| APAGear II Archives | Volume 4, Number 5 | July, 2002 |
After reading the Life on Utopia twice, I wanted to try my hand at creting few Utopian Vehicles. After studying the original design in LoU (Constable, Fireman and Men at Arms APESes), their limitations became quite evident. Due their small size they could not mount many weapons, nor could they have Gear equivalent armor. So next thing was to think their place on battlefield, they're too weak take on heavy combat automatons or tanks. So their operational niche is fighting other APESes and hunting down drones and other duties were Automatons are too inflexible. So here we go, five new APESes and a slightly freaky CEF prototype.
Partisan APES is relatively new addition into Greenway Alliance Armed Forces. It is a dedicated ambush / anti-armor APES, which can be mistaken for a more common Constable APES. While based on Constable chassis like most of the other APESes, Partisan is well suited for it's intended mission. Which is ambushing and destroying light combat automatons and other APESes, towards that end the weapons payload was redesigned along with its stealth and fire control systems. Althought the price of these improvements were a somewhat more fragile fire-control and slightly less armor on sides and rear. As a standard payload; Partisan wields a 12mm Hypervelocity Rifle mated with a 40mm Grenade Launcher and two 70mm Disposable Anti-Armor Rockets (similar in design to Terra Novan Panzerfaust) along with a standard utility Vibroblade. The Anti-Armor Rockets are stored on back between of the jumpjets.
Originally Partisans were deployed in full squads of four plus ground transport, but the formation Utopian Colonial State and Greenway Armed Forces relelegation into deep city security has changed the deployment scheme somewhat. Nowadays Partisans are usuallly fielded at one per squad basis, or at two Partisans and two Firemen plus Transport basis.
Name: Partisan APES
Vehicle Type: Augmented Powered Environment Suit
Production Type: Mass Produced
Cost: 25 500 GA Slips (255 000 Kron/PU)
Manufacturer: Various
Use: Light Anti-Armor APES
Height: 3,6 meters
Length: --- meters
Width: 2,75 meters
Avg. Armor Thickness: 9,5 mm
Armor Material: Laminated Ceralloy
Standard Op. Weight: 900 kg
Primary Move Mode: Walker (24 kph)
Deployment Range: 150 km
Sensor Range: 2 km
Communication Range: 10 km
Powerplant: Fuel Cell / Batteries
Engine Output: 150 hp
Threat Value: 255
Offensive Value: 159
Defensive Value: 37
Miscellaneous Value: 569
Size: 3
Original Default Size: 6
Indv. Lemon Dice: 3
Crew: 1
Bonus Actions: 0
Movement
Primary Move Mode: Walker
Combat Speed: 2
Top Speed: 4
Maneuver: 0
Sensors: -1
Communications: -1
Fire Control: 0
Light Damage: 6
Heavy Damage: 12
Overkill: 18
Qty Name Code Arc ACC Damage Range ROF Ammo Special 2 Medium AT Rocket MPZ F -1 x15 1 /2 /4 /8 0 Dis 1 12mm HyVel Rifle VLRF F 0 x6 2 /4 /8 /16 25 1 40mm Grenade Launcher APGL F -1 x3 1 /2 /4 /8 5 AE0, AI, IF 1 Vibroblade VB F 0 x8 0 /0 /0 /0 0
Name Rating Game Effects AUX Airdroppable Can be airdropped HEP: Desert - HEP: Radiation.c 2 100 rads per hour Improved Off-Road - 1 MP cost, minimum 1 MP Jump Jets 2 Rating times 50m of jump capability AUX Limited Life Support Life support for 1 week AUX Manipulator Arm x2 3 Can punch Stealth 3 Add rating to Concealment AUX Reinforced Armor 2 F Arc; add to base armor
Name Rating Game Effects Annoyance LS made by lowest bidder Annoyance Jump Jets negate stealth Exposed Auxiliary Sys "Aux" hits are one step worse Exposed Fire Control "Fire Control" hits are one step worse
Marksman Heavy APES is a State of the Art sniper-fire support APES, designed by Halicarnassus Academy of Advanced Military Technologies(Henceforth HAAMT). The Marksman is rare Utopian vehicle to field an energy weapon. The Marksman field a 8.2mW Free-Electron Chemical Laser system. Which unlike most other lasers fielded by CEF and Terra Novan faction uses an excited state free-radical hydrogen to energize the lasing tube via controlled explosion within induction chamber instead rapid discharge capacitators or superconducting coils. Other than making the laser small enough for APES handle it it also makes the weapon somewhat fragile, and even outright dangerous if chemical tank were to be punctured. As one of the chemical laser prototypes blew up on a testing range, killing the armiger testing it and wounding dozen more. As it detonated with equivalent force to four kilograms of TNT.
The Marksman APES is a rare vehicle indeed, restricted only to rank of 2nd Lancer or higher with an additional requirement of being an accomplished sniper. Even while carrying payload equal to a light combat automaton, the Marksman is sought after only by those whom want it as a status piece. Most of the existing Marksman in use belong to rapid-response units that are never away from base more than day or two, this is mostly the incredible maintenance requirements of this vehicle (not to mention the laser cannon itself).
Name: Marksman Heavy APES
Vehicle Type: Augmented Powered Environment Suit
Production Type: Limited Production
Cost: 1 084 000,00 URS Kron
Manufacturer: Augmented Powered Environment Suit
Use: Various
Height: 3,65 meters
Length: -- meters
Width: 2,85 meters
Avg. Armor Thickness: 11,3 mm
Armor Material: Laminated Ceralloy
Standard Op. Weight: 1160 kg
Primary Move Mode: Walker (24 kph)
Secondary Move Mode: ( kph)
Deployment Range: 150 km
Sensor Range: 3 km
Communication Range: 10 km
Powerplant: Fuel Cell / Batteries
Engine Output: 160 hp
Threat Value: 258
Offensive Value: 368
Defensive Value: 65
Miscellaneous Value: 339
Size: 4
Original Default Size: 6
Indv. Lemon Dice: 2
Crew: 1
Bonus Actions: 0
Primary Move Mode: Walker
Combat Speed: 2
Top Speed: 4
Maneuver: 0
Sensors: -1
Communications: -1
Fire Control: -1
Light Damage: 8
Heavy Damage: 16
Overkill: 24
Qty Name Code Arc ACC Damage Range ROF Ammo Special 1 8.2mW Chemical Laser SLC F +1 x12 5 /10 /20 /40 10 DpRB-1, Snpr 1 Light Field Mortar LFM FF -1 x15 4 /8 /16 /32 6 AE0, MR4, IF, Stbl 2 Hand Grenade HG F -1 x15 0 /0 /0 /0 0 AI, Dis 1 Vibroblade VB F 0 x8 0 /0 /0 /0 0
Name Rating Game Effects AUX Airdroppable Can be airdropped HEP: Desert - HEP: Radiation.c 2 100 Rads per Hour Improved Off-Road - 1 MP cost, minimum 1 MP Jump Jets 1 Rating times 50m of jump capability AUX Limited Life Support Life support for 1 week AUX Manipulator Arm x2 4 Can punch Stealth 3 Add rating to Concealment AUX Sniper System +1 to long and Extreme rolls for SLC AUX Stabilizer Mount Must stop and set for one action to use LFM AUX
Name Rating Game Effects Exposed Fire Control "Fire Control" hits are one step worse Exposed Auxiliary Sys "Aux" hits are one step worse Hazardous Ammo/Fuel S "Ammo/Fuel" hits are two steps worse Difficult to Modify -2 on Repair and Modify rolls
Pikeman APES has very peculiar history behind its development. Originally Pikeman was designed as a Ceremonial Guard unit, but as with anything else in Utopian society they gave it a practical use as well. As whole the Pikeman is one of the faster APESes, even though it has somewhat thicker armor than for example Constable APES. The primary armament of Pikeman is 12mm Hypervelocity Rifle (propably chosen for inside deep city in order to avoid collateral damage) and a Lance. A Five meter long sharpened pole decorated usually with units ceremonial banner, hence the name standard. Although the standard(lance) does not seem like an effective weapon, but in hands of an experienced armiger it can skewer any existing APES. Also Pikeman is armed with the "Rain of Flame" incediary weapon system, basically ten tube rocket launcher mounted between jumpjets on Pikemans back. The launcher itself is with loaded with ten 56mm airburst incendiary rockets capable of drenching couple hectares the ground with burning napalm. The Pikeman is usually awarded to an armiger as symbol of exemplary service, and there are never more that one Pikeman per given unit.
Name: Pikeman APES
Vehicle Type: Augmented Powered Environment Suit
Production Type: Limited Production
Cost: 705 000 PU
Manufacturer: Gizan Military Industries
Use: Combat / Ceremonial APES
Height: 3,66 meters
Length: --- meters
Width: 2,9 meters
Avg. Armor Thickness: 11,5 mm
Armor Material: Laminated Ceralloy
Standard Op. Weight: 950 kg
Primary Move Mode: Walker (30 kph)
Secondary Move Mode: ( kph)
Deployment Range: 150 km
Sensor Range: 2 km
Communication Range: 10 km
Powerplant: Fuel Cell / Batteries
Engine Output: 165 hp
Threat Value: 235
Offensive Value: 150
Defensive Value: 65
Miscellaneous Value: 488
Size: 4
Original Default Size: 6
Indv. Lemon Dice: 2
Crew: 1
Bonus Actions: 0
Primary Move Mode: Walker
Combat Speed: 3
Top Speed: 5
Maneuver: 0
Sensors: -1
Communications: -1
Fire Control: -1
Light Damage: 8
Heavy Damage: 16
Overkill: 24
Qty Name Code Arc ACC Damage Range ROF Ammo Special 1 Ceremonial Standard LN F -1 x13 0 /0 /0 /0 0 1 "Rain of Flame" IRP/10 FF -1 x13 1 /2 /4 /8 +1 10 Inc, IF, SlowBurn 1 12mm HyVel Rifle VLRF F 0 x6 2 /4 /8 /16 25 1 Reinforced frame CR F 0 x0 0 /0 /0 /0 0
Name Rating Game Effects AUX Airdroppable Can be airdropped HEP: Desert - HEP: Radiation.c 2 100 rads per hour Improved Off-Road - 1 MP cost, minimum 1 MP Jump Jets 2 Rating times 50m of jump capability AUX Limited Life Support Life support for 1 week AUX Manipulator Arm x2 3 Can punch Stealth 2 Add rating to Concealment AUX Reinforced Location A 2 Increase base armor by 2 at Crew
Name Rating Game Effects Annoyance Jump Jets negate stealth Exposed Auxiliary Sys "Aux" hits are one step worse Exposed Fire Control "Fire Control" hits are one step worse
Grasshopper Light APES is lightly armored and shielded recon APES meant for scouting areas where recon automatons cannot be used due ECM or other reasons. Grasshopper is common even outside Utopian militaries as it is cheap and fairly simple to maintain. This comes at the cost having low radiation protection equivalent of a common Rad Suit. Grasshoppers are somewhat common even among Wastrel gangs and Higglers, as their parts are easy to come by. Grasshopper is armed with 40mm Grenade launcher with pistol configuration and various grenades for dealing with more serious threats. Grasshoppers were originally produced by Independent Army as stopgap measure against then newly developed Man at Arms APES of Steelgate Military.
Name: Grasshopper Light APES
Vehicle Type: Augmented Powered Environment Suit
Production Type: Mass Produced
Cost: 85 000,00 local currency
Manufacturer: Various
Use: Scout
Height: 3,5 meters
Length: --- meters
Width: 2,7 meters
Avg. Armor Thickness: 5 mm
Armor Material: Ceraplate Armor
Standard Op. Weight: 400 kg
Primary Move Mode: Walker (36 kph)
Secondary Move Mode: ( kph)
Deployment Range: 250 km
Sensor Range: 2 km
Communication Range: 10 km
Powerplant: Fuel Cell / Batteries
Engine Output: 80 hp
Threat Value: 85
Offensive Value: 28
Defensive Value: 39
Miscellaneous Value: 187
Size: 2
Original Default Size: 4
Indv. Lemon Dice: 3
Crew: 1
Bonus Actions: 0
Primary Move Mode: Walker
Combat Speed: 3
Top Speed: 6
Maneuver: +1
Sensors: -1
Communications: -1
Fire Control: -1
Light Damage: 5
Heavy Damage: 10
Overkill: 15
Qty Name Code Arc ACC Damage Range ROF Ammo Special 1 40mm Grenade Launcher APGL F -1 x3 1 /2 /4 /8 6 AE0, AI, IF 2 Zapper Grenade HWG F -1 x10 0 /0 /0 /0 0 Hay, Dis 2 Hand Grenade HG F -1 x15 0 /0 /0 /0 0 AI, Dis 1 Vibro Claws VC F +1 x8 0 /0 /0 /0 0
Name Rating Game Effects AUX Airdroppable Can be airdropped HEP: Desert - HEP: Radiation.c 1 10 rads per hour Jump Jets 3 Rating times 50m of jump capability AUX Improved Off-Road - 1 MP cost, minimum 1 MP Limited Life Support Life support for 1 week AUX Manipulator Arm x2 2 Can punch Stealth 1 Add rating to Concealment AUX
Name Rating Game Effects Annoyance Jumpjets negate stealth when used Annoyance Moving at top speed is very fatiquing to pilot Overheating Damage occurs if weapons or jump jets are overused Exposed Auxiliary Sys "Aux" hits are one step worse
Explorer is APES design that predates even the Constable APES. Explorer dates back to days when Utopians were re-emerging from their shelters and at that the design was called AHES or Augmented Hostile Environment Suit. With mass of nearly two tons the Explorer is definitely an obsolate piece of equipment, but still to the date no other has been able to beat the Explorer in simplicity, which makes it popular among Wastrel Gangs and Higgler Clans. Only recent and common modification to basic Explorer frame is inclusion of a shoulder mounted 9mm Chaingun, to fend of marauding Wastrel etc. The Explorer boast with radiation shielding equal to a common "Wasteland Oasis" vehicular shelter. In some respect the Explorer shares some design principles and technology with Concordat-Era HU-0124L Hardhat utility walker(built by Henerman Utility), which appears to have been used in practically every Concordat sponsored colony.
Name: Explorer APES
Vehicle Type: Augmented Hostile Environment Suit
Production Type: Mass Produced
Cost: 60 000,00 Local Currency
Manufacturer: Various
Use: Exploration
Height: 3,83 meters
Length: ---- meters
Width: 2,9 meters
Avg. Armor Thickness: 12,5 mm
Armor Material: Ceramic
Standard Op. Weight: 1750 kg
Primary Move Mode: Walker (18 kph)
Secondary Move Mode: ( kph)
Deployment Range: 200 km
Sensor Range: 2 km
Communication Range: 10 km
Powerplant: Fuel Cell
Engine Output: 190 hp
Threat Value: 96
Offensive Value: 22
Defensive Value: 55
Miscellaneous Value: 210
Size: 4
Original Default Size: 5
Indv. Lemon Dice: 3
Crew: 1
Bonus Actions: 0
Primary Move Mode: Walker
Combat Speed: 2
Top Speed: 3
Maneuver: -1
Sensors: -2
Communications: -2
Fire Control: -2
Light Damage: 9
Heavy Damage: 18
Overkill: 27
Qty Name Code Arc ACC Damage Range ROF Ammo Special 1 Engineering Chainsaw CS F 0 x9 0 /0 /0 /0 0 3 Demolition Packs HG F -1 x15 0 /0 /0 /0 0 AI, Dis 1 9mm Chaingun LMG FF 0 x3 1 /2 /4 /8 +4 100 AI
Name Rating Game Effects AUX HEP:Radiation.c 3 1000 rads per hour Easy to Modify +2 to Repair and Modify rolls HEP: Desert - Improved Off-Road - 1 MP cost, minimum 1 MP Limited Life Support Life support for 1 week AUX Manipulator Arm x2 4 Can punch
Name Rating Game Effects Annoyance Whole hulls resonates when chainsaw is used Exposed Auxiliary Sys "Aux" hits are one step worse HEAT Vulnerable 3 Subtract from Base Armor for HEAT attacks
"Hi, Brian. We've just finished the preliminary test with X-001. And boy it looks good. Anyway, before you go ballistic about the budget over-spending, I must tell you that the bugger is already up and running. We've thought of depositing it into some field unit to get some experience. The NNet and pilot needs it, not the expert system. Ahh... About the parameters you asked they are not on par with Utopian Battlefield AI, but it'll live. Currently it's about as bright as any rookie, but good news is that it can learn. Only minor gripe comes from our test pilot Minerva-Vb Nike-8631. She claims that AI is too slow to be effective. BTW check out the attached files and call back! PS: I want your opinion as officer, not as committee member!"
X-001 Auto-Frame is a Type 16-6 derivative derivative design that combines battleframe structure with Utopian automation and NAI technology with Terran/Caprician learning NNets with reasonably good result. The system slaves Battle Frames body and learning NNet to pilot and an AI Expert system, this revolutionary three brain (GREL, AI and ONNet) design works reasonably well. And the propability of NNet picking up bad habits from GREL pilot is minimal. The design team is toying with idea of building either a Battle Frame NNet training NAI or a compleletely automated Battle Frame. Usually the Minerva-Vb GREL operates the battleframe leaving the control of Octopus pack and drones to AI and its automation. In low-threat situation pilot may leave control of the Frame itself for AI and concentrate on teleoperating the drones.
Name: Type X-001 Auto-Frame
Vehicle Type: Battle Frame
Production Type: Early Prototype
Cost: 137 635 000 CCE
Manufacturer: Moscow Heavy Industries / Utopian Division
Use: Prototype of Automated Battle Frame
Height: 4,6 meters
Length: ---- meters
Width: 3,5 meters
Avg. Armor Thickness: 22mm
Armor Material: Ceramite Composite
Standard Op. Weight: 7020 kg
Primary Move Mode: Walker (48 kph)
Secondary Move Mode: Hover (126 kph)
Deployment Range: 250 km
Sensor Range: 3 km
Communication Range: 12 km
Powerplant: Gas Turbine
Engine Output: 2 * 725 hp
Threat Value: 2 949
Offensive Value: 3 196
Defensive Value: 362
Miscellaneous Value: 5 288
Size: 6
Original Default Size: 14
Indv. Lemon Dice: 1
Crew: 2
Bonus Actions: 2
Primary Move Mode: Walker
Combat Speed: 4
Top Speed: 8
Secondary Move Mode: Hover
Combat Speed: 11
Top Speed: 21
Maneuver: 0
Sensors: +1
Communications: +1
Fire Control: +1
Light Damage: 13
Heavy Damage: 26
Overkill: 39
Qty Name Code Arc ACC Damage Range ROF Ammo Special 1 Heavy Laser Cannon HLC F +1 x20 5 /10 /20 /40 20 DpRB-3 1 Anti-Ground Vehicle Msl AGM F +1 x15 3 /6 /12 /24 10 Guid, IF 3 Haywire Grenade HWG F -1 x10 0 /0 /0 /0 0 Hay, Dis
Name Rating Game Effects AUX Advanced Neural Net +1 to Man, for one action in the beginning of turn Artificial Intelligen 1 Acts as 1 Crew (of level 1 skill) Automation 2 Acts as 2 crew HEP: Desert - HEP: Radiation.c 2 100 rads per hour Manipulator Arm x2 6 Can punch Urban Friendly - Target Designator 3 Designates targets for guided weapons AUX Reinforced Armor 5 F Arc; add to base armor Trideo Link-Up Used for Dueling AUX
Name Rating Game Effects Difficult to Modify -2 on Repair and Modify rolls Inefficient Combat Co -1 to attack roll for every weapon fired above one Unstable -1 to all piloting rolls at Top Speed in (or entering) >1 Vulnerable to Haywire Haywire gets 3 rolls on damage tables. Man. Flaw -3 Hover reduced in maneuver.
Name Rating Game Effects Defective Fire Contro 1 Die roll against rating, subtract rating from FC if fail Annoyance Flaw Prone minor but frustrating software glitches Structural Weakness -1 maneuvering
| APAGear II Archives | Volume 4, Number 5 | July, 2002 |
Heavy Gear is © 2002, Dream Pod 9, Inc. All rights reserved. APAGear is not affiliated with Dream Pod 9 in any way. Submitted material remains the property of the creator.