Cataclysmic Variabot

==Robot History==
===Extreme 1===
[[File:Mayhemlineupcv.jpg|thumb|left|X-Terminator, Panzer Wraith and Cataclysmic Variabot in the pits, ready for their Mayhem battle]]
Cataclysmic Variabot made its first appearance on ''Robot Wars'' in a Mayhem battle in Episode 6 of Extreme Series 1, being brought in as a reserve after another robot was forced to withdraw. There, it fought the experienced [[X-Terminator]], as well as [[Panzer|Panzer Wraith]], another veteran. 
{{quote|Two wheels, two casters, will they be strong enough? Two wheelchair motors, two hopes, according to its opponents; Bob Hope and no hope!|Jonathan Pearce introduces Cataclysmic Variabot}}
[[File:CVmayhem.jpg|thumb|Cataclysmic Variabot is attacked by X-Terminator and Panzer Wraith]]
Cataclysmic Variabot started by driving towards X-Terminator, which also started by driving at Cataclysmic Variabot, but Cataclysmic Variabot fired the axe too early and missed X-Terminator. After this, X-Terminator got at the side of Cataclysmic Variabot and axed it, pinning it down. Panzer Wraith came over and attacked the front of Cataclysmic Variabot with its saw, and X-Terminator rammed Cataclysmic Variabot into Shunt's CPZ. X-Terminator left its opponent for the House Robot, but Shunt missed with his axe. This allowed Cataclysmic Variabot to escape, despite Panzer Wraith briefly driving onto it and cutting into its side with its disc cutter.
{{quote|...look at the damage already caused to Cataclysmic Variabot there, can you see? The metal is just ripped on the top corner.|Jonathan Pearce notes the damage to Cataclysmic Variabot}}
[[File:CVfloorflipper.jpg|thumb|left|As Refbot counts Cataclysmic Variabot out, Shunt puts it onto the floor flipper]]
X-Terminator closed in on Cataclysmic Variabot, and when Cataclysmic Variabot tried to turn to attack, it turned too far and missed with its axe. X-Terminator axed the Open University's machine, hitting the top just by one of the wheels and pulling it back before letting go. X-Terminator quickly came back and axed Cataclysmic Variabot again. X-Terminator reversed, and Panzer Wraith continued to attack the side of Cataclysmic Variabot with its saw. Cataclysmic Variabot fired its axe at thin air and X-Terminator slammed into the axe. Cataclysmic Variabot turned and drove at X-Terminator, but narrowly missed with its axe. X-Terminator's axe punctured the top of Cataclysmic Variabot, and Cataclysmic Variabot began pushing X-Terminator, but X-Terminator pulled back the axe. Meanwhile, Panzer Wraith was attacking the back of Cataclysmic Variabot, driving on top of it a couple of times. X-Terminator left Cataclysmic Variabot, and Panzer Wraith pushed it, cutting into the side with its saw, and slicing through its removable link. Cataclysmic Variabot instantly stopped moving as a result, and Panzer Wraith left it to attack X-Terminator.
{{quote|What is the Variabot doing at this moment in time? Standing idle, or standing immobile? That's the big question, I think they've gone!|Jonathan Pearce as Cataclysmic Variabot lies immobile}}
[[File:AxeBuddies.png|thumb|Cataclysmic Variabot is axed by Shunt and X-Terminator]]
As [[Refbot]] counted Cataclysmic Variabot out, [[Shunt]] pushed it onto the floor flipper. X-Terminator pitted Panzer Wraith, then Cataclysmic Variabot was thrown by the floor flipper. Shunt and X-Terminator axed Cataclysmic Variabot, and pushed it into the pit together. As a result, it resoundingly lost the Mayhem to X-Terminator.

After the battle had concluded, the Cataclysmic Variabot team offered their removable link to the team behind Panzer Wraith, as their reward for immobilising it during the battle.

===Extreme 2===
{{quote|The axe, flipper or spike interchangeable weaponry is hidden in the central bay. Two wheel driven. Two casters at the rear. Good armour, but poor speed really.|Jonathan Pearce}}
Cataclysmic Variabot, renamed C.V., represented the Open University for the [[Robot Wars Extreme: Series 2/University Challenge|University Challenge]]. In the first round, it went up against [[Infernal Contraption]] and favourites to win the competition, [[Behemoth]].
{{dialogue a-b|[[Philippa Forrester]]|You're up against some big universities here, who would you most like to see out first?|John Barker|Erm. We'd like to see Infernal Contraption out first, because it's probably the one that's going to inflict the most damage on our little bot!|Pre-battle interview}}
[[File:UniversityChallengeRound1.1.1.jpg|thumb|left|C.V. is flipped by Behemoth]]
[[File:Infernal Contraption vs CV vs Behemoth.jpg|thumb|C.V.'s axe finds a gap in Behemoth]]
C.V. started by turning away from its opponents as Behemoth charged at Infernal Contraption, Behemoth pushed against Infernal Contraption, trying to get the scoop under it and flip it. C.V. got behind Infernal Contraption and pinned it against Behemoth, allowing Behemoth to flip it. Having flipped Infernal Contraption, Behemoth pushed C.V., which tried to axe Behemoth but missed. Behemoth drove around C.V., and although C.V. tried to reverse away before Behemoth could flip, Infernal Contraption blocked it. Behemoth got under the side of C.V. and flipped it over, and C.V. appeared to be unable to right itself, due to the axe not being powerful enough. Fortunately for C.V., Behemoth sportingly righted the struggling machine. As soon as it was righted, C.V. tried to axe Behemoth but Behemoth dodged. The much quicker Behemoth drove around C.V., with C.V. firing its axe a couple of times, missing the first blow but hitting the scoop with the second. This did not affect Behemoth, who rammed C.V. into the CPZ.
{{quote|C.V.'s axe doesn't seem to be able to cause any sort of damage at all! They're driven into the CPZ and Behemoth look very, very strong here!|Jonathan Pearce as C.V. is rammed into the CPZ}}
[[File:Infernal Contraption vs CV.jpg|thumb|left|Infernal Contraption attacks C.V. in celebration]]
As it was pushed into the corner, C.V. fired the axe, which got caught behind Behemoth's scoop, and C.V. was actually able to hold Behemoth back as it tried to escape the CPZ as [[Sir Killalot]] came in. However, after a push from Sir Killalot, C.V. pulled back the axe, allowing Behemoth to escape. C.V. fired its axe at Sir Killalot, hitting one of the House Robot's arms, but Sir Killalot merely turned, shrugging off the axe, helped by Behemoth ramming into C.V. Suddenly, Behemoth broke down, and Infernal Contraption and C.V. attacked the favourite. C.V.'s axe was caught in Behemoth as Refbot began counting it out, but it managed to get the axe out as the counter hit 10. Whilst Sir Killalot attacked Behemoth, Infernal Contraption continued to fight C.V., hitting it with its drum and flipping it upwards. Both robots were through to Round 2.
{{quote|Now the thing that was probably most poignant about that battle was if you hadn't turned C.V. back over, you probably would have won, as they would have been unmovable before.|Post-battle interview with the Behemoth team}}

C.V. then faced the crushing beak of [[Tiberius|Tiberius 3]] in the second round.
{{dialogue a-b-a-b-a|Philippa Forrester|What are you going to use?|John Barker|We're going to stick with the axe. WE thought [about] putting the flipper on, but we definitely feel the axe is...|Is it powerful enough to do any real damage?|Erm, ... we'll find out.|[Laughs}I like an optimist!|Pre-battle interview}}
[[File:UniversityChallengeRound2.2.1.jpg|thumb|C.V. finds a weak spot]]
Tiberius 3 started the quicker, driving towards C.V. and dodging its axe blow. Tiberius 3 pushed against the side of C.V., trying to get underneath, but instead just pushed it against the top arena wall as it couldn't get its wedge underneath. The two robots turned around to face each other, and C.V. fired its axe, but the axe merely slid off the side. C.V. tried firing the axe again, but missed. Tiberius 3 pushed against the front, but still couldn't get its wedge underneath. C.V. hit the top of Tiberius 3, but the axe failed to puncture. Tiberius 3 reversed and turned around for another attack. After driving around C.V., Tiberius 3 pushed it towards the CPZ, but then backed off. C.V. charged at Tiberius 3 and fired the axe, which merely slid down the back, and Tiberius 3 turned around, dodging C.V.'s next axe blow. Tiberius 3 tried to get under the side of C.V., but C.V. turned and fired the axe, which punctured the top of Tiberius 3. 
{{quote|...C.V. have got to grips with Tiberius 3! They've grappled at close quarters. Now, which is the stronger machine?|Jonathan Pearce}}
[[File:Tiberius III vs CV.jpg|thumb|left|Tiberius 3 grapples with C.V.]]
[[File:UniversityChallengeRound2.2.2.jpg|thumb|C.V. is levered towards the pit]]
Tiberius 3 drove down the arena, dragging C.V. with it, then turned around and brought its crusher down on the top of C.V. However, the crusher did not pierce, as the wedge was not underneath C.V. to provide leverage. C.V. retracted its axe, and Tiberius 3 got at the side of C.V., pushing the Open University representative down the arena, towards the pit release button. As the two robots got close, C.V. reversed into the button, but this allowed Tiberius 3 to get its wedge under it. The Loughborough University representative grabbed C.V. and pulled it back, before turning it towards the pit and pushing it down. 
{{dialogue a-b-a-b|Craig Charles|What was the game plan?|John Barker|Err, survive!|[Laughs] Keep out of the way? It's got quite a nasty little pincer, hasn't he?|He has, it's pretty vicious.|Post-battle interview}}
Tiberius 3 went through to the final, and C.V. was eliminated. This was C.V.'s last appearance.
{{Quote|C.V., pleased to have got that far, I think.|Jonathan Pearce afterwards}}