XB-29C PULSAR SHADOWDRONE
AI EQUIPPED BETA FIGHTER
Version 1.0 - Friday, October 24, 2003

Based on an original mecha design by Derran Tyler & Marty Bowles
RPG Stats by Derran Tyler

BACKGROUND

The XB-29C Pulsar is the Spacy's primary attack mecha in use exclusively on its Whirlwind and Daishi class carriers. Designed to carry heavy payloads of anti-ship missiles that can cripple even the mightest of capital vessels, the Pulsar series Beta Fighter is designed to operate in close concert with its Alpha class counterparts. Not only are the Alpha Fighters designed to escort and protect the larger Betas, but if necessary, the Alpha and Beta can dock to form the powerful Legioss assault mecha, which effectively is a mobile aerial artillery platform that is most often used in planetary operations to give ground forces dedicated air support.

The Beta project began shortly after the development of the VF-25 and VF-26 series Veritechs when the need for a heavy strike mecha was realized by the Spacy Mecha Command. The ability of the smaller Alpha class mecha to carry heavy anti-ship missiles was limited to usually one or two large missiles each, which drew a significant amount of a carrier's resources to conduct a successful raid upon a capital ship. Once the XB-29 was issued to Spacy carrier forces, a single squadron of these units with sufficient fighter cover could cripple a heavy cruiser in a matter of minutes. Several revisions were made to the initial design, most of which to internal systems that improved the fire-control systems and electronic warfare systems of the new mecha, nicknamed the "Pulsar." The XB-29 was the very first fully AI-controlled Veritech mecha deployed by the NDI, making it a pioneer not only in anti-ship operations but in a doctrine that would make the bulk of the carrier forces fully automated.

The XB-29's electronic jamming equipment, electronic countermeasures, radar location and warning systems serve as an integrated defense system for the bomber. To add to the passive defense systems, the XB-29 has two heavy pulse cannon turrets mounted in fighter mode to defend against enemy interceptors and provide general omni-directional fire support. While significantly more powerful than the pulse cannons on Alpha and Gamma series mecha, the cannons have a relatively slow rate of fire. For secondary-level defense, a special weapon used only on Spacy bombers is mounted on the XB-29. Codenamed the "Synpatic" pulse bomb, this weapon launches a carrier shell that releases hundreds of small micro-warheads that can take out scores of enemy mecha that are attacking the bomber.

Class: Unmanned Advanced Beta Fighter
Manufacturer: Phoenix Corporation (Aerospace Division)
Models: XB-29C (NDI Spacy Standard Version)
Crew: None. The Pulsar is controlled via an advanced AI system.

SPEEDS:

STATISTICAL DATA:

 

	Fighter	Guardian	Battloid
Total Length :	9.7m	8.00m	-
Total Depth :	-	-	7.35m
Total Height :	6.1m	8.5m	13.7m
Total Breadth :	-	-	8.5m
Total Wingspan :	19.5m	19.5m	-
Total Dry Weight:	31.94 tons (metric)

 

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:

Can lift up to 50 metric tons in solider configuration

 

POWER PLANT:

• Argus Millitech Faslow Type IV Ion Pulse Engines x 2.
• 6 x Turbo-Union ATF 401 [Auxiliary] miniaturized ion impulse engines. Four are mounted on the upper rear (jet mode), and two as VTOL thrusters on the lower fuselage.
• Assorted small reaction thrusters and gyroscopes for all-environment maneuvers, attitude adjustment, and stability.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. ANTI-FIGHTER PULSE CANNONS (4): An electromagnetic weapon - sends rapid pulses of exceptionally strong phased electromagnetic energy resulting in a blast that forces its way through any known shield technology and produces a dramatic shearing effect which quickly destroys the target ship's materials - named for the fact that in an atmosphere, the pulse creates an atmospheric disturbance similar to a quasi-human scream at 180 dB.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-aircraft
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile/defensive
• RANGE: 4000 feet in an atmosphere.
• RATE OF FIRE: The laser can be fired in rapid pulses up to 4 blasts per round. A rapid fire blast counts as a burst of up to 4 shots.
• PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited.
2. MM-120D SUPER MULTI-MISSILE SYSTEM: The XB-29 Pulsar has two MM-120D systems built into each chest/shoulder area in solider mode and accessible on the right and left of the would-be cockpit in jet or guardian mode. The retractable systems raise their missile launchers from protective storage bays to fire volleys of short-ranged missiles. The two MM-120 systems can fire independently or simultaneously. Note: The MM-120D can be launched in all modes.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
   • RANGE: Varies. Typically 1 to 8 miles in an atmosphere. Indefinite range in space.
   • RATE OF FIRE: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, fourty-eight, sixty-four, or all.
   • PAYLOAD: A maximum capacity of 120 mini-missiles.
3. SYNAPTIC PULSE BOMB LAUNCHER: Missile propulsion unit carrying several small intelligent "bomblets"; when distance to target is less than 100 m or when time to impact is less than 2 sec., bomblets direct missile to the most vulnerable part of the ship of those parts of the ship facing the missile; bomblets then separate from missile propulsion unit and form a sphere; inertia continues to carry bomblets in the direction of the target; the missile propulsion unit continues to advance toward the target; when the missile hits the target or 1.5 sec. after the missile should have hit the target, the bomblets explode; the spherical shape of the formation of the bomblets helps to ensure a fairly even level of damage across a sensitive area on the target; the spherical shape also ensures that the target will not be able to effectively maneuver away from the blast, thus "pinning" the target to a specific area in space.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Mecha defense
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • RANGE: Varies. Typically 1 to 8 miles in an atmosphere. Indefinite range in space.
   • RATE OF FIRE: One at a time.
   • PAYLOAD: A maximum capacity of sixteen.
4. FALCON WING-SHEATH MISSILE LAUNCHERS (2): The most powerful weapons available to the strike bomber is its array of missiles, including the fearsome Tsunami space bomb, a high-yield anti-matter missile that has accounted for more ship kills than any other mecha mounted weapon in Confederate history. Other weapons include the medium-to-high yield Jackhammer II missile, a missile that is harder to shoot down but doesn't have the tremendous damage potentials of the Tsunami. The launchers have also been configured to launch the most devastating starfighter-mounted weapon available, Phoenix Arms' infamous XRM-1 Apocalpyse anti-warship warhead.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship.
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • RANGE: Varies. Typically 100 to 800 miles in an atmosphere. Indefinite range in space.
   • RATE OF FIRE: One at a time.
   • PAYLOAD: A maximum capacity of sixteen.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE XB-29:

• ANTIGRAVITY PROPULSION SYSTEM: All Confederate Veritech mecha are equipped with an anti-gravity propulsion system that assists the engines in allowing the mecha to reach orbit even on planets with extreme gravitational forces. The system is good for vertical ascent/descent only and can lift the ship at speeds of up to 1,320 feet (400 m) per minute. The system will function so long as the main engines can supply energy to it.
• ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) COMBAT COMPUTER: The Veritech drone is equipped with the NDI's most advanced mecha AI combat computer for fighters, HYPERION-C, which allows the drone to operate autonomously during missions without input from human controllers. The AI computer is smart enough to devise new strategies and use subterfuge to win battles if unexpected events happen or of the odds turn against the drone. In addition, the computer learns to anticipate and counter enemy maneuvers during combat. Each Tempest is linked to its other counterparts, i.e., what one fighter drone knows, they all know. The computer also includes a scaled-down version of Oracle Interface's Achilles' Targeting Unit, which allows the fighter to fight structural weak points in enemy armor and focus its attacks on those points.
• ACTIVE SENSOR JAMMER: The mecha mounts the Oracle VRL-422(C) active sensor jammer which can jam nearly all forms of electronic detection.
• ARMOR: The armor on the Beta is a new development in low-mass composite materials Andrium™ plating that became the standard for all NDI Veritech mecha after its application to the VF-28S Scorpion. Aside from the superb protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic-impact weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and to a lesser extent, particle guns, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon's energy and coverting it to the latent heat of sublination in the armor. The armor stops all small arms fire, and has excellent resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha.
• BARRIER SHIELDS: Previously, all NDI Veritech mecha were slightly more vulnerable than enemy counterparts due to their lack of force field technologies. With the inclusion of a barrier shield on the brand-new XF-15 Gamma Fighters, the NDI Procurement Dept. decided to include barrier shields on all newly produced mecha and work to install these shielding systems on all pre-existing mecha. The force fields surround the mecha in a powerful shield that can deflect any and all manners of physical and energy attacks, but can be depleted during an attack. Given time, a shield will recharge to full strength. In field tests, the shield can sustain operations after a significant barrage of attacks from an enemy mecha.
• CHAFF AND FLARE DISPENSERS AN/ALE-55: 30 chaff and 30 flares are stored in each of the lower legs.
• DAMPER FIELD GENERATOR: A by-product of antigravity (repulsor) technology, the damper field has been heralded as the best defense against scalar electrogravitational pulse weaponry, which are notorious for their ability to destroy ammunition, electronics, and organic lifeforms. While scalar EM waves penetrate conventional shielding because they can travel wherever gravity can go, the damper field uses a low-power antigravity field that negates the force of gravity and consequently provides an effective shielding system against scalar EM weapons systems.
• DEADEYE OPTICAL SENSOR CLUSTER: High-Resolution sensor clusters that allow high-resolution optics across the electromagnetic spectrum from infrared to ultraviolet wavelengths
• ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION SHIELDS: Being a fully automated weapon, most enemies will resort to using EMP weapons to render the weapon useless. However, the electronic systems of the fighter have been shielded from electromagnetic pulse weapons using internal layers of mercurite to prevent harmful radiation from harming vital equipment.
• ENERGY-RESISTANT MERCURITE COATING: Using the highly resistant material known as mercurite, this coating scrambles laser tracking and effectively HALVES all energy weapon damage. Some weaker weapons will even bounce off the mercurite coating.
• EM ABSORBING SKIN COVER: The Veritech is covered with an EM-absorbing skin cover, strongly absorbing EM radiation from radio through ultra-violet wavelengths and emitting only weakly in these wavebands.
• TACHYON COMMUNICATIONS: Long-range, directional communications system. The communications systems of NDI variable fighters are proprietary; that is that only other friendly systems can decipher the radio's encoded transmissions.
• TACHYON TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the drone's increased accuracy.
• NI-02 INERTIAL NULLIFICATION SYSTEM: The NI-02 INS is an upgraded version of the original inertial nullifier, which allows the Tempest to perform incredible feats of agility, capable of outmaneuvering or matching any enemy starfighter known.
• RADAR: Oracle GHX-42G X-Band spherical pulse-Doppler, providing long-range detection of all targets at all altitudes. Equipped with special 'stealthy' and passive modes.
• RADIO COMMUNICATIONS: Wide-band and directional radio and video telecast capabilities. Range is 750 miles or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay. The communications systems of NDI variable fighters are proprietary; that is that only other friendly systems can decipher the radio's encoded transmissions.
• SELF-DESTRUCT: To prevent capture of the drone by the enemy, the mecha is equipped with a self-destruct system. Inside the mecha rests a 200 KT fusion bomb that is only activated during the self-destruct sequence. Not only is the Tempest completely obliterated, but it can cause significant damage to everything around it when it detonates.
• SF-24 PHANTOM CLOAKING DEVICE: Like its predecessors, the mecha is designed for maximum stealth, which allows it to strike deep into the heart of enemy forces before being detected by most forms of enemy electronic detection. The device renders the mecha invisible to all but the most advanced of electronic detection, and even then, the radar cross-section of the mecha will often throw off enemy sensors to the point that it is not considered a threat. With a new improvement, the SF-24 can also bend light around the mecha, rendering it invisible to light-based detection systems as well, such as optical and laser tracking. The SF-24, like its SF-10 predecessor, features three modes of operation. ON, which is the default setting allows the cloaking device to operate normally; OFF, in which the device is shut off and the mecha is detectable by all forms of detection; and SAFETY, in which the device emits a "4th dimensional blip", which is detectable by other NDI mecha's collision warning systems. The SAFETY mode is used for close formations where mecha proximity could potentially cause disastrous collisions.
• SMOKE SCREEN SYSTEM: The mecha can emit a thick cloud of smoke from its rear to create immediate cover. The smoke screen system can discharge a maximum of four bursts before needing to replace smoke canister. Each burst will cover a 60 ft area.

ADDENDUM: THE VF-SERIES FOLD BOOSTER

While the VF series mecha are capable of reaching high speeds in space, their range was effectively limited due to the simple fact that they still needed a mobile base of operations (usually Whirlwind, Sierra, or Ramses carriers). While the concept of carrier-based mecha remains an integral part of the Spacy combat strategy, the need to increase the operational range of the fleet's Veritech interjected the need for an optional fold booster upgrade that could be fitted to any current NDI mecha in service.

The booster took the form of a FAST (Fuel And Sensor Tactical) pack that could fit easily on the rear of the mecha in fighter mode. The pack was unoperational until activated by the pilot, at which time it drew energy from the mecha's internal reactor to power the fold capacitors. At which time, the fold booster's internal navigation computer downloaded jump coordinates from the nearest NDI Spacy ship, or could draw from 20 pre-determined jump points stored inside its own memory banks. The theoretical range of the fold booster is unlimited, but folds of more than 30 light-years have been deemed 'risky' at best by the NDI High Command. Like most other fold drives, the fold booster is capable of travel at 1 light-year per 6 minutes, which allows for extremely fast travel through hyperspace.

The booster can be jettisoned after the desired fold point has been reached and re-dock with the mecha after the mission has been completed. Initially, these boosters were developed solely for special forces units such as Striker, however nearly every front-line carrier and warship has enough fold boosters in inventory to outfit about 10% of their mecha with these devices if needed.