Component 5-10, GCS-84

GCS-84, or “Ground Combat System 84” is the official designation for the polity of Keeping's special warfare troops. GCS-84 are highly trained and motivated troops called upon to perform special missions which sometimes require covert action. They are specially equipped and entrusted with a degree of freedom to choose their own operating parameters and gear. Individual members of this group are called “components” and referred to by their component number as a matter of respect. Among teammates, or “subsystem components”, it is typical to use only the function designator, in this case 5-10.

Component 5-10 is an experienced combat veteran with extensive training and experience in close-quarters combat, and is shown here in full gear, prepared for a mission to enter and secure a high-value target in an urban environment behind enemy lines, which is a typical mission for theses troops. She has made a number of equipment choices indicating that she will be operating at extremely close quarters and will need to remain undetected for at least some portion of the mission.

These choices include the use of a GCS-84-1919 helmet-mounted gun. This weapon fires low-caliber, subsonic rounds and has an integrated suppressor, making it well-suited for close-range quiet kills, particularly in the narrow confines of access tunnels and maintenance spaces of industrial complexes.

The additional magazines visible on her upper torso, held by the magnetic straps of her gear-support system, are all for the helmet-mounted gun, meaning she has chosen to go forego the use of a carried rifle or shotgun. She most likely wishes to leave her tentacles free, probably to use the knife whose handle is visible just over her shoulder and for other silent killing techniques.

She has further expanded these options by wearing a tungsten-carbide tailcap. A highly-trained combatant can use these tailcaps to stun, disable or even kill.

Further CQB specialization is evident in her choice of prosthesis. 5-10 has lost part of her lower right tentacle previously, and has swapped out the modular gripper for a close combat system. It consists of an opposing hook-and-spear arrangement for stabbing, slashing, and cutting, and an additional stout, serrated utility blade on the outside.

Judging from the half-dozen grenades secured to the other side of her upper torso, 5-10 anticipates the need to clear rooms and tunnels, set booby-traps, or deny equipment to the enemy. The packs visible on her lower torso most likely contain other necessities, including water, food, tools, and probably breaching or general-purpose explosive charges.

5-10 is wearing an advanced version of the standard infantry helmet, available only to components of GCS-84. Superior materials offer better protection, and there are additional design features. Robust extensions at the sides help protect the eye-stalks, and serve as mounts for display screens for the integrated vision-enhancement systems, visible here as a cluster of LEDs and a pair of lenses mounted in the extensions themselves. Fastened to her helmet and attached to the rear of her body armor is a shroud of loose camouflage netting. A similar shroud of netting is attached to the rest of her body armor. Combined with the baggy netting descending from her helmet, this helps to camouflage her form, and Keeping doctrine holds that the appearance of larger size this creates is a psychological advantage in close-quarters combat. Although Keeping policy criminalizes even the recognition of religious belief, it is probably not a coincidence that this also creates an image strikingly similar to those of restless or angry spirits depicted in some cultures.

Her tentacles are protected by a kind of “glove” of flexible kalkuhkalk-pup leather backed by aramid-fiber armor, which provides excellent protection against bumps and abrasions and even offer some against debris, blades, and ricochets. She has modified the glove to leave her tentacle-tips free for sensitive or delicate work.

Her gear-support system, visible on her upper torso below the straps, also incorporates armor, similar to that used by standard infantry, but with lighter weight and better
protection offered by superior materials and manufacturing.

Ilustration by , a highly skilled specialist and pleasure to work with. Mr. Scroggins also originated the idea of a helmet-mounted gun when I tasked him with designing Keeping's basic infantry gear.  Camouflage by , who made it possible for me to contact those who have do so well at bringing my crazy ideas to life.


I am the original creator of the galkgrokst. Please don't use them or this image for anything. That would make you an unimaginative creep.