Today I begin to you the first of eight Scorpion OmniFighters (well, they are technically Cobra as well--see text for details). Hope that you enjoy them!
Arminas tar Valantil
Grand Master of the Ebon Rose
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Ute Prime
Tech: Clan / 3050
Vessel Type: Aerospace Fighter
Rules: Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 25 tons
Length: 12 meters
Power Plant: 275 XL Fusion
Safe Thrust: 13
Maximum Thrust: 20
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum
Armament:
3 ER Medium Laser
2 ER Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
In 3009, the Khans of Goliath Scorpion arranged a meeting with the Khans of
Cloud Cobra at the Temple of the Nine Muses on Roche. Concerned with the
growing obsolence of their aerospace assets--and privately dismayed at some of
the reports filtering back from Wolf Dragoon's--the Scorpion Khans made a
startling proposal to the Cobras: a complete remake of the Clan aerospace
arm.
As ambitious as it would be expensive, the Scorpions proposed designing a
series of light, medium, and heavy fighters with an expressed purpose of
defeating any known fighter of equal or lesser weight, whether in Clan space
or in the Inner Sphere.
Talks continued for two days, as the Scorpions laid on the table their fears
for the future--and their concerns for the possibility that the Clans may
indeed one day lose their technological advantage. Many Clan designs were
little more than haphazard upgrades of SLDF aerospace units; indeed most were
only marginally more effective than standard Inner Sphere designs.
That bald statement, combined with the Clan tendacy to use smaller than
average fuel tanks and carry far more guns than they could possibly use, did
disturb the Cobra Khans enough for them to listen to the entire presentation.
At the end of the summit, the Cobra agreed to look over the proposed units,
and if any development was made, it would be done jointly between the two
Clans. Cautioning the Cobra Khans, the Scorpions advised them to conceal
their intentions, lest their newest designs ended up in the hands of
aggressive and greedy Clans such as the Jaguars and the Falcons.
Eighteen months later, the senior Cobra Khan sent a one word HPG transmission
to Roche: AGREED. Six months later, production began on Roche of the new
design plans given to the Scorpions by the Cobras.
As part of the agreement, the Cobras would receive one-half of all new
production, and once the new designs were publicly unvieled, all of the older
designs replaced in Scorpion service.
The lightest of the these new fighter craft was code-named Ute.
==Capabilities:==
The Ute massed 25 tons and had a safe thrust capability of 6.5-g's, with a
maximum thrust rating of 10-g's, roughly comparable to the lighter Bashkir and
surpassed only by the 30-ton Vandal. Supplied from an internal 5-ton ton fuel
tank, the Ute featured two-thirds greater fuel supply than either of the other
two premier recon fighters of the Clans.
Armor protection was also above average, with 5 full tons of ferro-aluminum
armor plating, although with such limited mass, little could be done to
adequetely protect the OmniFighter from serious damage. Still, it was more
than any other dedicated recon units that had come before. Ten double heats
were included as fixed equipment in the design as well.
This left four tons for available pod space. More than the swift Vandal had
available, it was a half-ton shy of the lighter Bashkir. However, Cobra
experts and Scorpion pilots agreed that the added fuel and armor more than
made up for the half-ton difference in weapons capability.
All of the omni-configurations described below are those in use by Goliath
Scorpion. Additional configs may be used by the Cobras, but at the time of
this writing this can be neither confirmed nor denied.
The Prime Configuration is perhaps the most common in general use. Three ER
Medium Lasers are carried (one in the nose and in each wing root), alongside
two ER Small Lasers both in the nose). This configuration balances range,
damage, and heat production in an almost ideal manner.
Configuration A carries the least amount of raw firepower; ironically it also
features the greatest range. But where other configurations exceed it in
total damage output, the Ute A shines in its ability to deliver a concentrated
punch to one section of armor. The sole weapon of this model is an
Extended-Range Large Laser mounted in the nose.
Configuration B resembles the Prime with a combination of Medium and Small
Extended-Range Lasers. In this case, two ER Mediums are mounted in the nose,
while the four ER Smalls are divided equally among both wings. While damage
is superb, and heat control simple, many Scorpion pilots feel that it lacks
something compared to the Ute Prime or Ute A--or the highly popular Ute D,
which we will review shortly.
The Ute C is only slightly less popular than A and D models. Four
Extended-Range Medium Lasers are used, with two mounted in the nose and one in
each wing root. Perfectly heat balanced, the Ute C trades-off less
short-range firepower for a greater medium-range punch.
Unlike the Ute D. Absolutely devastating in dogfights, the D Configuration of
this series is perhaps the overall favorite of Scorpion pilots. Only the lack
of range prevents this model from exceeding the Prime and the Ute A in sheer
numbers. All long-range and medium-range are removed from this OmniFighter,
replaced with no fewer than eight Extended-Range Small Lasers. Each wing root
mounts two of the weapons, while the remaining four are concentrated in the
nose. The sheer firepower of this design when strafing makes it the preferred
Ute for ground strike missions as well.
Finally, the Ute E is the least favorite of the Scorpion configurations, with
only a handful in use. Carrying a pair of medium pulse lasers (one in each
wing root), it is a highly accurate and effective design. However, Scorpion
pilots consider it 'cheating'. No Warrior should depend on his weapons to
ensure that he hits, is the general Scorpion view on pulse technology. And at
twice the weight of a standard ER Medium Laser, the Ute E carries almost as
little raw firepower as the A, while lacking the As range. The few Ute Es in
Scorpion service are typically assigned to pilots already disgraced, either by
their conduct in battle or their behavior off the battlefield.
==Battle History:==
Having been announced to the Clans less than four months ago, the Utes have
yet to see battle. With the preperations underway for Revival, it is doubtful
that any significant trials of possession will be held beforehand.
Although simulations have identified most of the weak points of the design,
only combat in the Inner Sphere against the native recon fighters will provide
the final approval or disproval of the design.
==Variants:==
Although not a variant per se, the Ute is capable of carrying up to five tons
of external ordnance beneath the center fuselage and the wings. Doing so
reduces the safe thrust to 6-g's and the maximum thrust to 9-g's, but does
allow the pilot to carry either additional fuel or weapons.
Many Ute D pilots will carry five bombs on their hardpoints during ground
support operations. Typically one or two will be Inferno bombs, the sheer
intensity of these devices can often cripple most Clan machines with heat
buildup. These weapons are expected to be equally useful against the forces
of the Inner Sphere.
Utes assigned to recon missions typically use all of their external hardpoints
to carry additional fuel tanks--giving them ten tons of fuel. The external
tanks are used first, providing the pilots of these OmniFighters with full
internal tanks when they enter combat.
==Deployment==
Primarily used in the recon role, there are fewer Utes in Scorpion service
than any other of the new designs, with less than 40 Utes serving in the
Scorpion toumen. The design is much more popular among the Cobras, who have
well over a hundred of the handy and vicious little fighters.
Since the unveiling of the new designs in 3048, the other Clans have expressed
interest. The Ice Hellions in particular approve of the Ute and are expected
to issue a batchall for the design soon. Intelligence reports indicate that
at the present time, the Hellion Khans are debating whether to strike against
the Cobras (with their highly skilled pilots) or the Scorpions (who have much
more limited production facilities). In the end, if they are unsuccessful
against one, they may end up fighting both.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Ute Prime
Mass: 25 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: 275 XL Fusion 8.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 13
Maximum Thrust: 20
Structural Integrity: 13 .00
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Double .00
Fuel: 5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters: 3.00
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum (96 total armor pts) 5.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Nose: 26
Left/Right Wings: 26/26
Aft: 18
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 ER Medium Laser Nose 7 7 -- -- 5 1.00
2 ER Small Laser Nose 5 -- -- -- 4 1.00
1 ER Medium Laser RW 7 7 -- -- 5 1.00
1 ER Medium Laser LW 7 7 -- -- 5 1.00
1 C.A.S.E. Equipment Body .00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 19 25.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 3,692,344 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,493
Cost per BV: 2,473.1
Weapon Value: 1,258 (Ratio = .84)
Damage Factors: SRV = 28; MRV = 15; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 13, Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 3/2/-, Overheat: 0
Class: FL; Point Value: 15
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Ute Config A
Tech: Clan / 3050
Vessel Type: Aerospace Fighter
Rules: Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 25 tons
Length: 12 meters
Power Plant: 275 XL Fusion
Safe Thrust: 13
Maximum Thrust: 20
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum
Armament:
1 ER Large Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Ute Config A
Mass: 25 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: 275 XL Fusion 8.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 13
Maximum Thrust: 20
Structural Integrity: 13 .00
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Double .00
Fuel: 5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters: 3.00
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum (96 total armor pts) 5.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Nose: 26
Left/Right Wings: 26/26
Aft: 18
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 ER Large Laser Nose 10 10 10 10 12 4.00
1 C.A.S.E. Equipment Body .00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 12 25.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 3,622,031 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,082
Cost per BV: 3,347.53
Weapon Value: 1,057 (Ratio = .98)
Damage Factors: SRV = 9; MRV = 7; LRV = 3; ERV = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 13, Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/1, Overheat: 0
Class: FL; Point Value: 11
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Ute Config B
Tech: Clan / 3050
Vessel Type: Aerospace Fighter
Rules: Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 25 tons
Length: 12 meters
Power Plant: 275 XL Fusion
Safe Thrust: 13
Maximum Thrust: 20
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum
Armament:
2 ER Medium Laser
4 ER Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Ute Config B
Mass: 25 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: 275 XL Fusion 8.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 13
Maximum Thrust: 20
Structural Integrity: 13 .00
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Double .00
Fuel: 5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters: 3.00
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum (96 total armor pts) 5.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Nose: 26
Left/Right Wings: 26/26
Aft: 18
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 ER Medium Laser Nose 7 7 -- -- 10 2.00
2 ER Small Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 4 1.00
2 ER Small Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 4 1.00
1 C.A.S.E. Equipment Body .00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 18 25.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 3,627,656 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,355
Cost per BV: 2,677.24
Weapon Value: 1,258 (Ratio = .93)
Damage Factors: SRV = 31; MRV = 10; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 13, Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 3/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: FL; Point Value: 14
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Ute Config C
Tech: Clan / 3050
Vessel Type: Aerospace Fighter
Rules: Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 25 tons
Length: 12 meters
Power Plant: 275 XL Fusion
Safe Thrust: 13
Maximum Thrust: 20
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum
Armament:
4 ER Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Ute Config C
Mass: 25 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: 275 XL Fusion 8.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 13
Maximum Thrust: 20
Structural Integrity: 13 .00
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Double .00
Fuel: 5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters: 3.00
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum (96 total armor pts) 5.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Nose: 26
Left/Right Wings: 26/26
Aft: 18
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 ER Medium Laser Nose 7 7 -- -- 10 2.00
1 ER Medium Laser RW 7 7 -- -- 5 1.00
1 ER Medium Laser LW 7 7 -- -- 5 1.00
1 C.A.S.E. Equipment Body .00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 20 25.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 3,757,031 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,631
Cost per BV: 2,303.51
Weapon Value: 1,336 (Ratio = .82)
Damage Factors: SRV = 26; MRV = 20; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 13, Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 3/3/-, Overheat: 0
Class: FL; Point Value: 16