Ligaa Light Aerospace Mecha

(Version 1.01 - Last updated: 09/10/01)  

Concept and Background by Kenneth Olson

Background Information derived from Robotech Technical Files

HTML form provided by Dave Deitrich

BACKGROUND 

The Ligaa Light Aerospace mecha was one of the earliest units produced by the Invid forces immediately after the defoliation of Optera by Zentraedi forces.  The Ligaa is small and easy to mass produce.  REF  Intelligence estimated that over one trillion Ligaa of all types were produced during the centuries of conflict with the Zentraedi and later the REF.  However, the unit provides minimal protection to the pilot and is easily destroyed in a single shot by most heavy anti-mecha weaponry.

Designed to provide aerospace superiority and reconnaissance for the Invid, the Ligaa comes in two different designs.  The standard Ligaa (or "Scout") is armed only with two anti-mecha claws.  Although, they are capable of slicing through even the most heavily armored units, the unit was rarely used in this fashion.  The Scout would often launch themselves in kamikaze attacks against foes with the hope that only small percent would penetrate the enemies defenses.   

The second version of the Ligaa is the armored variant (or "Armored Scout").  This version mounts two ILG-3 plasma cannons on top of the unit providing it with a long range anti-mecha capability that the standard Ligaa does not possess.  Although more difficult to produce, the armored scout proved to be far more effective than the Scout in combating the Zentraedi.  The standard Invid tactic was to use mass quantities of armored scouts to provide covering fire for scouts to break through the Zentraedi/REF lines.  

Two types of booster units were produced for the Ligaa and can be used by either the Scout or the Armored scout.  Both the Booster and Weapons unit are described in more depth in their respective categories 

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: One person all weather combat mecha

Class: Invid combat mecha
Manufacturer: Invid Regent / Regis
Crew: One pilot

 

MDC BY LOCATION:

		 
NOTES: 

1. * The sensor eye is the most vulnerable place on the Invid's mecha body.  Destruction of the sensor eye will destroy the mecha and pilot.  However, it is a small target protected by surrounding shielding, thus, to hit the player must make a called shot at -3.
2. ** Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha. 

SPEEDS:

FLYING:

992 kph in planetary atmospheres

45 km service ceiling

RUNNING:

64 kph

LEAPING:                              

30 m w/o boosters

 

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:

2.5 m for scout

2.7 m for armored scout

DEPTH:

3.25

WEIGHT:

4.5 metric tonnes for scout

5.0 metric tonnes for armored scout

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:

Equal to a P.S. of 40

CARGO:

None

POWER PLANT:

1 x Zyerri protoculture cell energizer with 6 protoculture canisters

PROPULSION IN SPACEBORNE OPERATIONS: 

Engines: one IE-2 one vectorable plasma shock thruster with total output of 71 kN

DELTA V:

30 kps

GENERATOR ENDURANCE:

120 hours of operational use

BOOSTER UNITS:

Ligaa Booster Unit, Ligaa Weapon's Unit (see below)

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. TWO ILG-3 PLASMA CANNONS: The armored scout mounts two ILG-3 plasma cannons on two hardpoints located on top of the mecha.  Each cannon stores plasma generated from the main protoculture energizer and releases the plasma in discrete bursts, dubbed "annihilation discs' by the REF.  Typically, the ILG-3 fires one-second bursts with kinetic and thermal energy of approximately 3.0 MJ.  Each cannon can store enough plasma for up to 25 seconds of continuous firing.  The main protoculture energizer can recharge each cannon with 10 seconds of plasma for every minute of operational use 
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
   • RANGE: 4000 ft (1200m)
   • DAMAGE:  One single blast 1D6, dual blasts 2D6 (two simultaneous shots from both cannons), 4D6 MDC for short bursts
   • RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the pilot's hand to hand attacks
   • PAYLOAD: Conditionally unlimited
   • NOTES:  +1 to strike; hand to hand bonuses do not apply

    

2. HAND TO HAND COMBAT:.  Like all Invid mecha the Invid Strike Scout possesses a considerable ability to engage in hand to hand combat
   • Punch/Claw:  4D6*3
   • Crush with Hand: 1D6*3
   • Tear or Pry:  1D6*3
   • Kick:  2D6*3
   • Body Block/Tackle: 2D6*3.
   • Stomp: 1D4*3 MDC (only effective against small objects)
     

Sensor Display from Invid Scout

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR LIGAA SCOUT:

• (After 2042) IMSC-1PS PROTOCULTURE SENSOR:  The Liraa scout was mounted with one of the first protoculture sensors developed by the Invid Regis while on earth.  The sensor provides detection and tracking of active mecha using protoculture as a energy source.  For detection of a high-power Veritech Fighter (such as an Alpha), good resolution extends out to 3km, fair resolution out to 6km, and poor resolution out to 17km. A typical Destroid is detectable at slightly more than half these distances, a Cyclone at four percent of these distances, and a Gallant rifle at about one percent of these distances.
• EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: Range: 150 ft (91.5 m).
• VISUAL: Capable of times 4 magnification
• OPTICS: NIGHTVISION: Range: 200 meters.    A passive light image intensifier that emits no light of its own, but relies on ambient light which is electronically amplified to produce a visible picture. However the system is more primitive than standard REF or Robotech forces.
• SHORT RANGE ULTRASONIC MOTION TRACKERS:  Range:  400 ft.

LIGAA BOOSTER UNIT

HISTORY:

The Ligaa booster unit is attached to either variant of the Ligaa.  This turns the unit into a highly maneuverable spaceborne mecha.  The mecha so transformed is then even more capable of launching kamikaze attacks against spaceborne enemies and either destroy mecha size opponents or severely crippling capital ships with a single successful strike.  

STATISTICAL DATA:

SPEEDS:

1200 kph in planetary atmospheres (rarely used in atmospheric operations)

Provides +2 to dodge while in space

HEIGHT:

2.4 m for scout

LENGTH:

4.45 m

BREADTH:

3.75 m

WEIGHT:

3.5 metric tonnes for scout

CARGO:

None

POWER PLANT:

1 x Wertz protoculture cell energizer with 12 protoculture canisters

PROPULSION IN SPACEBORNE OPERATIONS: 

Engines: one IE-1 one vectorable plasma shock thruster with four thrusters mounted on the rear, total output of 150 kN

DELTA V:

100 kps

GENERATOR ENDURANCE:

120 hours of operational use

MDC BY LOCATION:

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR BOOSTER:

• IMSC-1BS VHF SEARCH RADAR:  The booster provides the Liraa scout with a long range VHF radar system mounted in the main hull of the booster unit.  Typical acquisition range for veritech type targets (5 dBsm) is 150 km. 

LIGAA WEAPON'S UNIT

HISTORY:

Designed by the Invid Regent in late 2025 to combat the qualitatively superior but numerically inferior REF forces.  Few units were actually upgraded with the weapons unit as the Regents protoculture supplies continued to dwindle during the Sentinel campaigns.  REF intelligence estimated that only enough Ligaa weapon's units were produced to upgrade 0.5% of all the Ligraa.

The weapon's unit was was designed primarily to upgrade the standard scout with long range weaponry; although, either versions of the Ligaa can make use of the weapon's unit.  Three high power RPL-3 plasma cannons are mounted on the rear of the unit.  Each cannon is capable of firing 5 MJ short bursts of plasma energy out to a maximum range of 2000m.  In addition, a single IE-1 plasma shock thruster is mounted on the rear to partially offset the added weight of the upgraded weapon systems.

STATISTICAL DATA:

SPEEDS:

800 kph in planetary atmospheres (rarely used in atmospheric operations)

25 km service ceiling

HEIGHT:

3.7 m for scout

DEPTH:

4.0 m

BREADTH:

3.75 m

WEIGHT:

1.0 metric tonnes

CARGO:

None

POWER PLANT:

1 x R'Ytrea protoculture cell energizer with 6 protoculture canisters

PROPULSION IN SPACEBORNE OPERATIONS: 

Engines: one IE-1 one vectorable plasma shock thruster with two thrusters mounted on the rear, total output of 100 kN

DELTA V:

40 kps

GENERATOR ENDURANCE:

120 hours of operational use

MDC BY LOCATION:

ADDITIONAL WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. 3 x RPL-3 PLASMA CANNONS: Three RPL-3 plasma cannons are mounted on the rear of the weapon's booster.  Each cannon fires plasma which is generated by the protoculture energizer located in the booster unit.  Each RPL-3 cannon is capable of firing three second bursts of plasma energy with kinetic and thermal energy of approximately 5 MJ.   The main protoculture energizer can recharge each cannon with 15 seconds of plasma for every minute of operational use 
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
   • RANGE: 2000m 
   • DAMAGE:  One single blast 1D6, short burst from a single cannon 3D8, short bursts from two cannons 1D4*10, or 1D6*10 from all three. 
   • RATE OF FIRE: Equal to the pilot's hand to hand attacks
   • PAYLOAD: Conditionally unlimited
   • NOTES:  +1 to strike; hand to hand bonuses do not apply

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR BOOSTER:

• IMSC-1AS VHF SEARCH RADAR:  The booster provides the Liraa scout with a long range VHF radar system mounted in the main hull of the booster unit.  Although, not as powerful as the -1BS found on the booster unit, the -1AS is able to acquire a veritech type target (5 dBsm) at 100 km. 

COMBAT BONUSES FOR INVID LIGAA: 

• Four attacks per melee
• +2 to strike (+3/ +2/+1 to strike with Protoculture sensor at short /medium/long)
• +3 to parry
• +2 to dodge on ground
• +4 to dodge in flight (+2 with booster unit)
• +6 to dodge at maximum speed (+2 with booster unit)
• +1 to roll with the impact
• Related abilities:  Prowl - 45%, Detect Ambush - 40%, Detect Concealment - 30%, Track - 30%

SOURCES USED IN CREATION OF DOCUMENT

• Palladium's Robotech RPG: Invid Invasion
• Robotech.com:  Invid Scout, Armored
• The Robotech Technical Files: Gurab Shock Trooper and Ligaa Armored Scout

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