The following is an excerpt from the book, Unfinished Designs: A History of Forgotten Military Vehicles, Weapons, and Gear, by Arlan Finek. [Originally published two years ago.]

Eight years ago, Syren Industries found the concept of a ‘battle bike” to be a promising venture and, though ambitious, would further set their ever-expanding catalog apart from competitors. Months after the initial proposals, development began on the ZPM-30, a versatile urban assault motorcycle that incorporated a “multi-directional attack arsenal”. The vehicle was to be jointly manufactured with the Zahda Corporation but, after costs skyrocketed, Zahda pulled out of the project. Having already committed substantial resources to the ZPM-30, Syren continued development, renaming their vehicle the NHC (Neo Hyper Cycle) GunRiot.

The GunRiot, initially designed for police riot control, was intended to be the first in Syren’s law-enforcement production line. After further development it was decided that the vehicle would be better suited for military applications.

The GunRiot’s standard loadout offers an array of weaponry, ranging from built-in .50 caliber machine guns to a front-mounted laser cutter. The vehicle’s modular design allows for easy swapping of additional weapons, depending on combat-specific situations. Blitzfire missile pods can be exchanged for VRAK-L4 missile pods or DN-92 rockets, while the GunRiot’s rear shell—housing an assortment of chaffs, flares, and mortars—is removable for added mobility, and so on. Leaked documents also suggest that a railgun attachment was considered, but no information is available if it was ever completed.

In the end, spiraling production costs and Syren Industries’ decision to prioritize AI-based weapons resulted in the GunRiot project being scrapped. It is believed that several functional prototypes were built before Syren cancelled development.

GunRiot. Story by Midnight. Art by Kuraikabe1990.