craft designed to combat other aircraft. Has limited ground attack ability and light armor.
Bomber - A ground support aircraft designed to attack ground targets with precision and power quickly and efficiently.
A Drone - An unmanned reconnaissance craft used to remotely survey an area or deliver a single light payload. Can equip light weaponry including air to surface missiles.
Sky Carrier - Similar to its aquatic cousin it is designed to carry and service aircraft in situations where a sea carrier or friendly base is not available. Features heavy ground attack and air defense systems.

Water Vehicles
Sea Carrier - A large transport craft that acts as the core of a naval fleet. It carries and supports many aircraft which act as its primary form of attack and defense. The carrier acts as a mobile base where friendly air support would otherwise be unavailable.
Battleship - A medium sized high speed craft armed to destroy or defend other surface ships. Loaded with heavy anti-air armaments and limited anti-sub and ground support weaponry.
Submarine - A submersible vehicle designed to combat other ships and offer limited ground support.
Lander - An amphibious craft designed to ferry troops, vehicles and cargo between ships and shore where a VTOL would be unavailable or inefficient.
W Drone - A medium sized unmanned submersible ship loaded with multi-purpose missiles meant primarily for ground support. Always accompanies sea carriers.

Ground Vehicles
Air Bike - Mostly used by civilians to carry 1 or 2 people quickly with almost no other capacity. Military versions have been fitted with guns or launchers for high speed attacks.Jeep - A general purpose ground vehicle designed to carry 2-6 people and may be equipped with mounted weapons. Features little to no armor but is relatively fast and maneuverable on the ground.
APC - A thickly armored troop transport with light to medium armaments designed for superior protection of passengers. Can also act as a mobile base and is more suited to urban combat than a larger tank. May also be amphibious.
Tank - A heavily armed and armored vehicle designed to combat any and all other ground vehicles, infantry and installations with brute force.
Artillery - A vehicle fitted to a heavy long range weapon system intended to strike hard targets such as armor or bases as well as water craft. Can also be used to cause large area destruction against infantry. Tends to have little to no armor and may be unmanned. Mobile Artillery does not suffer from counter measures like guided systems such as missiles do.
Anti-Air - A vehicle loaded with weapons designed to combat aircraft and dropships from a distance. Tend to have little to no armor and may be unmanned.
Behemoth - A ground based equivalent to a carrier. Acts as a mobile command center and can carry and support multiple other smaller vehicles including tanks and mechs. Features multiple self defense weapons and heavy artillery.
G Drone - An unmanned recon and support machine that is designed mostly for bomb disposal and infantry combat in urban settings.

Personal Transport
Flight Pack - A device designed to transport a single person higher and farther than they could jump or to soften a landing (no parachutes). Various designs feature varying levels of control and fuel supply.
EVA Suit - A necessity even for a cyborg to survive in the vacuum of space. Features maneuvering thrusters and a high frequency transponder.
Dive Suit - A heavy suit designed for operating in deep or dangerous water. Originally intended for research, salvage and mining it has little to no combat ability but appears on subs and some other water craft and may be used as a survival suit.

Mechs
Powered Armor - The heaviest level of personal armor that a soldier can wear. Can also potentially carry heavier weapons and equipment than the wearer would otherwise be able to.
Ground Assault - A 1-2 person 2-4 legged weapons platform designed to be more agile or maneuverable than a tank with superior firepower and comparable defense. May include Jump Jets or an amphibious system.
Space Assault - A 1-2 person humanoid weapon system designed to combat multiple targets simultaneously and to fight using high G maneuvers in a debris strewn environment as well as boarding enemy vessels with artificial gravity.