Predator Drop Ship

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 01/12/2005)

The REF could not expect an extensive surface support structure on the planets they would visit. Thus, not only would the REF require shuttles that operated from any surface and not just a pre-prepared space field, but they would also need to take their own headquarters, repair depots, hospitals, rear area security installations and the like with them. Therefore, the Predator ship was a completely different design from the Pegasus shuttle favored by the Southern Cross.

As the REF needed to operate ground forces, a portable surface logistics infrastructure was required. The Predator ships were designed for this role. They were maneuverable in an atmosphere, armed sufficiently to make good their escape if attacked, and capable of carrying a substantial cargo load. Landed, they could operate as repair depots, hospitals, headquarters and the like, though they were more vulnerable this way, as they could not lift off on a minute's notice when under attack. However, the missile batteries provided some area air defense, and a bodyguard complement was usually sent with the ship, typically comprising a fighter squad. Naturally, other forces would also respond if a Predator ship were under attack.

With the requirements for VTOL operations, unassisted ascents to orbit, and prolonged atmospheric operations with heavy cargos, the Predator weighed in at 2300 metric tons. The additional atmospheric demands mandated a more aerodynamically sound design, and a thick flying body with a protruding hull section was chosen. The command decks were located in a command tower in the extreme front of the hull, behind which the large triangular wing surface began. An upper personnel and a lower cargo compartment were located in the central and outer hull sections in front of the engines. The personnel deck did not extend fully aft, leaving enough room for voluminous cargo aft. The aft-most part of the lower deck was an elevator, and two side exits were large enough to allow all but the largest mecha to walk of the ship. Even a Little Monster Destroid could be transported, although unloading through the lower hatch / elevator was an involved and lengthy process. The lower deck could be changed into a support station by fitting it with a specialized module. For instance, a cargo version could be transformed into a hospital by replacing the cargo binders and handlers with a hospital module. The same principle applied for repair depots, headquarters and the like. Two small wings and two small fins increased the maneuverability in an atmosphere. Two missile installations were located in the hull, between the engines.

Of the 227 Predators used by the REF, only 23 were destroyed in action in Invid-occupied systems; another 24 returned with the emergency fleets and were mostly lost against the Robotech Masters during the Second Robotech War, attrition during the REF Civil War accounted for another 32, and the remaining were retired as the Horizonts, which could set up bases and unload cargo without landing or staying in the landing zone, entered service. These ships were mothballed in the Valivarre system. The Predator ships were not given official names; instead they received a numerical designation that identified it. A total of 192 of these vessels were built prior to the launch of the Pioneer Mission and an additional 35 were built during the early years of the Sentinels' War. The ships were produced in the L5 orbital factories, on Moon Base Luna, in the Yarrow aerospace yards, and in the Tirolian Orbital Shipyards from 2020 to 2026. The ships served with the REF from 2020 to 2034.

Ship Information:

• Ship Class: Drop Ship
• Year Commissioned: 2020 CE
• Crew: 12
• Troops: 400
• Total Crew and Troops: 412

Vehicle Complement:

• Mecha Complement:
The ship can accommodate 8 mecha of any type used by the REF except the Monster or Little Monster Destroids or it can carry 1 Little Monster Destroid.

M.D.C. by location:

• SLS-25 Vertical Missile Launchers (2) - 200 each
• LT-5 Point Defense Laser Turrets (4) - 150 each
• Retractable Weapon Hatches (6) - 100 each
• Airlock Access Hatches (8) - 80 each
• Cargo Hatch - 100
• Wings (2) - 1000 each
• Tail Fins (2) - 100 each
• Main Engines (2) - 500 each *
• Maneuvering Thrusters (11) - 100 each
• Hull Regions (10) - 400 each
• Main Body - 4000 **


M.D.C. Armor Rating - Hull Region: 8
M.D.C. Armor Rating - Main Body: 16
Notes:

*	Destroying the main engines will severely impair the ship. If the main engines are put out of commission, the ship will be floating dead in space or will crash if the damage occurs in atmosphere. If the engine systems are shut down, all other systems will continue to function.
**	Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut down the entire ship, including life support, gravity control, communications, weapons, and engines.

Speed:

• Sublight: Can travel at up to 10 percent of the speed of light (0.10c) and accelerate / decelerate at a rate of 0.2 percent of light (0.002c) per melee.
• Atmospheric Propulsion: Mach 5.5 (4097.5 mph / 6600 km/h) and can enter and leave an atmosphere with an Earth-like gravity.
• Maximum Range: Effectively unlimited by drive system, but onboard supplies for the crew and troops will last for 3 days before the ship needs to be restocked.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 86' (26.2 m)
• Width: 191' (58.2 m)
• Length: 324' (98.8 m)
• Weight: 2587 tons (2347 metric tons) fully loaded
• Reactor System: Mk-II Protoculture Reactor with a life span of 10 years.
• Propulsion System: Chemical Rocket
• Gravity System: Internal
• Cargo: Storage space for personal belongings and reasonable luggage for passengers and crew.

Weapon Systems:

1. LT-5 Point Defense lsaer Turrets (4)
   The LT-5 lasers are designed to deliver heavy firepower on very close targets. A double-barreled laser with a round sensor between the barrels, the LT-5 is stored inside the hull, but elevates upwards from under movable panels into firing position. Two turrets are mounted on the top of the ship and the other two turrets are on the bottom of the ship.
   • Range: 1.6 miles (2.5 km) underwater, 3.1 miles (5 km) through an atmosphere, and 310.7 miles (500 km) in space.
   • Damage: 2D6x10 M.D. per single blast.
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 23
   • Rate of Fire: Each turret can fire four times per melee.
   • Payload: Effectively unlimited
2. SLS-25 Vertical Missile Launchers (2)
   This system replaces the Pepperbox launchers used on old RDF ship designs. This new system consists of two rows of four launch tubes for each missile launcher, this allows for an even higher rate of fire. These launchers are located in the dorsal and ventral side sponsons.
   • Missile Design: RRG Firebird or RRG RMS-2 Angel of Death Long Range Missiles
   • Missile Type: Varies with the missile design.
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Varies with the missile design.
   • Missile Warhead: Varies with the missile design.
   • Range: 800 miles (1288 km) in an atmosphere and 935,525 miles (1,505,582 km / 5.0 light seconds) in space.
   • Speed: 2500 mph (4023 km/h) in an atmosphere and an acceleration of 4% of light (0.04c) per melee in space, with a maximum duration in space of 16 melees and a maximum safe speed in space of 55% of light (0.55c).
   • Damage and Blast Radius: Varies with type of missile warhead.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of any size up to 8 missiles. Each launcher can fire three times per melee round.
   • Payload: 24 missiles per launcher, for a total of 48 long range missiles.
   • Modifiers: Increase range in space by 25%, but reduce warhead strength by 10%. Automatically hits a stationary target in space, has more advanced targeting equipment that gives a bonus of +6 to strike a moving target, but has a penalty of -10 to strike any target under 500 tons (453.6 metric tons).

Special Systems:

1. Electronic Warfare System
   The ship is equipped with a standard REF EW suite.
   • ECM: 2
   • ECCM: 1
   • EWS Abilities: None

Standard Systems:

1. Life Support System
   The ship has a fully operational life support system that provides fresh atmosphere throughout the ship. The life support system can sustain a maximum of 450 people indefinitely or 700 people for a short period of time in case of an emergency.
2. Communication Systems
   The ship is equipped with three communication systems. The first is a long range laser system with a maximum range of 100,000 miles (160,934 km), the transmissions travel at the speed of light, but they rely on line of sight, so it cannot communicate with a ship that is on the other side of a solid object. The second system is a long range radio system with a maximum range of 10,000 miles (16,100 km), the transmissions travel at the speed of light, but they are easy to intercept and jam. The third system is a satellite relay system that allows the ship to boost the range of the other communication systems indefinitely by using satellites or other ships to relay the transmission. The ship's communication array can maintain contact with up to 100 ships simultaneously.
3. Sensor Systems
   The ship is equipped with two sensor systems. The first is the Electromagnetic Detection Equipment that detects other sensor systems at twice the maximum range of their transmitter. The second is a powerful array that uses standard radar waves, which are fairly easy to jam, but it is obvious when the radar array is being jammed. The sensor can track tiny targets at a range of up to 3000 miles (4828 km), small targets at a range of up to 30,000 miles (48,280 km), medium targets at a range of up to 60,000 miles (96,561 km), and large targets at a range of up to 90,000 miles (144,841). See Human Ship Systems for more details on sensor systems.
4. Targeting Computer System
   Connecting the ship's sensor systems with the weapon systems is the Targeting Computer System. The system is designed to control all of the weapons currently equipped on the ship. This system can track up to 30 targets simultaneously, providing detailed information about the targets from the ships data files. All direct fire weapons receive a bonus of +1 to strike and missiles using non-autonomous guidance systems receive a bonus of +1 to strike. These bonuses are in addition to any previously stated bonuses or penalties.

Combat Summary:

• ECM: 2
• ECCM: 1
• Combat Actions: 2
• Targeting System: Can track up to 30 targets simultaneously and provide a bonus of +1 to strike for all direct fire weapons and +1 to strike for all missiles using non-autonomous guidance systems.