Machina Classes

Machina are sorted into Classes based on their primary role. This is listed after their Category when identifying them, which refers to the stage of development that their body is at. When a human is corrupted into a Machina, the M2 Nanomachines in their body will guide development into a certain Class based on the former-human's traits, such as their physique, their personality, and their cultivated skills. The main Classes are the Assaulter-class, the Attacker-class, the Breeder-class, the Injector-class, and the Supporter-class. Each Class has a significant identifying feature that is central to their role. When a very advanced Category 3 Machina displays more than one of these identifying features, she may be designated as a Hybrid or a Chimera. Category 4 Machina are always Queen-class Machina. Queens will often retain the identifying features of their former Class. It is common for a Queen to have identifying features from several Classes, due to the requirements for ascension to Category 4.

A Machina's Class designation is a reflection of her overall purpose. Category 2 and Category 3 Machina may be sorted further into Types, which is reflective of the specific role that their bodies have been adapted for.

Assaulter_class

Assaulter-class Machina are combatants whose main characteristic is the ability to fly. Since they are usually derived from other classes of Machina, types of Assaulter-class Machina vary wildly and often overlap with other classes. Assaulter-class Machina adapt the quickest when given new Gene-Code via sex with other Machina.

Attacker_class

Attacker-class Machina are the main combatants. Their purpose is simply to attack human resistance and protect other Machina. For every tactical and strategic situation, there exists a type of Attacker-class Machina. This is due to their role bringing them into contact with human technology frequently. Attacker-class Machina will not only adapt their bodies to the effects of new human technology, but also have a strong tendency to assimilate new human technology into their bodies through the use of Larvae.

Breeder_class

Breeder-class Machina are one of the two non-combatant classes. Although all mature Machina can create Larvae within their wombs if they want to, a Breeder-class Machina’s body is specialized in the production of Larvae. Each of their breasts contains an additional womb for increased Larvae production. These wombs are constantly making multiple Larvae at any given time, and as such they often have enlarged bellies and breasts. Their role is to enhance other Machina by applying Larvae in ways that best enhance their talents. They often behave like lewd teachers and mothers as a result of their role.

Injector_class

The Injector-class are the most numerous class, and are mainly non-combatants. Whilst all Machina from Category 2 onward can infect humans with M2 Nanomachines, Injector-class Machina specialize in the production of fluids containing M2 Nanomachines and injecting them into humans and sometimes other Machina. They often have enlarged breasts for extra M2 Nanomachine production, and their equipment is often comprised of storage tanks and needle-tipped tentacles. They are usually the most sex-obsessed Machina as a result.

Supporter_class

Supporter-class Machina is a catch-all term for auxiliary Machina who are not combatants, and not focused on reproduction. Supporter-class Machina often exist to assist their Queen-class Machina, performing roles such as espionage, reconnaissance, or research which require specialized and/or niche knowledge and cultivated skills. When identifying a Machina that is suspected to be a Supporter-class Machina, one must consider if she is intended for combat. For instance, if a Machina has stealth capability, she may be a Supporter-class Machina if she is not intended for combat. A stealth combatant would belong to the Attacker-class, whereas a stealth reconnaissance Machina would likely be a Supporter-class Machina. If this stealth reconnaissance Machina could fly, it would not mean she is an Assaulter-class, as she is not intended for combat.

Queen_class

Queen-class Machina are the leaders of the Machina. They are the central server of the Cluster, which links the minds of all Machina who share the same Cluster-Code as the Queen. From this position of power in the Cluster, the Queen-class Machina is able to learn everything her subordinate Machina learn, as well as issue commands and supply information to her subordinates. This allows the Queen to coordinate the sharing of knowledge and genetic material among her subordinate Machina to optimize her Cluster for a particular style of combat. During combat, the Queen uses sensory information from her subordinates and her immense processing power to direct the actions of all Machina in her Cluster as they fight to conquer humanity. Queen-class Machina are also linked to each other through the Main Cluster, which they use for communication and to share data if needed. Using the Main Cluster they can make decisions that influence the Machina as a whole.

Because of their importance and uniqueness, Queen-class Machina are referred to using a codename for each Queen rather than the usual Type designations, such as 'Category 4 Queen-class Codename: ARACHNE'.

Hybrids and Chimeras

When a Machina receives enough Gene-Code belonging to Machina of another Class, she can develop into a Hybrid. When identifying a Hybrid Machina, the two observable classes are hyphenated together with 'Hybrid' prefixed to them. These Machina may still have a Type designation. An example of this might be 'Category 3 Hybrid Attacker-Injector-class Medic-type Machina'.

Chimera Machina are very rare Machina. This occurs when a very strong Category 3 Machina has acquired large amounts of traits from several classes other than her own class. As such they look like a combination of at least three classes of Machina. Chimera Machina are very close to ascending to Category 4 and becoming a Queen-class Machina, and this means they are some of the most dangerous Category 3 Machina. Due to the complexity of their bodies, Chimera Machina are often simply identified by the Cluster they belong to. An example of this might be 'Category 3 Chimera Machina ARACHNE Cluster'.

Proto_Machina

Where a Hybrid Machina is two Classes at once, and a Chimera Machina is three or more Classes at once, a Proto-Machina can be thought of as having no Class at that particular time. This occurs during a certain set of circumstances where expedience is needed for Machina development. In these situations, the Machina are prevented from developing more than the bare essentials so their development is faster, but otherwise develop from Category 1 through to Category 3 as normal. This can be ordered by a Queen whose situation necessitates new forces as soon as possible, or may be triggered by Outbreak Protocol. Once the situation improves, the Proto-Machina will be released from the restrictions and allowed to develop the equipment she would naturally have.