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The SWATbots were military robots developed by Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Making up the bulk of the Badnik Horde, they served in a multitude of roles from infantry to vehicle crews.
History[]
Development[]
The original SWATbot model during the coup
The original SWATbot model was created roughly around 3225, the year of Ivo Robotnik's coup d'état. Armed with laser pistols and rifles, the SWATbots proved extremely successful against any of the early resistance forces. Within a matter of hours, the SWATbots had managed to take over numerous key points of Mobotropolis and rounded up thousands of Mobians, which would be roboticized shortly after the coup's end. (StH: #43, SSS: #9)
Dr. Ivo Robotnik's Tyranny[]
Over the course of the First Robotnik War, SWATbots were quickly converted into the primary ground troops and workers during Dr. Ivo Robotnik's initial reign, where they made up the bulk of Robotnik's army. (SA: #2, CSE)
In the year 3235, a pair of SWATbots helped Dr. Robotnik capture Princess Sally when she was brought to Robotnik, Inc. Before they could throw Sally into a roboticizer however, the SWATbots were destroyed by Sonic when he came to Sally's rescue. When Robotnik later acquired the Freedom Emeralds, a SWATbot received one of the emeralds to guard onboard the Robotnik Blimp. When Sonic destroyed the blimp though, the SWATbot was smashed into the ground and dropped the Freedom Emerald. Before going offline though, the SWATbot mentioned where the other Freedom Emeralds were. When Sonic later got the second Freedom Emerald, a SWATbot carrying the third Freedom Emerald was instructed by Robotnik to execute a trap for Sonic. By pretending to be short-circuiting, the SWATbot lured Sonic close enough to it, so that when the hedgehog took Freedom Emerald from it, he fell through a trap door into the underground. (OSM: #1, #2)
A SWATbot later presented Robotnik with the robotic Krudzu, which earned it a beating from the doctor since he hated plants, until it told him of the Krudzu's mechanical nature and that he could use it to flush the Knothole Freedom Fighters out of hiding by planting its seeds throughout the Great Forest. Regardless, the SWATbot was thrown into the Robot Disposal by Robotnik so he could take credit for its plan. Later, while visiting Renobotnik, some SWATbots would attend Robotnik's presentation of his latest Classic Badnik: Orbinaut. Meanwhile, while Sonic got past a SWATbot bouncer for the presentation, another one assisted Robotnik backstage. When Robotnik soon after managed to subdue Sonic, a SWATbot would encapsulate the hedgehog in a glass ball so Robotnik could torment him with his Giant Pinball Machine. During this, the SWATbot reported a winner in Robotnik's casino, prompting Robotnik to go deal with that and giving Sonic the chance to facilitate his escape. As such, after the SWATbot reloaded Sonic for another go, Sonic broke free when Robotnik returned, during which he took out the SWATbot. Later, a SWATbot brought Robotnik a package, which turned out to hold the remains of Coconuts. (StH: #1, #2)
When Sonic paid a visit to Robotropolis, a lot of SWATbots were trashed by the hedgehog. When a SWATbot later alerted him to the Knothole Fighters in Robotropolis, a squadron of SWATbots were assembled by Robotnik to help the doctor attack the Knothole Fighters, only for the group to fall for a trap that destroyed the SWATbots. A SWATbot would soon after partake in an ambush on Rotor, but was ultimately subdued. A pair of SWATbots in the southern sector of Mobius would later capture Bunnie and put her in a Port-O-Bot, only to be decapitated moments later by Sonic. The SWATbots in the Bot Brigade later caught a mobini salamander for roboticization. When they presented their catch to Robotnik however, the SWATbots were assigned to the Slag Shop as punishment. Following that, after Universalamander's threat had passed, the SWATbots joined Robotnik on a company picnic to celebrate the doctor's return before resuming their terrorizing activities. Two SWATbots stationed in Robotnik, Inc. soon after managed to capture Tails. Before they could roboticize the fox cub however, Sonic came to rescue. Rather than facing Sonic though, the SWATbots rigged themselves to explode, though it was ultimately in vain. (StH: #3, #4)
When Sonic discovered the Robotnik Stadium, a SWATbot explained to him that the stadium was built by Robotnik, before delivering a challenge from Robotnik to Sonic and his Freedom Fighters to compete in the Robotropolis Olympic Games, where they could win Mobius' freedom by winning an event, or be roboticized if they lose. Before the games though, a SWATbot replaced Sonic's Sneakers with Robotnik's Energy-Draining Sneakers on the doctor's orders so the hedgehog could not compete, and threw out the former. As such, when the heroes came to compete, only for Sonic to fall ill, SWATbots began prepping a Port-O-Bot for the Freedom Fighters until Sally convinced Robotnik to let the others compete in Sonic's stead. During the games, a SWATbot easily beat Rotor in weight lifting. Ultimately though, the SWATbots and their cohorts lost the games and were forced to retreat when Sonic overloaded their Port-O-Bot. Later, Robotnik had a SWATbot mail a robotic Termite-Nator to the Knothole Freedom Fighters. A SWATbot soon after brought Robotnik a crate, which held his Termite-Nator, albeit much larger and hungry for metal. As such, the SWATbots would bring it metal to eat on Robotnik's orders to keep it from eating them all. (StH: #5)
When two SWATbots discovered the Knothole Freedom Fighters in Mobius Natural Park, they reported those news back to Robotnik, which made Robotnik attack the heroes with a pair of SWATbots and other Badniks. While there, the SWATbots caught Rotor, only to get lured into some ooze and get stuck by Sonic. Back in Robotropolis, a SWATbot decided to steer clear of Robotnik for the next few days for his own safety while the doctor raged over acquiring a treasure that turned out to be Sonic's bronzed baby shoes. Later, the SWATbots came to Robotnik Haul to witness the wedding between Robotnik and a sorceress. However, when Robotnik got humiliated by an invisible force, the SWATbots were ordered to destroy the sorceress, only for her to escape. A SWATbot later caught Crabmeat reading comics. As it awaited Crabmeat's punishment though, it ended up getting thrown into the Robot Disposal with Crabmeat by Robotnik to be used as spare parts for the Super-Powered 'Bots. Another SWATbot later recorded Robotnik's opening of a dump to attract Sonic and Sonic's subsequent clash with the Super-Powered 'Bots on R.B.V. Amidst that, more SWATbot would deliver Wolvurkel to Robotnik. Some SWATbots were later summoned to Mobius Concert Hall to capture the Knothole Freedom Fighters. However, said group rendered the SWATbots harmless by shrinking them with Snively's reduction device, leaving the miniscule Badniks to return to Robotnik. (StH: #7, #8)
An army of SWATbots soon after went outside Robotropolis to capture the Knothole Freedom Fighters when they got caught in a trap. However, the group escaped the SWATbots before they could get there. Meanwhile, more SWATbots would aid Robotnik with his underground building efforts until Sonic flushed their underground tunnels. Later, a squad of SWATbots came along on Robotnik's assault on the Knothole Freedom Fighters during their picnic. However, they got scared off by explosive dropped by Antoine from is hot air balloon. (StH: #10)
By the time the Knothole Freedom Fighters were teenagers, the original SWATbot model had become obsolete. During this time Robotnik turned other robot models, such as E.V.E. and the Combots. (StH: #21, #34)
Other Uses[]
As the SWATbots abilities to stop the Freedom Fighters dwindled, Robotnik began putting them to other uses, primarily as a labor force. When Robotropolis was essentially destroyed by Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles, Robotnik had the SWATbots rebuild the ruined city. When Robotnik went onboard the Death Egg and left Snively in charge of Robotropolis, the latter changed the priority of the SWATbots from defending the city to acting as his personal servants and reshaping the city as he saw fit. (StH: #40, SMM, SQM: #1, #2)
Updated Models[]
Dr. Eggman's new SWATbot models, including new designs as well as ones based off SWATbots, Combots, and Shadowbots
Some time around 3237, Dr. Eggman switched from using Shadowbots to updated models of SWATbots and Egg Pawns. When Sonic the Hedgehog returned from his year-long absence in space, SWATbots of various designs were seen holding Geoffrey St. John and Hershey Cat prisoners. After the couple was officially married, the SWATbots were moments away from executing them, but were soon destroyed by Sonic. (StH: #130)
When Dr. Eggman was preparing a three-pronged offensive against the Kingdom of Acorn and the United Federation, he dispatched a large number of varied-modeled SWATbots to the dome shield surrounding the nuclear irradiated remains of Robotropolis in order to destroy the shield and cause the spreading of harmful radiation throughout Mobius. However, the garrison at Fort Acorn comprised of the Mes Braves Battalion and reinforcements from the Chaotix, Amy Rose and G.U.N. resulted in the entire SWATbot army's destruction. (StH: #131, #132, #133)
Decommissioned[]
The SWATbot models were primarily decommissioned after the failure at Fort Acorn, though some of Eggman's Shadowbot-based SWATbots remained on Angel Island to support the Dingo Regime. Eggman had already begun to switch over to the new Egg Pawn model the year before, which became the new ground forces and laborers for the Eggman Empire following the SWATbots' decommission. Curiously, SWATbots appeared in the area of Knothole despite this, and were responsible for the capture of Blaze the Cat. However, they would be swiftly dispatched by Sonic when he arrived at their base to investigate. (StH: #136, #138, #160)
New Employer[]
Despite three years having passed since the death of their master Dr. Robotnik, some of the original SWATbot models continued to exist, sparse throughout Mobius. Most, along with a few functioning Badniks, became employees of Mammoth Mogul when he took control of the Casino Night Zone. They served as the casino's bouncers, escorting the Destructix out after they "confessed" to using Mogul's bar for their mercenary operations. (StH: #187, #188, CSE)
Appearance[]
The SWATbots are Overlander-based robots with gray armor. They have extra armor on their chests and wrists, along with pointy shoulder guards, fins on their forearms, and points on their shoulder joints and ankles. Their most distinguished feature, however, are their dome-shaped heads with a spike on their tops and red line-like visor.
Personality[]
SWATbots were primarily meant to mindless brutes and workers, designed to not mess around. Regardless, they possessed a limited A.I. that granted them a small degree intelligence, causing them to gradually display more signs of personalities. (CSE, SA: #2)
Early on in 3235, the SWATbots demonstrated both personalities and independent thoughts, often cracking jokes and expressing opinions to one another. They would even display a sense of snark and referring to Dr. Ivo Robotnik as "lord of lard" and other such names. An example of SWATbots having a personality was when the butler SWATbot at Renobotnik attempted to get a tip out of Sonic, or another one doing shadow puppetry for entertainment. Over time though, the SWATbot's behavior became increasingly mechanical and devoid of character until they were rendered mindless drones. (OSM: #2, StH: #1, #4)
Abilities[]
The SWATbots were all equipped with wrist-mounted laser cannons, armor, and could also be fitted with additional features like jetpacks. Their wrists were also equipped with a two-way video comm-link. In addition, they possess great physical strength. (OSM: #2, #5, CSE)
Background Information[]
- The SWATbots originates from the Sonic the Hedgehog television series, but they looked more like Shadowbots than the SWATbots in the comic as they were colored a dark blue instead of white and grey. The show's iteration of the SWATbots were however colored with the standard white and gray color scheme in its 13th episode, "Heads or Tails", which was actually the pilot episode for the television series.
External links[]
- SWATbot (Pre-Super Genesis Wave) at Sonic Wiki Zone, the Sonic wiki.
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