Monkladon

Anima Minor Department
Subject Number: 5
Subject Name: Monkladon
Subject Species: Genetically altered ankylosaurus hybrid
Subject Group Classification: Squadron
Size Class: Large
Threat Class: B
Stat Classes:
INT: 5
CON: 10
STR: 7
DEX: 4
Abilities and Traits:
- Thick armored plating protects it from most physical assaults.
- Thick bone club makes for a devastating weapon, swung with great speed and power.
- Because it is so heavy, it takes a bit to get going. Doesn’t take sharp turns well.
- Trained in submission tactics, will attempt to neutralize an opponent rather than kill.
- Stubborn and resolute in the face of danger, will take the initiative if faced with aggression. Is calm and level headed otherwise.
- Often works together with other Monkladons to take down especially troublesome suspects and dangerous subjects. Understands human language and can receive orders.

In Heavenly Fang’s turbulent and exotic history, a common issue has always been the containment of the subjects. Understandably, dealing with creatures that were often larger and more powerful than a human being could ever hope to be was a cause for concern. No one wanted to face the possibility of a mass break out, knowing that it would become a literal feeding frenzy in a matter of minutes. They also couldn’t play it safe forever and eventually had to start integrating predators into the parks in order to gather enough material to work with and keep the ecosystem they had set up functioning properly. With the success of Invictathrone and his protégé Monklyonyx, it was decided that similar subjects could be used to fill in the more rank and file positions that were needed in areas that the kaiju could not always reach. Subjects weren’t the only dangers in Eden02. Like all major cities, Neo Jerusalem had its fair share of a criminal element. Apparently some needed a harsher hand in order to understand Eden02’s central mission. Anarchists, ecoterrorists, and blasphemers were just a few major groups that sought to worm their way into Eden02 and plunder her resources or tear down her ambitions. Father Fang was not one to take open defiance lightly and routinely had Cherubix and his brood ferret them out. Whether they lived long enough to attend trial was really none of his concern so long as they disappeared. Exorciva was another major force to be reckoned with. She could break even the most stubborn of minds and wrest their secrets from them with enough time and patience. Any plot to take subjects or information to the surface was uncovered rather quickly and the master minds soon found themselves begging for forgiveness under her stern reptilian gaze. While Internal Affairs dealt with a majority of these issues the civilian crime was left to the police force and a species of advanced ankylosaurus called Monkladons.

Monklyonyx had provided a powerful example of how effective a mobile organic tank could be. Father Fang was intent on capitalizing on that success and thus a new breed of enforcer was born. Taking the ankylosaurus base, the Genetics Department crafted a sturdy and powerful beast but one that was fairly intelligent as well. No sense in having a guard that could be easily outwitted. The typical ankylosaur and its brethren like Gastonia were too limited in terms of brain development and thus a splicing of genes was needed to improve this area. Unlike Monklyonyx who was a mixture of ankylosaurus and Gastonia, the Monkladons were a combination of ankylosaurus and something resembling a euoplocephalus. This created plate formations on the legs and knobbier armor. Kentrosaurus was also added to diversify the genes and hip and shoulder spikes formed. While these additions created quite a formidable defensive titan, they lacked a large brain cavity to house a more advanced thinking organ. Presented with this problem, the faculty members fixed indian elephant genes to the strain. The first few results were…interesting. Nonetheless, the Genetics Department worked out the unnecessary parts of the subject and ultimately the Monkladon was created.

The creature was unique in that it could switch its posture to suit its needs. In combat situations it would lower its upper body in a similar fashion to a Kentrosaurus, allowing its powerful hip and ‘second brain’ (which was really a glycogen producing mass of nerves) to swivel. This allowed it to strike with incredible speed and power, a bone shattering event being that its tail had a double set of osteoderms that doubled its bludgeoning power. For quick locomotion or defense, the Monkladon would vertically align itself to run or hunker down so that’s belly couldn’t be reached. Sometimes it would body check its enemy as well, occasionally catching them on its hip and shoulder spines. Its armor was a collection of overlapping plates, allowing it a degree of flexibility. Its head was the most interesting aspect, having an enlarged cranium that was protected by bony plates on and around it, as well as collar of plates to protect the neck and bony knobs to protect the eyes. As it turned out, the creatures were actually quite intelligent, though obviously not able to express it in the same fashion humans do. They were capable problem solvers and due to the elephant DNA that increased their brain function, they also worked cooperatively in groups to defend themselves and overcome obstacles. The creatures earned their name for both the formation of armored knobs around their head that looked like a ‘monk cut’, and their appearance of bowing in reverence when going into battle. The subject grew rather large but still small enough to work its way through alleys…or demolish them in the process.

The Monkladons were integrated into several groups; one that operated with only Monkladons by themselves, one that was paired up with police officers, and another directly under Monklyonyx. The Monkladons that operated by themselves were positioned in the parks with occasional interaction with rangers. They covered Areas 9, 10 and 11 where the Pewdrosaurs and larger specimens lived. These Monkladons were known to be rather jumpy and approaching them from the back or sides was not recommended. Dealing with predators’ everyday had made them more alert than their brethren and just a bit more temperamental, not that the rangers complained. In the brush it was kill or be killed and the Monkladons patrolling the parks were very skilled at defending themselves curbing the restless behavior of some of the park’s more ‘aggressive’ denizens. The Monkladons paired with officers were a different story. The officers often joked that it was like walking a bulldozer, until said bulldozer saved their lives. Being a police officer in Eden02 wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. Threats to national security aside, the citizens were largely an upstanding group of law abiding people, much like most of suburbia topside. It was the radicals and man eating monsters that made the task difficult, especially if said radicals were letting the man eating monsters into the districts on purpose. The incident where Monklyonyx proved himself was one such time. Apparently some dissatisfied bread winner in the Michael District had gotten it into his head that luring a Tyrannodaemon into the residential district with the scent of his boss’s dead family dog was a good way to get back at him for being fired. Several breaches in the Aviary fencing had allowed the mutant to smash his way through and keep tracking the blood trail…all the way into the residential area. The bastard was arrested during the creature’s attack on the ex employer’s house. He thought he could get away with a security breach AND filming the results. Needless to say it could have gone a lot smoother if they had Monkladons back then. On the rare occasion a predator snuck in, was let in, or simply broke in, the Monkladons intersected and beat the living crap out of it. What one couldn’t do, several often could. Only the most elusive or most powerful of predators were cases where outside help was called upon. The teamed up Monkladons were good for routine patrols in the urban areas as they were trained to be patient and calm even in the face of great danger. It was hard to get away with a mugging when you’re facing down a living wall of bone and muscle that will reliably track you over a mile with little difficulty. They weren’t hounds by any stretch of the imagination but they had a knack for detecting drugs and you couldn’t get them to back off just by shooting at them.

The Monkladons under Monklyonyx were perhaps the most lethal. These Monkladons were trained to crush and pulverize anything that got in their way. Whenever an A class predator lumbered into the districts or god forbid the city, they were more than prepared for it. They would surround the predator and taunt the creature into lunging. They would then take alternating swings of their tail clubs to beat it into submission or death. If the predator was particularly troublesome, Monklyonyx would step in and clean house. While the Monkladons all had various training, they were always trained to protect civilians whenever possible. A civilian’s life was paramount above all other things, including the life of the Monkladon itself. All three subcategories of Monkladon are taught to tell criminals apart from normal civilians and any suspicious behavior draws their ire rather quickly. Today the Monkladons are a staple of the security forces and a symbol of pride for the Eden02 police.
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The guys that keep the peace in the sometimes very dangerous underground nation of Eden02, the Monkladon are to Eden02 what the national guard are to most other countries. If you go around killing people they are going to step on you, if your eating people they'll crush you, if you badger the elderly they'll probably snort at you before chasing you several city blocks and slamming into you like a battering ram. If your being victimized by those people, they will give their lives to defend you. Thats just how they roll. A street savy ankylosaur, who'd of thought? They also make great search and rescue aides as they have the strength to pick apart rubble or smash it apart. One last minion to go...its a doozy .

-RenDragonClaw