Here we have a collection of Hudai (very top row) and Sendai (all the rest).

Hudai are, essentially, human cyborg conversions. The name Hudai actually began as a derogatory epithet and gradually reversed into the accepted term. The term Hudai (clearly a play off sendai) came to be due to normal humans disdain for their kind aspiring to be "like" the sendai ("Like" being the perceived view even when nonsensical).

The practice of Hudai conversions has been going on for hundreds of years, but became popularized by the FOIL pilots in the Polemon campaign. Many pilots, after suffering debilitating injuries, opted for this procedure to continue to participate in the Polemon campaign (also common for ground soldiers after sustaining mortal injuries). In doing so the use bond with their FOIL Faedai (sendai operating entity) deepened as they became even more empathetic to what the sendai are; bio-mechanical beings. The kinship would often grow stronger.

The explosion of popularity the FOILs and their pilots began to enjoy eventually overshadowed the offensive nature of the term Hudai. This phenomenon also began to change some of the outright racist perceptions many humans on Indus have toward sendai. Because FOIL combat is deeply rooted in honor the pilots adopted the term Hudai with pride. Though some humans still use the word with disdain the sheer magnetic cult of personality the FOILs and their pilots enjoy has lessened any negative power the word had on Polemos and even much of Indus now.

It should be noted Hudai are predominantly to be found on Polemos as their mostly illegal on Indus. The manufacture and indenturement (slavery) trade of sendai is deeply a part of the Indus culture and economy. Humans, on Indus, widely regard sendai as a lower class and simply a tool for economic profit. The idea of a human becoming like one is extremely offensive to many on Indus (though there are progressive political blocs that outright reject these callous views). Also the Hudai are treated as a form of competition to the sendai trade while behind closed doors many sendai manufacturers make Hudai components anyway.

The sendai pictured here are more common, rank and file, humanoid shaped types. All are wearing clothing, that often has to be custom made and tailored. Sendai tend to come in a variety of shapes, size (though rarely will they ever be over 6 feet), and functional intent. These guys are mostly non-combat types (save the fella with the rifle) however still incredibly dangerous to humans if provoked into violence.

The second to right on the bottom is accesing an Omni-sense terminal [link] and the little guy on the farthest right, bottom, apparently is coveting a box of chocolates or something.

All little thumbnail roughs lightboxed into clean thumb illos.

Pencils with digital color Photoshop CS3

More to come...

Cheers!