Golem

“From Jewish folklore, an artificially created human supernaturally endowed with life”

This is the name given to the latest creation from the collaboration of CORE and Genetique International.  The GOLEM series is an artificial lifeform, more commonly described as a robot or android.  Golem models 1 through 6 have been failures for various reasons but the Golem 7 series released in 2028 was a success, artificial intelligence partnered with a human-like body.

The Golem series was initially researched due to the nature of the cyber plague that had reduced cybernetic sales worldwide, the corporations were on the lookout to replace this lost revenue and saw the Golem research as a valid alternative, indeed a replacement for the full on cyborgs – dangerous jobs, soldiers, deep space, the potential was endless.  Programmed imperatives have caused many headaches, which is one reason why so few have been produced but current legislation has been passed that will make most Golems unable to harm humans (which simplifies the programming issues to some degree), the only combat capable Golems therefore will be limited to the military (according to the law anyway).

In early 2030 the improved Golem 10 climbed off the designers bench meanwhile outside there were and indeed still are groups that are fighting for Golem rights as intelligent beings who should have independent control of themselves, at the moment though the rights issues are being successfully blocked by corporate lawyers.

Golems can have any physical shape depending upon job requirements although the standard 6 – 7 foot tall humanoid shape is the most popular, when in sysnthiskin the mark 10 is difficult for the untrained or unobservant human to differentiate from a normal person (unless they make it obvious) and it is predicted that future models will be indistinguishable from us at first glance.

The standard model has superhuman rank natural abilities with the exception of WITS, which is only Fair.

The basic hardened plastic casing gives TL 2 armour, although their bodywork is usually high tensile steel or hardened plastic depending upon requirements – whichever they are more hardy than humans and can take 3 to 6 times the punishment before becoming inactive.

Combat Models

The military were very interested in the recent breakthroughs after their problems with the Dragoon class cyborg and immediately put forward their interest in a combat model.  Within months the 9a was sent for field-testing and passed with only a few problems that have since been ironed out in the 10c model.  The latest combat model is fitted with TL 10-12 armour and has physical abilities in the Superhuman +3 range, all other abilities are in the basic golem range although the combat model is fitted with a wide variety of sensors, including limited radar.

Their main advantage is that they look human and thus do not immediately attract heavy fire, say that a Dragoon would.  They carry no internal weaponry but do have carry spaces in their thighs and chest large enough for several magazines of ammunition.  In addition although they can carry and use any weapon from a pistol to a crew served heavy auto cannon, they are quite capable of tearing a man apart with their bare hands.

All combat models are programmed with a wealth of combat skills and are extremely versatile with the advantage that they learn and improve like a normal soldier.  Their ‘brain’ is buried deep within a well-armoured chest cavity (TL 16), and can be removed and placed in another body with no ill effects to the AI.

The main drawback with Golems is their cost, which is at the moment prohibitively high (for mass production) and their complexity, and although the former problem will probably solved in short order the second will be with the corporations for some years to come.

Cost: From $250,000 to 3.7 million (latest combat model)