THIRD INVID WAR: NEW REF VERITECHS Next Previous Top Index
The following material is an adaptation of mecha from the Japanese TV series GENESIS CLIMBER MESOPEADEA, (which became the latter third of 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.

CONDOR Mk II
MULTI-PURPOSE DESTROID

RPG Stats by ROB DALEY (rdaley@wave-net.net)
Background info provided by the ROBOTECH TECHINCAL FILES
Format by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mcs.net)

BACKGROUND

For some time, the REF planners had considered building a mecha with mobility not unlike that of the Glaug: very fast and reasonable jump/hover capabilities. Also, this mecha would have the firepower of a Glaug, as well as Destroid level armor. This mecha would then serve as the primary fast strike mecha of the REF.

A solution to the specifications was sought by re-using the existing frame of one of the newer, smaller Destroids. The first choice was the Gladiator, but this design effort was halted after a few months, as there was no conceivable way in which additional mobility could be added to a Destroid without unacceptable degradations in armor and armament levels. Then, the design team turned toward a Veritech frame, under the assumption that adding armor to an already highly mobile Battloid would be easier than decreasing armor on a Destroid. However, the VF-4 frame was unsuited for the increased mass deemed necessary, the VF-1 Battloid too old and in the process of leaving the service, and the VAX canceled; and thus, more by necessity than by suitability, the Alpha frame was chosen as the conversion starting point. However, the development of the Z2 Battlepod, as well as the newer armor plating which enhanced Veritech Battloid survivability some, caused the project to be suspended during its definition phase.

During the taking of Tirol, however, the REF was once again opposed by mecha with far superior mobility: namely, the Invid Scouts and Troopers. As the REF troops were unprepared to fight an air-mobile army, initial losses were quite high. Consequently, a crash program was started to equip the REF Armies with more mobile mecha, and the cavalry mecha project was re-activated.

The result was the Condor Mobile Battloid. The Condor emerged as a Battloid with limited hover and flight capabilities. Despite the use of a main engine package virtually identical to that in the VAF-6A Alpha the added armor and limited airflow made sustained hover impossible, and for longer deployments the Condor would resort to jumping across ground obstacles.

Outwardly, this mecha could be recognized as an descendant of the Alpha by the general hull structure, the large aft-placed cockpit module, the intakes located on the chest and (now unused) auxiliary engine bulges in the arms. However, the central chest and head area were completely remodeled, and ended up not unlike the face area of the Quaedluun-Rau Power Armor. In action however, the Condor ended up more often than not as a recon Battloid, and was equipped with a snout-like sensor pod, which is mounted on the faceplate. The armor that was added made the Condor's mass was significantly increased, although the total protection did not come near to the standard for Earth Destroids.

The armament philosophy was completely renewed, as the Condor could not mount the full missile armament of the Alpha. The number of missiles was only about two-thirds of what the Alpha carried. The cannon armament, however, was far superior to the GU-13 on the early Alphas. The right arm carried the EP-12, an enormous tri-barreled particle beam gun.

Operationally, the Condor suffered drawback after drawback. Most importantly, the REF adopted new tactics to deal with the Invid mecha. This was started by the observation that the Alphas and Betas were far better in aerial combat than their Invid counterparts, and that the Destroids with their heavy armaments and superb battlefield staying power far outclassed the Invid mecha on the ground. Thus, the REF adopted a combined-weapons tactic, which pitted the Invid against each Earth mecha type on its most favorable terms. For instance, Alphas no longer served Infantry duty in Battloid mode unless absolutely necessary, to the great relief of the Air Force pilots. (It should be noted, however, that the REF Marines were a significant exception to this rule, earning a reputation for piloting the Alpha like a mobile Destroid with enormous - indeed, inexplicable - success.) Likewise, the Destroids were not pitted against Invid in terrain where the Invid's mobility was of overwhelming importance, such as in mountain ranges. This change re-balanced the scales in favor of the REF before the first production runs of the Condor had returned from their first combat deployments. Another reason for its woes was the lineage of the Condor. Being a descendant of the Alpha battloid design, the Condor remained mediocre at ground combat, where the Destroids outclassed them. Thus, casualty rates in Condor units were always higher than in Destroid or Veritech units, due to the fact that the Condor was not armored enough to withstand an attack like a Destroid, and not mobile enough to evade it like a true aerial mecha. With an uneasy eye on the numerical balance, the REF High Command decided to stop the envisioned massive deployment of these Destroids until a fully satisfactory design could be produced. The Condors were then used for adversary training, and for recon operations, and by the REF Marines as an air cavalry mecha.

Consequently, many Condors were sent with the REF units in the relief missions to the Southern Cross, in the hopes that the mecha would be more useful on the home planet than in the Tirolian sectors. Ironically, though, most of these arrived too late in Earthspace, and eventually found themselves mothballed on the moon, to be reactivated to fight the Regis's Invid during the occupation. Very few Condors survive from those dark days.

RPG STATS

Model Types:
Condor Mk I: Prototype/Experimental model using the REF Gladiator frame.
Condor Mk II: Two-man multi-purpose enhanced mobility Destroid.
Class: Destroid Condor MBR-12 Mk II
Manufacturer: REF/Tirolian Shipyards
Crew: One Pilot and one Communications Engineer.
MDC BY LOCATION: 
(1) Sensor Pod                                     75
    Hands (2)                                      50 each
    Forearms/Missile Pods (2)                      50 each
    Shoulders/Missile Pods (2)                     70 each
    Legs, Upper (2)                               110 each
    Lower Legs/Thrusters/Missile Pods (2)         120 each
(2) Main Body                                     300
    EP-12 Gun Pod                                  75
    Reinforced Crew Compartment                   150
(3) Telementry Record System                       75

NOTES:

  1. Destroying the sensor pod will destroy all advanced sensors and cause penalties of -2 to strike, parry and dodge.
  2. Depleting the MDC of the main body will shut down the mecha, rendering it useless.
  3. To destroy the telementry record system, 80% percent of the mecha must be destroyed (including the main body, shoulders, the reinforced crew compartment and sensor pod) and with a 75% chance that afterwards it cannot be found. Only REF Communication Engineers know 100% where the telementry system is hidden in the mecha. (Note if the Reinforced crew compartment is removed there is a 75% chance that the system was located there, early Condors had the system located the in mecha elsewhere).

SPEEDS:

RUNNING:
114.7 mph (185 kmph).
JUMPING:
984 ft (300 m) without thrusters. 1968 ft (600 m) withs thrusters.
LEAPING:
30 ft (9 m) high or 50 ft (15.2 m) long without thrusters. 60 ft (18 m) high or 100 ft (30.4 m) long with thrusters.
FLYING:
217 mph (350 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere up to 328.1 ft (100m). Can also hover in place for 1 1/2 minutes up to 328.1 ft (100m). (Note: Fight in space is too awkward without a booster pack.)
FLYING, (BOOSTER PACK):
347.2 mph (560 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere up to 328.1 ft (100m). Can also hover in place for 4 minutes up to 328.1 ft (100m).
FLYING, SPACE (BOOSTER PACK):
567.5 mph (915.38 kmph).

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT: 26.9 ft (8.2 m)
WIDTH: 16.4 ft (5.0 m)
LENGTH: 17.71 ft (5.4 m)
WEIGHT: 28.33 tons (25,700 kg)
PHYSICAL STRENGTH: Equal to a P.S. of 50
CARGO:
Small 24" x 24" x 12" compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings.
POWER PLANT:
2 x RRL-2P Miniaturized Protoculture-cell energizer using 16 cells have a life of 250 hours of constant use. An optional external booster engine pod can be attached to the back. The two PSE7C reaction engines in the pod are rated to 112 kN each, but can only be fired for 4 minutes before fuel burnout. Typically, this pod was employed when the mecha was used for fast raids.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. MM-52 MULTI-MISSILE SYSTEM: The Condor's missile system was developed from the highly acclaimed Alpha MM-60 Missile system. 8 missiles are located in each shoulder, 10 in each arm, and 8 in each leg.

  2. EP-12 80mm TRI-BARREL GUN POD: This is the primary weapon of the Condor able to fire 240 rounds per minute. The barrels can be fired in sequence, or in one full power burst, with a rate of fire of 80 salvos per minute.

  3. HAND TO HAND COMBAT:If necessary, the pilot of the Condor can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The Condor 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 CONDOR:

COMBAT BONUSES FOR Mk II CONDOR TRAINING:

BASIC DESTROID COMBAT TRAINING

ADVANCED CONDOR COMBAT TRAINING

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

THIRD INVID WAR: NEW REF VERITECHS Next Previous Top Index