The Kralhi weren’t failures, they were just given the wrong job
I’ve been thinking about Nuparu’s first attempt at robotic law enforcement for Metru Nui and how they honestly could’ve outperformed their replacements if they had just found their niche.
If we look at their history and abilities, yes, it’s clear why they didn’t succeed at law enforcement:
But honestly, I think their energy draining abilities would run rings around the Vahki in terms of dealing with dangerous Rahi. The stun staffs of the Vahki likely have a similar limitation to mind control powers within the MU in that you need to have a complex enough mind for them to really take effect. And even if that wasn’t the case, some stun staffs powers would be actively useless against Rahi (e.g. the spying powers of the Rorzakh) or could make a rampaging Rahi situation actively worse (e.g. the confusion powers of the Keerakh). Instead, the Vahki would most likely have to rely on their Kanoka to deal with Rahi incidents, slowly wearing it down through various Kanoka powers, powers which seem to wear off relatively quickly for the offensive types.
But an energy drain? Something that could potentially make the Kralhi stronger at the same time as making the Rahi weaker? Something that makes the Rahi docile and weak enough to handle on the order of days, allowing easy transfer out of the city or into the Archives? That seems to me like a much quicker and more efficient method of dealing with a Rahi problem than anything the Vahki could do -even the specialist types like the Kraahu.
Honestly, it wouldn’t even surprise me if Rahi containment was the original design pitch for the Kralhi, with the pivot to law enforcement being an order from Turaga Dume.
If that was the case, then it wasn’t their fault, or Nuparu’s.
They didn’t fail because of design, they failed because of poor project management.
Anyone have any idea what was up with all the "Kra" names in 2004? Like seriously, all the Toa Mata's names get remixed with Kra at the beginning, is that supposed to mean something?
Like seriously
Tahu > Kraahu
Gali > Kralhi
Pohatu > Kraatu
Kopaka > Krahka
Lewa > Kraawa
Onua > Kranua
What is happening here. Both Toa Metru combiners, both Vahki combiners, a dinky little polybag set I'm not sure was actually released, and the 6-Toa combiner model Rahi all share this bizarre pattern. Is this supposed to mean something? It feels important, but it's not like anything comes of this, as far as I know. And like okay, some of these are kind of a stretch, but it's weird this pattern can be made at all, right? And even without it, that's still a lot of Kra names! But why?
And it doesn't even stop there, because look what happened in 2005!
Takua > Krakua
(Honestly I'm mostly just confused about why I didn't notice this earlier)
It's a bit of a funny and sad mix, how much of a Lohrak around Dume's neck the Vahki are. Certainly Dume is meant to be flawed as a Turaga, a somewhat suspicious character and cranky old man who think Matoran these days need to learn to respect their elders, but ultimately he's a good guy who'd give his life for the cause while spitting in the face of whatever killed him (see him telling Vezok, Avak and Reidak to go do something anatomically improbable when they try to extort him with a Kanohi Dragon). And given how important Metru Nui is, and how dangerous the outside world was, yeah Metru Nui does need some sort of standing army/police force to ensure that shit like the Barraki rebellion or the Matoran Civil War doesn't threaten to kill Mata Nui and doom the MU to drift endlessly through space, but holy shit the Vahki are so insanely bad at it, it's hard to think he'd sign off on it.
As an army they're pretty okay, they're very mobile with two modes of walking and one flight mode, their equipment is also extremely good offensively (mind control, seeing through your targets eyes, you hurt yourself in your confusion, etc), as well as a Kanoka disc launcher for more direct combat, and they're smart enough to think tactically, all without risking any Matoran/Toa/Turaga in combat (and that's without getting into the elite versions). But for Police work... well, they're okay for a Police State where you don't have to give a shit about what your citizenry thinks, their borderline psychotic nature means they're very effective at terrorizing a population into compliance even before bringing in the Brain Hacking they can do, and they are supposed to be the Police for Makuta!Dume's Police State...
They just also happened to be the Police for Regular!Dume's (Police(?)) State, which is a really bad look for someone who's supposed to be Not Actually A Villain. Based on what we see of them, the Kralhi that preceded the Vahki were probably much better at police duties (given that after being driven out of the city by Matoran who tried to "shut them down" they were totally willing to aid and protect Mavrah without issue they clearly don't share the Vahki's abusive nature) without having to take a number of Matoran away from work to do the police work instead (and thus potentially imperil Mata Nui and the MU as a whole by having them not do the necessary work in his brain). If the issue with them was that they left Matoran too weak to do their job after being policed, then maybe all the Kralhi needed was an equipment overhaul rather than being completely scrapped?
I don't know, Dume is meant to be Flawed but Good, but historically he's just made such a baffling decision with the Metru Nui's police forces, spurred on largely I think by Out-Of-Universe needs than because it made sense in-universe, he kind of ended up accidentally being the BIONICLE equivalent of Sentinel Prime, but because it mostly happened off screen it's easy enough for the story to sweep that under the rug. A lore hungry fandom on the other hand is not so easy to shake and I'm left trying to come up with a reason why he'd agree to the Vahki beyond the incredibly unsatisfying "he doesn't really care about the Matoran" or "he didn't think it through" and variants thereof answers.
Exo-Toa are powerful machines used in warfare, bodyguarding, infiltration, spying, assassination, and so forth. Unlike a typical Xian machine or AI, their power source is unconventional in that they can only be powered by Kraata, having been built specifically to harness the Life energy of one and enhance it.
After betraying his father Makuta and taking all of the Kraata with him, the Rahkshi Kratakal made various business deals with multiple Xians arms manufacturers, as well as the Nynrah Ghosts. Having retained knowledge on Life energy from Makuta’s memories, as well as having learned from his own personal observations, Kratakal collaborated with various scientists to unlock the full powers of the soul through Kraata, enlightening them with his understanding of the beings.
In a dual-collaboration with Vortixx Industries, Kratakal helped its top engineers and researchers create machinery that could harness the power of Kraata, being powered by their unique energy signatures and wavelengths. Such machines were far more powerful and energy-efficient than a typical war machine; Due to the ever-lasting nature of a Kraata, machines powered by them did not need to be refueled whatsoever. They could remain indefinitely active, something that on its own would be a huge advantage over the products of rival corporations; However, Vortixx Industries was not just content on letting these machines be powered by the Kraata. After buying permission to analyze and study Kratakal’s own form, Vortixx engineers eventually devised prototypes that could enhancethe power of a Kraata, properly channeling it.
This new form of technology, able to interface with a Kraata’s life energy, almost like a reverse-engineered Mask of Power, would be able to change the face of Xian warfare. With advice and suggestion from Kratakal, Vortixx Industries dubbed the technology and machinery that could symbiotically function with a Kraata as ‘Exo-Toa’. The exact nature of the term Exo-Toa and its relation to the legendary Toa heroes of Okoto is currently unknown; That information comes from Kratakal himself, and suggests an alternate understanding of the term Toa that the Okotans are not aware of. Analyzing the name Exo-Toa would suggest that such machines are Exoskeletons for Toa… So then, why are they called ‘Toa’, when the machines clearly function on the energy of Kraata?
A few more improvements on the interface, as well as streamlining, resulted in the first official ‘model’ of Exo-Toa, dubbed the Vortixx model after the company that invented them. The Vortixx-model of Exo-Toa was an instant hit and success in the arms industry, with various groups from Zakaz rushing to buy as many as they could afford in order to overwhelm their opponents. The Exo-Toa would not only be able to enhance the Kraata these organizations brought by making them more powerful, but would also run indefinitely on the very energy of said Kraata. In-turn, the power of Kraata would serve to fuel additional systems, weapons, and components of an Exo-Toa, multiplying the destructive capabilities of a Kraata greatly.
As Exo-Toa models were purchased and used in combat, revolutionizing Xian warfare, knowledge on how to create them inevitably transmitted to others, such as the Nynrah Ghosts. Luckily, Vortixx Industries had foreseen this obvious outcome and filed for a patent on Exo-Toa technology, although the existence of bootlegs and alternate product models was going to happen regardless. Nevertheless, Vortixx Industries managed to secure a proper-hold on Exo-Toa technology, aiming to maintain a total monopoly. Kratakal, with his work done, resumed his usual business as usual of becoming a celebrity, occasionally selling more Kraata to buyers at even higher prices.
Exo-Toa come in a variety of models. Each mech is designed to amplify the power of a Kraata, acting as an exo-skeleton for it; In turn, the Kraata acts as an energy source for the Exo-Toa, fueling any additional systems and features it may be equipped with. Exo-Toa can run indefinitely, at least until they are too damaged to operate, or until their Kraata power sources are no longer present. Exo-Toa lack any minds of their own, being controlled entirely by the Kraata within, and thus have about as much sentience and intelligence as any Kraata; It seems that Exo-Toa technology may have amplified the powers of a Kraata, but it has yet to do any favors for the intelligence of one. Current patches and research are being implemented to amend this issue, coupled with the help of complex computer-systems and interfaces from Artidax.
Built specifically to be powered by and enhance Kraata, Exo-Toa themselves are completely incompatible with any other energy source. They are dependent on Life energy itself; Thus, it is not entirely out of the question to call them Xia’s own version of Life Automatons, able to bridge the gap between the power of Life itself and the material.
Exo-Toa tend to come at massive prices, and maintenance on them is ideally bought from Vortixx Industries; However, aforementioned bootleg-parties are able to send in their own less-costly technicians to buyers, resulting in profit. While others are technically forbidden from replicating Exo-Toa technology, there is nothing in print that forbids them from repairing and occasionally even enhancing it. Vortixx Industries has attempted to remedy this loophole, but even if they were to succeed, the fact of the matter is that not many Xian corporations pay attention to the law anyway. Thus, it is common for Exo-Toa to be bought from Vortixx Industries, and for repair technicians to come from other companies. Additionally, the existence of bootleg models still exists, and many genuine Exo-Toa have been sold on the black market, either by buyers or those who have stolen them.
As stated, Exo-Toa are utilized in warfare and combat, although more specific purposes can apply to certain models. Some models of Exo-Toa are meant to amplify just about any Kraata power, but others are built around specific abilities.
Some models of Exo-Toa include;
Vortixx- The original and most common, built by the pioneer of Exo-Toa technology and named after it. Vortixx models are towering, bipedal mechs equipped with powerful shredding claws on one arm, and a rail-gun on the other that channels the energy of the Kraata within. Like any Exo-Toa, they are built with a wide-variety of sensors and input systems to maximize the perception of their Kraata pilots.
Boxor- These lumbering, squat machines are equipped with massive, powerful arms. Boxor-models are built with cockpits for Xians to operate and control them; Unlike other Exo-Toa models, they are designed to be completely controlled by someone else, with the Kraata functioning merely as a power-source and nothing else. Computer-programs and interfaces enable passengers to control the Boxor, and Boxors themselves can ‘attune’ to the soul of a pilot, and be programmed to respond only to specific souls. Boxor-models are meant for use in construction, mining, and other heavy-labor jobs, but they perfectly function as battle mechs if needed.
Va- Among the smaller model of Exo-Toa, the Va-model is capable of folding up into a sphere for storage, travel, and defensive purposes. Each is equipped with a powerful head that can rapidly ram forward, with a transparent yet durable chassis showing off the Kraata powering it within. Each Va stands bipedal and is equipped with a pair of shields, one on either hand, to fire at targets with and channel Kraata power. Vortixx-Industries has recently invested in a variant of Va-models with Bohrok coating and armor; These Bohrok Va are among the most expensive of Exo-Toa.
Gahl- These Exo-Toa have a raptor-like appearance, equipped with a tail-cannon. They are designed to be ridden by up to two Xian passengers, and their legs can fold away to activate levitating hover-technology. Built with rocket-boosters, they are the fastest Exo-Toa, save for those powered by Speed Kraata; However, with Speed Kraata, these mechanical steeds cannot be outpaced. For rockier terrain, Gahl models rely on their raptor legs to traverse. A variant of Gahl exists that has four legs and is equipped with heavier armor, as well as turbo-cannons and blades on its front.
Kralhi- These four-legged centaurs are equipped with flexible tails that can hurl energy-bubbles to trap in targets; These bubbles can then activate on the Kralhi’s will, transmitting the power of the Kraata remotely and into whatever is trapped within. Additionally, the Kralhi-model sports a pair of bladed-forelimbs that can heat up to increase cutting efficiency. The Kralhi-model is designed mainly for capturing targets and has occasionally been paired up with the Vahki.
Maxilos- These autonomous sentries have built-in gatling cannons on their shoulders. Each Maxilos has a Twin-Bladed Black Fire sword attached to one of its arms, capable of firing regular ammunition. Custom programs installed within the Maxilos enable faster-reflexes for the Kraata piloting it, and improved waist-articulation enables Maxilos-models to quickly turn around and aim at enemy targets.
Baterra- These are the smallest of all of the Exo-Toa models, about the size of a regular Xian. These white-armored assassins are designed with Stealth Kraata in mind; When controlled by them, Baterra can stack their pre-existing camouflage systems to be completely unnoticeable. Baterra are typically used for espionage, as well as covert stealth operations and assassinations. Each is armed with a pair of razor-sharp claws to pierce obstacles with.
Lerahk- These bipedal, silver-plated models have the most complex programming and AI of any Exo-Toa model. Equipped with a dual-ended staff that can fold up, the Lerahk’s staff is capable of transmitting the Kraata’s power through the tongs on either end. Serrated fins contribute to the aerodynamic capabities of a Lerahk’s flight mode. Powerful assistive programs, designed after analyzing the most skilled fighting styles, enable the Lerahk to fight with incredibly precise skills and reflexes, utilizing its staff both for melee as well as ranged purposes. Lerahk have small boosters on their backs, as well as hidden-wheels beneath their feet, to rapidly slide forward when fighting, and they can spin their staffs at rapid speeds. Lerahk-models are among the most expensive and advanced of any Exo-Toa, and are meant for use as body guards.
Kraahkan- The most expensive and powerful of all Exo-Toa, the Kraahkan has capsules meant to store three Kraata, with one on the chest, and two on the thighs. The power and functions of a Kraahkan cannot be understated, requiring multiple Kraata to fuel their advanced systems, and their very name invokes the name of their power-source in order to highlight just what is needed. The Kraahkan-model is bipedal and somewhat humanoid in nature, and wields a powerful staff capable of transmitting its energies. The Kraahkan-model is incredibly powerful, fast, and durable, and can almost function as its own one-man army. Thankfully, they can only use one Kraata power at once, but even so they remain the deadliest of Exo-Toa models. Their assistive programming may not grant them combat skills as advanced as a Lerahk, but they are nevertheless vicious, ruthless opponents meant for all-out destruction. Due to requiring multiple Kraata, the Kraahkan relies entirely on a separate AI program as its true ‘mind’ to control it.
