Vulture Hover Bike

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 02/08/2005)

As the Terran Confederacy expanded onto new worlds, the military forces discovered a need for a fast, reliable scouting vehicle to be used with the various marshal services on the colonies. Since many of these colonies lacked paved roads, even in the modestly populated areas, the designers decided to use a hover system for propulsion. Combining the personnel needs of the marshals with the requirements for a fast, reliable vehicle, the designers settled on a hover bike configuration that could provide storage for a marshal's tools as well as protection and limited offensive capabilities for the wilderness. When the Vulture Hover Bike was introduced, it was widely lauded for its excellent reliability and for the customization that a dedicated mechanic could achieve. Built for mass production and rough use in new colonies, the Vulture's were built with interchangeable parts that allowed for easy replacement and enhancement; the independent-minded marshals loved it.

A number of decades and a few minor upgrades later, the military forces of the Terran Confederacy developed a need for a land-based scouting vehicle. While they made several initial attempts to develop an entirely new design, eventually it was decided that there was no need to reinvent the wheel and the Vulture Hover Bike was used as the basis for the new military scout vehicle. However, the original Vulture was designed primarily as a civilian vehicle and lacked many features that the military would need, so the Vulture went through a limited redesign phase that saw its armor increase, new weapon systems added, and an entirely new suite of electronic sensors replace the old sensor package. When the newly redesigned, military-version Vulture Hover Bike was shown to the marshals, they immediately protested the changing of what they felt was an already perfect machine, but they quickly came to see the improvements made by the military. By the time of the fall of the Terran Confederacy, most marshals were driving the military version of the Vulture Hover Bike.

Unlike the original version of the Vulture, the new military version was equipped with more then a simple gun port for the pilot to place a weapon, it had three weapons. The first weapon was a simple anti-personnel laser cannon. The laser was not incredibly powerful, but it would serve the driver's need when the other weapons systems were useless. The second weapon was a powerful anti-armor grenade launcher, which was very effective against lightly armored opponents. The final weapon system is only available to the military and was never given to the marshals: the Spider Mines. Deadly and driver by a powerful artificial intelligence, the Spider Mines provided a unit of Vultures with the ability to lay down an intelligent mine field to provide disruption against enemy formations and to protect strategic points until more reinforcements arrived. Although too valuable to be used to create massive mine fields, the Spider Mines were capable of slowing down even a Zerg advance by specifically targeting the most powerful Zerg creatures in an effort to disrupt their command and control capabilities.

Vehicle Information:

• Vehicle Type: Hover Bike
• Crew: 1 Pilot

M.D.C. by location:

• Small Laser Cannon - 50
• Anti-Armor Grenade Launcher - 80
• Spider Mine Launcher - 125
• Sensor System - 70 *
• Hover Jets (3) - 100 each **
• Main Body - 350 ***


M.D.C. Armor Rating: 8
Notes:

*	Destroying one of the hover jets will decrease the vehicle's speed by 50%. Destroying two or more jets will prevent the vehicle from moving.
**	The Sensor System is a small target and protected by the main body, making it difficult to strike; an attacker is required to make a "called shot" and receives a penalty of -4 to strike.
***	Depleting the M.D.C. of the Main Body will put the vehicle out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, except for life support.

Speed:

• Hover: The hover propulsion system enables the vehicle to hover stationary up to 500' (152.4 m) from the ground or to fly up to 300 mph (482.8 km/h). Maximum flying altitude is 2500' (762 m).
• Maximum Range: The hover jets need to cool down for an hour after 12 hours of continuous use, otherwise effectively unlimited by drive system.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 5' (1.5 m)
• Width: 8' (2.4 m)
• Length: 12' (3.7 m)
• Weight: 900 lbs (408.2 kg)
• Reactor System: Micro-Fusion Reactor with a life span of 15 years.
• Cargo: There is a decent sized cargo space in the front of the bike. There is enough room for several changes of clothes, a rifle-sized weapon, a suit of armor, and supplies for several days.
• Market Cost: 5 million credits for a fully loaded and armed Vulture Hover Bike. Add an additional 5 million credits if equipped with a Spider Mine Launcher and a full load of spider mines.

Weapon Systems:

1. Small Laser Cannon
   Located in the nose of the vehicle is a small laser cannon used in emergency situations. While it has a longer range then the grenade launcher, it does significantly less damage.
   • Range: 4000' (1220 m) through an atmosphere.
   • Damage: 5D6 M.D. per single blast.
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 9
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand-to-hand attacks (usually 4 to 6).
   • Payload: 100 bursts
2. Anti-Armor Grenade Launcher
   The main weapon of the Vulture is a powerful anti-armor grenade launcher that fires high-powered grenades capable of dealing a serious amount of damage to armored targets.
   • Range: 2000' (610 m) through an atmosphere.
   • Damage and Blast Radius: 2D4x10 M.D. per single blast with a blast radius of 10' (3 m).
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 11
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand-to-hand attacks (usually 4 to 6).
   • Payload: 35 grenades
3. Spider Mine Launcher
   The spider mine launcher is only available on military models of the Vulture hover bike, but since the fall of the Terran Confederacy and Terran Dominion, acquiring a military model has become much easier then before. Each spider mine is equipped with a powerful artificial intelligence and a large computer database for IFF (Identify Friend/Foe) Identification. The spider mine can be programmed to activate only upon seeing a certain target, or several possible targets. Once activated, the spider mine pursues its target using a powerful hover jet, but if the mine is in danger of being destroyed or being disabled, it automatically detonates. When deployed, the spider mine will conceal itself in its environment as much as possible, such as by covering itself with scrap metal when surrounded by wreckage or by burying itself if deployed in soft dirt. Each spider mine has 60 M.D.C. in its main body and 40 M.D.C. in its single hover jet.
   • Range: Has a detected range of 200' (61 m)
   • Speed: 400 mph (643.7 km/h) with a maximum altitude of 200' (61 m)
   • Damage and Blast Radius: 1D4x100+150 M.D. per mine
   • Rate of Fire: One mine at a time.
   • Payload: 5 spider mines

Standard Systems:

1. Short Range Radar
   The vehicle is equipped with a short range radar. Radar system has a range of 20 miles (32.2 km) and can identify and track up to 16 targets.
2. Combat / Targeting Computer
   System calculates, stores, and transmits data onto view screens in the vehicle's cockpit. The computer assists in the tracking of targets. The system also has a data base of targets and has the ability to identify most common targets. Vehicles operated by the same faction are designed to share data automatically and act as fire control for other vehicles as well. As a final feature, the computer creates a map of the area based on sensor data.
3. Laser Targeting System
   The system is designed to assist in the selection and focusing on a specific target. The system gives a bonus of +1 to strike using long range weapons but must have line of sight. As well, most mini-missiles are designed to follow the laser beam to the target.
4. Infra-Red / Laser Detector
   The system is designed to detect any infrared or laser beams which paint or target the vehicle. The vehicle has special sensors built into the exterior every few inches. Sensors gives the strength of the signal and the computer can often determine if they have been detected from the signal strength.
5. Radar Detector
   The system is designed to passively detect other radars being operated. The system gives information such as relative strength and number of signals. Sensors gives strength of the signal and the computer can often determine if the vehicle has been detected from the strength of the signal.
6. Internal Active Jamming Gear
   Causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that they are being jammed, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to strike to all radar guided weapons.
7. Compass and Clock Calendar
   In addition to other features, the vehicles is fitted with a compass, high quality digital maps, and a clock calendar. The vehicles has an inertial navigation system where the computer plots the location of the vehicle based on last recorded location and speed and course of travel. The computer will attempt to use recorded data from other sensors to refine the location. The computer also can use star positions for navigation purposes. location.
8. Radio Communication
   The vehicle is equipped with a short range directional radio. The short range radio has a range of 20 miles (32 km). The vehicle is also fitted with a radio scrambler to prevent others from easily listening in on communications. The vehicle is equipped with a loudspeaker with an output of 80 decibels and an external audio pickup. The vehicle also has a satellite communication system that can also boost the range of its radio indefinitely.