THE VBF-2 BETA FIGHTER

BACKGROUND

The VBF-2 was also the first REF Beta fighter produced in two distinct models with vastly different intended purposes. The VBF-2A was the standard version of the Beta fighter, primarily designed as a heavy weapons platform and support craft for the smaller but more agile VAF-8 Alpha. The other model was the VBF-2T Beta Troop Transport/Ground Support model. This version of the Beta was designed by REF engineers after reviewing the performance of the VBF-1 Betas in the First and Second Invid Wars. The engineers found that although not designed for it, the older Beta had commonly been used to ferry small groups of troops to and from hot LZs (landing zones) deep inside enemy territory. The Beta was faster and more heavily armed than the DTTS-12 Horizont transports that were designed for LZ missions, and thus had a greater chance of success and survival. Observing this, the engineers decided to build a specific model of the Beta for troop transport and support duties. The resulting VBF-2T had an enlarged cargo bay capable of holding up to 12 cyclone riders in full armor, as well as multiple hatches for quick loading and unloading. The armament of the 2T was also modified to provide better ground support at the cost of some air-to-air combat capabilities. Because of the size and placement of the cargo bay on the VBF-2T, the beta was capable of only two modes of operation; fighter and guardian modes.

Like the VBF-1, the VBF-2's primary mission is to provide heavy support for the VAF-8 Alphas. The VBF-2 can link with any model of VAF-8 and provide increased weapons and greater thrust for the craft. The control systems for the VAF-8 and VBF-2 were also designed to work together better, and when linked it is possible for the Alpha pilot to control all aspects of the Beta fighter or vice versa. More typically however the pilots would split the workload, with the Alpha pilot concentrating on piloting and maneuvering and the Beta gunners operating the combined craft's powerful weapon systems. Both the VBF-2A and 2T can link to any model of VAF-8.

The VBF-2 served as the major heavy fighter for the REF (and later the Robotech Guardian Forces) from 2040 until 2058. The design was phased out and replaced with the VBF-4 Beta series during the late 2050s, but still remains a common sight on RGF bases and outposts due to the great numbers that were manufactured during its 18-year lifespan.

The VBF-2 greatly resembles the previous Beta, save for its size. The Beta does not have different model types to differentiate between the ranks of the people piloting it. Instead, the highlights, trim, and identification numbers are painted in different colors corresponding to rank; standard soldiers are colored light blue; low-ranking officers are colored red, and squadron leaders/XOs are trimmed in green. Shadow-equipped Betas (approximately 20% of all VBF-2 units) are painted black and are trimmed in the colors listed above, while VBF-2T Transports are usually painted in a flat grey and highlighted as above. All other VBF-2 Betas are colored in a camouflage scheme based on where they are stationed, i.e. space Veritechs are often painted flat black, desert Veritechs are painted with a light tan camouflage, etc. Some of the shadow-equipped models are painted black with red canopies, perhaps out of nostalgia or a whimsical sense of humor on the part of the factory technicians.

SCHEMATICS

RPG STATS

M.D.C. BY LOCATION

(1)  Sensor Head                                     80
     Hands (2)                                       80 each
     Shoulder/Chest Retractable Missile Bays (2)     200 each
(2)  Forearm Shields (2)                             350 each
     Upper Arms (2)                                  100 each
     Top Missile Racks (2, side-by-side)             80 each
     Upper Leg Missile Bays (2)                      150 each
     Lower Legs/Feet (2)                             200 each
     Wings (2)                                       150 each
     Bomb Bay (VBF-2A only)                          250
     Passenger Bay (VBF-2T only)                     300
     Front Access Ramp (VBF-2T only)                 100
     Rear Jet Thrusters (2, side-by-side)            100 each
     Rocket Thrusters (3)                            200 each
(3)  Main Body                                       450
     Reinforced Pilots' Compartment                  250
     GU-25 Gun Pod (built into chest)                80

1. Depleting the M.D.C. of the sensor head will knock out long-range communications (reduce to 60 miles/96 km range), long-range radar (reduce to 10 miles) and laser targeting (-1 to strike)
2. On the VBF-2A Beta, the forearm shields can be used to shield the main body or body parts from damage. The character can try to block incoming attacks of any kind, punches, blasts, and even missiles, by blocking with one or both arms (missiles require both arms). Roll a parry. If successful, only the arm shields take damage. NOTE: Depleting the arm shields to below their M.D.C. will destroy the wing connection joints and damage the wing(s), making transformation into jet or guardian modes IMPOSSIBLE! Likewise, the loss of an arm is the loss of a wing and connection unit, making transformation impossible. Note: The VBF-2T can NOT use the forearm shields to block attacks.
3. Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will completely shut the mecha down.

NOTE: The VBF-2 Series Veritech incorporates the Southern Cross' laser resistant ceramic armor, so laser weapons do only HALF damage. This does NOT include any other energy attacks such as particle beams or ion blasts, nor does it help against explosives.

SPECIFICATIONS

Height:	40 ft. Battloid mode 24 ft. Jet mode 34 ft. Guardian mode
Width:	32 ft. Battloid mode 72 ft. Jet and Guardian modes
Length:	30 ft. Battloid mode 38 ft. Jet and Guardian modes
Weight:	VBF-2A: 19 tons without missiles, 24 tons fully loaded (including missiles and bombs). VBF-2T: 21 tons unloaded, 33 tons maximum load.
Cargo:	VBF-2A: Bomb Bay that can hold up to 20 bombs (approx. 10 ft. by 6 ft. by 6 ft.); Three Cyclones may be removed from storage compartment which may then be used to hold cargo. VBF-2T: Cargo/Troop Compartment can carry up to 12 tons of weight, 12 Cyclone Riders in full combat armor, or 20 people in cramped conditions without armor.

Main Engine:	Two FF-3000 Fusion/Protoculture turbines
Secondary Engines:	3 FF-3800 nuclear fusion rocket engines.
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. MM-50S SUPER MULTI-MISSILE SYSTEM: The Beta has two MM-50 systems built into each chest/shoulder area in Battloid and accessible on the right and left of the cockpit in Jet or Guardian mode. The retractible systems raise their missile launchers from protective storage bays to fire volleys of short-range missiles. The two MM-50 systems can fire independently or simultaneously. The automatic reload system enables the pilot to fire his entire payload of 100 missiles in one melee (this is possible by firing both MM-50 systems simultaneously, launching 20 missiles (10 each) each melee attack up to five times. NOTE: The MM-50S can be launched in all modes.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Aircraft
   • Missile Type: Standard RDF/REF short-range missiles, usually high explosive, armor piercing, or plasma. Different types are rarely mixed, so all 40 missiles per launcher would be the same. Of course, missiles can be mixed if desired.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time, or in volleys of two, four, six, eight, or ten (or twenty, if both launchers are fired at the same time). One volley counts as one attack. the number of attacks per melee is equal to the pilot's combined hand to hand attacks per melee (usually 4 or 5).
   • Payload: 50 missiles per each launcher, for a total capacity of 100.
   • NOTE: The war-torn world makes the availability of missiles an extremely rare event. Players should be careful not to expend all their character's missiles too soon, because it may be a long time before more are found.

2. GR-20P LEG MINI-MISSILE LAUNCHERS (VBF-2A ONLY): Each leg has a mini-missile launcher built into the thigh. These missiles can be launched only in Battloid mode.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault/Defense
   • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Personnel
   • Missile Type: Any mini-missile except Plasma. Armor-Piercing is standard-issue.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: Volleys of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 16, or 20 (all) per launcher; both launchers may be fired simultaneously.
   • Payload: 20 mini-missiles per launcher for a total of 40.

3. MEDIUM-RANGE, TOP MOUNTED MISSILES (VBF-2A ONLY): These are the missile racks seen on top of the Beta in Battloid mode and recessed into the rear of the Beta in Jet or Guardian modes. The missiles can be launched while in any configuration.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Mecha
   • Missile Type: Standard RDF/REF medium-range missiles, usually high-explosive, plasma, or armor piercing. Of course, any medium range missiles can be used.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, three, or four.
   • Payload: Four missiles per each launcher (2), for a total of eight.
   • NOTE: Medium-range missiles are more scarce than short-range.

4. TWO LONG RANGE MISSILES: These can be seen in the mid-chest area of the Beta in Battloid, or on either side of the cockpit in Jet and Guardian modes. These can be launched only from Jet or Guardian mode.
   • Primary Purpose: Heavy Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Spacecraft
   • Missile Type: Standard RDF/REF long-range missiles, usually proton, reflex heavy, and reflex multi-warhead.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time.
   • Payload: Two
   • NOTE: Surprisingly, the long-range missiles are about as rare as the short-range missiles because there are few mecha that use them. All reflex and proton missiles are extremely rare.

5. BOMB BAY (VBF-2A ONLY): The bay can hold 20 bombs, or up to 12 passengers, being slightly larger than that of its predecessor. However, it is often used for deploying relay buoys instead. Relay buoys act as miniature satellites, relaying radio signals through space. These signals may be telemetry, radio, or picture relays. The radio range for these buoys is 400 miles, and their M.D.C. is 30.
   • Primary Purpose: Ground Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Satellite Deployment
   • Missile Type: Bombs are equal to short or medium range missiles. Usually fragmentation or high-explosive.
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with the type of bomb.
   • Rate of Fire: Volleys of 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10.
   • Payload: The bomb bay can hold up to 20 bombs.
   • NOTE: These are bombs, not guided missiles. As such, they have the following penalties: -4 to strike a stationary ground target, -6 to strike a moving target(s), and -10 to hit a small moving target like an Invid Scout or vehicles. Bombs are usually used against large stationary targets.

6. BETA GU-25 25mm QUAD-BARREL INTERNAL GUN POD: This weapon is exactly like the GU-25 handgun used by the VAF-8 Alpha Fighters. The difference is that it is built into the body of the beta and has an automatic feed and a greater ammunition payload. To reload the Beta GU-25 requires tools, a mechanic, and 4D4 minutes. The person must crawl into the gun bay and undo the ammo compartment and reload. To modify the ammo from a conventional GU-25 gun pod requires an additional 1D4 hours per clip.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault/Defense
   • Range: 4000 feet
   • Mega-Damage: Does 3D6 MD short burst, 6D6 medium burst, 1D6x10 full melee burst.
   • Rate of Fire: Short or medium bursts count as one attack. The pilot can fire as many bursts as his combined hand to hand attacks per melee. A full melee burst takes the place of all other attacks.
   • Payload: 160 short bursts, or 80 medium bursts, or 40 full melee bursts.

7. ARM-MOUNTED ION BLASTERS: Each arm has four ion blasters mounted on the ends. These weapons may be fired in any mode, but in fighter and guardian modes are limited to firing directly in front of the mecha only. Note: Since the VBF-2T does not have a battloid mode, the Ion Blasters can only fire forward on these mecha.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault/Defense
   • Range: 4000 feet
   • Mega-Damage: Each blaster does 2D6. Two barrels fired at once do 4D6. Three do 6D6. All four do 1D6x10. Both arms may be fired at once (counts as one melee attack). 1, 2, 3, and 4 barrels all count as one melee attack.
   • Rate of Fire: Blasts only; equal to the hand-to-hand attacks of the person firing them.
   • Payload: Unlimited

8. RAPID-FIRE LASER TURRETS (2, VBF-2T ONLY): In order to assist the VBF-2T Transport Beta in recovering or deploying personnel and to give cover to ground troops during transfer operations, the VBF-2T has two rapid-fire laser turrets mounted on the underside of the mecha. These turrets can rotate 360 degrees and can elevate up and down in a 90-degree arc. They can shoot in any direction BELOW the VBF-2T. These lasers are usually controlled by the Gunner.
   • Primary Purpose: Ground Support
   • Secondary Purpose: Defense
   • Range: 2000 ft (609 m)
   • Mega-Damage:
     • Single "aimed" shot (1 laser; +3 to strike): 1D6 M.D.
     • Dual "aimed" shot (both lasers; +3 to strike): 2D6 M.D.
     • Short burst, both lasers (+1 to strike): 1D4x10 M.D.
     • Long burst, both lasers, one target (counts as two attacks, no strike bonus): 2D4x10 M.D.
     • Burst shooting wild/spraying (-1 to strike, can be short or long burst): 2D6 M.D. to everything it hits.
     • See aimed, burst, and shooting wild rules in the modern weapon proficiency section.
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to pilot's (or gunner's) combined hand to hand attacks. Single and dual "aimed" shots and short bursts count as one attack. Long bursts count as two attacks, and shooting wild takes ALL melee attacks in a melee round.
   • Payload: Unlimited.

9. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: The VBF-2 Beta can engage in hand-to-hand combat if absolutely necessary. The VBF-2T is limited to kick and stomp attacks only, however. The Beta's hands are so constructed that it cannot hold a GU or EU gun pod of any kind. It has to rely on its built-in weapons and speed in a fight.
   • Punch does 1D6 M.D. in Battloid
   • Kick does 1D6 M.D. in Guardian/Battloid
   • Body Flip/Throw does 1D6 M.D.
   • Body Block/Tackle does 1D6 M.D.
   • Stomp does 1D4 M.D.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

• SF-10 SHADOW CLOAKING DEVICE: About 20% of VBF-2 Beta Fighters are equipped with the SF-10 Shadow Cloaking Device. The stats for this device are the same as those for the VAF-8 Alpha Fighter.
• LASER-RESISTANT CERAMIC COATING: Invented during the construction of Southern Cross mecha, this coating scrambles laser tracking and reduces laser damage by half (lasers ONLY).
• RADAR: 40 mile range. Can identify and track up to 60 targets simultaneously.
• BACKUP RADAR: 10 mile (16 km) range. Can identify and track up to 20 targets simultaneously.
• RADIO COMMUNICATIONS: Wide band and directional radio and video telecast capabilities. Range is 600 miles (945 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, heads-up display (H.U.D.), or the pilot's helmet display. Patches in with targeting computer and VAF-8R reconaissance correlation computer.
• TARGETING COMPUTER: Assists in the tracking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the VBF-2'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 VBF-2'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: 4000 ft (1218 m) range, up to 64x magnification. 20 ft (6.1 m) field of vision.
• THERMO-IMAGER: 4000 ft (1218 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.
• NIGHTVISION OPTICS: 4000 ft (1812 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. Nightvision can not work in absolute darkness (but infrared and thermo-imagers can).
• EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: 300 ft (91.5 m) range. A sound amplification listening system that can pick up a whisper 300 ft away.
• HEAD SPOTLIGHTS: 600 ft. (182 m) range.
• EJECTOR SEAT: In case of an emergency, all three crewmembers can be instantly ejected. No ejection seats are provided for passengers in the cargo bay, unfortunately.
• CE-1 CYCLONE EJECTOR SYSTEM: Also in case of an emergency, all three VR-135 Forager Cyclones 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 cyclones will deploy parachutes once outside of the mecha and then land within 1D6x1000 feet of the pilot and crew. 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 VBF-2 Beta without missiles (or few) does 3D6 x 10 M.D., but a Veritech with all or most of its missiles (35 or more) will do 3D6 x 100 M.D. to a 50 ft (15.2 m) radius.
• SMOKE SCREEN SYSTEM: The VBF-2 Beta 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.
• INDEPENDANT OXYGEN AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM: Built-in tanks provide one (1) week of continuous oxygen. With the special recycling systems, this may be extended to four (4) weeks.
• SURVIVAL GEAR: The VBF-2 includes three VR-135 Forager Cyclones, six 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 crew of course carry side-arms.

SPECIAL RULES FOR GUNNERS

The gunner receives as many attacks per melee as if he had equivalent-level Beta Basic Combat (or Expert Combat, if he has Expert Combat). He can control all the weapons in the Alpha (if the Beta is connected and the Alpha pilot allows) and Beta, or just choose certain weapons (as many as he thinks he can handle) before combat begins. When the gunner is controlling a weapon, nobody else can use it until he releases control, even if the gunner never fires it!

Weapons to be controlled by the gunner must be declared before combat begins. It takes one full melee for the gunner to change to different weapons, and during that time he can fire no weapons, and none of the weapons he has been firing, or is about to assume control of, may be fired by anybody else until they're completely programmed in.

The gunner can control only weapons fire, not hand-to-hand combat. The gunner may control the gun pod of the Alpha when it is mounted on the plane. When the Alpha is holding it in its hand, however, he may NOT control it.

When the gunner is firing a weapon, he receives an additional +1 to hit. He also receives the +2 bonus to strike if the Beta is connected to a VAF-8R Alpha with a REO operating the sensory equipment, or the +1 bonus if one such plane is operating nearby. These bonuses do NOT apply to missiles (so missiles will probably not be among the weapons the gunner chooses to operate) but DO apply to mini-missiles.

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