KN-Series

The KN-Series mecha is the workhorse of the Esper United Soldiery and the Esperian Ground Forces especially. The machines were revolutionary in how mecha were created and used. Unlike their predecessors, the Ifrit mecha, Dracoforms, and G-Series machines, they have generally employed only a small amount of mounted weaponry. Instead, they use a wide variety of handheld weaponry that makes the KN-Series comparable to armor in a battlefield role, but with the versatility of infantry.

“Piloting a KN is a lot like going into battle on a horse. You’re not part of a crew, then. You’re just one man, in his machine, going into battle by himself. There is something romantic and thrilling about it.”

History

The KN-Series was put into development during the Leviathan War, but did not see completion until the war had ended. The prototype unit was named the KN-X, an experimental unit named after the site of its development and testing: Kohinglen Newpound. The vehicle finished its combat trials in 36 WR, and the greenlight was shortly after given for the first mass-produced unit: the KN Garrison unit. The KN Garrison was initially envisioned as a guard unit, but advances in robotics that came in part from New Wraith advances fed to the Esper Union gave the KN Garrison a much faster range of movement and better armor than originally hoped for.

The KN Garrison became the mainstay of the Esperian Ground Forces, forming their armored corps. The light combat vehicles that they replaced were relegated to support units for the KN forces. Their success in small conflicts, such as engagements in the Republic of West led them to create a series of additional units, including the Sniper and Cannon variants on the original design. Furthermore, they were eventually fitted with an optional backpack that included the additional thrusters that allowed the KN movement in space. This resulted in a series of KN squadrons assigned to the Esperian Aerospacy.

As the KN Garrison has gotten on in age, the first replacement is in development. This project, simply titled the KN Development Project, is attempting to develop a superior KN that will replace the KN Garrison as the Esper Union's workhorse. The current codename of the project is the KN Sentinel.

KN Optional Components

PB-1 “Patrolman” Mecha Baton

Centurion Security Service’s “Patrolman” line of products is a recent entry of the corporation into the market. The “Patrolman” line is designed with mecha in mind, and is intended to serve as weapons any civil defense or police mecha could use. Their baton is a mecha-sized nightstick, intended for machines between twenty and forty feet in height. The baton is popular in the Esper Union, and the KN Garrison Civil Defense-type mecha makes use of the baton. It is made of fiberglass, with a core of steel. The baton can inflict considerable damage to an unarmored target, but does little against a military target.

TIA-M1 Mecha Sword

Tzen Imperial Alloys’ mecha sword is the standard hand weapon for the Kohinglen Newpound Garrison mecha, in all branches save for the civil defense KN Garrisons. The blade is sized for the thirty-four foot tall machines, and shaped roughly like a medium-sized, single-handed long sword. The sword has little cutting power, and the edge serves more as a wedge to force armor and systems to split apart on contact, instead of using its sharpness to slice through armor. This makes the TIA mecha sword rather inelegant, but it still can cause considerable damage.

TIA-M2 Mecha Shield

The KN Garrison series of mecha uses a shield created for it by Tzen Imperial Alloys. The shield is roughly rectangular in shape. The shield is also slim, while it has the length of a KN’s arm, its width is only half again the size of the arm. The bottom end slants slightly to offer some protection for the hand, and the top end has a bar that allows it to be carried in such a fashion. It can attach to a KN’s arm via a small electromagnetic lock on the inside of the shield. The shield is strong enough to take direct blasts from most cannons, and can withstand impacts from most solid-state weapons.

PR-1 “Patrolman” 30mm Mecha Revolver

Another product of Centurion’s “Patrolman” line, the PB-1 revolver fires small shells for a mecha cannon. It is a well-built, reliable revolver, sized for a mecha. The revolver is a six-shooter, and has a fairly long barrel to provide it with accuracy. The standard shells are enough to damage light armor, such as that on civilian mecha, and can destroy an automobile in a single shot. It also comes with rubber variants to avoid dealing heavy damage, and an armor piercing variety for heavy combat.

PC-1 “Patrolman” 50mm Mecha Shotgun

The PC-1 shotgun in Centurion’s “Patrolman” line is the heaviest weapon the corporation makes for mecha. The cannon has a fair amount of piercing power for a civil defense weapon, and can inflict light damage on even heavily armored units. It can keep four rounds in the magazine and another in the chamber, and in addition to normal slugs, can use buckshot rounds for anti-personnel purpose. It can also fire shells that contain tear gas for the purpose of riot control.

N-65 “Tiger” 30mm Light Mecha Assault Rifle

The Tiger is a design made by Kuat Consortium, and is one of the most widely used light assault rifles for mecha in the Web. The Tiger is sometimes carried by KN Garrison mecha in the field when only light resistance is expected, or issued to KN Civil Defense-type mecha when there is a chance of hostile forces invading a city. The Tiger typically uses magazines with forty rounds, but the Esperians also sometimes employ longer magazines that hold seventy rounds. The Tiger has poor piercing power, and is mostly effective against lightly armored targets and bunkers. It has a semi-automatic and automatic setting, and can fire standard or armor piercing shells.

NG-70 “Lion (EUS Type)” 60mm Mecha Assault Rifle with: MGC-02 Gravitic “Wolf” 90mm Gravitic Shotgun

The NG-70 Lion (EUS Type) is a design made by Kuat Consortium and the Fort Locke Research Group, with the two cannons produced by both, and assembled by Esperian Motor Works. The rifle is the standard issue weapon for the Kohinglen Newpound Garrison mecha, and is a very reliable weapon. It has two barrels. The main barrel is the standard Kuat-made Lion autocannon, and the secondary barrel contains a Celes light combat vehicle’s main cannon modified to be fired with a pump action mechanism. The 90mm cannon has a thirty round magazine. The twin magazines give the NG-70 a distinct appearance similar to the GR-12 rifle. The 60mm autocannon has a good rate of fire with an automatic and semi-automatic setting, but is only adequate against large targets in terms of piercing power. The cannon rarely pierces heavier armor, such as that found on the King Leo and Dracoforms. The 90mm shotgun is intended for piercing even heavily armored targets, and the pump action barrel can fire anti-tank or high explosive rounds.

MTM-01 Flare “Carnivore” 65mm Mecha Rifle

Fort Locke Research Group’s Carnivore rifle was designed for the KN Garrison Space-type used by the Esper Union Aerospacy. The rifle is intended to be an all-purpose main weapon for the Aerospacy mecha, using a scaled down version of the Flare cannons mounted on Aerospacy and Sky Rider vessels. Unfortunately, the weapon has only a semi-automatic setting and lacks the precision of other rifles. The Carnivore is also too small to damage anything but specific systems on capital vessels, thus making its use very limited. Its lack of precision limits its use against other mecha and fighters. It does best against larger targets that are not on a capitals scale, such as Commanchero-class gunboats and Tasnican Ballista bombers. It is connected via a power cable to the reactor of the KN, giving it an infinite number of blasts, but this does not make up for its limited capabilities. The Carnivore is being replaced by the much more reliable EUS-type Lion assault rifle.

MGC-03 Gravitic “Coyote” 105mm Mecha Sniper Rifle

The MGC-03 Coyote was designed by the Fort Locke Research Group and is mass-produced by Saeder-Krupp. The rifle is used by the sniper variant of the KN Garrison mecha, and includes software built into it that harnesses the powerful targeting computers contained inside the KN Garrison Snipers. It is one of two rifles used by the mecha snipers, and generally preferred on terrestrial missions. Its effective range is six miles. The rifle uses a magazine that holds twenty gravitic rounds. The Coyote has excellent piercing power, and shells from it can easily take out the most heavily armored vehicles and bunkers. It comes with a semi-automatic setting, an employs anti-tank or high explosive rounds.

MTM-02 Flare “Raptor” 110mm Mecha Sniper Rifle

Fort Locke Research Group’s Raptor is the second sniper rifle used by the sniper variant of the KN Garrison series of mecha. Like the Coyote, the sniper rifle uses special software that connects the rifle to the advanced targeting system of KN Sniper mecha. It is preferred for missions in space, or for any mission where long range is needed. The Raptor has an impressive firing range of twenty miles. The Raptor is tied to the KN by a power cord that connects to its gravitic reactor, allowing the cannon to have virtually limitless firing, though it does need a cool down time of a few seconds after each shot. It can easily pierce the armor of most targets, including smaller capital ships and the bridge of nearly any vessel, and is very precise. It can only fire on a semi-automatic setting.

MGC-04 Gravitic “Labrador” 160 mm Mecha Artillery Cannon

Designed by the Fort Locke Research Group and manufactured by Saeder-Krupp, the Labrador is one of the main fire support weapons of the KN Garrison mecha. The cannon is an artillery piece that was modified into a heavy assault cannon for a mecha, primarily for direct fire purposes. The Labrador uses a magazine that carries thirty rounds in it. Its shells can cause heavy damage to small areas, and are excellent for use against both infantry and armored targets. They cause enough damage with a near miss to make up for their relative lack of precision, and in an emergency, can be used as an indirect fire weapon and have their bombardments guided by spotters on the ground or by satellite. They can only fire in a semi-automatic setting, and the automatic loader is a few fractions of a second slower than most mecha rifles, thanks to the size of the shell. The shells they use are typically high explosive, but can sometimes also be fragmentation or contain various gas agents inside them.

MBL-01 Magitek “Thunderclap” 180mm Mecha Bazooka

The Thunderclap bazooka, designed and manufactured by the Fort Locke Research Group, is another fire support weapon used by the KN Garrison mecha. The bazooka fires self-propelled, straight shot rockets. It mounts a single rocket in the firing chamber, and can hold another three inside a special compartment built onto the bazooka to store them. The Thunderclap’s rockets can easily pierce even the most hardened of armors, and is typically used for attacking fortresses or doing damage to a large area. Its mission largely depends upon the kind of rockets it uses. Typically, armor piercing or high explosive rockets are standard issue, but fragmentation can be given for anti-personnel purposes. It can also use gas-storing rockets, to provide illumination or attacks via white phosphorous, or more deadly chemical and biological weapons. Thunderclap rockets can also contain tactical gravitic bombs on them, though this is generally frowned upon because of the destruction that would result.

MML-01 Magitek “Lightning” Mecha Missile Launcher

Esperian Motor Works’ Lightning missile launcher is the third fire support weapon used by KN mecha, and also the most rare. It is generally preferred that Locke light combat vehicles fulfill the role of the Lightning launcher, but the launcher is intended to serve in place of them or to support the LCV’s barrages. The Lightning has four missile tubes mounted on it, stacked in two rows of two. Each tube contains three missiles, and they can be fired one at a time, or in volleys of four. It contains its own software that allows the targeting computer of the KN to select targets quickly before the volleys are fired, much like the Locke LCV’s system. The missiles used by the Lightning launcher are either Forge Mechanicals’ Wasp or Hornet surface-to-air missile, for anti-aircraft purposes, or Saeder-Krupp’s Goblin surface-to-surface missile for artillery.

KN-01-SA1 KN Garrison Auxiliary Space Movement Backpack

KN Garrison units have been assigned to the Esper Union Aerospacy, to allow it to have access to space mecha forces. Instead of redesigning the machines to be able to operate in the depths of space, a simple backpack mechanism was designed to fit to the back of the KN machines. The backpack is shaped like a cross, with two cylinders ending in domed tops cutting across the center of the other. The center of the cross has a large thruster that provides the majority of the movement, while each end of the cross has three smaller directional thrusters that can rotate on ball turrets to allow movement in nearly any direction. The result is a fairly easy flow of movement and adequate, but it is dominated by generally far more agile fighters and mecha such as the SRAN Ifrit IV. The backpack has no armaments to speak of. The computer on the backpack will make the standard controls of the KN Garrison automatically take over the movements of the machine. The armor on the backpack is light, and even smaller cannons can cause significant damage to it.

KN Garrison Schematics

KN-01 KN Garrison Mecha

• Manufacturer: Esperian Motor Works
• User: Esper United Soldiery
• Height: 35 feet
• Fixed Armament:
  • 25mm gravitic vulcan (chest)
  • 12mm Pike gravitic machinegun (chest)

The standard KN Garrison, sometimes called the Trooper variant, has a basic humanoid shape. It was the first main battle mecha deployed by the Esper Union, and composes the mainstay of the armored forces used by the Esperian Ground Forces and the Esperian Naval Marines. The Trooper fills a variety of roles, and composes the majority of any KN company. The other variants (save for the Commando) offer limited fire support. In appearance, the mecha is very streamlined and slightly blocky, with few flares or anything to make it stand out too much. The faceplate is similar to the Ifrit-series, with a single, forward-fixed sensor eye. It also has a head remniscent of a helmet, which is something of a trademark among the KN-Series. The backpack includes a fairly large set of twin thrusters for leaping. The mecha is painted in olive drab for army units and dark grey for marine units, and camouflage in certain situations. Aerospacy units are painted in crimson with olive drab lining. It is always issued a sword and shield, as well as at least one long-range handheld weapon.

KN-01C KN Garrison Civil Defense Type Mecha

• Manufacturer: Esperian Motor Works
• User: Police departments throughout the Esper Union
• Height: 35 feet
• Fixed Armament:
  • 6.5mm Trident gravitic machinegun (chest)
  • Searchlight (chest)

The Kohinglen Newpound Garrison mecha has had a number of variants produced for it to both make it have the ability to support other units in the field, and the ability to be tailored for certain situations. The Civil Defense Type KN is one of the latter, and is given to the police departments of cities throughout the Esper Union as a last ditch line of defense and as a deterrent for mecha crime within cities, with three per Mechanized Police Unit. The Civil Defense type is slimmer than the standard KN Garrison, having lighter armor than its military kin. The mecha is painted white and either black or dark blue, depending upon the city it is based in. It also has a siren mounted on the right chest of the mecha, with a searchlight replacing the vulcan on the left side of the chest. The only built-in weapon is a 6.5mm Trident machinegun. The most common weapons the mecha is issued are a shield, a baton, and either a mecha revolver or shotgun depending on the mission.

KN-01A KN Garrison Cannon Type Mecha

• Manufacturer: Esperian Motor Works
• User: Esper United Soldiery
• Height: 35 feet
• Fixed Armament:
  • 25mm gravitic vulcan (chest)
  • 12mm Pike gravitic machinegun (chest)
  • 155mm gravitic artillery cannon (shoulder)

One of the most common variants on the KN Garrison mecha is the cannon variant, intended to provide fire support and short-range artillery to KN mecha in the field. The Esperian Ground Forces and Esperian Naval Marines employ it in both companies of its own, or put one or two in standard mecha companies. The build of the Cannon type KN is slightly heavier, with improved and bulkier armor on the right shoulder and chest of the machine. An antenna protrudes from the left side of the head. The most noticeable change to the mecha, however, is the addition of a 155mm gravitic artillery cannon on the right shoulder. The cannon has an auto-loading feature and can move up to ninety degrees on the shoulder swivel, giving it an impressive direct and indirect fire capability. The KN Cannon is always issued a shield, but is rarely given a sword. Either bazookas or artillery cannons are typically given to it as a hand weapon. The sensors package is improved, with a more advanced telescopic optic system, and a satellite uplink for indirect fire bombardment. The armor is slightly heavier on the chest and right shoulder than standard KN Garrison mecha, and can sometimes withstand heavy cannons if struck in this area.

KN-01L KN Garrison Sniper Type Mecha

• Manufacturer: Esperian Motor Works
• User: Esper United Soldiery
• Height: 35 feet
• Fixed Armament:
  • 25mm gravitic vulcan (chest)
  • 12mm Pike gravitic machinegun (chest)

Another common variant on the KN Garrison is the sniper version of the mecha, intended to provide precise, accurate, and heavy attacks against the most armored of targets to support normal forces. The EGF and marines employ it in companies of its own, or put one or a pair in standard mecha companies. The mecha is built exactly like the standard military version, but has an added antenna on the top of the head akin to the Cannon variant, and has a larger sensor eye in the middle of the head than other KN variants. The Sniper is most often painted in a dark grey (for the army) or midnight black (for the marines) color. It is the only mecha to be given, in addition to the sword and shield, a mecha sniper rifle as standard issue. The sensors package is improved and identical to the one found on the KN Cannon.

KN-01S KN Garrison Commando

• Manufacturer: Esperian Motor Works
• User: Esper United Soldiery
• Height: 35 feet
• Fixed Armament:
  • 25mm gravitic vulcan (chest)
  • 12mm Pike gravitic machinegun (chest)
  • 35mm gravitic vulcan (right forearm)
  • Chain mines x 6 (left forearm)

The KN Garrison Commando variant was a joint project by the design team at Kohinglen Newpound and Aerospace Esper to generate a KN Garrison mecha for the Aerospacy’s Spatial Heavy Irregulars – Vehicular Assault Teams (SHIVAT). The machine is designed for attacks on space vessels and emplacements in space, and is intended to be able to cripple such installations and facilities in fairly small numbers. The Commando is the only KN variant that does not need the auxiliary backpack for movement in space, and comes built with a thruster system that makes movement in space ideal. It is still entirely functional on the ground. The mecha appears akin to standard KN’s, but has a notable bulge in each forearm. The right forearm holds a retractable 35mm gravitic vulcan cannon. The left forearm holds six chain mines, which are explosives that can be magnetically attached to a surface or left behind elsewhere and remote detonated, or have a timed detonation. The KN Commando also has the standard 25mm gravitic vulcan in the chest, but the anti-personnel machinegun has been replaced with a spotlight. The KN Commando can also carry all of the standard mecha armaments of the other KN’s. The sensors system is far superior, and the Commando includes state of the art stealth technology.

KN-01HM KN Garrison High Mobility-type Mecha

• Manufacturer: Esperian Motor Works, Aerospace Esper
• User: Esper United Soldiery
• Height: 35 feet
• Fixed Armament:
  • 25mm gravitic vulcan (chest)
  • 12mm Pike gravitic machinegun (chest)

The KN Garrison High Mobility-type was a limited run KN Garrison variant. It was created in 42 WR, but only two hundred units were created before the production run proved too expensive for mass production. Since then, high mobility-type KNs have been assigned to some of the Aerospacy's finest aces. The mecha is by and large the same as as a standard KN, with comparable armor, sensors, and weapons. However, it has a vastly superior thruster system, capable of indepdendent space flight far more maneuverable and faster than the Commando variant. This does not allow flight on the surface, but the unit remains faster, with enhanced reflexes and more thrusters to create smoother movement.

KN-01EK KN Kabuto Mecha

• Manufacturer: Aichitomo Applied Technologies
• User: Eblanese Kingdom Armed Forces
• Height: 35 feet
• Fixed Armament
  • 30 mm "Tiger" autocannon
  • N8 Heavy Machine Gun x 2

The Eblanese Mobile Corps tested a variety of mecha and other platforms during the Coalition-Merge War but were drawn to the KN-series because of its wide range of tactical options. Originally Eblan acquired a limited number of stock KN Garrison mecha, they performed so well Eblan sought to produce their own variant. After some somewhat complicated negotiations with the Esperian government and Kohinglen Newpound requiring the personal intervention of King Edge Eblana VIII the Eblanese secured a production license.

The mecha underwent a few design tweaks to enter Eblanese service. Most immediately notable is the redesigned head, resembling the Samurai helmet that gives this variant its name. The Eblanese also altered the fixed armament somewhat, as they were unaccustomed to working with gravitic weapons and preferred the cheaper Kuat-made autocannon and machine guns already in their inventory in bulk. Finally, the Eblanese increased the armor protection somewhat at the cost of some speed, reflecting a preference for close-range combat and some harsh lessons from the Three-Week War learned about survivability.

The KN Kabuto became the standard mecha of the Mobile Corps, though it does employ certain other designs like Mongooses for scouting and Erinyes in special mecha-hunting units. For the Aichitomo corporation this is a major stepping stone towards their long-term goal of a home-grown mecha design.

...and yeah, they did make a mecha-scale katana for it.

KN-01E KN Garrison Enforcer Mecha

• Manufacturer: Unknown
• User: Lost Ragnarok
• Height: 35 feet
• Fixed Armament:
  • 25mm gravitic vulcan (chest)
  • 12mm Pike gravitic machinegun (chest)
  • 3-tube Missile Launcher x 2 (1 per shoulder)

The KN Garrison Enforcer is an unofficial variant, made primarily by the group Lost Ragnarok. It utilizes a hover system, which gives it incredible mobility on the ground. These systems are mounted in armor skirts built into each leg, which also include additional vernier thrusters for enhanced movement in space. It also boasts three tube missile launchers on each shoulder, with one reload for each. The Enforcer is manufactured at several secret factories, then shipped to Lost Ragnarok forces.

KN-02X KN Sentinel (Prototype)

The KN Sentinel is the experimental machine being developed by the KN Development Project at Kohinglen Newpound as a replacement for the KN Garrison. The details of the project, as well as its crew, are highly classified. Official press releases have only revealed that the KN Sentinel will improve upon the original concept of the KN-Series, but follow the fundamental concepts employed by its precursors. At this time, specific capabilities and any potential variants are unknown.