VAF-9 HEAVY ASSAULT
VERITECH SHADOW FIGHTER

WARNING: EXTREMELY POWERFUL! This mecha is a very powerful Veritech fighter and should be handled with care by GMs. Liberal application of this design may be unbalancing to game play!

BACKGROUND

In terms of development, the VAF-9 Alpha was very much like the VAF-7A Alpha. Both were revolutionary technical experiments that were pressed into service by the REF to help reclaim the Earth. The disadvantage of the design was its immense cost, however. The cost of a single VAF-9 was equal to an entire SQUADRON of VAF-8 Alphas. In addition, the mecha was a nightmare for support crews to maintain due to an immense number of special parts that were always in short supply. But despite the costs, a squadron of 12 VAF-9 Alphas and 12 VBF-3 Betas (the counterpart to the VAF-9), were included with the Icarus Recon Mission, and although records from the aftermath of that mission are spotty it appears that all of them made it to Earth and into resistance hands. Several squadrons of VAF-9 were included with the Prometheus Assault Group, and were very effective during the final battles of the Third Invid War, even though superior firepower from the Invid Orbiting Hives prevented the Prometheus Group from ever gaining the upper hand.

NOTE: Due to their scarcity, encountering a VAF-9 Alpha on Earth during the Third Invid War should be a VERY rare occurrance. Only 11 VAF-9s made it to earth from the ill-fated Icarus Recon Mission, and of those 11 three have been confirmed destroyed by the Invid. The fate of the remaining 8 is left up to the GM, but players should be required to go on a LONG adventure and face MANY dangers before they can get their hands on a VAF-9.

The VAF-9 was never mass-produced. After the end of the Third Invid War, a number of squadrons were built to replace destroyed mecha, but distribution of the fighters were never widespread. In 2058, Vanguard Aerospace and Tirolian Weapons Research jointly produced the VAF-9 Mark II, a cheaper version of the VAF-9 incorporating updated technology. The VAF-9 Mk. II replaced the VAF-8 as the standard Robotech Guardian Forces (RGF) fighter for a few years, but was itself replaced during the RGF reorganization of 2065. After that the original VAF-9s mostly disappeared, with only a few surviving examples (minus weapons and armor) in the hands of museums or private collectors.

The VAF-9 Heavy Assault Alpha Fighter vaguely resembles its distant cousin, the VAF-6 Alpha Fighter, but is somewhat larger and much more streamlined and as a more pronounced delta-wing design. Like the VAF-8, the color scheme for the VAF-9 is based on where the unit is stationed, i.e. space Veritechs are usually painted flat black, desert Veritechs are painted with a light tan camouflage, etc. The Veritech is always streamlined with a color to indicate it's model type. VAF-9C's are streamlined in blue, VAF-9J's in red, and VAF- 9S's in green. Each model also has a unique head style, but unlike the original VF-1 Veritech all three models have the exact same armament.

SCHEMATICS

RPG STATS

M.D.C. BY LOCATION

(1) Sensor Head                               75
    Head Lasers (2)                           30 each
    Hands (2)                                 60 each
    Forearms/Machine guns/Missiles (2)       350 each
    Shoulders/Missile Pods (2)               150 each
    Upper Legs (2)                           150 each
    Lower Legs/Thrusters/Missile Pods (2)    250 each
    Wings/Missile Sheaths (2)                180 each
    Wing Hardpoints (4)                       10 each
    Tail (2)                                  75 each
(2) Main Body                                460
    Reinforced Pilot's Compartment           220
    EU-XX Gun Pod                            120

1. Destruction of the sensor head will greatly reduce the pilot's sensory and targeting equipment, though backup systems prevent total sensory blindness. Long-range radar is reduced to 2 mile range. Radio and Laser communication systems are lost, but an auxiliary system provides voice- only radio with a 100 mile range. Head Spotlights, Thermo-Imager, Night vision Optics, Audio Pickup, and Head Lasers are lost. Laser targeting is also destroyed; -1 to strike.
2. Destruction of the main body will shut the unit down completely.

SPECIFICATIONS

Height:	34.5 ft (10.5 m) in battloid mode. 22.2 ft (6.8 m) in guardian mode. 16.5 ft (5.0 m) in jet mode.
Width:	15 ft (4.6 m) at shoulders in battloid mode. 34.5 ft (10.5 m), jet and guardian modes with wings fully swept.
Length:	36 ft (11 m), in jet and guardian modes.
Weight:	14.2 tons without missiles, 20.6 tons fully loaded.
Cargo:	Space behind pilot's seat for pilot's belongings; can hold about 100 lbs (45.4 kg). If Cyclone is removed from its storage compartment, the compartment can hold an additional 500 lbs (226.8 kg).

Main Engine:

FF-4000 fusion/protoculture turbine in each leg.

Range:

24 protoculture cells will give the mecha an active combat life of about two years. The mecha can operate on half as many cells (12) for 12 months, but maximum speed is reduced by half and the mecha is at -1 to strike. As a last resort, the mecha can operate solely on fusion power, but maximum speed is reduced by 75%, the head lasers cease to function, and the mecha is at -2 to strike and -2 to dodge.

WEAPON SYSTEMS

1. HEAD MOUNTED TWR-30 PULSE LASERS (2): Two Tirolian-designed pulse lasers are mounted in the head of the Veritech. They can fire individually or in tandem, and are aimed by moving the mecha's head.
   • Primary Purpose: Anti-personnel, Anti-aircraft
   • Mega-Damage: 4D6 M.D. per individual blast or 8D6 M.D. per dual blast.
   • Payload: Unlimited
   • Range: 4000ft (1200m)

2. MM-74 MULTI-MISSILE SYSTEM: Like their predecessors, the VAF-9 Assault Alphas are bristling with short range missiles, 74 in all. 12 missiles are located in each forearm (6 on each side), 12 are located in each Shoulder, and 13 are located in each leg.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Mecha
   • Missile Type: Standard REF short-range missiles, usually high explosive, armor-piercing, or plasma.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, or all. Remember, a volley counts as one melee attack regardless of the number of missiles.
   • Range: Varies with missile type; 1 to 5 miles.
   • Payload: A maximum capacity of 74 short-range missiles. Mini, medium and long range missiles can not be used.

3. GR-12 SHOULDER LAUNCHER SYSTEM: This additional pair of missile launchers, once exclusive to the old VAF-7A Shadow Alphas, are now standard equipment for VAF-9 Veritechs. These systems add an extra 24 short-range missiles to its armaments.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault/Defense
   • Missile Type: Standard REF short-range missiles, usually armor-piercing or plasma.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, six, or twelve (all).
   • Range: Varies with missile type; 1 to 5 miles.
   • Payload: Twelve in each unit, for a total of 24.

4. ARM MOUNTED 32mm-caseless AUTOCANNONS (4): These weapons were added to give the Alpha Fighter an additional attack for use in close-range combat. Each forearm has two concealed autocannons that fire in tandem.
   • Primary Purpose: Close-range Assault/Defense
   • Secondary Purpose: Antipersonnel
   • Mega-Damage: 2D6 M.D. for short burst, 4D6 M.D. for long burst, or 2D4x10 M.D. for one full melee of continuous fire (each burst is considered to be one attack, regardless of length).
   • Payload: 480 rounds in each arm (short burst uses 6 rounds, long burst 12 rounds, and full burst 24 rounds)
   • Range: 2000 ft (609 m)

5. FALCON WING-SHEATH MISSILE SYSTEM: Three heavily-shielded medium-range missile launchers are built into each wing. The launchers are flush with each wing, which reduces drag and protects the missile from attack until launched. Each missile launcher can hold one missile, but the missile is fully shielded and does not need to be launched before the Veritech can convert to battloid mode.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Missile Type: Standard REF medium-range missiles, usually multi-warhead or plasma.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, or six (all).
   • Range: Varies with missile type; 50 to 80 miles.
   • Payload: One per unit, for a total of 6.

6. WING HARDPOINTS: The VAF-9 has four hardpoints (2 per wing) which can be used to mount missiles and other ordinance for heavy assaults and bombardments. Each hardpoint can mount 1 long range missile, 3 medium range missiles, or one pod of mini-missiles. Due to the design of the wings, the missiles or pods must be dropped prior to transformation into battloid mode.

   NOTE: VAF-9s found in the field will typically NOT be equipped with missiles on their hardpoints, as these missiles are usually used up within the first few minutes of combat.

   • LONG RANGE MISSILES
     • Primary Purpose: Heavy Assault
     • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Spacecraft
     • Missile Type: Standard REF long-range missiles, usually proton, reflex heavy and reflex multi-warhead.
     • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
     • Rate of Fire: One, two, three, or four.
     • Range: Varies with missile type; 500 to 1800 miles.
     • Payload: One per hardpoint; up to four maximum.
   • MEDIUM RANGE MISSILES
     • Primary Purpose: Heavy Assault
     • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Mecha
     • Missile Type: Standard REF medium-range missiles, usually high explosive, armor piercing, or multi-warhead.
     • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
     • Rate of Fire: One, two, three, four, eight, or twelve (all).
     • Range: Varies with missile type; 50 to 80 miles.
     • Payload: Three per hardpoint; up to 12 maximum.
   • MINI-MISSILE PODS
     • Primary Purpose: Assault/Defense
     • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Personnel
     • Type: Any except plasma. Armor-Piercing is standard issue.
     • Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile type; usually about one mile.
     • Rate of Fire: Volleys of two, four, or eight
     • Range: Varies with missile type
     • Payload: 15 per launcher; up to 60 maximum.

7. EU-XX DESTABILIZER GUN POD. The powerful Destabilizer that was the standard weapon for the Shadow Fighters and Vindicators has been redesigned and streamlined. Two EU-XX gun pods can be carried and used by the VAF-9 Alpha fighter, though usually only one is issued per fighter. The EU-XX can be mounted on the top or the undercarriage of the fighter. It can be fired in any mode, either from it's mounted position or hand-held by the mecha.

   Against Invid or Zentraedi force fields, each blast will create a 6D6 foot hole in the field, which will last for 4D6 minutes. Against exterior hive entrances, the Destabilizer will disrupt the field completely for 4D6+20 minutes. Note that the EU-XX does not need to be shoulder-mounted to fire destabilizing bursts.

   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Force field disruption.
   • Mega-Damage: 2D4x10 per blast (bursts are NOT possible).
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to the pilot's combined hand to hand melee attacks (usually 4 or 5).
   • Payload: 40 blasts
   • Range: 4000 ft (1200 m)
   • NOTE: Four EU-XX energy clips can be stored in the legs (two in each leg). It requires one full melee (15 seconds) to reload a clip. Only the biggest REF ships and bases can recharge EU-XX energy clips.

8. OPTIONAL USE OF THE GU-11, EU-5, EU-11, E-20, GU-XX, OR EU-12 GUN PODS. These are obviously not standard issue, but can be used if needed and available. See the various mecha for weapon statistics.

9. OPTIONAL HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT. Punch does 1D6 M.D., Body Block does 1D6 M.D., Kick does 1D6 M.D., Leap Kick does 2D6 M.D., Stomp does 1D4 M.D., but is limited to targets no more than 12 feet tall. Body Flip and Body Block does 1D6 M.D.

STANDARD SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT FOR VAF-9 ALPHA FIGHTERS

• SF-10 SHADOW CLOAKING DEVICE: Like the VAF-8, the VAF-9 Alpha Fighter is designed to use the SF-10 Cloaking Device, the new standard cloaking device for the REF. A much improved version of the original SF-7 cloaking device, this version incorporates changes that makes the device smaller and more affordable to manufacture. The device still operates like older versions; rendering the mecha invisible to all electronic forms of detection, including radar, Invid Protoculture sensors, and microwaves. Only light- based detection systems, such as optical and laser tracking will detect the mecha.

  The SF-10 is the first cloaking device to feature THREE modes of operation instead of only two: ON, in which the device operates normally; OFF, in which the device is shut off and the mecha is detectable by all forms of electronic detection; and SAFETY, in which the device emits a "4th dimensional blip," which is detectable by other REF mecha's collision warning systems. The SAFETY mode is used for close formations where mecha proximity could potentially cause disastrous collisions.

  The SF-10 is slightly more reliable than its predecessor. Once the main body MDC of the fighter has been reduced to 200 M.D. or less, there is a cumulative 10% chance of the SF-10 failing for every 20 points of damage beyond that. For example,there is a 10% chance of the device failing when the main body MDC is between 200-180, 20% when the MDC is between 160-180, 30% when the MDC is between 140-160, etc. Once a cloaking device fails it CANNOT be repaired; it must be replaced by another working SF-10, either from a salvaged fighter or a parts depot.

  BONUSES: (ON and SAFETY modes) The Veritech always gets first attack in the first round of combat. After that, the mecha has a +3 on all initiative rolls. Also provides an additional +2 to dodge, and +1 to strike.

• LASER-RESISTANT CERAMIC COATING: A Southern Cross invention, this coating scrambles laser tracking and reduces laser damage by half (lasers ONLY).

• RADAR: The VAF-9 is equipped with a dual radar system. The first system is a long range radar that has a range of over 100 miles (160 km) and can track up to 30 targets simultaneously within that range. The problem with the system, however, is that the powerful long distance radar waves tend to give away the position of the craft; attackers using radar-guided weaponry have a +2 to hit the VAF-9 while the system is on.

  The second radar is a combat radar that has a range of 15 miles (24 km) and can identify and track up to 150 targets simultaneously. This radar uses frequency hopping and a number of other techniques to prevent its emissions from giving away the position of the VAF-9.

  NOTE: In general, Invid do NOT use radar-tracking weapons.

• RADIO COMMUNICATIONS: Wide band and directional radio and video telecast capabilities. Range is 750 miles (1180 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.

• LASER COMMUNICATIONS: Long-range, directional communication system. Effective range: 100,000 miles (157,500 km).

• COMBAT COMPUTER: Calculates, stores, and transmits data onto the cockpit computer screen or heads-up display (H.U.D.) of the pilot's helmet. Patches in with targeting computer.

• TARGETING COMPUTER: Assists in the tracking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the VAF-9's high strike bonus.

• LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: 100 mile (160 km) range. Assists in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the VAF-9's high strike bonus.

• MOTION DETECTOR AND COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM: 500 ft (152.5 m) range. Sounds an alarm and red light warns pilot of impending collision and/or immediate target.

• TELESCOPIC OPTICAL ENHANCEMENT: 2000 ft (609 m) range. 20 ft (6.1 m) field of vision.

• HEAD SPOTLIGHTS: 600 ft (182 m) range, normal light.

• INFRARED SPOTLIGHT: 2000 ft (609 m) range. The infrared spotlight sits in the front of the sensor head. It emits an infrared light beam that is invisible to the normal eye. However, an enemy with infrared optics can easily see the beam of light and track it to the Veritech. Smoke impairs vision/beam.

• THERMO-IMAGER: 2000 ft (609 m) range. A special optical heat sensory unit that allows the infrared radiation of warm objects to be converted into a visible image. It also enables the pilot to see in darkness, shadows and through smoke.

• NIGHT VISION OPTICS: 2000 ft (609 m) range. An image intensifier that is passive, meaning it emits no light of its own, but relies on ambient light which is electronically amplified to give a visible picture. Night vision can not work in absolute darkness (but infrared can).

• EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: 300 ft (91.5 m) range. A sound amplification listening system that can pick up a whisper 300 ft away.

• EXTERNAL VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM: 600 ft (183 m) range. A video camera system with telescopic capabilities (8x magnification) is built into the head. The video images can be relayed to a cockpit monitor and stored on removable video disks. Maximum disk capacity is 24 hours. Disks can be erased and reused.

• EJECTOR SEAT: In case of an emergency, the pilot can be instantly ejected. In battloid mode, the pilot is ejected out of the mecha's back.

• CE-1 CYCLONE EJECTOR SYSTEM: Also in case of an emergency, the VR-135 Forager Cyclone will also be ejected from the doomed mecha. This system is activated automatically when the pilot pulls the activation lever for his ejection seat. The cyclone will deploy parachutes once outside of the mecha and then land within 1D6x1000 feet of the pilot. This system was installed to allow pilots to retrieve their cyclones even after their veritechs had been destroyed.

• SELF-DESTRUCT: A last ditch effort to prevent the capture of a Veritech unit (usually preceded by the pilot's ejection from the Veritech) is self- destruction. Explosive damage is fairly contained. A VAF-9 Alpha without missiles (or few) does 2D6 x 10 M.D., but a Veritech with all or most of its missiles (35 or more) will do 2D6 x 100 M.D. to a 50 ft (15.2 m) radius.

• SMOKE SCREEN SYSTEM: The VAF-9 Assault Alpha can emit a thick cloud of smoke from its rear to create immediate cover. The smoke screen system can discharge a maximum of 4 bursts before needing replacement (smoke missiles can be converted to function in the system). Each burst will cover a 60 ft area (19.8 m).

• HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life-threatening heat and radiation.

• INDEPENDENT OXYGEN AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM: Built-in tanks provide 48 hours of continuous oxygen. A special recycling system can keep the air breathable for a maximum of one week.

• SURVIVAL GEAR: The VAF-9 includes a VR-135 Forager Cyclone, four weeks' compact emergency rations, an emergency signal beacon, three first-aid kits, and a life raft. There is space for an energy rifle to be attached to each ejector seat, and the pilot can of course carry a side-arm.

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Last Updated: Friday, 18-Jan-08 02:59:14 PST