NEW REF WEAPONS AND BODY ARMOR
CONTENTS:
GALLANT 1000 MULTI-WEAPON SYSTEM
The Gallant 1000 Multi-Weapon System first began production in 2038 shortly before the beginning of the Third Invid War. The Gallant 1000 was the first weapon system designed by Tirolian Weapons Research (TWR), a new company recently started on Tirol by several ex-REF weapons researchers who retired from the service and started their own production company. Despite accusations of favoritism from several rival production firms (most notably the Kabarran National Weapons Factory), the Gallant 1000 proved to be an excellent weapon and quickly became the standard sidearm for the REF, replacing the aging Gallant H-90 system.
The Gallant 1000 is an extremely durable weapon, requiring minimal maintenance and functioning well in any type of environment. The most notable feature of the system remains its versatility; being able to vary power levels with the flick of a switch. The Gallant 1000 has 4 weapon settings, with various ranges and damage for each setting. All four settings can be used without the additional rifle stock (an improvement over the original H-90), although using setting 4 without the stock will exhaust the energy cell in only four shots. The Gallant itself is shaped somewhat like the original, with a complete circular housing instead of the traditional handle design. However, the top of the gun nozzle is higher and completely flat to make the gun easier to aim. The Gallant 1000 comes with several detachable options, including a electronic sight with computer targeting interface, a flash suppressor, and a shoulder stock which can also hold additional e-clips. Like the older Gallant H-90, the Gallant 1000 can be used as a pistol, submachine gun, or a rifle depending on what options are attached.
The success of Gallant 1000 allowed TWR to land several lucrative contracts with the Robotech Expeditionary Force, including the design of the energy weapon systems on the new VAF-8 and VAF-9 veritech fighters. The Gallant 1000 remained the standard sidearm of the REF until 2055. Although somewhat rare compared to the Gallant H-90, the Gallant 1000 can still be found often on Earth, a legacy to the violence of the Third Invid War.
NOTE: The Gallant 1000 still uses protoculture energy.
GALLANT H-95 MULTI-WEAPON SYSTEM
The Gallant H-95 was developed by Tirolian Weapons Research in response
to a request for a smaller version of the standard H-90. Although rugged,
reliable, and versatile, the Gallant H-90 was somewhat bulky and difficult to
conceal. This was especially inconvenient for REF mecha pilots who already
had very little space to work with in their cockpits. The Gallant H-95 was
therefore designed with pilots in mind, packing the power and versatility of
the H-90 in a much smaller frame that could be more easily concealed in a
flight suit or in CVR-series armor.
Like the H-90, the basic design of the Gallant H-95 is circular, with the handle being at the back and the firing mechanism curving forward around the holder's knuckles. However the H-95 compacts this design significantly so that the gun resembles a "D". This has resulted in the H-95 being given the nickname "brass knuckles" among REF soldiers. Because of recent advances in power systems and accellerator barrel design TWR engineers were able to increase the number of shots the H-95 could deliver while keeping power levels and damage capacity about the same. The H-95 still uses standard protoculture cells for power; despite the risk of detection by Invid protoculture sensors, protoculture cells still remain the most compact and efficient type of energy cells available.
The H-95 is 100% compatible with the H-90's systems, meaning that the weapon
can use the same suppression barrel and stock that the H-90 does for increased
power and range. The H-95 is now standard issue for all REF mecha pilots,
while the newer Gallant 1000 is reserved for ground soldiers, cyclone riders,
and others that need greater firepower. The Gallant H-90 is no longer
manufactured, although many thousands still remain in service both on Earth
and in the REF fleet.
NOTE: The Gallant H-95 still uses protoculture energy.
The Parasite was developed initally during the first few years after the
Malcontent Uprisings, around 2021. Though it is unknown where the weapon
originated from, it is believed that it was first produced either by the
Merchant Republic or by state factories in the E.B.S.I.S. Regardless, it has
become widely copied by many black marketeers, as well at least four other
major arms manufacturers in the Congo Quadrant, the former Zentraedi Control
Zone and North America.
Employed successfully by the R.D.F. and other forces against the larger Zentraedi and their Regult combat pods, the weapon found itself shelved during the Robotech Masters assault on Earth in the intervening years before the coming of the Invid. This is due in part because of the Master's tactics and their equipment rather than any shortcoming in the weapon itself. However, with the resurgence of Invid activity after the assault on Reflex Point and the Invid's new willingness to "duke-it-out" on the human's level, the Parasite has once again found a place in the resistance's arsenal.
The Parasite is a rifle-launched munition of considerable size. To fire, one places a parasite over the suppression barrel of a Gallant H-90, H-95 or Gallant 1000 laser rifle. The lowest S.D.C. setting is used to ignite the Parasite's own propulsion system and the mine leaves the barrel with explosive force (a good, steady firing position is a must), while small nozzles at the base of the warhead impart a stabilizing spin to the whole projectile. Within range of a target and using its radar proximity probe, the mine detonates a small, core explosive that spreads up to twenty-five of the tiny M21 submunitions in a controlled pattern. Each submunition is highly magnetic and will adhere to any ferro-magnetic objects within a 30 foot (9.1 m) blast radius. Once an internal chip in the submunition detects that it is settled (2-4 seconds after the initial blast), it activates a highly sensitive motion sensing device that will detonate at the slightest movement (more than .5m/second is sufficient for detonation). Additionally, the M21's casing is pressure sensitive meaning that it will detonate if squeezed or stepped on, so even the munitions that fail to find a target are still dangerous.
As a separate feature, the Parasite can also be used as a area denial mine as evidenced by the four folding legs arranged around the base propulsion module. In this capacity, the mine is set in position by hand and a priming pin is pulled inside the bottom propusion module. After the pin is pulled, the mine has a short, fifteen second delay before it is armed and begins scanning the area with its radar proximity probe. Anything coming within the 20 foot (6.1 m) blast radius will activate the mine, spreading its M21 submunitions in a circular pattern. Targets in the blast radius will be struck by 1D6+1 submunitions. This feature is not used often for obvious reasons: though most Invid will walk right up on the mine, humans and stage four (or higher) Invid will recognize the weapon and either avoid or destroy it.
For Example: a Freedom Fighter spots an Invid Attack Scout 200 meters away and readies his Parasite from a concealed position. He will need at least an 8 to strike because he will suffer a penalty of -3 to strike his target (50 meters [no modifier] +150 meters [-1 to strike per additional 50 meters]).
REF COMBAT BODY ARMOR (Old Style)
The REF Combat Body Armor was the immediate predecessor to the now-legendary
CVR-3 Cyclone Body Armor. First produced in 2021 during the final planning stages for the SDF-3 Pioneer mission, the armor provided REF personnel and foot soldiers with better protection than the standard REF flightsuits of the time. The CBA was constructed out of new (at the time) high-strength ceramic and laminate materials that provided better protection than the RDF Heavy Combat Armor while only minimally restricting movement. Although not quite suited for Veritech or Destroid pilots who required a wide range of motion, the armor proved excellent for crews of ground vehicle such as the AAT-30 and the MTA Titan. The Southern Cross also adopted the CBA and used it with the Garland-series transformable motorcycles. Eventually both the REF and the Southern Cross improved on the CBA's design, resulting in the CVR-3 and SC series body armors respectively. During the Second and Third Invid Wars CBA became extremely rare on Earth, only occasionally being found in long-forgotten Southern Cross weapons caches and abandoned bases.
The REF Combat Body Armor is NOT compatible with REF Cyclones. The Cyclone program was in the earliest planning stages when the CBA was produced.
MDC protection by location
Helmet 35 Main Torso 40 Arms (2) 15 Legs (2) 30
(Note: If you prefer the older rules for MDC body armor, use the MDC value of the Main Torso as the overall value for the armor)
REF CVR-3 BODY ARMOR (New Rules)
Note: This description uses the new armor section MDC value rules for personal body armor introduced in recent Palladium RIFTS supplements, which I prefer to the "one-value-covers-all" versions in the original Robotech RPG. If you like the older rules please feel free to ignore these numbers.
The CVR-3 series armor was the standard REF body armor during the Third Robotech War/Second Invid War (2035-2038). Developed in the early 2030s near the end of the Sentinels War the CVR-3 was a total redesign of the outdated and obsolete combat body armor that had served the REF since the launch of the SDF-3 Pioneer. The CVR-3 was a durable blend of metal alloys and ceramics that was lighter and far stronger than earlier armors, and allowed for the inclusion of many additional features such as an environmental control computer, an independent oxygen supply, and a more powerful tactical radio. The CVR-3 became an integral part of subsequent weapon systems, most notably the Cyclone Veritech Ride Armors. Thousands of suits of CVR-3 armor made it to Earth during the Second and Third Invid Wars, and the CVR-3 became a popular symbol of the terran resistance. Although no longer in use by the RGF military CVR-3 armor is still very popular among police and civilian defense forces.
MDC protection by location:
Helmet 50 Main Torso 50 Arms (2) 25 Legs (2) 40Standard Features:
REF CVR-4 BODY ARMOR
In 2038 the REF command approved a proposal to update the CVR-3 series body
armor with new technology. The alliance with the sentinels races following
the First Invid War led to an exchange of technical knowlege and many new
discoveries that could be used to improve the military designs used by the
REF. One of the most dramatic new discoveries was molecular aligned metallic
alloys taught to REF engineers by the Spherians. MA alloys were chains of
molecules arranged in interlocking geometric patterns which eliminated
material flaws and dramatically increased alloy strength. The procedure was
similar to how turbine blades for jet fighters were produced in the late 20th
and early 21st centuries but was far cheaper and could be manufactured on a
much greater scale. MA alloys were used as the basis for the new CVR-4 body
armors that would replace the older CVR-3 armors currently in service.
CVR-4 body armor comes in two different versions, a standard version and a
CVR-4C heavy combat version which features increased strength at the cost of
some flexibility and agility. CVR-3 and CVR-4 armor is interchangeable,
meaning that a CVR-4 armor will work with older VR-0XX cyclones (and CVR-3
armor will work with the VR-1XX second generation cyclones). CVR-4C armor is
specifically designed for the VR-152 Battler II and
the VR-112 Samson and will not work with other
cyclone models. Like CVR-3 armor, CVR-4 armor is available in separate styles
for men and women.
MDC protection by location:
| CVR-4 Standard Version | CVR-4C Heavy Combat Version |
Helmet 60 Main Torso 70 Arms (2) 40 Legs (2) 60 |
Helmet 70 Main Torso 90 Arms (2) 50 Legs (2) 70 |
(Note: If you prefer the older rules for MDC body armor, use the MDC value of the Main Torso as the overall value for the armor)
Standard Features (Both Versions):
Computer-generated HUD (heads-up display) overlays on inside of tinted
visor. Can be used to display sensor displays and status readings when linked
to the onboard computer in a Cyclone or other REF mecha.
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 http://www.mcs.net/~deitrich/index.html deitrich@mcs.net |
Last Updated: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:59:14 PST |