The third type of AMS to have been encountered. These constructs rely entirely on subterfuge to lull targets into a sense of complacency. Unlike the version 1.0 these constructs look and feel entirely human. They come in all shapes and sizes, and can be of any humanoid race. The most common forms they take however are that of a wounded soldier or a woman in need.

Only when they use their built-in weaponry do they show their true faces. The mouth opens up in four teeth-covered flaps, and they can use this to deliver a devastating bite, and the fingers will elongate once the razor-sharp claws extend from them. Once they are finished their attacks, then the teeth will disappear and the claws will retract, and they will return to their humanoid appearance.

Unlike the previous versions, these can and will spend time with other humanoids, getting to know them and infiltrating. They will even fight alongside other in order to get them to drop their guard. If they are injured in combat, they will bleed and a medic would have a difficult time determining if they are humanoid or not.

While travelling with a group of potential targets, these AMS units will often take time to secretly find and place any other AMS units under their control. If they are with a group long enough, they will even begin to create version 1.0 units and allow them to travel at a distance, always staying in hiding, and creating more units so when the Version 3.0 is ready, it can turn on its comrades and attack – secure in the knowledge it has some serious backup!

Most of the time when these constructs are encountered, they will be carrying a variety of weapons and they will be using armor. Even if they are not armored, they are still formidable and difficult to injure. Typically however they will be using heavy weapons and armor.

While travelling with a group, the construct will often take advantage of situations that are offered. For example, if one of the members decides to go off on their own, this unit will often make excuses to follow. If the time is right, it will attack and kill the target, or it will call in other units it has under its control to take the target out of the picture.

Once the inevitable happens, the construct will attack the strongest and most heavily armed and armored foe it encounters, be it one of the humanoids it is with or the strongest target it has chanced upon. If it has had a chance to call other units, it will do so at this time.

It is extremely rare, but it has been reported that at least one of these units has gone rogue, and instead of attacking and killing the group it was travelling with, ended up helping them survive. It could have been a glitch in the AI programming, or it could have been the next step in the machine-evolution of these constructs. A step in which humanoids are no longer considered the enemy and do not deserve to be terminated with prejudice.

Only time will tell.

Starfinder Creature Index

Chris Van Deelen is the creator and contributor to over half of the Wisdom from the Wastelands series, contributor to the Swords of Kos: Hekaton anthology. He also wrote Creatures of the Tropical Wastelands, and 100 Oddities found in a Car. As prolific as he is, Chris Van Deelen continues to write and produce material which will be in publication soon. Not only is he a prolific content creator, he also has a wide selection of fiction and stories! If you like his work, please follow his personal author page on Facebook and on Twitter to keep up with his latest news and game content.