When the Quadropods Came
September 16, 1933

The world saw its first glimpse of the Automat in 1900, when a human-sized machine was unveiled at the 1900 London World's Fair. At the time, it could perform only menial tasks: walking, lifting, running. The military immediately saw use for it, and the Imperial Army recruited scientists to create military version of the Automat. Eight years later, the Empire would deploy the first military use of the Automat in battle during Operation Overlord.

Today much is known about the success of Operation Overlord during the Great War, and many of the books written on the subject call the operation a stroke of genius that was guaranteed success. But at the time, military officials were concerned about its viability. Joint Anglo-American forces launched the largest major amphibious assault in human history, landing in northern and southern Spain. It marked the first known deployment of the Automat in a combat role. It proved astonishingly successful, even more so than the barrels, or tanks as the Americans call them. Giant, hulking and monstrous steel creations, armed with cannons and machine guns, they had a dramatic role ono he battlefield, shocking the enemy and proving decisive in securing tactical positions.

Since the original military Automat, scientists have conducted further R&D to improve its combat abilities and utility. Smaller duopods, machines with two legs that carry a cannon and twin machine guns, are everywhere in society. Imperial Britain has three duopod divisions, the Metropolitan Police in London has employed duopods for security. Pairs of duopods protect Buckingham Palace and Whitehall. The whining hum of their engines and stomp of their feet, unsettling to some, comforting to others, can be heard 50 meters away. Duopods recently helped suppress the Irish Revolt, storming into Cork as small arms fire bounced off its armored plating.

Now comes the Quadropod; other than a picture, no information is known.