Sunduqbut - Arabic for "Box bot." Box-designed robots designed to stealthily be transported, or even aero-dropped, to locations before combat begins.
One of the main shortcomings of covert operations is that the forces on the ground generally lack heavy support when things go awry. It's difficult enough to deploy servopowered armor in enemy territory, let alone more complex weapon systems with superior firepower. As a rule, this isn't usually a problem for the Hassassin Bahram, which relies on the swiftness and expertise of its highly trained operatives. However, due to the growing unrest in the Sphere and to the alien threat- which has grown beyond the boundaries of the Paradiso System-the alert level of military and law-enforcement agencies is much higher, requiring a much faster and more powerful reaction capability, which has compromised many of their missions. The application of solutions such as light armored units like the Shakush is quite limited and highly dependent on the setting and conditions of the area of operations. To solve this problem, the Bradra Thaq (roughly translatable as "Research Fraternity" in Farsi), the branch of the Hassassin Bahram in charge of science and technology research, developed a comprehensive study to address the needs of field agents without compromising the covert nature of their operations. Based on intelligence obtained during Operation Red Veil, where the Ramah Taskforce smuggled an Al Fasid operative inside a portable toilet into Mars' Neon Lotus orbital, the BT came up with a solution that went beyond conventional technological responses. Its proposal consisted on the development of a stand-alone unit possessing the tactical capabilities of an infantryman equipped with servoarmor that could fit into an MC-04 container, one of the most common standard cargo crate models across the Human Sphere. The rationale behind this approach was the ability to deploy these units covertly, concealed as part of large shipments, so that they were already in the area of operations even before action began, and activated only if the situation warranted it. Given the proactive approach of the Hassassin Bahram, it being the one who initiates military actions and, therefore, chooses the field of operations, this type of maneuver was feasible in most scenarios, given that colonial, frontier, and industrial settings are the most suitable for the deplovment of these units. Furthermore, the BT suggested that the structure of the tactical units' container crates be reinforced, so that they could be airborne for rapid deployment. This would allow these troops to be adapted to the operational requirements of the Ramah Taskforce, which had also expressed its interest in having a heavy support solution for its rapid-deployment light units.
Once the project was greenlit by the Diwân al Jund, Qima (¿pò, "summit") Technoreplies, the contractor entrusted with its implementation, acquired the license for the operating system of the Karakuri units developed by the keiretsu Rokkaku. The Great Independent Japan's need for trade partnerships and the fact that Haqqislam was not a direct competitor in geostrategic affairs led to this agreement, which Yujingyu diplomats strongly criticized. However, given the specifics of this program, the acquisition of external technology was limited to the operating system and the pseudo-Al of the Karakuri Special Project. Qima Technoreplies had to develop a robotic body heavier than the one used by the Karakuri, as it would have to carry much heavier tactical equipment. Moreover, this unit needed to be compact and collapsible to fit into an MC-04 container for concealment purposes, which was one of the key points of the project. It was equally important to ensure that this unit could be released from its container crate and transform rapidly, so that it could be ready for battle in record time, given that its activation would usually imply that the operation was entering a critical phase. Finally, it was also imperative that these units be equipped with a self-destruct and data-erasure device, so as to eliminate any trace of Haqqislamite presence in the area of operations to avoid compromising the secrecy and confidentiality of their mission. It was a whole series of technical challenges that delayed the project's development longer than expected, but which finally bore fruit in the form of the so-alled "cratebot"). These robotic troops had their official debut in the aftermath of the Paradiso Third Offensive, in an operation carried out by the Ramah Taskforce. However, the Sundugbut's first true use in battle had taken place a few weeks earlier, in an action by the Hassassin Bahram against a secret technological innovation center of the MagnaObra corporation, which was using human beings as guinea pigs to conduct experiments with samples of alien technology stolen from the Tohaa. On both occasions, the timely intervention of the Sundugbut gave the Hagqislamite troops the operational advantage they needed to prevail, while their opponents were left wondering where those artillery platforms that so relentlessly decimated their ranks were. The deadliest jack-in- the-box had taken Haqqislam's enemies by surprise with a blazing, unexpected firestorm.
