Progenitor Fighter

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 10/12/2006)

The Progenitors have fought many wars throughout their history and the break between the Manifold Usurpers and the Manifold Caretakers is just the latest in a long series of internal conflicts. In this way, they are very similar to Humans. For centuries, the Progenitors have built and used fighters to take their battles to the sky, but the fighter also speaks of the Progenitors' differences to Humans.

The fighter is thing and sleek, but not heavily armored, especially when attacked with Resonance weapons, although human-based weapons would find it more difficult to destroy than colonial needlejets. The fighters also lack another primary feature of the colonial needlejets: missiles. The Progenitors build and use their fighters as dogfighters, to control the air space and to strafe ground targes with forward-facing resonance cannons, usually to weaken enemy fortifications and units for a ground assault. Without the development and deployment of missiles and bombs, the Progenitors lack the strategic bombing history that was commonly deployed in wars on Earth once fighters became widely used. Unfortunately, the blast cannons on the fighter have a long range, allowing the fighters to engage colonial needlejets well outside the range of their primary anti-fighters weapons, but not outside the range of their missiles.

Vehicle Information:

• Vehicle Type: Combat Aircraft
• Vehicle Registry: FT-528
• Crew: 2 (Pilot and Gunner)

S.D.C. by location:

• Forward Resonance Blast Cannons (2) - 100 each
• Small Tail Fins (2) - 25 each *
• Main Wings (2) - 100 each **
• Main Body - 200 ***

Armor Rating: 11
Notes:

*	Destroying one of the small, tail fins reduces maximum speed by 5% and piloting skills receive a penalty of -10% on all maneuvers. Destroying both small fins reduces maximum speed by 25% and the penalty to piloting skill is -20%.
**	Destroying one of the large, main wings, and the VTOL engine in that wing, will send the aircraft into a spin to the ground. The jet will crash and the pilot and passengers will be killed unless the eject before the plane hits the ground.
***	Depleting the S.D.C. of the main body will shut down the vehicle, including life support, communications, weapons, and engine, causing it to plummet out of the sky and crash.

Speed:

• Flying: The jet propulsion system enables the aircraft to reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 (894 mph / 1440 km/h) and climb to an altitude of 60,000' (18,288 m). The aircraft has a minimum gliding speed of 60 mph (96.6 km/h); if it goes any slower, it may stall and crash, unless engaged in VTOL. Cruising speed tends to be between 250 mph (402.3 km/h) and Mach 1 (745 mph / 1200 km/h).
• Maximum Range: Effectively unlimited by drive system, but the engines generally overheat after 15 hours of continual use.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 12' (3.7 m)
• Width: Wingspan of 55' (16.8 m)
• Length: 40' (12.2 m)
• Weight: 18 tons (16.3 metric tons) fully loaded.
• Reactor System: Micro-Fusion Reactor with a life span of 10 years.
• Cargo: Small space behind pilot's seat capable of holding a few days of rations, a Resonance Blast Rifle, a few extra clips, and some personal items.

Weapon Systems:

1. Forward Resonance Blast Cannons (2)
   The only weapon system of the Progenitor Fighter is a powerful resonance blast cannon, similar to the cannons mounted on the Battle Ogres, but reduced in size and power to fit on the fighter. A cannon is mounted on each side of the fighter's main body and in a fixed forward position.
   • Range: 5 miles (8 km)
   • Damage: 1D4x10 per single shot and 2D4x10 per double shot, triple damage to native life forms.
   • Rate of Fire: Each cannot can fire six times per melee.
   • Payload: Effectively unlimited
   • Special: Each time a living creature is hit by a resonance weapon, the target must make a save vs. pain (base save for Pain is 14 and gains a bonus from PE attribute) or suffer a penalty of -1 to all combat rolls for one melee round. This penalty is cumulative each time the target is hit by a resonance weapon. A target wearing anything heavier than exo-skeleton armor is immune to this disorientating effect.

Special Systems:

1. Resonance Armor
   The armor of the vehicle is highly resistant to normal damage, taking only half damage from a non-resonance weapon.

Standard Systems:

1. Long Range Radar
   The vehicle is equipped with a short range radar. Radar system has a range of 350 miles (563.3 km) and can identify and track up to 48 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. Visual Magnification
   This system allows magnification of x2 to x32 and it displays on a view screen in the cockpit. The vehicle also has data recording equipment for 24 hours at the highest resolution and 144 hours at lowest resolution.
5. Thermo-Imager
   Range: 4 miles (6.4 km). Finds the infrared radiations of things that are warm. Also enables the pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness. System has the disadvantage of being able to be detected.
6. Nightvision Optics
   Range: 50 miles (80.5 km). Uses light amplification to make a picture. Emits no light but will not work in absolute darkness. System can be dazzled by sudden bright lights but does not physically blind the pilot.
7. 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.
8. Radar Detector
   System is designed to passively detect other radars being operated. System give 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.
9. Internal Active Jamming Gear
   Causes -50% 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 -6 penalty to strike to all radar guided weapons.
10. 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.
11. Resonance Transmitter
    The vehicle is equipped with a device that extends the range of the pilot's Resonance Wave to 500 miles (804.7 km). When a Progenitor suspects that an enemy Progenitor is within range of the resonance wave, they will talk in a complicated code to prevent the enemy from understanding what the transmitting Progenitor is saying.
12. Advanced Life Support
    The crew compartments in the vehicle is reinforced to protected the crew from attacks. The compartment is air tight and is suitable for use in most hostile environments including underwater, with a maximum depth of 500' (152.4 m). The vehicle has a computer controlled life support system with artificial air circulation, gas filtration, and humidifier. The system is designed to be able to recycle the air to keep a breathable atmosphere for up to four weeks. The vehicle also has an independent oxygen supply which automatically engages and purges the interior in conditions of contaminated air environment inside of vehicle. The vehicle carries a twelve hour emergency oxygen supply. The vehicle displays present atmospheric conditions including toxins in the air and amount of oxygen back to wearer. The vehicle has an internal cooling system and temperature control and it can be set for wearer preferences. The system displays temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure.
13. High Temperature Insulation
    The vehicles is made from high temperature materials that are designed to resist temperatures up to 400 degrees centigrade. Normal fires inflict no damage but extremely high temperature fire, such as plasma and magic fire, inflict full damage.
14. Radiation Shielding
    The vehicles has radiation shielding which is far more effective than what is found on body armor. As well, the vehicle's armor is equipped with sensors to monitor the amount of radiation that the vehicle is exposed to. This is displayed to the pilot of the vehicle.
15. Protective Optics
    The vehicle is designed with optics which are designed to protect the crew against blinding. All pilot compartment windows are polarized to quickly darken and the crew can also look through video displays.
16. Ejection System
    The vehicle is equipped with an ejection system that allows the crew to eject to safety in case of emergency. The ejection system is designed to launch the crew about 1000' (305 m) in the air and a parachute is deployed so that they travel to the ground safely.