T-500 (Humanoid Infantry Unit) Production date: 2020
Mass produced in several different models and variations for the next several years. Numbering in the hundreds of thousands, each new model of T-500 was more compact and humanoid in structure than the one that preceded it. Standing 6'6", the T-500 was a closer approximation of a humanoid form and could thus venture into areas previously inaccessible to Terminators. Physically much faster and more agile than previous Terminators. Capable of tactile dexterity and visual acuity similar to humans. This was the first Terminator endoskeleton. It was superior to its predecessor, the T-400 in every way. Upon its first deployment, the human population suffered casualties probably reducing the surviving population by a tenth.
CAMOUFLAGE
The T-500 presented a smaller target than its predecessors. Due to its human shape and outline it also was difficult to distinguish from a human at distances, which confused human snipers. In the last days of this series, Sky-Net began encasing the models in crude latex rubber in an attempt to allow them to penetrate human camps. This did not work very well. Out-fitted with clothes the T-500 did look like a human from a distance, but their massive and robust dimensions made clothing them difficult.
MANUEVERABILITY, SPEED, STRENGTH, DURABILITY
One of the problems with previous terminators was their lack dexterity, and their inability to enter human settlements due to size constraints. To solve that problem Sky-Net based the T-500 endoskeleton on the human body. The T-500 hyper alloy combat chassis had the full range of human motion and mobility, with superhuman strength, inhumanly fast reaction time, and speed beyond human capabilities. A T-500 could press (lift) over a ton and kill or mame a human with just a glancing blow. The result of this was a soldier that could operate human machinery and weaponry and follow humans into their camps to exterminate them. Unlike the T-400, all of the T-500's wiring was carefully shielded by its hyper alloy armor chassis, which was constructed from new techniques in metallurgy and servo-mechanisms that had not been feasible to implement do to material constraints at the time of the creation of the T-200, T-300 and T-400.
INTELLIGENCE
The CPU of the T-500 was more advanced than the T-300 or T-400. Its microprocessor was powerful and it came with vast preprogrammed combat subroutines for tactics in a myriad of hostile conditions. Its mind could accurately calculate distance relative to itself, calculate accurate trajectories for projectiles, and even perform delicate maintenance functions if Sky-Net uploaded the appropriate files to it. However, as its CPU was set to read only, the T-500 was incapable of learning and though its combat subroutines were highly advanced, in time the T-500 became predictable. It had an autonomous mode and a mode where it was controlled directly by Sky-Net or a Centurion supervisor.
In some experimental variations of the T-500 the read-write capacity for the CPU was enabled allowing for rudimentary intelligence. Outside of the complex behaviors programmed into it, such a machine was no more intelligent than an ape and often behaved like one; aggressive, feral, and brutish (see T-500R).
WEAPONRY
The T-500 was issued with several different models of light plasma phase weapons.
WEAKNESSES
Among the weaknesses of the T-500 were its lack of camouflage, and its inability to adapt to changing conditions due to its restricted learning capacity. Members of the resistance who had observed T-500s could easily trap and deceive them. It was also too small and frail to utilize the more sophisticated plasma weapons developed by Sky-Net in the last years of the model's production.
KNOWN VARIANTS
There were several experimental variants of the T-500: the T-500S, T-500T, T-500I, and the most infamous being the T-500R. The latter is often confused with the T-600G. Most of these variants were created some time after the production had been halted on the model. It is suspected that many of these variations were simply modified by Sky-Net from the existing stock of T-500s. They were significantly different from the model they are derived from and will be detailed in a separate entry.
T-500 Efficiency Ratings
Intelligence: **
Camouflage: **
Maneuverability: ****
Endurance: ****
Strength: ****
Weaponry: ***
