VDS-9A Beta Veritech Drop Ship

Model Type: VDS-9A
Class: All-weather Aero-Space Drop Ship
Crew: One pilot and one loadmaster/crew chief (add two medics if a SAR bird)

The drop ship version of the VBF-9A was designed so as to allow troops to be easily transport from some of the smaller warships UEEF warships that could not carry an assault shuttle. For this the VFB-9A which was being replaced by the VBF-9B was chosen. The body mounted missile launchers, were removed to make room for two troop/cargo bays. The bomb bay was filled life support systems for the two troop/cargo bays. The ability to transform from guardian to battloid mode was removed. The VDS-9A is almost always mated with a VFA-6Z, which is tasked to provide cover for the drop ship as it deploys or recovers troops. In addition to deploying and recovering troops the VDS-9A is also used in the recovery of downed pilots and as a medical evacuation mecha.

[b]MDC BY LOCATION:[/b]
*Back Mounted Sensor Pod � 100
Troop/cargo compartments (2) � 400 each
EU � 14 80mm Pulse Beam Cannons (3) � 100 each
Wing roots (2) � 375
Flare launcher (rear of wing pontoons) � 15 each
Upper Arms (2) �  120 each
Shoulders (2)  - 100 each
Upper Legs (2) � 180 each
Lower Legs/feet (2) � 250 each
*Wings (2) -170 each
**Main Body - 515
Reinforced Pilot's Compartment/Head - 170


[b]SPEEDS:[/b]
[u]Fighter Mode:[/u]
Flying: Sea Level: 437 mph (700 km)
Flying: 59,055 feet (18,000 m): 1,187 mph, (1,206 km)
Flying: 147,636 feet (45,000 m) or higher: 5,562.5 mph (8,900 km) or Mach 7.2 in Ballistic Flight.
[u]Guardian Mode: [/u]
Flying: 312.5 mph (500 km).

[b]STATISTICAL DATA:[/b]

[b]Fighter Mode:[/b]
Height: 20feet (6.10 m)
Length: 31.8 (9.70 m)
Wingspan: 64 feet (19.5m)
[b]Guardian Mode:[/b]
Height: 27.8 feet (8.5 m)
Length: 26.2 feet (8.0 m)
Wingspan: 64 feet (19.5 m)
WEIGHT: 29.5 tons (dry)

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: Robotic P.S. of 50

CARGO: Each troop compartment has fold up/down bench sets on port and starboard side, a center row of seats can also be added. There is a bow and stern exit, as well as a topside egress hatch for use in space borne operations. Stern exit can only be used when the Beta is in guardian mode, and the �legs� cover it up in jet mode. The troop/cargo compartments of the VDS-9A Beta are two pressurized areas that are connected together by a walkway that is big enough for a person/cyclone to move through.  If hull integrity is lost the walkway hatches can be secured. When landing troops the Beta will usually hover and Cyclone riders will jump out of the mecha. Rescue wiches can be attached to both the bow and stern hatches so as to facilitate the recovery of downed pilots. When picking up (or dropping off) personnel in guardian mode, the beta will squat with the body sliding backwards. This allows personnel to enter/exit out the back of the troop/cargo compartments. In jet mode the forward troop/cargo hatches fold out extend downward at a 30 degree angle.

Each compartment (one per side) can be configured in several ways:
1) 7 Cyclone riders while in cyclone armor, they will usually jump out between 50 and 200 feet as the Beta hovers, or slowly flies by the LZ. Usually only 13 Cyclone riders ( a full UEEF Marine Squad) are carried in this configuration.
2) 4 Cyclone Riders with cyclone in motorcycle mode (will usually drive out the front the hatch).
3) 9 Cyclone riders sitting on their folded up cyclones
4) 12 personal (no cyclone)
5) Up to 9 casualty litters sacked up three litters high. There is enough room for a pair of medics in CVR armor to tend to the wounded.

Power System: thirty-two Protoculture cells. Alphas and Betas are also equipped with a small backup fusion generator which is only good for flight and VTOL activity and can only be used in jet mode for two hours. Use of fusion generator prevents transformation and the speed of the mecha is reduced by two thirds.

Tactical Life Support: The VDS-9A�s pressurized troop/cargo compartments have an internal oxygen supply good for forty-eight hours if only 14 troops are carried. If more personnel are carried then the amount of life support will be exponentially less. Likewise if fewer personnel are carried then the life support will last longer. The pilot has his/her own independent Tactical Life Support System

1) EU-14 80mm Pulse Beam Cannon (3)  The VDS-9A retains the forward firing pulse beam cannons found on the fighter bomber variant of the Beta.
Primary Purpose: Ground Attack
Secondary Purpose: Air to Air Combat
Weight: Not Applicable
Range: 4,000 feet (1,219 m)
Mega-Damage: 1D4X10 MD for five round burst, or 3D4 For a  blast from all three.
Rate of Fire: Single blast or triple blast, counts count as one melee attack.
Bonus: +2 to strike with Gun Pod
Payload: Effectively Unlimited

2) Rear mounted chaff/flare dispensers. With no battloid mode the forearm beam cannons have been replaced by a pair of triple flare/chaff launchers. The rear of each wing root has three tubes, each of which can be loaded with a separate flare/chaff type. The tubes can be fired individually, in pairs up to all six tubes.
Primary Purpose: Anti-Missile
Secondary Purpose: Marking of LZ�s
Payload: Each tube has 10 charges for a total of 60 charges. A typical load out will by two tubes loaded with infra red flares, two tubes loaded with chaff, and two tubes loaded with Protoculture flares. Parachute flares and leaflets can also be loaded.
Infrared flare:</i> Counters infrared guided (i.e. heat seeking) missiles and will grant the Beta pilot a +2 to dodge such missiles.
<u>Infrared flare:</i> Counters radar guided missiles and will grant the Beta pilot a +2 to dodge such missiles per each flare launched.
<u>Protoculture flare:</i> Counters Protoculture targeting systems by offering up a additional targets to be fired upon. Each Protoculture flare that is launched will grant the Beta pilot a +2 to dodge such missiles per each flare launched.
<u>Parachute flares: Will slowly float to the ground, but do not burn hot enough to decoy infra red guided missiles.
Leaflets: Are notes that are dropped during psychological operations and humanitarian missions.

3) GR-102 Wingroot mounted mini-missile launchers (2): Because the VDS-9A cannot transform into Battloid mode it was decided that mini-missile launchers would be useful in saturating a �hot landing� zone or decimate a group of Invid Mecha at close range. One launcher is found in each wing mount. Both launchers can be fired at the same time/target.
Primary Purpose: Close air support/saturation of an LZ.
Secondary Purpose: Anti-mecha/Defense
Mega-Damage:  Varies
Range:  Varies by missile type; usually 1/2 miles.
Rate of Fire:  Singly, or Volleys of 2, up to 36
Payload: 18 mini-missiles per wing root for a total of 36.

4) Wing Mounted Hardpoints (6) Each wing has three hard points for mounting ordinance.

5) Hand to Hand Combat:
Number of Attacks: See Bonuses
Hand to Hand Damage:
Kicks: 5D8 MD
Stomp Attack: 3D8 MD (target must be 12 ft (3.6 m) or smaller)
Power Kick, Jump Kick and Leap Kick: 2D4X10 MD, but count as two attacks.
Flying Leap Kick: 2D6X10 MD, but counts as three attacks
Flying Body Block/Ram: 5D6+4 MD, this counts as two attacks.


by jedi078 palladium Forms.


Mecha
Beta Veritechs
Mechanics