APOLLO
OverviewWhen the ilKhan announced Phase III of Project Quicksilver, it was met with a wide range of emotions amongst the various Clans. Some, more traditional and conservative Clans, reacted with bitter anger and promises of Trial after Trial to kill the concept. Others were neutral, but some were enthusiastic over the possibilities that presented themselves.
Khan Tyler of Clan Ice Hellion in particular wanted desperately to add a new OmniVehicle to his Touman. The Hellion Flurry concept was proving itself as a viable option and he wanted to give his Warriors (second-line though they may be) a flexible and capable design worthy of the Hellions.
With the opening competition for an Attack VTOL/Gunship, Tyler saw his opportunity. He directed his Scientists to turn their efforts towards the creation of an Omni-VTOL that could serve the Hellions well.
Troubles immediately arose. The Hellions had no experience in designing such a vehicle and the first weeks of computer modeling and simulations resulted in abject failures. Frustrated, Tyler turned to the historians of the Clans (Clan Goliath Scorpion) for assistance.
Although the Scorpions were not interested in contributing to Phase III, Tyler offered to take upon the Hellions a portion of the Scorpion debt to the Diamond Sharks in exchange for a
working base concept which his Scientists could then put into production.
It was an offer that Khan Suvorov simply could not refuse.
Opening their databases, the Scorpions studied every known VTOL design of the Star League, the Terran Hegemony, the five Great Houses, the minor Houses of the Periphery, and even the ancient helicopters of the 20th and 21st Century used by the Terran Alliance.
After much internal debate, the Scorpions presented Khan Tyler with their selection: an Omni-VTOL based upon the SLDF
Ripper, although 50% heavier in tonnage.
Still rather small at just 15-tons, the Scorpions noted that this vehicle would require just a single Warrior as crew . . . a feature which greatly appealed to Khan Tyler and his Hellion Warriors. The new design would use the Omni 70 Fusion Engine of the original SLDF model; while not quite as speedy as the original, it was faster than any other existing Clan VTOL, with a cruise speed of 118.8 kilometers per hour and a flank speed of 183.6 kph, which once again met the expectations of the Hellion Warriors.
Armor remained at a mere two tons, but this was sufficient to provide enough protection on the sides and rear to resist a strike from a Clan Medium Laser. Meanwhile, the nose featured enough plating to stop a direct hit from a Gauss Rifle or a Clan ER PPC. The rotors remained vulnerable, but this was a problem with all VTOL designs.
The elimination of the troop bay and increase in tonnage also allowed for the inclusion of six tons of pod-space for weapons and equipment--fully 40% of the vehicle's tonnage!
Code-named
Apollo (after the Greek God who included in his lengthy portfolio the title of God of Archery), the design was accepted by the Hellions . . . who were then forced by reality to come to the realization that they did not produce any of the components (not the frame, not the engine, not the electronics) that the vehicle required.
In desperation, Khan Tyler turned to Khan Fletcher of Clan Hell's Horses. The Herd had long used the SLDF
Ripper, even after the adoption of the
Donar and
Anhur VTOLs. Indeed, this venerable design (albeit unarmed) remained in limited production for the Horse
civilian castes where it serves as a flying ambulance and fast courier.
Intrigued by the proposal, Khan Fletcher demanded the right to produce the design herself; in return, she would provide the electronics from the
Donar as well as a supply of the Type II 70 Fusion engines that the Hellions needed.
Tyler was dismayed by this demand, especially when he realized that if the
Apollo was successful, the Horses would put it in full production at their Kirin Armory Plant 4 . . . capable of producing more than three times the annual production of the largest Hellion plant that Tyler had considered converting. Even so, the Hellion Khan knew that his Touman needed the design, so made Fletcher a counter-offer.
The Horses would submit the design and have full and exclusive production rights. However, the Hellions would have the right to purchase the first 15% of each annual production at cost in perpetuity. And would receive full credit as the architects of the design (the Scorpion involvement was not mentioned by Tyler) in the event that the
Apollo was successful in winning the competition.
An amused Khan Fletcher agreed, and the
Apollo was born.
Apollo
Mass: 15 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Motive Type: VTOL OmniVehicle
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E
Production Year: 3052
Cost: 365,625 C-Bills
Battle Value: 135
Power Plant: Type II 70 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 118.8 km/h
Flanking Speed: 183.6 km/h
Armor: Compound A2F Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
6.0 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Kirin
Primary Factory: Kirin Armory Plant 4
Communications System: Unit 2J "Boxer"
Targeting and Tracking System: HT9 TTS
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 10 points 1.50
Engine: Fusion Engine 70 3.00
Cruise MP: 11
Flank MP: 17
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Control Equipment: 1.00
Lift Equipment: 1.50
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 38 2.00
Armor
Factor
Front 15
Left/Right 7/7
Rear 7
Rotor 2 CapabilitiesThe Scorpion design for the new
Apollo featured the same single-pilot/gunner cockpit of the SLDF
Ripper, the same 70-rate Standard Fusion Engine, and the same main/tail rotor assembly. The troop bay was eliminated and the frame lengthened, with space beneath the cockpit left open for the inclusion of up to six tons of weapons, munitions, and equipment.
Upon receiving the schematics from the Hellions, Horse Scientists were worried that the design might be too nose-heavy; however, computer simulations showed that by altering the location of the engine and the fuel tanks (moving the engine and rotors almost a meter to the rear) would correct this potential problem and the chassis was modified before the first unit had begun assembly.
Rather than re-use the ancient SLDF communications and targeting systems, the Horses instead fitted the
Apollo with the Unit 2J "Boxer" comm array and the HT9 TTS targeting and tracking system, both acquired from the local
Donar assembly line.
Likewise, the Horses simply redirected ferro-fibrous armor plating (Compound A2F) from the same production facility, reducing the overall bulk of the
Apollo even further by using the modern Clan armor instead of first-generation SLDF ferro-fibrous.
Already in limited production for civilian use, the Type II 70 Fusion engine was exactly the same as that used by the SLDF
Ripper. Early simulations and the first flight tests showed that the computer modeling was indeed accurate and the
Apollo proved to be faster than the
Fire Moth OmniMech (without the OmniMech activating MASC, that is).
Maneuverability and agility was actually improved by the lengthened fuselage and the addition of two 'snub' wings on the right and left sides. Intended for carrying external stores (such as single-shot rocket pods), the
Apollo was rather limited in how much additional weaponry the frame could bear. However, these 'winglets' gave Horse Scientists ample space to include hand-holds, mag-locks, and power connectors for Elemental Warriors to ride outside the chassis . . . two per side. A fifth (rather precarious) such perch was included at the rear, just beneath the tail rotor. Due to the danger inherent to this location, it is usually the Point Commander who rides there.
Six tons are available for weapons, sensors, and munitions bins within the forward (indeed, only) Omni-weapons bay.
ConfigurationsThe
Apollo Prime is armed with a Large Pulse Laser. Accurate, hard-hitting, and with a good range, this weapon allows even the Second-line Warriors of a Flurry to give a good accounting of themselves.
Configuration A replaces the Large Pulse Laser with a longer-ranged ER Large Laser and two additional hit sinks. Less accurate, the
Apollo A is generally assigned only to veteran or elite Warriors who are capable of consistently hitting their targets at even the most extreme range.
Configuration B is armed with four LRM-5 missile racks, supplied by two tons of ammunition (48 total missile salvos; for a total of 12 quad salvos). Although capable (potentially) of inflicting twice the damage of either the Prime or A Configurations, the
Apollo B's damage tends to spread and is not concentrated in a single area.
Configuration C sacrifices range for increased sensor resolution and ECM coverage. Equipment consists of an Active Probe, an ECM Suite, and a TAG system for designated targets for artillery and bomb strikes. Weaponry consists of just two ER Medium Lasers; however, these lasers are tied into a one-ton Targeting Computer for maximum accuracy.
Finally, the
Apollo D is rather unusual. The sole weapon is an LB-2X autocannon with one ton of ammunition (45 bursts of cluster ammunition is specified, although slug can be used in an emergency). The extremely low damage potential detracts many Warriors from this configuration; it most be noted, however, that no other Clan (or Inner Sphere) weapon fielded to date has the reach of the LB-2X. Able to exploit a greater range than any other weapon system, the
Apollo D excels at harassing an enemy from ranges greater than they can reply to . . . a fact which infuriates many Clan opponents, although not (quite) a breach of
zellbrigen. Combined with the high speed and agility of the design, the
Apollo D is often assigned to newly promoted Hellion Warriors to teach the Warrior the value of patience . . . a value that too few Hellions accept, but one that is vital for a lighter combat vehicle to win against a heavier foe.
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Loadout Name: Prime Cost: 693,750
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 819
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
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Large Pulse Laser FR 10 1 6.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 1 Points: 8
11 2 2 2 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, ENE
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Loadout Name: A Cost: 748,125
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 775
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 12 2.00
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser FR 12 1 4.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 1 Points: 8
11 1 1 1 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, ENE
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Loadout Name: B Cost: 650,625
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 739
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 LRM-5s FR 8 4 4.00
@LRM-5 (48) BD - 0 2.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 1 Points: 7
11 0 0 0 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, LRM 1/1/1, IF 1
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Loadout Name: C Cost: 1,528,125
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 908
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe FR 0 1 1.00
ECM Suite FR 0 1 1.00
TAG FR 0 1 1.00
2 ER Medium Lasers FR 10 2 2.00
Targeting Computer BD - 1 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 1 Points: 9
11 2 2 0 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, ECM, TAG, ENE
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Loadout Name: D Cost: 650,175
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 272
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LB 2-X AC FR 1 1 5.00
@LB 2-X (Cluster) (45) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 1 Points: 3
11 1 1 1 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASEDeploymentClan Hell's Horses has produced a full Trinary of
Apollo Omni-VTOLs. Retaining a Star for their own testing, they have presented the ilKhan with the second, and given the third (without charge) to the Hellions. Field testing by the Ebon Keshik, the Ice Hellions, and the Hell's Horses have revealed that this vehicle is quite deadly when an experienced Warrior is at the controls. It is, on the other hand, incredibly fragile, albeit that is somewhat offset by the relatively inexpensive nature of this combat unit.
Author
Topic: Quicksilver Program #30: Clan Helicopter Gunship (Read 15304 times)