BOLO MK XXIV (Cognitus)

Mark XXIV was the first genuinely autonomous Bolo. Previous Bolos had been self-directing on the tactical level, but the Mark XXIV, with a vastly improved personality center and integration circuitry, was capable of strategic self-direction. For the first time, Bolos began to evolve ta truly "human" level of individual personality, but the Mark XXIV's psychotronics continued to be hedged about with inhibitory safeguards. A much greater degree of non-combat autonomy was permitted, but the vehicle's psychotronics remained so designed as to deny it full use of its own capabilities outside Battle Reflex Mode. Impetus to decrease or even abolish these safeguards clearly began with the mark as it proved its reliability and flexibility, yet resistance would continue until Bolo Central reviewed the battle record of Unit 0075-NKE on Santa Cruz in 3025. The Mark XXIV retained the Mark XXIII's secondary armament but reverted to a single-turreted main armament (90cm "super" Hellbore). Despite the reduced main armament, weight fell only to the 14,000 ton mark, and speed remained roughly equivalent to that of the Mark XXII and Mark XXIII.

Some BOLO MK XXIV units:

Kenny was bought by some retired Dinochrome Brigade soldiers who now were civilian residents of the old fashioned society on Camelot. They acquired the Bolo in order to defend the planet and its people from a band of interstellar rogues intent of taking the peoples' goods in exchange for being allowed to live. Residents built a shed for Kenny. The next time the raiders came down again to collect more booty and intimidate everyone and maybe kill a few, Camelot was ready, and soon Kenny arrived to the scene and shot the raider troopers and destroyed their spacecraft.