MaxTac

"Doesn't look like your average bust..." "Cause they ain't your average badges. That's MaxTac - NCPD's apex predators. MTac rolls in when things fly outta hand. Gonks out there, though, just a midday snack for 'em."

– Jackie Welles to V during The Rescue, Cyberpunk 2077

MaxTac (Maximum Force Tactical Division), formerly referred to as Max-Tac, MAX-TAC, or the NCPD Psycho Squad, is a specialized sub-group of the Night City Police Department. As a cybersquad, MaxTac specializes in dealing with cyberpsychos. During the Time of the Red, the cybersquad was independent from the NCPD, though they rejoined them at some point afterwards.

Overview[]

Cybersquads are found in most major police forces around the world. Originally called C-SWAT, the Night City group came to be known as Max-Tac, though its official name in the city was Cyborg Suppression Unit.^[2]

The original MAX-TAC was established in Night City in 2010 to deal with violently rampaging individuals suffering from advanced cyberpsychosis. By 2077, a number of MaxTac members were former cyberpsychos themselves, forcefully recruited after being apprehended, as is the case with Melissa Rory.

History[]

2010s - 2020s[]

Cyberpsychosis had become a big problem in the 2000s. While state-sponsored therapy was an option, the hardest part had been getting the patient into the psychologist's office. What did you do when a metal-armored, cyberboosted maniac started randomly killing people? If you were the government, you organized a special squad of professional police with one job: hunt down and capture or kill murderous cyberpsychos.

Cybersquads were common to most urban police departments, operating under names like C-SWAT, PSYCHE-DIV, or CYB-Enforcement. They were armed with the best in armor, commo equipment, and vehicles. Most carried weapons that ranged from light cannons upward. They were, by nature, not very nice people.

C-SWAT became MAX-TAC and was still called that by some departments. The official title for the cybersquad in Night City was Cyborg Suppression Unit. Individual units were known as SPAR teams (Special,Purpose Assault Rescue). These units were the bottom line of combat police officers. Created to deal directly and specifically with the ever-present cyberpsycho threat, these officers were trained and equipped with the best resources money could buy. All officers were supremely fit, agile, and able to withstand a great deal of damage. Cyber-augmentation was common among their ranks, if not mandatory. MAX-TAC officers' enhanced abilities made them the equal of any cyberpsycho. Weapons and armor of the most effective kind were placed at their disposal, as are combat vehicles, including fully equipped AV-9s.

Originally a division of SWAT, MAX-TAC's actual role expanded since its creation. While they were the only real force capable of dealing with the cyberpsycho threat effectively, they were also occasionally utilized as a higher-tier SWAT deployment. In any situation where SWAT failed, MAX-TAC would arrive. Their job was almost always to "Hit Hard" and "Shoot to Kill." In many ways, they were as dangerous as those they were brought in to fight—many officers are teetering on the brink of cyberpsychosis themselves. NCPD saw this "fight fire with fire" strategy as effective.^[2]

Time of the Red[]

In the aftermath of the Fourth Corporate War, the only remaining remnants of the Night City Police Department were MAX-TAC officers, then led by Max Hammerman in maintaining control over any and all cyberpsychotic elements in Night City. The role of a MAX-TAC squad in 2045 was very similar to those of the 2020s. However, due to the collapse of government after the Fourth Corporate War, MAX-TAC became an independent organization, continuing to follow its leader's philosophy: maintain law and order, and protect the innocent. MAX-TAC officers who broke from this were arrested and confined to local Hall of Justice or security facilities. Despite this, local groups of "Psycho Squad Militia" formed, going after borged individuals regardless of having authority or not.^[3]

At some point after the Time of the Red, MAX-TAC was reincorporated into the NCPD.

2077[]

In 2077, MaxTac continues to live up to their reputation, hunting down any cyberpsychos and lawbreakers too powerful for the regular NCPD to handle.

In the event of criminal activity perpetrated by V, reaching a maximum wanted rating (five stars) will result in the deployment MaxTac officers, who serve as the final enemy type to hunt V down while wanted. On higher difficulties, they are capable of killing V in just a few shots regardless of character level.

Database Entry (2077)[]

MAXTAC

MaxTac is an elite, special ops division of the NCPD with a singular aim: eliminate cyberpsychos. Those they don't kill outright are transported to Los Padres, a unique prison facility in Night City capable of holding cyberpsychos. MaxTac officers enjoy their pick of weapons, the best cyberware, fresh, prototype gear and a free hand in carrying out their ops. But despite these overwhelming privileges, nobody in their right mind would ever join the force.

Other NCPD divisions tend to keep MaxTac at arm's length, making them something of a state within a state. When MaxTac arrives on the scene, there are sure to be casualties, while any internal investigations are sure to be dropped. What's more, most MaxTac officers are themselves... singular characters. They tend to be chromed-out loners with one goal in life: catch as many cyberpsychos as possible. Some say the line between the two groups is a fine, fading blur. Their reputation certainly isn't helped by rumors that the rare cyberpsychos taken alive are quietly reprogrammed and welcomed into the division.^[4]

Stats & Equipment (2020)[]

They walk like us, talk like us. MAX-TAC are just criminals with a badge.

– Anonymous punk, Protect & Serve

Stats^[2]
INT	6	REF	9	TECH	5
COOL	7	ATTR	4	LUCK	3
MA	8	BODY	8(10)	EMP	8/2


Type	Description
Skills	Authority 4, Brawling 8, Rifle 8, Athletics 6, SMG 6, Endurance 6, Handgun 8, Strength Feat 7, Heavy Weapons 7, Streetwise 5, Melee 8, Awareness 5, Stealth 3, Dodge/Escape 5, Interrogation 5, Intimidate 8, Shadow/Track 4, Karate 8, Aikido 7, Expert (Law) 5.^[2]
Cyberware	Replacement Limb with Thickened Myomar, Reinforced Joints and Pop-up Micromissile Launcher, Torso Plate, Cybereye w/infrared, Targeting Scope, Times Square, Smartgun Link, Muscle and Bone Lace, Wolvers, Limblink, Decentralized Heart.^[2]
Armor	Full Metal Gear Armor (not always worn)^[2]
Gear	Cyclone Squad Support Weapon or Remington Gyro-Sniper Rifle, Rostovic Wrist Racate, Militech Crusher SSG, Hurricane Shotgun, Federated Arms 454 DA 'Super Chief'. Max-Tac units used AV-9 transports for most situations, although several AV-9 gunships were also operating (such as 'Muther-1' commanded by the now famous Lieutenant Garrison).^[2]

A typical Max-Tac officer maintains the stats of a normal Max-Tac operative with the following exceptions: Authority 7, Intimidate 9, Interrogation 7, Awareness 7.^[2]

Operation[]

Response Time: Fast. Max-Tac once worked in squads of six men plus one officer.^[2]

Stats & Equipment (2077)[]

In 2077, MaxTac officers operate in squads of four each and contain an operator for each of four different roles:

Assault - Frontline fighters who utilize the Ajax and Omaha as backup firearms.
Mantis - Close-quarter specialists who utilize MaxTac-built mantis blades and the Omaha as backup weapons. They hold the second highest armor rating.
Heavy - Walking tanks in exosuits who utilize the Defender to dish out large amounts of damage in seconds.
Netrunner - Field hackers who typically avoid direct combat in favor of utilizing quickhacks that are slow to upload, but cause high amounts of damage.
Sniper - Long-range specialists armed with the Ashura to attack V from a distance. These officers make significantly more use of their Sandevistan.

MaxTac officers wield the Militech M-10AF Lexington, Ajax, Crusher, and Midnight Arms SOR-22 as their small arms. They also utilize the Zetatech Surveyor^[5] and Valgus^[6] for transport by air, and operate the Militech Hellhound and a heavily modified version of the Militech Behemoth^[7] for ground transport. For cyberware, officers make regular use of Sandevistan Mk. 3 and Kerenzikov. MaxTac has also begun taking deliveries of a number of Militech Centaur exoskeletons as part of a larger emergency order for the Patrol Division.


Type	Description
Cyberware	Subdermal Armor, Sandevistan Mk. 3, Kerenzikov, Mantis Blades
Weaponry	Militech M-10AF Lexington, Militech M-76e Omaha, Militech M251s Ajax, Militech M-179 Achilles, Militech Crusher, Defender, Tsunami Ashura
Vehicles	Zetatech Surveyor, Zetatech Valgus, Militech Hellhound (MaxTac variant), Militech Behemoth (MaxTac special model (MT-3))