T-X
Model T-X (Terminatrix) was a fictional gynoid assassin and an elite unit of Skynet's Machine Army in the movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
The T-X, played by actress Kristanna Loken in the female appearance it assumes throughout most of the film, was an extremely advanced robot composed of a combat-hardened endo-skeleton designed to resist external attack with a mimetic poly-alloy liquid metal exterior, and was highly superior to the basic T-800 - 850 series robotic Terminator model played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Its official Skynet classification is T-X Enhanced Logic Weapons Systems Cybernetic Warrior/Infiltrator Unit. T-X's utilization of nanotechnology gave it advanced regeneration and limited shapeshifting abilities through body contact, much like its precursor, the entirely liquid metal T-1000, which appeared in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Besides incredible strength and speed, it also had various kinds of innate ranged weapons and has the ability to infect computers with viruses and take over computer-controlled machinery. Its main power source is a miniature plasma fusion reactor housed in its torso. Projectiles appear to have no effect on the T-X's exterior. Its primary weapon is an inbuilt plasma cannon in its right arm. If the T-X's weapon is damaged, for the purpose of the film audience, an on-screen display chooses a new weapon. The display shows the name of the weapon and a description.
There are at least 25 identified weapons:
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Like the T-1000, the T-X is more strictly robotic than the 800 or 850 series terminators. Just the same, the term cybernetic organism is as least loosely applicable. Due to the T-X's ability to travel through the temporal displacement field, we know that its exterior is not simply textured liquid metal. The fact that only a living organism (read organic) can go, means that T-X must clone a thin layer of living human tissue over its surface. This would be why it (and the T-1000 for that matter) must be naked when it travels through time.
The T-X was sent back in time by Skynet; its prime directive was to assassinate John Connor and his wife Kate Brewster by any means possible, and thus prevent them from saving what is left of humanity in the post-apocalyptic machine-controlled future. Other members of the future resistance hierarchy were made secondary targets. In the film, John Connor refers to the T-X in an unofficial fashion as the "Terminatrix".
The T-X was not completely indestructible. Though the T-X gets through most of the film with minimal damage, it is destroyed when the T-850 ignites its last power cell in the T-X's mouth.
The role of the T-X was originally planned for actress Joanie Laurer, a former WWE wrestler known as "Chyna". Actresses Famke Janssen, Carrie-Anne Moss, Peta Wilson, Lucy Lawless and Jeri Ryan were also considered at some early stages of production for the part.
Tactical Overview
The T-X is a superior design which hybridizes some of the concepts apparent in both the 800 and 1000 series models. It represents a return to the endoskeletory model of the former while retaining the poly-mimetic capabilities of the latter. It is faster and more agile than the T-1000 (though these improvements are marginal), while even more rugged and durable than the T-800.
Durability: While a T-1000 is virtually invulnerable to physical attack, the relatively soft form provided by its poly-alloy construction can cause it to lose valuable time regenerating which may cause it to lose its prey. The hardened combat-chassis of the T-X, while technically more vulnerable to physical attack, will allow it to take heavy attacks from rifle grenades, rocket launchers and the like, and return to its feet almost immediately to continue pursuit. The vastly improved nature of the endoskeleton ensures that any damage sustained will be minimal.
Speed: While the mobility of the T-1000 was severely limited when it had to engage in significant regeneration, the T-X is able to fill in and mend even large wounds to the outer shell while it is running at full tilt.
Integrated weapons array: Previous Terminators were limited to what was available in their current environment, or what could be forged directly out of liquid metal. Whether the T-X deploys a plasma cannon, or makes use of its nanotech transjectors, the results are typically devastating.
Strength: The entirely liquid metal, and effectively soft, construction of a T-1000 was unable to surpass the strength of the 800 series. In fact, it was probably slightly inferior, though it did have the edge in hand-to-hand combat due to superior speed. The hybrid T-X design, on the other hand, was vastly stronger than the 800, or upgraded 850 series, as allowed by the enhanced, hardened chassis.
Vulnerability to Magnetism: The T-X's mimetic polyalloy can be forcefully removed and restrained by a strong magnetic field, temporarily incapacitating it, although the endoskeleton is stronger and can still achieve sufficient function to free itself in some instances. Although it is never shown, it can be hypothesized that the T-1000 would be even more vulnerable to strong magnetism as it's whole body is made out of mimetic polyalloy and once restrained by magnetic force it would have no way to free itself.
Due to the increased physical strength, coupled with the hardened skeleton, the T-X is far less likely to be slowed significantly by small arms fire. While the 800 or 1000 series were sent sprawling by five or six shotgun blasts, the T-X was barely nudged by an equivalent attack. Indeed, in order to get the same impact against a T-X, it was necessary to hit one of these terminators with heavy 40mm slugs.
It should be noted that the hybrid construction does limit one particular capability with respect to the T-1000 design. While limbs can lengthen and shorten to an extent, allowing a degree of expansion and contraction, the form of the endoskeleton is basically static. This limits its ability to change shape, so while just about any human larger than a child can be imitated, non-human objects such as floor surfaces cannot be copied. However, this doesn't limit the T-X's ability to get into secured locations. Chances are that any location she couldn't enter by force would be too tightly sealed for a T-1000 to make its way in.
Behavioral Patterns
In approach to its assignment, the T-X's programming may have more in common with the 800 series than the 1000. The T-X is a focused and efficient investigator, and approaches its job with the same detachment as the earlier model. Where this is perhaps most evident is in its use of violence. Specifically, the T-X is only likely to kill when the mission has direct need for it. This means killing assigned primary and secondary targets, those to be impersonated, and those who would stand in the way of an objective. Unlike the 1000 series, it is unlikely to kill out of simple frustration, and keeping this more professional mindset helps to keep its focus on target.
The biggest weakness of the T-X is the same as that for all the Terminators sent by Skynet - a certain lack of creativity. The CPU itself is the most advanced model applied to any Terminator, but that isn't where the problem lies. The programming consistently drives them to pursue the target above all else. While this might seem a good thing, it often leads them to the mistake of moving on before finishing off a foe when it might be smarter to risk letting the target get farther away. This lack of effective decision making probably comes down to an aspect mentioned in the extended version of Terminator 2. When sent out on their own, Terminators have their CPUs set to read only, which effectively prohibits them from learning and adapting, or making any choices on their own for that matter.