Armored Personnel Carriers have had a long history of transporting troops into battle. Rarely carrying heavy weapons, there is little difference between APCs used between the Islamic Jihad and the end of the Succession Wars. The Clan Invasion, and the BattleArmor it ushered into common combat, brought the first major changes in APC technology. At first, governments simply modified existing APCs to transport the short-squads of BattleArmor that were all they could afford to build. But as manufacturing processes streamlined and the numbers of BattleArmor expanded, it soon became possible to operate full-sized squads. But APCs that could carry that much mobile armor where vanishingly rare.
         To address this shortcoming in the face of ever-increasing commitments as the Word of Blake Jihad waged across the Human Sphere, the Federation of Skye called for upgraded designs to improve the effectiveness, mobility, and survivability of its infantry, both armored and unarmored, forces. Cyclops Incorporated of Skye rose to this challenge, delivering a company of Saxon prototypes to the Skye Guards in early 3070. It soon proved its capabilities and entered full production before the year was out.

         Blindingly fast, the Saxon's Shipil AeroSpace Fighter engine can accelerate it from 0 to 100 in less than two seconds. Naturally, its living cargo rarely appreciates that, so Saxon pilots are encouraged not to take advantage of that outside of combat situations. It sacrifices weaponry for that speed, cargo capacity, and-most critically-armor. The roomy fighting compartment is spacious enough to accommodate two conventional foot-infantry platoons or a full modern BattleArmor squad with what Succession Wars veterans would consider shameless luxury. Making provisions for additional stores, the compartment allows the APC to be used in extended deployments, while its fusion engine enables it to operate far from the supply lines to which older designs, like Cyclop's Maxim, were tied to.
         For armament, the Saxon mounts a single Kicker machine gun controlled by the multi-spectrum helmet-aimed Evil Eye targeting system, granting it limited light support for the troops it carries. The lives of the three-man crew (driver, gunner, and cargo master) are thus extremely dependent on how skilled their passengers are. Well-trained troops can embark or disembark through the large rear hatch in seconds, minimizing the vehicle’s stopping time. Greener troops, on the other hand, tend to test the Saxon’s armor, as their deployments often force the vehicle to remain stationary longer while under enemy fire.

         The Saxon proved itself in the desperate defense of the Tamar Pact from the Clan Jade Falcon, and to this day that realm continues o use them. The 3075 factory expansion on Northwind expanded the Saxon's market to mercenaries, making it one of the breakout vehicle designs of the last quarter century. Saxons not fielded by Tamar or members of the Allied Mercenary Command are almost always commanded by the Federation of Skye.