Misc. Vehicles of the 3G(2)

[taalismn]

Sure I started a Miscellaneous Vehicles of the Three Galaxies before, but by now it's so old that if a posted to it, it would be locked for necromancy.

So, here's Miscellaneous Vehicles of the Three Galaxies(2)

GNEverse Free Worlds Council ‘Sorvo’ Heavy Combat Robot
(aka ‘Landram’, ‘Tackle-Bot’, ‘Monocerbot’)
“Emphasis is on ranged attacks; the FWC can’t be constantly replacing armor and busted robotics like the Kreegies can when their Imperators get scuffed up barging through the opposition. The FreeWees discourage their ‘bot pilots from needlessly engaging in melee fisticuffs unless absolutely necessary. That doesn’t mean, though, that the Sorvo’s not a brawler when and where it counts; with the extra speed it has, it can deliver a very punishing ram attack like its namesake. But if facing Imperators, tf they can, the Freeworlder mech-jocks are advised to bleed the Imperials at range as much as possible, before closing to deliver the killing bow.”
---Colonel Farezes Glidden, CAF Military Intelligence, TGE/FWC Studies Division.

“The FWC doesn’t risk its heavy armor assets lightly; when it takes to the field, it means the stakes are high and the danger level to their crews among the highest in the Free Worlds forces, almost certainly a death sentence if they fail to carry the day. When they take the field, they do so for effect, and knowing that every Kreeghor heavy gun is going to be pointing their way, they press their attacks, wading unflinchingly into the destruction. “

“Time to mount up and krunch some kreeghie.”

Though the TransGalactic Empire favored power armors over large robot combat vehicles, they still found a need for the latter from time to time, though only one type, the Imperator, was ever regularly used or issued to the troops. When it was deployed, the Imperator proved a dangerous opponent and a difficult weapon to counter, especially when used as a terror weapon against rebel worlds, which generally lacked the firepower to effectively counter the Imperator. The sight of Imperator ‘bots smashing their way through buildings and razing cities in retaliation for dissidence has become a feared and hated one through the subject worlds of the TGE.
The Free Worlds Council similarly favored power armors, as they were fast, flexible, matched the FWC’s favored guerilla warfare tactics, and were less expensive to build and maintain than big combat robots. Still, they too found occasional need to field heavy armor units, especially on siege worlds like Axis-5. When they could, the FWC made use of captured or acquired Imperators to shore up their defenses, break sieges, and break into fortified TGE positions.
In the GNEverse, with the United Systems Alliance supplying much-needed assistance in the form of supplies and new weaponry, the FWC has been able to make larger gains on the battlefield. This has both expanded their need for heavier weaponry, and given them some(not a lot) of breathing room to improve their equipment. Updating their inventory of Imperators has received some (much-needed, in the opinions of some) attention.
With USAn help, the FWC has been able to establish facilities for refitting older Imperators and produce new ones(albeit, currently in limited numbers).
The Imperator has been remodeled with a slightly more upright(but still hunched-over) posture, rebuilt servos, and a head more resembling an animal’s, than a Kreeghor’s. The distinctive horned head was modeled after that of a sorvo, a fierce rhino-like animal native to Good Hope, capitol of the FWC. A powerful creature with a reputation for lethally protecting its herd from predators, the sorvo is seen as a strong totem of resistance, and using its visage in place of the despised Kreeghor helps distinguish the FWC units from their imperial opponents.
Other changes included remodeled foot pads, armor less resembling the Kreeghor spiked hide, and greater articulation on the shoulder joints. Other changes were necessitated by logistical and tech-base limitations and concerns. The chest G-cannons have been replaced with autocannons second-sourced from Flying Fang production. The shoulder missile launchers have been made modular to accommodate various available munitions and weapons. Lack of ability to manufacture the Energy Fang and Energy Ax that were distinctive of the Imperator led to the FWC engineers to scramble for substitutes, installing a modular forearm system as a placeholder.
The biggest change armament-wise has been the installation of a large shoulder turret(its arc of fire cleared by the removal of the Imperator’s spinal spikes and crest) that can carry a variety of heavy weapons.
Another major change has been the consolidation of the separate crew compartments into a single one. While this arguably makes the crew more vulnerable to being taken out by a single critical strike, it has proven to make operations more efficient and crew morale improved, as they work together (literally) more closely.
Slightly faster than its Imperator ancestor, the Sorvo loses some armor protection, but has an increase in ranged firepower. It is also easier to service and maintain. It uses a less durable powerplant to save on resources (and more pragmatically, given the intensity of the fighting, a Sorvo is not expected to last more than ten years). If and when the situation changes, it is expected that the Sorvos will receive longer-duration power systems.
The number of Sorvos deployed by the FWC is currently small, as the FWC places more emphasis on less expensive, resource-intensive, and more flexible weapons systems

Type: FWC-IAR5001 ’Sorvo’
Class: Infantry Assault Robot
Crew: 3-4(Pilot, 2-3 gunners)
MDC/Armor by Location:
Main Body 650
Head 240
Reinforced Crew Compartment 300
Chest Autocannon(2) 180 each
Back Turret 200
Arms(2) 290 each
Modular Forearm Mounts(2) Typically 100-180 each
Shoulder Weapons Mounts(2) 250 each
Legs(2) 350 each
Height: 45 ft
Width: 20 ft
Length: 18 ft
Weight: 37 tons
Cargo: Small space in the crew cabin for side arms, survival packs, and a few small personal possessions.
Physical Strength: Equiv. Robotic P.S. of 60
Powerplant: Nuclear Fusion w/ 15 year energy life
Speed:(Running) 110 MPH
(Leaping) 30 ft up/across
(Flying) Not possible
(Underwater) Can run along on the bottom at 40 MPH; maximum depth tolerance of 3,000 ft.
Market Cost:
Not available for sale; exclusive to the Free Worlds Council. If any were available on the Galactic Black Market, they could be expected to fetch 42 million credits or more.
Systems of Note:
Standard Robot Systems
Weapons Systems:
1) Back Turret----Arguably the biggest change between the Imperator and the Sorvo is the latter’s back-mount turret that can mount one or two heavy weapons. The turret enjoys a full 360-degree arc of fire high atop the shoulders, allowing it to engage targets to the sides and behind the ‘bot. The turret weapons are usually managed by the fourth ‘command’ crew position normally left unfilled in FWC Imperators.
a) Heavy Pulse Lasers(2)---These are the same ‘horn lasers’ as seen on the TGE Flying Fang aerospace fighter, another example of logistical streamlining.
Range: 4,000 ft in atmosphere, 2 miles in space
Damage: 1d6x10 MD per blast. 2d6x10 MD for both cannons firing simultaneously(counts as one attack)
Rate of Fire: EGCHH
Payload: Effectively unlimited

b) Heavy Plasma Cannons(2)---Identical to those mounted on the CAF’s Bombard robot; the TGE assumes that the CCW supplied the know-how if not the actual weapons, while the leaked story is the FWC got them from the producers of higher-end Bombard knockoffs.
Range: 4,000 ft
Damage: 2d4x10 MD per single blast, 4d4x10 MD per double blast
Rate of Fire: ECHH
Payload: Effectively unlimited
Option:
USA technical support has supplied an upgrade system infusing the plasma stream with refined deuterium gas, increasing damage by 50% as the plasma burns hotter. Pressurized gas reservoir tanks provide enough concentrated deuterium for 100 shots per cannon.
The USA is also providing kits to modify the ‘choke’ of the plasma cannons, allowing them to fire area of effect bursts that do HALF normal damage to a 25-ft wide area.

c) Autocannon(2)---Same as the chest cannons in 2) below, only mounted for air defense primarily, with a bonus to strike from a co-mounted targeting system.
Range: 4,000 ft in atmosphere, 3 miles in space
Damage: 1d6x10 MD per 10-rd burst per gun
Rate of Fire: EGCHH
Payload: 10,000 rds per gun(1,000 bursts)
Bonus: +2 to strike

d) Particle Beam Cannons(2)
Range: 11,000 ft(double in space)
Damage: 4d6x 10 MD single blast
Rate of Fire: ECHH
Payload: Effectively Unlimited

e) Mortars(2)----Same as those carried as an option on the CAF’s Bombard robot; the TGE similarly assumes the CCW is supplying the FWC with the weapons. The mortars can be swiveled up to 15 degrees apart, or can be set to overlap their fire with each other.
Range: 2 miles
Damage:(Fragmentation) 4d6 MD to 20 ft radius
(Armor-Piercing) 1d4x10 MD
Rate of Fire: Bursts of 1-10 rds, EGCHH
Payload: 200 rds per mortar

f)Massdriver G-Cannon(1)---A 100mm weapon based on an older PS/ASI cannon. A proven and reliable weapon, and the lower-end ammo is relatively easy to make.
Range:(Direct Fire APFSDSDU) 27,000 ft (5.4 miles)
(Indirect Fire) 67,500 ft( 13.7 miles)
Damage: High Explosive(HE)---- 1d6x10 MD to 20 ft radius
High Explosive Anti-Tank(HEAT)---- 2d6 x10 MD to 10 ft radius
Fragmentation--- 2d6x10 MD to 30 ft radius
Plasma-----3d6x10 MD to 35 ft radius
(APFSDSDU)(Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot Depleted Uranium) 4d6x10 MD out to 11,000 ft, 2d6x10 MD out to maximum range
Rate of Fire: Four per melee
Payload: 160 rds(2 tons of ammo)

g)Heavy Laser Cannon(1)---Same as that mounted on the Dark Slayer MBT and used for much the same purpose.
Range: 3 miles
Damage: 3d6x10 MD per shot
Rate of Fire: EGCHH
Payload: Effectively unlimited


2) Chest Autocannon(2)---The decision was made to replace the Imperator’s chest-mounted G-cannon with more powerful types seconded from the FWC’s own Flying Fang parts and ammunition manufacturing. Though this means that the Sorvo cannot use the same logistics as the Imperator, as the TGE machine uses the same weapon carried by the Empire’s power armors, as the Sorvo typically needs aerospace-grade servicing facilities to be repaired anyway, the loss of efficiency was seen as negligible, given the gain in damage capacity.
Range: 4,000 ft in atmosphere, 3 miles in space
Damage: 1d6x10 MD per 10-rd burst
Rate of Fire: EGCHH
Payload: 5,000 rds per gun(500 bursts)

3) Shoulder Weapons Mounts(2) ---The large shoulder pauldrons and integrated medium range missile launchers of the Imperator have been made modular, for quick ‘swap and switch’ repairs or mission customizations.
a) Mini-Missiles---32 per launcher

b) Short Range Missiles---16 per launcher

c) Medium Range Missiles---8 per launcher

d) Kinetic Rockets----Adaptation of the hypersonic projectiles carried by the Dark Slayer MBT. Lousy range, but tremendous damage.
Range: 4,000 ft
Damage: 2d6x10 MD per rocket
Rate of Fire: Volleys of 1-12(all)
Payload: 12 per launcher

e) Flame-Thrower
Range: 100 ft
Damage:(MD Fluid) 1d4 MD per blast, 1d4 MD per melee for 2d4 minutes
Note: The Flame-thrower can also be used to cover an area with fluid: up to 10 ft per attack used.
Rate of Fire: ECHH
Payload: 100 blasts

4) Modular Forearm Mounts(2)----An inability to economically duplicate the Imperator’s iconic Energy Fang and Energy Ax led to the FWC engineers to scramble for substitutes, installing a modular forearm system as a placeholder, while they experimented with various weapons. This proved very successful, though the modular mounts also have power takeoff systems that are compatible with the original TGE weapons(and incidentally Naruni Plasma Axes) when they become available.
a) Vibroclaws---These are simply large vibroblades mounted on the forearm. Three are mounted.
Range: Melee
Damage: 3d6 MD each claw, 9d6 MD(+ normal HTH damage) for all three brought into play.

b) Laser Claw Fist----An attempt to duplicate the Energy Fang using a weapon acquired by the FWC from their USA allies; the Pulse Laser Lance, a larger and cruder knockoff of the Kittani Energy Lance. Though individually doing less damage than the Energy Fang, the Laser Claw Fist mounts FOUR lances and has two fire modes. Unfamiliar with the USA’s development of the weapon, the TGE has assumed that the FWC have traded for it with a Splugorth source.
MDC: 360 ( 90 per claw)
Range: 6,000 ft in hi-mode, 3,000 ft in lo-mode
Damage: (Laser) 3d6 MD single shot in hi-mode( 1d6x12 MD for all four lasers firing simultaneously), 6d6 MD per blast in lo-mode ( 1d6x24 MD for all four lasers firing simultaneously)
(Energized Claw Strike) 2d4 MD per tine, or 4d8 MD for all four(+ normal HTH damage)
Rate of Fire: EGCHH
Payload: Effectively unlimited

c) Plasma Blade Claw---Copy of another Kittani power armor weapon. Three blades are mounted on the forearm.
MDC: 300 ( 100 per claw)
Range:(Blade Strike) Melee
(Energy Blast) 200 ft
Damage:(Blade Strike) +2d4 MD un-energized strike(+ normal HTH damage), 1d4x10 MD energized blade strike, 3d4x10 MD for all three blades energized.
(Energy Blast) 1d4x10 single blast, 2d4x10 dual blast(counts as one attack), 3d4x10 triple blast(counts as one attack)
Rate of Fire: ECHH
Payload: Effectively unlimited

d) Compatible with Energy Ax, Energy Fang, and Naruni Giant Plasma Ax.

5) Use of Handheld Weaponry---The Sorvo can pick up and use appropriately-sized weapons such as mecha melee weapons(the Naruni Plasma Ax is a favorite and the TGE Energy Ax is prized) and gun pods, or improvised weaponry such as clubs.

6) Hand to Hand---Same as for the Imperator; uses rules for Heavy Ground Robots, but with some extra bonuses:
Actions/Attacks Per Melee: HTH APMs of pilot +1, +1 at levels 3, 6. 10, and 15
Initiative +1
Strike +2( +1 strike with energy weapons)
Parry +4
Dodge +1 standing still, +2 when in motion
Roll +4
Pull Punch+2
Disarm +1

Restrained Punch 2d6 MD
Full Strength Punch 6d6 MD
Power Punch(2 attacks) 2d6x10 MD
Kick 5d6 MD
Leap Kick 2d6x10 MD
Stomp 4d6 MD(against targets 10 ft tall or shorter)
Body Block/Tackle(front is reinforced for this) 3d6 MD +1 MD per every 2 MPH over 60 MPH of running speed.

Variants:
The Sorvo is too new to have much in the way of variants, given the FWC’s tenuous situation, but reportedly an improved ‘super-Sorvo’ was already under development on a high-tech world that had recently joined the FWC. This version used more advanced materials better than baseline TGE-era armor to increase armor protection by some 50% to all locations and had an energy-dissipation ‘scrambler field’ to boot, in addition to several other experimental systems. The FWC didn’t pay much attention to what promised to be an overly-expensive white elephant project, but somebody in the TGE apparently did, as the Imperial Fleet paid the planet a visit to deliver a saturation nuking to the industrial region where the development laboratories were located. However, two prototypes, their test pilots/engineers and the database of the laboratories, survived the attack, testimony to the ‘super-Sorvo’s’ durability, and escaped the ruins. The current whereabouts of the ‘bots is unknown, but it is hoped/presumed that the FWC has secured them under more security-conscious conditions.

*’Goroth’---Thought to be a variant of the official FWC program, but later turned out to be a case of parallel development. The TGE thought they had sown up the invasion and occupation of the waterworld Frothen and its pastoral amphibian natives, with garrisons occupying key islands in the many archipelagoes dotting the planet. Despite some equipment losses patrolling the shadows, the TGE believed they had acquired full control over yet another world. Land-based Imperator ‘bots could easily dominate small islands single-handedly, so the Imperial garrisons thought their positions unassailable.
What they didn’t know at first was that the Frothens were actually the Axolotl descendants of a stranded joint extradimensional exploration mission between the Axolotl and the Tinalis(both races may be found in Aliens Unlimited). The Axolotl have a history of heroism and bravery, and have borne the TGE occupation of their islands stoically, while managing to hide the fact that ANOTHER civilization exists in the deep water. The descendants of the Tinalis part of the shipwrecked expedition have lain low in their deep communities, hiding from the TGE forces on the surface, but recently the fires of rebellion have risen in ernest.
It therefore came as a surprise to the Imperial occupiers when their island bases came under attack, spearheaded by what appeared to be heavily modified reconstructions of the previously lost Imperator robots.
Apparently the Tinalis had been busy in secret, building up arsenals to strike back at the TGE invaders. It is also believed they had help, from either Naimese mercenary freedom-fighters, or possibly Splugorth arms dealers, given some of the weapons deployed( either Yongrrllyth or Slaynrythh are the most likely suspects).
The ‘Goroths’ have been modified for amphibious operation, water-sealed against water damage and deep sea pressure, fitted with both variable buoyancy tanks and hydrothrusters that enable them to swim at speeds approaching 30 MPH underwater, with a depth tolerance measured in MILES. The body has been skinned in insulating anechoic rubberized material that hampers sonar detection(-45% to sonar operations rolls to detect the ‘bot) as well as camouflage its thermal signature, especially in deep water.
The head has been enlarged, remodeled to resemble that of a groth(a ferocious hippopotamus-like beast native to the Axolotl homeworld) and fitted with a variety of weapons; a large be-toothed robotic jaw-mouth(doing 2d6x10 MD on a chomp), a mouth-mounted energy weapon---either a plasma cannon(4,000 ft range---half that underwater, 2d4x10 MD per blast) or sonic projector(5,000 ft range----double underwater, 2d6x10 MD to a 10 ft area), and nostril-mounted chemical sprayers that can shoot smoke, acidic fog, or other antipersonnel war-gases.
The chest sports a set of rail guns firing supercavitating ammunition. The shoulder missile launchers fire air/sea supercavitating missile-torpedoes. The arms feature paw-hands with retractable vibroclaws and forearm-mounted ion blasters. The ‘bots were also seen to carry handheld twin-barrel laser cannons or quad-barrel plasma cannons similar to those carried by Kittani War-Crabs, or else were seen wielding giant mauls, axes, or harpoons.
Attacking strategic coastal targets, the local Frothan resistance forces, led by the Goroths, managed to surprise the Imperial garrisons long enough to inflict serious damage to spaceport facilities, powerplants, and communications equipment near the shore. The surprise uprising has left the TGE forces scrambling to mount defenses against further invasions from the sea, and the Imperial governor howling for submarine equipment. The reports of the uprising on Frothen are likely to attract the attention and support of the FWC, who will send at least a team to assess the situation on Frothen and advise the local resistance. It may also be possible that the FWC will trade for the techspecs for the Goroth conversions to be applied to Imperators taken on other worlds with substantial surface water bodies.

[Shorty Lickens]

I LOVE YOU BRO!!

Looking forward to all your work.

[taalismn]

I shall endeavor not to disappoint then.