VR-072 "EXECUTIONER" ASSAULT CYCLONE

(Version 1.00 - Last updated: 11/13/98)

Concept and Background by Kenneth Olson

Additional reference material provided by Nathan Babcook

                                        

BACKGROUND

The VR-072 Executioner Assault Cyclone was designed by the Robotech Research group on Tirol in 2040.  The goal was to produce a cyclone that was nearly as powerful as an alpha fighter, but maintained the original size of the cyclone.  REF planners become acutely aware of the difficulties with liberating Earth and that it would take several years to build up the REF fleet to the point were a direct assault was possible.  In the mean time, a new generation of cyclones were to be designed in the hopes that these new 'super' cyclones would be so powerful to keep the Invid Regis's forces more than occupied in the interim.  Small groups of elite military specialists would be combat dropped in Earth's upper atmosphere equipped with VR-072's.  These groups would then proceed to attack the Invid infrastructure including protoculture processing plants, small hives, outlying bases, and patrols.  It was hoped that this would prevent the Regis from concentrating her efforts on building up planetary defenses to the point that a direct assault was made impossible.

Some 100 units were built between 2041 and 2043.  From the beginning of the project, the VF-072 met with difficulties.  The Robotech Research Engineering group soon found that additional protoculture cells were needed to power the mecha.  As a result the Executioner is powered by 3 protoculture cells, two more than the standard cyclone.  One is cell is used to power the mecha.  One cell is dedicated to the EP-50 reflex cannon and the final cell is used to power the shoulder mounted EP-41R.    Even with the additional protoculture cells, the EP-41 and EP-50 were limited to the number of shots that each could fire at any given time.  However, the cyclone test pilots felt that the addition of both weapons increased the total available firepower and should be kept.

The initial combat test of the VR-072 was to take place over Earth on June 10th 2043.   Thirty three Executioners were placed on each of the following three Garfish class destroyers:  SS. Cobra, SS. Asp, and SS Viper.  These ships would then make a high speed combat drop over Earth placing groups of VF-072's over Europe and North America.  The three ships folded into Earth space as planned, however at that point everything went awry.  The SS. Cobra was immediately destroyed with all aboard by ground based anti-ship weaponry that the Regis was experimenting with and the SS. Asp took three crippling shots.  Fortunately, some of the personal were able to abandon the doomed ship before it vaporized on impact over the Atlantic ocean.  Only the SS. Viper was able to release all 33 of its VR-072's over what was the Great Lakes region of North America.

The VR-072 proved itself extremely adept at fighting Invid on Earth. Groups of these units participated on no less than 100 actions against outposts and managed to destroy 2 hives.  However, REF high command frustrated by the disastrous results decided to cancel the VR-072 project after some additional 50 units were produced to replace the initial losses.  The remaining 45 surviving units on Earth continued the battle until the final assault against Reflex Point, when some 13 units managed to penetrate and destroy an Invid Communication Tower.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: Veritech Cyclone

Class: Powered Armor
Manufacturer: Robotech Expeditionary Forces (REF)
Crew: One pilot wearing CVR-3d body armor

MDC BY LOCATION:

NOTES:

1. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING (with booster jumps):

200 kph

LEAPING:

100 meters without thrusters.

FLYING:

350 kph for two minutes

MAX ENGINE THRUST:

2 x P&W PR-0718 REAR ENGINES (MOUNTED ON REAR):  Maneuvering thrusters are mounted on the back of the mecha.  Max thrust, 25 kN

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:

3.0m

WEIGHT:

600 kg

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:

Equal to a P.S. of 40

CARGO:

None

POWER PLANT:

1 x RRF-79 Micronized Protoculture Engine

1 standard canisters of Protoculture
10.9 lit. D2O reactant for fusion engines.

Delta V:

25 kps

COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:

None

WEAPON SYSTEMS

1. 2 x GR-105 MINI-MISSILE LAUNCHER (1).
   The GR-105 is mounted on the front wheel covers. The Plasma missiles are laser-guided and have a range of 1 mile (1.7 km).
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Defense
   • Missile Type: REF Plasma Mini-missiles ONLY
   • Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 per missile
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of one, three, or all. Remember, a volley counts as one melee attack regardless of the number of missiles.
   • Range: 1 mile, 5280 ft
   • Payload: 6 missiles per launcher.

    

2. 2 x GR-10 TRIPLE-TUBE MINI-MISSILE LAUNCHERS.
   These launchers are mounted to the outer leg portion of the CVR-3 armor, for a total of six tubes, with a single missile in each tube. Guided by the Cyclone's internal sensors, this weapon fires the same projectiles as the GR-103 (usually armor-piercing).
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Defense
   • Missile Type: Any REF mini-missile except plasma amy be used
   • Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of three. Remember, a volley counts as one melee attack regardless of the number of missiles.
   • Range: Varies with missile type; 1 mile.
   • Payload: 3 missiles per launcher.

    

3. 1 x EP-41R RAPID FIRE DOUBLE-BARRELED PULSE PARTICLE CANNON (1). 
   The EP-41R can fire 1.0 MJ shots at a maximum sustained rate of the rate of 30 shots per minute, but is capable of instantaneous rate of fire of 300 shots per minute. This weapon is mounted on the right shoulder of the cyclone in battloid and is capable of +60 to -30 degree traverse in altitude, and a 15 degree traverse in azimuth. The weapon is powered from its own dedicated protoculture cell, and is somewhat unreliable, tending to overheat at maximum firing rate. The gun machinery requires the removal of the Cyclone's flip-up targeting sensor, which is replaced by a fixed monocular head piece attached to a modified CVR helmet.
   • Primary Purpose: Assault
   • Secondary Purpose: Anti-Aircraft, Anti-Mecha
   • Mega-Damage: 6D6 MDC
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to pilot's Attacks per melee, but constant firing of more than four minutes will cause the weapon to overheat. this requires a cooling down period of 1D8 melees
   • Range: 4000 ft
   • Payload: Effectively Unlimited

    

4. 1 x EP-50 REFLEX AUTOCANNON: A powerful particle beam cannon internally mounted within the right chest cavity, replacing the two GR-103 mini-missile launchers standard to the VR-41 Saber.  The cannon is also prone to overheat, rendering it useless for 2D6 melee rounds whenever a natural one to strike is rolled.
   • Primary Purpose: Anti-mecha.
   • Damage: 2D4x10 MD.
   • Rate of fire: Up to 30 times an hour
   • Range: One mile.
   • Payload: Unlimited.

    

5. CADS-2A VIBRO-BLADES  (2):
   • Purpose: Personal combat / clandestine operations / ramming.
   • Range: Touch.
   • Damage: (slash) 4D4 MD, (punch) 4D6 MD, (power punch) 1D4x10 MD (counts as two attacks)

    



6. MODULAR WEAPON SYSTEMS.
   As with all REF Cyclones, the arm shields of the VR-072 Executioner are designed to interface with any one of the GR-series weapon modules, or an EP-42 Pulse Beam Gun. One weapon module can be mounted on each forearm shield. The Cyclone's onboard computer system will automatically recognize which weapon module is installed and adjust the targeting displays on the pilot's helmet accordingly. Any GR or EP-series weapon module can be used.

 

7. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Executioner can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The Griffin  is extremely agile and can execute most typical hand to hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc.

   DAMAGE:  

   • Punch:  1D6*3
   • Kick: 1D6*3
   • Leap Kick: 2D6*3
   • Body Flip/Throw: 1D6*3
   • Body Block/Tackle: 1D6*3
   • Stomp: 1D4*3 . (only effective against small objects)
     

   

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE EXECUTIONER:

• PLANTARY REENTRY SHIELD:  The Executioner can be encased in a planetary reentry shield.  This shield is used to drop the VR-072 from planetary orbit for insertion on a planet.  The shield is encased with radar absorbing material for reduced signatures, and has 100 MDC.
• HARRIS CT-12 COMBAT COMPUTER: The Executioner  is equipped with a combat computer that can store and analyze data during combat with hostile forces. The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets, and has a database of over 500 images stored in memory. The computer can identify and track up to 100 targets simultaneously. 
• EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: Range: 300 ft (91.5 m). A sound amplification system that can pick up normal conversation up to 300 feet away.
• HOMING SIGNAL: The Executioner is equipped with a homing device that enables rescue teams to locate a disabled craft. The range of the signal is 400 miles (640 km). Most REF ships and veritechs can locate and track a homing signal, and the onboard computers will automatically notify their pilots if such a signal is detected.
• LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 10 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the mecha's strike bonus.
• LOUDSPEAKER: A loudspeaker system is built into the craft, which can be used to amplify the pilot's voice up to 90 decibels.
• OPTICS: INFRARED: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye, but detectable by the mecha's sensors. The system allows the pilot to detect hidden/concealed objects by their IR reflectiveness. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however.
• OPTICS: NIGHTVISION: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). 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.
• OPTICS: THERMAL IMAGER: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive optical heat sensor that detects infrared radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into a false-color visible image. The system enables the pilot to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke, and also adds a +10% bonus to pilots using a tracking skill.
• AVIONICA VR-35 SHORT RANGE MILLIMETER RADAR: 50 mile range.
• RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 100 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.

COMBAT BONUSES FOR EXECUTIONER TRAINING:

• 3 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot).
• Add one additional action/attack at levels five and ten.
• +2 to strike
• +2 to parry. 
• +3 to dodge
• +1 to leap dodge.  An automatic dodge just like the parry, with no loss of attacks per melee. 
• +3 to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
• Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• Robotech Technical Files: Cyclone
• Palladium Books:  "The Sentinels"

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