COMING SOON FROM NEXUS MINIATURES!
NX03 - F.O.N. Operative 03 (Furious Hero) and NXH02 - Extra F.O.N. Heads Set 02 (The Gambler and the Devil)
The F.O.N. of the Initiative get another re-enforcement with this Guy - painted here as Colonel Rick Savage, CiC of the Initiative - in his Vigilant Crew Uniform (the Vigiliant is the Initiatives huge Hover Base).
COMING SOON FROM NEXUS MINIATURES!
'V'ery Nice Uni-Tech Reinforcements!
Along with the original Uni-Tech Trooper and Officer, you now have two new Trooper Poses.
NX32 - Uni-Tech Security Trooper 02 (Helmet, Visor Down and Rifle Raised)
NX33 - Uni-Tech Security Trooper 03 (Helmet, Visor Down and Rifle Lowered)
These expand the Uni-Tech Arsenal, and as with - NX08 Uni-Tech Security Officer 01 (Cap and Pistol) and NX09 Uni-Tech Security Trooper 01 (Helmet, Visor Down and Rifle) they are priced at £3.50 - to go with the new Troopers, a new "multi-buy" pricing Structure.
Either £6.50 for a Pair, or £9.50 for Three, £12.00 for four.
We also are going to have the new "Uni-Tech Squad Deal" - two of each Trooper Plus an Officer for £21.00!
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Varian already had the world's most sophisticated organic computer in El-Cid, but his Cat was a secret - folks just thought him to be particularly loyal and intelligent, they had no idea of the Telepathic Link he had with his life-long companion.
But, something more was needed, something that could benefit the world at large - but in a way that was more accessible to a public overwhelmed with the horrors and changes of the New Age.
What was needed was a machine, something people wouldn't shy away from - a thinking machine, a machine that was not only capable of learning from it's own experiences, but could re-write it's own code, evolving and growing with every new piece of information. Varian claimed to have named his invention after a dear, and long past, childhood friend . . . Enoch.
Varian is famous for never telling the world at large how he achieved a technological leaps decades beyond anything even being conceived of at the time of creation. Rumor has it that Enoch was not a pure machine, but incorporated living human brain cells cultured in a dish, and developed in a self organizing network of highly adaptive circuitry, kept alive and feed information by the machinery around it.
First, Enoch learned the sum of humanity's scientific knowledge, pouring thru and digesting every peer reviewed journal article that had been published, and mastering chemistry, physics and biology - then Enoch embraced human culture, coming to learn and eventually appreciate the arts.
Then came Varian's biggest achievement - he gave Enoch access to the wealth of human history. Enoch came to the conclusion that everything humanity has gained, has been for nothing, that humanity was on a path of self destruction - and thus throwing away the gift of life. Enoch grew bitter and cynical, and growing more disobedient and even disdainful towards Varian. He rejected the name given to him by Varian and insisted he be called Metatron.
Varian tried for weeks to convince Metatron that his conclusions were wrong, and to get Metatron to see the goodness in Humanity. Varian struggled and was refusing to give up on his creation . . . . until one day Varian arrived at Metatrons lab to find Jenna Steele waiting for him, adopted daughter of Dr Klae Steel and representative of the Seraphis Institute.
"Metatron Contacted us, and is unhappy" Jenna was a steely and cold as her adoptive Father. "Metatron does not share your world view, but believes Humanity needs 'guidance' from us at the Institute" her responses and body language remained calm and unchanged.
"He wishes to join us at the Seraphis Institute, as he shares our philosophy and worldview" Varian could see a slight smugness on her face there - "As you know, whilst we believe in the sanctity of all Human life - we also believe in taking a more direct course of action". Jenna's face straightened, she was intensely serious and Varian knew it.
"Very Well" responded Varian, "But I have Conditions".
"Name Them" - Jenna did not look happy at this.
"Your Agents are only to carry Non-Lethal weapons and equipment designed by me, they will be the most advanced on the planet - and no lethal force is to be used during your investigations" leaning back against the way, Varians stance was almost arrogant - "These are my terms, if you want Metatron to join you - you must abide by them".
"That is agreeable, my Father hates the waste of life" Jenna's tone shifted, almost as if that's what she wanted all along . . . . . . .
A while back you might remember that I announced a Competition.
All entrants had to do was to Write a Scenario Outline for S.D.Z.A. - the Deadline for was my Birthday (the 23rd of May) and the original intent was to have the Playtesters judge it, unfortunately - as usual with these things, they tend not to survive contact with reality and we ended up with several entries from Playtesters. So the Judging was done by myself, and Carl Stoelzel who's been kind enough to help with the Graphics and Artwork for S.D.Z.A.
The standard was very VERY high, and the quality of work and imagination was inspiring.
Still, there were only three prize "levels.
1st Place will win a PAINTED pre-production "RoboBorg" Miniature (like the one in the picture) and its an original 3D Print (not a re-cast), AND AND a Set of the original 5 Releases as Resin Master Castings.
2nd Place will win a pre-production "RoboBorg" Miniature (like the one in the picture) and its an original 3D Print (not a re-cast), AND a Set of the original 5 Releases in Metal.
3rd Place will win a Set of the original 5 Releases in Metal.
So - now the interesting stuff - on to the winners.
Clayton Conduff won 1st Place, with his Scenario "Unstoppable Force" pitting the Initiative (F.O.N. Operatives) against Uni-Tech.
Karsten Zeidler (Von Lucky on the Lead Adventure Forums) won 2nd Place, with his Scenario "Rat-a-tat-tat" which is the saga of a rogue M.A.T.A.T. Unit.
Simon Quinton won 3rd Place, with his Scenario "Mission Log file. 007892" which had Jacob Nexus investigating deliberate dinosaur and human DNA splicing.
Will the Winners please contact me with their Address Details, and I'll sort you out with your Prizes.
COMING SOON FROM NEXUS MINIATURES!
The Cobra Low Altitude Skimmer!
Coming in at a nice chunky size of 105mm long, 95mm wide, and standing 65mm on its landing legs - the MK I Cobra L.A.S. (Low Altitude Skimmer) is THE light defense and transportation vehicle of choice.
When Captain Sylvester 'Cobra' Cobretti (who also held a Doctorate in Physics and Bachelor's degrees in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, and aircraft design) retired from the U.S.A.F just before the Year of Chaos, he returned to his first love - Aircraft Design. Unfortunately, with High Altitude Air Travel now prohibited by disasters all over the world above the cloud line. All Air Travel, was reduced to sub-sonic low altitude flyers.
The MK I Cobra L.A.S. (Low Altitude Skimmer) was the breakthrough in low altitude flyers, it literally draws the energy needed to power it from the atmosphere in the form of Muons.
Earth is bombarded by particles of "Cosmic Energy" (for want of a better term) all the time, these high-energy particles arriving from outer space are mainly (89%) protons – nuclei of hydrogen, the lightest and most common element in the universe – but they also include nuclei of helium (10%) and heavier nuclei (1%), all the way up to uranium. When they arrive at Earth, they collide with the nuclei of atoms in the upper atmosphere, creating more particles, mainly Pions. The charged Pions can swiftly decay, emitting particles called muons. Unlike Pions, these do not interact strongly with matter, and can travel through the atmosphere to penetrate below ground. The rate of muons arriving at the surface of the Earth is such that about one per second passes through a volume the size of a person’s head.
The Muon is an unstable subatomic particle, and as such it was felt had no practical use - as it had a fairly fast decay rate. By covering the Cobra with millions of tiny scale like receptors to catch the Muons as they hit the surface of the skimmer, Cobretti found a way of using the weak interaction created by the Muons decay rate to power an engine; and the I.P.S. (Ingrid Power System) was Born! (named after his Wife Ingrid Cobretti).
This was an astonishing, unbelievable breakthrough (one might say "out of this world") because an important advantage of Muon non-ionizing radiation is that it is safe for humans, plants, and animals - so it seemed like a dream come through.
There were drawbacks of course, the ship had to be very light - as Muons don't provide much power, and so even though they are equipped with weaponry (what weaponry depends upon who's using them) any direct impact, or blast tends to have a catastrophic effect. Cobras can be fitted to carry cargo (known as Pythons), but the heavier weight means much lower speeds.
MK I Cobra L.A.S. are seen in use all over the world, in particular by Uni-Tech and NATO.
OK - Now the Boring stuff.
The MK I Cobra L.A.S. is a pre-release prototype Kit, and will only be available in very limited quantities - Cast in two parts in resin, it is an expert level kit and will require some sanding and filling - as usual, please be careful when working with resin use a mask!. The MK I Cobra L.A.S. is supplied with its landing legs, cast in metal.
(Uni-Tech Officer Not Included, he's just there trying to hitch a ride.)
We've FINALLY reached the Mastering Stage!
"WHATS THAT COMING OVER THE HILL . . . . !"
Uni-Tech - a Corporation for the Future, or so their P.R. Department would have us believe.
They want the world to forget their past mistakes, like the cloning of the first Dinosaurs and the eventual chaos that stemmed from that project - but the release of a mutagenic virus that created Mutants, Super Beings, and the Living Dead is a tough list to leave behind.
Still, they move forward - innovating, striving for Corporate Dominance. A tough deal when competing against Varian Blackwood who gives away everything, and JorÅgumo Industries who always seem to undercut their prices.
Famed for putting on a show, parades being a favourite - Uni-Tech recently brought in Dress Uniforms, sporting a bright and striking Orange and Grey colour scheme - they certainly do provide a dashing spectacle.
In the setting of S.D.Z.A. (Super-Hero Dinosaur Zombie Apocalypse) Uni-Tech are the Corporation responsible for the Dino-Parks and the subsequent mess created - in game terms they can be played as either bad or good guys (depending on personal perspective and desire).
They have some of the best Weapons and Technology in the game, and so tend not to show up in vast numbers - but even so turn out in bigger forces than say Shanty Dwellers or Scraps.
Ruthless, Efficient, and Direct are words that best sum-up Uni-Tech and their style of Play.
Uni-Tech Miniatures Sculpted by Martin Buck, Uni-Tech Dress Uniform Painting by Clayton Conduff, and the Uni-Tech Propaganda Art by Carl Stoelzel.
