=== Races | Technology ===

====== COMBAT DRONES ======

{{ :combatdrone_scenic.png?200|}}

Combat Drones were autonomous aerial defense units originally developed for reconnaissance and perimeter security aboard the [[the_humans|Exohuman]] spaceship [[last_frontier|Last Frontier]]. Unlike their [[courier_drones|Courier]] and [[seed_drones|Seed Drone]] counterparts, these machines were never available to the civilian market. In the [[beta_age|Beta Age]], they were exclusively assigned to the [[guarding_troopers|Guarding Troopers]] of the [[free_state_of_settlers|Free State of Settlers]].

They served as high-mobility support units, particularly effective in terrain surveillance, patrols, and the protection of key installations. During the [[great_war|Great War]], Combat Drones played a central role in defending [[exohuman_settlements_in_the_beta_age|Exohuman settlements]] against the [[alliance_of_native_tribes|Alliance of Native Tribes]].

===== History and Deployment =====

==== The Last Frontier Era ====

  * Combat Drones were part of the standard equipment issued to exploration squads 
  * Each drone was paired with a Guarding Trooper and integrated with the [[gaia_system|GAIA-AUX]] tactical interface.

**Original Drone Inventory Aboard Ship:**

  * 80 Seed Drones
  * 120 Courier Drones
  * 2,000 Combat Drones

==== The Beta Age: Active Defense Network ====

  * 1,140 drones were lost during the [[day_zero|crash]]
  * The remaining 860 Combat Drones were reprogrammed for ground defense and border patrol by [[Drones of Hope Inc.|Drones of Hope Inc]].
  * Heavily deployed around [[arla_town|Arla Town]], [[Morningstar|Morningstar]], [[hope|Hope]], [[firetown|Firetown]] and [[new_kourou|New Kourou]] to secure outposts and key facilities.
  * Drones could operate autonomously or in command-chain coordination with Guarding Trooper patrols.

==== The Gamma Age: Treaty Enforcement and Destruction ====

  * Under the [[peace_treaty|Peace Treaty]] of 2631, all Combat Drones were banned.
  * The [[federal_confederation|Federal Confederation]] ordered the destruction of remaining drones, which had to be burned in the presence of the [[native_human_behavior_supervision|Native Supervisor]].
  * Rumors persist that a few drones were smuggled into [[outlaws|Outlaw]] territories.

===== Appearance and Features =====

  * **Size:** Roughly 80 cm across, bulkier than Courier units
  * **Frame:** Armored chassis with modular weapon mounts
  * **Power Source:** Twin Micro-Grade [[quantum_fusion_batteries|Quantum Fusion Batteries (µQFBs)]] for extended flight and weapon function
  * **Weapon Systems:** Variable setups including stun beams, micro-lasers, and terrain-marking flares
  * **AI Module:** Advanced GAIA-AUX combat protocols, including threat recognition, target prioritization, and emergency recall

===== Technical Specifications for Gameplay =====

  * **Armor Class (AC):** 17
  * **Hit Points (HP):** 45
  * **Speed:** 50 feet (flying)
  * **Primary Role:** Tactical Defense

**Actions:**

  * **Stun Pulse** | Ranged Attack: +5 to hit, range 60 ft., 2d6 electric damage; DC 13 CON save or stunned for 1 round
  * **Tactical Scan** | Bonus Action: Reveals all hidden threats in a 30-ft radius; grants advantage on attack rolls for 1 round
  * **Overwatch Lockdown** | Reaction: When an enemy moves within 15 ft., drone fires a warning shot; enemy must succeed DC 12 DEX save or stop movement

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====

==== Beta Age: Potential Storylines and Encounters ====

  * **The Broken Wing:** A Combat Drone crashes during a test flight on the outskirts of Hope. Players must find it before it falls into the wrong hands…

==== Gamma Age: Potential Storylines and Encounters ====

  * **Buried Sentinel:** A hidden Combat Drone is discovered in an abandoned bunker. When activated, it mistakes the PCs for intruders. Reprogram it — or survive its countermeasures.

===== Related Pages and Further Information =====

  * [[beta_age|Beta Age]]
  * [[exohuman_technology_of_the_beta_age|Exohuman Technology in the Beta Age]]
  * [[Drones of Hope Inc.|Drones of Hope Inc.]]
  * [[gaia_system|GAIA System]]
  * [[quantum_fusion_batteries|Quantum Fusion Batteries (QFBs)]]
  * [[guarding_troopers|Guarding Troopers]]
  * [[great_war|Great War]]
  * [[federal_confederation|Federal Confederation]]
  * [[peace_treaty|Peace Treaty]]

**Drones of the Exohumans:** 

  * [[Combat Drones|Combat Drones]]
  * [[Courier Drones|Courier Drones]]
  * [[seed_drones|Seed Drones]]