Macross Mecha DesignsPrevious | Next | Index The following material is an adaptation of mecha from MACROSS DIGITAL MISSION VF-X, a video game for the Sony Playstation based on the original Japanese MACROSS TV series (which became Robotech here in the U.S.). Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. All I ask is that you give proper credit to me and do not claim that it is your own work. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

FZ-150 PHEYOS
ADVANCED VARIABLE FIGHTER

(Version 0.9 - Last Updated: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:59:00 PST)
RPG Stats by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mcs.net)
Background info provided by the MACROSS ONLINE COMPENDIUM

BACKGROUND

In 2047 during the Operation Orpheus rescue mission VF pilots stationed aboard the UN Spacy special forces scout Valhalla III encountered a previously unknown variable mecha design possessing tremendous speed and agility. The new fighter was defeated (barely) in the final battle of the Orpheus campaign by the Valhalla III's ace VF pilot flying a VF-19A Excalibur advanced variable fighter (AVF). Despite the victory the appearance of an enemy AVF greatly concerned UN Spacy military specialists. The fighter seemed to combine many elements of terran, zentraedi, and varuta technology into one devastatingly powerful design, and possibly indicated an alliance between renegade zentraedi and surviving varuta forces following the Protodeviln's defeat on their icy homeworld in the Varuta system. The wreckage of the enemy AVF was quickly collected and shipped back to Earth for analysis, where the design was named FZ-150 Pheyos by UN Spacy intelligence.

The FZ-150 definitely appears to be a variant of the FBz-99 Zaubergeran, which is itself based on technology stolen from the UN Spacy's now-obsolete VAB-2 Fighter/Bomber. Beyond the obvious similarity in body styling, examination of the wreckage of the FZ-150 recovered by Valhalla III has shown numerous components and electronics that were taken directly from the FBz-99 design. However, the Pheyos also seems to combine Varuta technology with Zentraedi overtechnology and modern UN Spacy military technology. For example, the inertia vector control system used by the FZ-150 is very reminiscent of that used in the Zentraedi Quimeliquola Quaedlunn-Rau (Female Combat Armor) battlesuit. Even more remarkable is that the FZ-150 appears to have been equipped with a brain control system similar to that used on the YF-21 "Omega One" Prototype from Project Super Nova. The system was badly damaged in the Pheyos wreckage recovered by Valhalla III, and attempts to determine whether the system was in fact a variant of the YF-21's design or the product of protoculture overtechnology is inconclusive. To UN Spacy Intelligence the implications of these discoveries are disturbing. It possibly indicates that remnants of the Varuta empire have joined renegade terran and zentraedi factions to form a new military force with a very high technological capability.

The new Pheyos sacrifices much of the weaponry of the older Zaubergeran in favor of greater speed and maneuverability. The FZ-150 mounts two powerful thermonuclear turbine engines similar to the FF-2550F design used on the VF-19 Excalibur. The engines have optional air intakes on the wing/shoulders of the mecha which allow the jets to perform equally well in atmosphere and in space. In addition, the FZ-150 contains over 20 high-maneuverability vernier jets positioned at key points along the wings and hull for added maneuverability. The arm-mounted pulse cannons of the FBz-99 are preserved in the FZ-150, and the Pheyos is also equipped with a spiritia absorption beam as are all standard Varuta mecha (though the pilot of the FZ-150 encountered by the Valhalla III never used this system for some reason). Most of the missile systems have been replaced with smaller banks mounted on the arms and legs of the mecha, as most of the main body of the Zaubergeran is occupied by the engines and avionics.

No FZ-150s have been encountered by UN Spacy forces since Operation Orpheus, but many questions about the design are still unanswered. Was the Pheyos developed during the UN Spacy/Varuta war of 2045-2046 and abandoned but later recovered by renegade Zentraedi, or are there unknown forces in the galaxy who are continuing the Varuta's research and building a new military force? The United World Government is taking the threat of the FZ-150 very seriously, and all UN Spacy military forces have explicit orders to report immediately if they encounter more Pheyos VFs anywhere in UN Spacy territory.

ANIME BACKGROUND

The above background for the FZ-150 is mostly non-canonical and was created by me to fill in the gaps in the fighter's background. Info on the fighter is fairly sketchy, which is not surprising considering that it only appears in Macross Digital Mission VF-X. In the real background, the fighter is named "Enemy Valkyrie" by the UN Spacy (gee, how original) and is a modified version of the VF-X-11 prototype variable fighter built in 2030. The prototype was stolen by former Zentraedi soldiers of the 63,254,109th Zentradi Outer Space Army during the Second Defensive Battle of Macross City, along with a fold booster. The Enemy Valkyrie is said to be a combination of UN Spacy and Zentraedi technology and has performance capabilities approximately equal to or exceeding the VF-19 Excalibur and VF-22 Sturmvogel. No mention is made of any relation to the Varuta FBz-99 Zaubergeran, despite the apparent similarities between the design. For more information consult the Enemy Variable Device entry in the Macross Compendium.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:
FZ-150 (Standard version)
Nickname: Enemy Valkyrie
Class: Advanced Variable Fighter (Prototype?)
Manufacturer: Unknown; probably Zentraedi or Varuta
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System

MDC BY LOCATION: 

    Head Sensor Antennae                           80
(1) Head                                          100
    Hands (2)                                      50 each
    Arms/Missile Launchers (2)                    100 each
(2) Shoulders/Engine Nacelles (2)                 180 each
    Legs/Missile Launchers (2)                    240 each
(3) Main Body                                     400
(4) Rear Fuselage/Engines                         250
    Wings (2)                                     160 each
    Reinforced Pilot Compartment/Escape Pod       150

NOTES:

  1. Destroying the head of the FZ-150 will knock out the mecha's main sensor systems, including all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, thermal). Backup sensor systems will provide standard vision for the pilot. Radar and communications will be unaffected, but the Spiritia Absorption Beam will be destroyed.
  2. Destroying a Shoulder/Engine Nacelle will knock out one of the FZ-150's main engines and reduce thrust/speed by 50%. The corresponding arm and wing will also be destroyed if the shoulder is knocked out. Destroying both shoulders will knock out the Zaubergeran's engines, leaving it adrift in space (or plummeting to earth).
  3. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha. The pilot may attempt to eject in the cockpit section/escape pod before the craft explodes, but the computer will NOT automatically eject the escape pod like UN Spacy mecha are designed to do.
  4. Destroying the rear fuselage will severely damage both of the Zaubergeran's engines. The FZ-150's overall thrust and speed will drop by 60% and the pilot will have a -4 penalty to dodge in flight.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
85 mph (136 kmph)
LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
20 ft (6 m) high or 30 ft (9 m) long without thrusters.
FLYING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
400 mph (640 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.
FLYING, GERWALK CONFIGURATION:
Mach One (670 mph/1072 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.
FLYING, FIGHTER CONFIGURATION:
Mach 3.8 (2546 mph/4074 kmph) max speed at 10,000 meters or less above sea level. Mach 5.4+ (4556 mph/7290 kmph) max speed at 10,000-30,000 meters above sea level. Mach 26.0+ (4.8 mps/7.8 kmps) max speed at 30,000+ meters above sea level for a maximum of 5 seconds. Cruising speed is usually Mach 4-5. The FZ-150 is fully transatmospheric and can attain orbit above an Earth-type planet without extra booster assistance. Maximum rate of ascent is 60,500 meters/minute. G limits are +65.0 to -48.0 standard Earth gravities.

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
75 ft (23.4 m) in soldier configuration.
45 ft (14.1 m) in gerwalk configuration.
13 ft (4.1 m) in fighter configuration.
WIDTH:
48 ft (15.0 m) at shoulders in soldier configuration.
97 ft (30.2 m) in gerwalk or fighter configuration with wings at maximum extension.
LENGTH:
32 ft (10.0 m) in soldier configuration.
78 ft (24.5 m) in gerwalk or fighter configuration.
WEIGHT:
28,000 kg (empty)

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 75
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. ARM-MOUNTED LASER PULSE CANNONS (2): Like the FBz-99, the FZ-150 does not use gun pods. Rather, the Pheyos is armed with two rapid-fire pulse lasers in the arms of the mecha. These cannons fire forward in fighter and gerwalk modes, or out of the palms of the mecha's hands in soldier mode.

  2. ANTI-AIRCRAFT PULSE LASERS (2): As backup for the arm cannons, the FZ-150 mounts two pulse laser on the forward part of the hull directly below and to either side of the cockpit. These lasers are primarily intended for use in air combat skirmishes and for defensive purposes and can be aimed up to a 60-degree angle from the front line of the mecha. The lasers can be fired in any mode.

  3. ARM-MOUNTED SHORT-RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHERS: Although the FZ-150 does not contain as many missiles as its FBz-99 cousin, the Pheyos is still armed with several missile launchers at key points along its hull. Two banks of missile launchers are mounted on the arms of the mecha just behind the wrists and pulse lasers. Each launcher has 5 tubes containing 4 missiles each (20 per arm) for a total of 40 short-range missiles altogether. The missiles can be fired in any mode.

  4. LEG-MOUNTED MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHERS: The legs of the FZ-150 also contain missile launchers like the arms do. The missile launchers on the legs of the mecha are somewhat similar to the ones used on the VF-19 Excalibur; the missiles remain concealed in the legs until armed, when the assemblies rise out of the legs to allow all missiles to be fired at once if necessary. Each launcher contains three medium-range missiles, for a total of 6 on the fighter. The missiles can be fired in any mode.

  5. SPIRITIA ABSORPTION BEAM: Like all Varuta mecha encountered to date, the FZ-150 is equipped with a Spiritia Absorption Beam. A product of Varuta spiritia technology, this energy beam is designed to drain the Spiritia from a humanoid and store it for later use. The Spiritia Absorption Beam projects a pencil-thin beam of energy that can penetrate ANY form of armor (even starship armor) without any deflection. Fortunately, the beam has a fairly short range and must be used in close combat. Furthermore, for the beam to have any effect it must strike the BRAIN of a victim; if it hits any other part of the body all the beam produces is a mild stinging sensation. For this reason the beam is usually only used after a target has been incapacitated or otherwise restrained.

    For more information on Spiritia, see the optional Spiritia rules for the Palladium RPG in these web pages. (coming soon)

  6. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the pilot of the FZ-150 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The varuta fighter is extremely agile and can execute most typical hand to hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc.

    DAMAGE:

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE FZ-150:

COMBAT BONUSES FOR PHEYOS FIGHTER TRAINING:

FZ-150 PHEYOS COMBAT TRAINING

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

Macross Mecha DesignsPrevious | Next | Index
DAVE DEITRICH http://www.mcs.net/~deitrich/index.html
deitrich@mcs.net