Cybercanid
Cybercanids are clawed cyborg animals that are used as mounts by the Adeptus Mechanicus's Serberys Corps cavalry.[1]
Contents
Overview
Cybercanids are made from vat-grown canids of prodigious size that are augmented by the best bionics the Mechanicus has to offer.[2] Magos-Haptics will often care for the Cybercanids ridden by Skitarii, updating modifications and correcting performance issues.[3d]
Skitarii "aspirants" (so-called despite skitarii lacking the necessary emotional drive to seek a new assignment; skitarii are assigned their positions, they do not request them) to the Serberys Corps are given Cybercanids, and the bond between the two is among the things they are judged upon.[1] These promising candidates are not just judged by their combat prowess, but also the bond they form with their mounts. If, after several cycles, a Magos-Haptic determines the aspirants have passed the Corps's requirements, they will be accepted into the Serberys. Afterwards, their Cybercanid will be modified based on which Serberys cavalry they are assigned to.[1]
Regardless of which cavalry they belong to, the members of the Serberys Corps are taught that the bond they share with their Cybercanid is a gift from the Omnissiah. To waste it, is to face deletion.[1] The bonded duo is also equipped with a gryo-stabilised saddle.[3c] Cybercanids maintain a noospheric link with their riders, allowing them to access the creature's sensory augmetics. Over time the two form a nigh-unbreakable bond. They are so loyal to one another that if one dies the other will seek vengeance with a cold and savage fury.[3b] Some are even permanently fused with one another.[3e]
Variants
Raider cybercanids are given advanced suites of sensors which their riders use to identify enemy interlopers.[1] Their upgraded auspex systems allow for a flood of additional data to be gathered.[3a]
Meanwhile, sulphurhound cybercanids are terror-troop mounts given the ability to breathe gouts of incinerating phosphor.[1]
All cybercanids can also disembowel their riders' foes with slashing claws. These claws are not as sharp as the cavalry sabres raider riders carry, but they are extremely tough. They are trained to slash nearby enemies with repeated rapid strikes and bone-shattering kicks and swipes.[3f]
Named Cybercanids
Sources
- 1: Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus (9th Edition), pgs. 100-101 — Datasheets
- 2: Warhammer 40,000: The Ultimate Guide, pg. 89
- 3: Wrath & Glory: Redacted Records II:
