"Eew, what a mess!"

"The Commander of Fire Base Charley expected an attack and we had prepared extensively. He had expected that to use their magic to make our lasers and other energy weapons to be ineffective so he had prepared us with rail gun emplacements and has up lay down a thick minefield. We figured that there was no way that they could penetrate the minefields which we had set up.

We could see a group of tanks approaching our lines. They appeared to be some of those tanks which the builders call 'Super Sherman.' Some of them had giant rollers on the front which had what looked like chains or flails. We knew the weapon was designed to clear mines but we figured that they would quickly be overwhelmed by the number of mines which we had put in place.

We began firing on the tanks and some sort of force field appeared to protect the vehicle from damage. From the front of two of the tanks with the flails, a wave seemed to shake the ground. The ground shook as all the mines within the area of effect detonated. Four tanks, also outfitted with the flails, began advancing on our positions. While they were advancing, the two other tanks because firing at our main positions.

Our minefield was wide enough that the shockwave which the first two tanks created did not destroy all of the mines. I noted that the flails on the four advancing tanks were spinning incredibly fast and as they advanced into the uncleared potion of the minefield, they started detonating mines. The detonations seemed to inflict no damage against the mine clearing equipment.

As they advanced over the embankments, one of them ran over Private Shelton. He tried to run but could not escape from the tank. The flails shredded the armor of the private. A few moments later, the three other forward tanks crested our fortifications. The major ordered us to retreat.

The Earth Shaker T.W. Mine Clearing Device is designed to be attached to the front of a tank, especially techno-wizard tank designs, and is designed to destroy mines in the front of the tank. The mine clearing device looks like a number of flails on a rotating cylinder. The Mine clearing device is modeled after mine clearing device used on World War II tanks. The Mine Clearing Device has two main enchantments with both being useful against mines.

Weight: 2 tons ( metric tons)
Mega Damage: 2D4x10+10 (Has an 88% chance of destroying surface mines and 40% of detonating underground mines [up to a depth of 3 feet (0.9 meters)]
MDC of Mine Clearer: 300. Damage only occurs when the Mine clearing device is deliberately damage or it strikes a mine. The Mine Clearer can only be repaired by the spell "Mend the broken"
Powers:
Hyper-Flails: The first enchantment combines the spells of "Speed Weapon" and "Power Weapon". The Flails will automatically destroy surface mines and have an 88% chance of clearing any underground mine [up to a depth of 3 feet (0.9 meters)] which the mine clearing device is used against. In addition, any target run over by the mine clearing flails will take 3D6x10+30 making it a dangerous weapon in its own right. Both the damage and percentages are not cumulative with normal damage and percentages for clearing mines. While these enchantments are active, the flails are virtually immune to damage and takes no damage from striking mines. Ability requires 50 P.P.E. to activate and has a duration of 12 melee rounds (3 minute)
Shock-Quake: The second enchantment combines the ability of a minor earthquake with a surface shockwave. Unlike a standard shockwave, the effect of the enchantment is only forward of the tank and covers a cone 200 feet (61 meters) long and 80 feet (24.4 meters) in diameter at the extreme end of the cone. The combined earthquake and shockwave lasts but an instant but has the ability to destroy virtually any mine which is in the forward area of destruction. The shockwave and earthquake inflict 1D4x10 M.D.C. to targets within the area of effect. All S.D.C. targets within the effect of the enchantment will be destroyed with trees being splintered into kindling and normal rock being shattered into powder. The effects of the enchantment are also effective against infantry. Humanoid figures and animals weighing less than 500 lbs (225 kg) have an 88% chance are likely to be knocked down, 500 lbs (225 kg) to 1000 lbs (450 kg) have a 50% of being knocked down, and 1000 lbs (450 kg) to 1 ton (907 kg) have a 20% of being knocked down. Targets knocked down will lose one attack while getting up. Larger creatures are unaffected but still take full damage. Ability costs 80 P.P.E. to activate.
Penalties: Reduce speed of vehicle by 10% when off and by 50% when operating
Black Market Cost: 10 million credits

[Federation of Magic is a trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2004, Kitsune. All rights reserved.