Nike
Overview:
Although thoroughly annoyed when Khan Natasha Kerensky of Clan Wolf attempted to steal the name of their newest OmniVehicle design (Nike) in the previous Hovertank competition, the leaders of Clan Hell's Horses decided against launching a punitive campaign . . . especially in light of the defeat of the Wolf's faux-Nike. Instead, this Clan devoted an immense amount of resources to completing the development and production of 'their' Nike light strike tank.
Capabilities:
Part of a project some twenty years in development, the Horse Nike concept was based on the need for a fast-moving, dependable, rugged tracked vehicle that would complement the front-line OmniMechs of the Herd. Using the basic chassis of the 30-ton Badger C as a starting point, the Clan resculpted the exterior, sloping the front armor and removing some of the 'blocky' feel. In place of the cargo compartment at the rear of the earlier design, Horse Scientists instead fitted a one-ton remotely operated unmanned turret.
Borrowing the Fusion 180 powerplant from existing production lines for the Ku Wheeled Assault Tank, the new Nike promised to deliver an exceptional turn of speed for a tracked vehicle: a cruise speed of 64.8 kilometers per hour and a flank speed of 97.2 kph. The engine was fitted to the forward right quarter of the tank . . . with the two-man crew (consisting of a vehicle commander/gunner and a driver) seated to the left.
This extremely small crew (for a Clan combat vehicle) allowed Clan Hell's Horses to experiment with assigning only one Warrior to the Nike. Serving as vehicle commander and gunner, the Warrior leaves the details of driving the vehicle to the civilian caste (typically a Technician) driver as he concentrates his attention on the sensors and operating the weapon systems.
Determined to aid the sole Warrior as best they could, the Horses installed a Pathfinder-series Active Probe within the turret as part of the vehicle's fixed equipment. Combined with the Series XL FWS targeting & tracking array and Build 1700/5 Tacticom communications system (both already in use on the Epona Pursuit Tank), the addition of the Pathfinder provides the Warrior with a crystal-clear image of the battlefield.
Five tons of VM20 Compound Ferro-Fibrous armor plating (also coming from the Epona manufacturing lines) provide solid, if not exceptional, protection to the Nike. The front, turret, and both flanks are armored well enough to stop the penetration of a single Class 20 autocannon strike; the rear is the weakest point and even there the Nike can absorb two Inner Sphere Large Laser hits without suffering internal penetration.
Of course, this combination of speed and armor (as well as the fixed Active Probe and one-ton of mass devoted to the turret) did not leave much room for weapons and equipment. A meager 8.0 tons remained for pod-space.
The Horses, however, deemed that as adequate and have worked hard to produce a number of configurations that use every single gram to the best effect.
Configurations
The Nike Prime is armed with a hard-hitting and extremely accurate Clan Large Pulse Laser as the primary weapon system. A single five-tube LRM launcher (with 24 missile salvoes) is the sole secondary weapon.
Configuration A instead mounts an ER Large Laser as the main gun, tied into a one-ton Targeting Computer. An ECM Suite provides the Nike A and the other vehicles of the assigned point and star with electronic warfare coverage.
Configuration B features two ER Medium Lasers and a TAG target-designation system for directing on-call artillery fire. In addition, two four-tube Streak SRM launchers have been added to increase short-range firepower; 25 missile salvoes are stored within the remote turret. For Trials when artillery has not been bid, there is a separate sub-configuration (B-2) that replaces the TAG with two Machine-Guns and a half-ton of ammunition (100 bursts).
Configuration C is reminiscent of the Epona Prime. Three Medium Pulse Lasers are the only weapons carried.
There are two versions of Configuration D: the D-1 and D-2. Both carry an ER Medium Laser and two Machine-Guns (with a half-ton of ammo for 100 bursts). The D-1 also carries an LB-2X autocannon with 45 bursts of fire, while the D-2 instead mounts an Ultra AC-2 autocannon with 45 bursts of fire. The D-1 sees use primarily as an Air Defense vehicle, while the D-2 was intended to serve as a long-range Tank Destroyer . . . however, in practice, both D Configurations are viewed very skeptically by even the most zealous of Horse Warriors.
Configuration E features an ER Medium Laser, an Anti-Missile System (with 24 bursts of flechettes) for added defenses, and a ten-tube LRM launcher with Artemis IV Fire-Control Systems (with 24 salvoes of missiles). Much like the D Configuration, the Nike E is not much favored by Warriors of the Herd because of the (relatively) low damage profile of the weapon systems.
Nike
Mass: 30 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Motive Type: Tracked OmniVehicle
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E
Production Year: 3052
Cost: 1,153,750 C-Bills
Battle Value: 344
Power Plant: Fusion 180 180 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 64.8 km/h
Flanking Speed: 97.2 km/h
Armor: Compound VM20 Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
8.0 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Niles Industriplex Alpha
Primary Factory: Niles
Communications System: Build 1700/5 Tacticom
Targeting and Tracking System: Series XL FWS
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 15 points 3.00
Engine: Fusion Engine 180 10.50
Cruise MP: 6
Flank MP: 9
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Control Equipment: 1.50
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Turret: 1.00
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 96 5.00
Armor
Factor
Front 20
Left/Right 20/20
Turret 20
Rear 16
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
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Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 3
6 0 0 0 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, ENE
================================================================================
Loadout Name: Prime Cost: 1,516,875
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 834
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
Large Pulse Laser T 10 1 6.00
LRM-5 T 2 1 1.00
@LRM-5 (24) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 8
6 2 2 2 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, CASE
================================================================================
Loadout Name: A Cost: 1,826,500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 880
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 12 2.00
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
ER Large Laser T 12 1 4.00
ECM Suite T 0 1 1.00
Targeting Computer BD - 1 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 9
6 2 2 2 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, ECM, ENE
================================================================================
Loadout Name: B-1 Cost: 1,841,500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 920
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
2 ER Medium Lasers T 10 2 2.00
TAG T 0 1 1.00
2 Streak SRM-4s T 6 2 4.00
@Streak SRM-4 (25) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 9
6 3 3 0 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, TAG, CASE
================================================================================
Loadout Name: B-2 Cost: 1,777,000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 935
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
2 ER Medium Lasers T 10 2 2.00
2 Streak SRM-4s T 6 2 4.00
2 Machine Guns T 0 2 0.50
@Streak SRM-4 (25) BD - 0 1.00
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 9
6 3 3 0 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, CASE
================================================================================
Loadout Name: C Cost: 1,452,750
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 843
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 12 2.00
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
3 Medium Pulse Lasers T 12 3 6.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 8
6 3 3 0 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, ENE
================================================================================
Loadout Name: D-1 Cost: 1,547,550
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 601
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
LB 2-X AC T 1 1 5.00
ER Medium Laser T 5 1 1.00
2 Machine Guns T 0 2 0.50
@LB 2-X (Cluster) (45) BD - 0 1.00
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 6
6 2 1 1 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, CASE
================================================================================
Loadout Name: D-2 Cost: 1,496,500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 626
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
Ultra AC/2 T 1 1 5.00
ER Medium Laser T 5 1 1.00
2 Machine Guns T 0 2 0.50
@Ultra AC/2 (45) BD - 0 1.00
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 6
6 2 1 1 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, CASE
================================================================================
Loadout Name: E Cost: 1,893,250
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E BV2: 807
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Probe T 0 1 1.00
ER Medium Laser T 5 1 1.00
Anti-Missile System T 1 1 0.50
LRM-10 T 4 1 2.50
Artemis IV FCS T - 0 1.00
@Anti-Missile System (24) BD - 0 1.00
@LRM-10 (Artemis) (24) BD - 0 2.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 8
6 2 2 1 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, AMS, CASE, IF 1
Deployment:
Khan Fletcher instructed Clan Scientists, Technicians, Merchants, and Laborers to build five full Trinary of Nikes in anticipation of the Quicksilver Trials. Although many within the Clan believed that such a goal would be impossible to be achieved, the one hundred and fiftieth Nike was delivered the day before the scheduled start of the Trials.
One full Trinary was handed over the Ebon Keshik for testing, while examples of the design were delivered to Clans Blood Spirit, Burrock, Diamond Shark, Ice Hellion, Star Adder, and Wolf for their own Warriors to evaluate.
The remaining three Trinary were all assigned to the two Horse Command Keshiks as well as the Clusters of the Horse Alpha Galaxy. In an exception to normal Horse deployment doctrine, Khan Fletcher ordered these three Trinary to be paired with an equal number of Elemental Stars, forming permanent Nova groups of ten Nikes and fifty Elementals. This change in formation removed the Conventional Infantry normally assigned to combat vehicles of the Herd and was based on the ability of the Elemental Infantry to deploy from the exterior of the Nike as mechanized battle-armor riders.
Fast-moving, and capable of delivering a punch all out of proportion to their light-weight nature, these Nike/Elemental Novas have been eagerly incorporated into the Horse Touman.
As a side note, the decades of testing and simulations of the design have resulted in a final vehicle product that has remarkably few unforeseen 'gremlins' and 'glitches' in the operating systems. Early reports from the Ebon Keshik indicate that the vehicles assigned to them for testing have maintained an almost unprecedented 97.7% operational readiness rate.
Clan Reaction
Many of the Khans were at first taken aback by the Horse submission; after all, they asked, had not the ilKhan requested a design for a medium- or heavy-weight Combat OmniVehicle? But the Nike, able to match speed with the famed Stormcrow so many Clans use as their medium-weight backbone, and possessing both decent firepower and good armor protection rapidly won over many of the detractors. The speed caused some within the leadership of Clan Goliath Scorpion to remark that the new design was the modern equivalent of the saber-wielding Hussars of old . . . and their legendary elan. And for the Horses themselves, Khan Fletcher asked simply this: what was a Strike Tank? A massive slow-moving pillbox stuffed with weapons, or something which could be used rapidly on an ever-shifting battlefield? Certainly, the term itself seemed to almost demand a faster-paced vehicle able to meet or exceed the most common heavy- and medium-weight 'Mech speeds.
And the low cost in resources (even the most expensive Nike configuration costs less than one-seventh the acquisition value of a Stormcrow Prime!!) ensured that every Clan could afford to purchase or build entire Stars and Trinary formations of the new Light Strike Tank for the same cost as a handful of high-end medium-weight OmniMechs!
Furthermore, the decision by Clan Hell's Horses to return to a simple and more elegant chassis design (based in large part on the armored fighting vehicles of the early 21st Century) has created pangs of envy within many other Clans. The sleek, smoothly sloped exterior (lacking many of the extraneous features commonly seen on modern combat vehicles) gives the Nike a deadly appearance that even the most ardent anti-vehicle Clan cannot help but admire.
With the noted exception of Clans Smoke Jaguar and Jade Falcon, all of the Khans have requested a point of 'demonstration models' from the Horses so that their Clans might undertake their own evaluation. It is unknown at this time whether or not Khan Fletcher will agree to such requests.
Author
Topic: Quicksilver Program #34: Clan Strike Tank (Tracked) (Read 9899 times)