Pegasus Assault Shuttle

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 05/05/2005)

After the First Robotech War, several new types of small combat vessels were commissioned, two of these were dedicated orbital combat shuttles for the Southern Cross and the REF. For a while it looked as if a common design could be built, but the two groups had vastly different requirements that could not be reconciled. Each ships were to be capable of carrying a small attack force, up to 6 mecha, to their battlefields, but the Southern Cross wanted a small mecha transport that would mostly rely on its small size and numbers to deliver its cargo, but the REF wanted a larger and heavier ship that could survive an orbital insertion into a hot zone. In the end, the Pegasus Assault Shuttle was commissioned for the Sothern Cross.

The Southern Cross needed little more than an armed space shuttle that had to carry its cargo into Earth or Lunar orbit. As all launches would be from permanent bases, no expensive terrestrial-gravity VTOL capability was necessary, though a lighter VTOL system was needed for lunar landings because of the lack of an atmosphere, and a liquid fuel booster package could be used to assist takeoffs. The result was the simple, reliable and light Pegasus shuttle. The Southern Cross built over 800 of these shuttles during the interwar years, and many were lost fighting the heavily armored and armed vessels of the Robotech Masters.

The Pegasus was intended to be used against Zentraedi fighter pods as they descended into the atmosphere; while the larger Southern Cross ships were to engage the Zentraedi battle cruisers, the shuttles were to ascend to orbit and deliver their mecha payloads, and then provide heavy support to the mecha. For this mission, the Pegasus would have been adequate, but as with all plans of the Southern Cross, the enemy they were fighting were not Zentraedi. Instead, the shuttles were used to carry mecha up to the orbiting mother ships of the Robotech Masters; enemies far deadlier then the Zentraedi.

The Pegasus shuttles are lightly armed space shuttles. They are designed to transport a small group of mecha (1/2 squadron) to space and then to launch these at the enemy. If necessary, the mecha or any other cargo can also be transported to a moon, although this is not the shuttle's primary purpose. Their layout reflects these simple design goals. Like with the old pre-war shuttles, the Pegasus is launched vertically from a platform. The design mounts a cockpit in a blister up front, a small cargo bay protected by full-length hinged doors behind that, and four main engines mounted at the stern. Two delta wings are mounted at the rear, and two large fins, almost as large as the wings, spring from the wing-roots in an angle of 45 degrees.

Ship Information:

• Ship Class: Shuttle
• Ship Type: Assault
• Year Commissioned: 2020 CE
• Crew: 5, one Pilot, one Copilot, one Navigator, and two Gunners.
• Troops:
  • Air Group: 4
  • Marines: 32
  • Total: 36
• Total Crew and Troops: 41

Vehicle Complement:

• Mecha Complement:
The ship can accommodate 6 mecha of any type used by the Armies of the Southern Cross.

M.D.C. by location:

• LT-5 Point Defense Laser Turrets (3) - 150 each
• LT-4 Point Defense Laser Cannons (8) - 100 each
• Retractable Weapon Hatches (11) - 100 each
• Airlock Access Hatches - 80 each
• Cargo Bay Doors (2) - 200 each
• Wings (2) - 400 each
• Tail Fins (2) - 300 each
• Main Engines (3) - 800 each *
• Auxiliary Engines (6) - 600 each *
• Detachable Booster Unit - 750
• Hull Regions (5) - 300 each
• Main Body - 1500 **


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, forcing it to rely on its auxiliary engine. If both the main and auxiliary engines are put out of commission, the ship will be floating dead in space or will crash if the damage occurs in atmosphere. The loss of the auxiliary engines will not impair the ship in any way. Even if both 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 2.5 (1862.5 mph / 3000 km/h) with a maximum ceiling of 9.3 miles (15 km).
• Maximum Range: Effectively unlimited by drive system, but onboard supplies for the crew and troops will last for 2 weeks before the ship needs to be restocked.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 73' (23.2 m)
• Width: 106' (32.2 m)
• Length: 255' (77.7 m)
• Weight: 1257 tons (1140 metric tons)
• 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 Laser Turrets (3)
   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. One turret is mounted to the rear of the cockpit and one on each side 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. LT-4 Point Defense Laser Cannons (8)
   The laser cannons are smaller, single barrel versions of the LT-5 Laser Turrets. They are used for point defense. The ship mounts four lasers per side surrounding the side turrets.
   • Range: 1.2 miles (2 km) underwater, 2.5 miles (4 km) through an atmosphere, and 248.5 miles (400 km) in space.
   • Damage: 1D4x10 M.D. per single blast.
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 8
   • Rate of Fire: Each cannon can fire four times per melee.
   • Payload: Effectively unlimited

Special Systems:

1. Electronic Warfare System
   The ship is equipped with a standard Southern Cross EW suite.
   • ECM: 2
   • ECCM: 2
   • 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 50 people indefinitely or 100 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 30 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. These bonuses are in addition to any previously stated bonuses or penalties.

Combat Summary:

• ECM: 2
• ECCM: 2
• Combat Actions: 2
• Strike: +1 to strike with direct fire weapons.
• Targeting System: Can track up to 30 targets simultaneously.