Embarked onboard the RFS Minerva when it appeared in the Three Galaxies was a substantial unit of hover tanks. They were considered very effective and flexible although the design did not carry the heavy guns carried on many designs operated within the Three Galaxies and the design was also under armored. Still, it was fast and extremely maneuverable. As a result, the engineers developed an advanced version of the transformable tank which is designed to take advantage of the new technology available within the Three Galaxies. Like most upgraded designs, the veritech hover tank is a virtually new design. As with most designs, most of the weapon systems are carried on other designs to reduce development costs. The design is only operated in limited numbers compared to most Destroid designs but is still well liked by their crews. The designs are considered extremely fast and are very well armed and armored. Like most REF designs, there has been some criticism that a more conventional hover tank would be more effective.

Probably the single most important change in the design is the replacement of the thrusters used for hovering with a contra-grav propulsion system. This allows the hover tank in transport mode to travel at twice as fast as the version using conventional thrusters. One advantage over conventional thrusters is that the upgraded veritech hover tank can operate in transport mode in such places as airless moons. It also allows the design to fly up to several hundred meters in the air and the thrusters can be used for atmospheric descent. Still, the tank should not be considered a true fighter and is best operated at low level using terrain for cover. The Contra-Grav hover system also allows limited flight in battloid mode and allows it to travel much faster in tank mode than in the original model of the veritech hover tank.

As with other redesigned REF designs, the armor has been improved and the tank can take far more damage than the original design. This includes the twin arm shields. Original prototype versions did not carry a force field but later versions remove the passenger space and replace it with a force field identical to the force field carried on the Quinlin Rau battle suit and similar to Naruni type systems. The upgraded armor and addition of the force field means that the upgraded model can take far more damage than the original model. All electronic have been upgraded and the sensor systems are equal to most tank designs operated within the Three Galaxies. Due to its size, it would be more accurate to consider the veritech hover tank to be more of a light tank design. To power the upgrades in the design, a far more powerful fusion reactor is carried in the veritech hover tank. Protoculture systems are only retained in control systems. These are designed to boost pilot reaction speed.

So far weapon systems have not been discussed although they can be consider as important as the upgrade in the propulsion system. The original Ion Cannon is replaced by a powerful particle beam. The eighty millimeter particle beam is identical to the weapon system carried on the upgraded Gladiator although only a single weapon is mounted. The weapon was originally developed from the gun carried on the Human Alliance Kramer main battle tank. The system used in the veritech hover tank is developed to be smaller the original system but have the same energy output. The one weakness is due to power demands, the capacitor for the particle beam cannot recharge while the force field is recharging. The weapon is modified so it can be fired normally when the design is in Battloid mode.

For secondary weapons, a pulse laser replaces the auto cannons on the original Southern Cross model. Unlike the original model, the pulse laser can be fired in both Transport and Tank Modes. The weapon mount is identical to the nose mounted laser carried on the upgraded Alpha fighter. The hand held weapon is also from the Alpha fighter. In this case, it is the GU-1000GR Gravity Rail Gun Pod. It is highly effective against targets wich are impervious to energy weapons. A final upgrade to the weapon systems is the addition of mini-missile launchers in the arm shields. This gives the veritech hover tank forty-eight mini-missiles which can be used in all modes.

Model Type: Spartas ATAC-03-REF
Class: Veritech Hover Tank (Transformable)
Crew: One

M.D.C. By Location:

	Head:	140
	Headlight (2 on top):	12 each
	Hands (2):	120 each
	Arms (2):	250 each
	Arm Shields (2):	900 each
	Legs (2):	350 each
	[1] Retractable Hover Units (2):	120 each
	[1] Rear, Lower Hover Units (2):	100 each
	Retractable Utility Arms (3):	10 each
	Main Particle Beam Cannon:	250
	Front Mounted Pulse Lasers (1):	100
	Mini-Missile Launchers (2, under arm shields):	120 each
	GU-1000GR Gravity Rail Gun Pod:	100
	Reinforced Pilots Compartment:	300
	[2] Main Body:	550
	[3] Force Field:	320

Notes:
[1] The lower hover units are located on the bottom in transport mode and rear underside in tank mode, and lower back in battloid mode. The retractable hover units are only a target in transport mode.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the mecha down completely, rendering it useless. Note: Lasers inflict half damage due to armor being special laser resistant materials.
[3] The force field will stop energy attacks and fast moving objects. Slow moving objects can pas through. It Regenerates 1 MDC per melee unless overloaded and then cannot be activated for 12 hours if overloaded. The force field pulls its power off of the power plant (Particle Beam and force field cannot recharge simultaneously.)

Speed:
Battloid Mode, Running: 50 mph (80.5 kph)
Battloid Mode, Flying: Can hover at any altitude up to 656.2 feet (200 meters) using contra-grav flight units with a maximum speed of 100 miles per hour (160.9 kph.)
Tank (Guardian) Mode, Hovering: Can hover at any altitude up to 656.2 feet (200 meters) using contra-grav flight units with a maximum speed of 100 miles per hour (160.9 kph.) Normally hovers at around 10 feet (3 meters) or less to avoid enemy fire.
Transport Mode, Hovering: Can hover at any altitude up to 656.2 feet (200 meters) using contra-grav flight units with a maximum speed of 200 miles per hour (322 kph.) Normally hovers at around 10 feet (3 meters) or less to avoid enemy fire. At low altitude, reduce to speed by 25% due to terrain.
Underwater: It can walk along the bottom of the sea floor at 25% of maximum speed.
Maximum Ocean Depth: 2 mile (3.2 km
Maximum Effective Range: Limited only by the pilot's endurance. Emergency food and air supply will keep the pilot alive for a week.

Statistical Data:
Height: 20.3 feet (6.2 meters) in Battloid mode, 14.7 feet (4.5 meters) in Tank (Guardian) mode, and 7.4 feet (2.3 meters) in tank and transport modes.
Width: 14.3 feet (4.4 meters) in Battloid mode, 7.4 feet (2.3 meters) in Tank (Guardian) mode, and 9 foot (2.7 meters) in transport mode.
Length: 6.5 feet (2.0 meters) in Battloid mode, 23.4 feet (7.1 meters) in Tank (Guardian) mode, and 19.6 feet (6.0 meters) in Transport mode.
Weight: 16.6 tons (15.1 metric tons) not including external medium range missile launchers.
Physical Strength: Equal to Robotic P.S. 55
Power System: Advanced Fusion (25 Years). Uses one protoculture cells for special systems (100 Year Duration), mainly control systems only. The protoculture system has a special anti-tampering device.
Cargo: Minimal space is available in the pilots compartment, but there is a 5 ft x 5 ft x 3 ft space behind cockpit designed to carry a cyclone
Market Cost: Not Sold, If found it would probably be worth 150 to 200 million for a new, undamaged, and fully operation Veritech Hover Tank complete with weapons.

Weapons Systems:

1. 80 mm Heavy Particle Beam (1): Mounted in place of the rapid firing Ion cannon. The heavy particle beam draw huge amount of power and energy is stored in a bank of powerful capacitors. The capacitors allow for rapid firing but are limited to forty shots before needing to recharge. The cannon can retain a rate of fire of 8 shots per minute only. It cannot recharge while the force field is regenerating. While the cannon is only fully exposed in tank form, it can be used in battloid mode by extending from the left arm (standard rate of fire) Mounted with the cannon is a powerful fire control system.
   Maximum Effective Range: 12.4 miles (20 km) in an atmosphere and 1,240 miles (2000 km) in space.
   Mega-Damage: 4D6x10+20 per blast.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the Pilot's combined hand to hand (usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: 40 shots in capacitors, recharges at the rate of two shot per melee
   Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +4 to strike with particle beam and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when moving.
2. Hi Intensity Laser Cannon (1): Replacing the 32 mm autocannon, mounted on the front of the hovertank in transport and tank mode. It cannot be used in battloid mode. The weapon is not quite as powerful as the rail gun pod is. This laser cannons gives the fighter what is most needed originally, a weapon that does not rely on ammunition. The design of the weapon system is copied from similar Phase World weapon systems.
   Maximum Effective Range: 5 miles (8 km) in atmosphere, 500 miles (805 km) in space.
   Mega Damage: 1D4x10 MDC for single shot and 3D4x10 for Three round burst (Counts as one attack)
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the pilots combined hand to hand (usually 5 or 6)
   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
3. GU-1000GR Gravity Rail Gun: Handheld weapon and can only be used in battloid mode. The cannons fires its projectiles at a significant fraction of the speed of light so it can use the cannon against high sublight speed targets.
   Maximum Effective Range: 16 miles (25.8 km) through atmosphere and 1,600 miles (2,580 km) in space.
   Mega-Damage: 40 round burst does 4D6x10 M.D. (Both weapons do 8D6x10 when two rail guns are combined)
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: 1,600 Rounds (40 bursts) per clip. Carries two extra clips.
4. Mini Missile Launchers (2): Mounted under the arm shields. Missile has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it is acceding it maximum safe acceleration)
   Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space.
   Mega Damage: As per Mini-Missile Type (See Phase World Missile Tables.
   Rate of Fire: Volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), twelve (12), or twenty-four (24). Remember, one volley counts as one attack regardless of the number of missile.
   Payload: Twenty-Four (24) missiles in each launcher for Forty-Eight (48) mini missiles total.
5. Optional Hand to Hand: Treat as the same as the original hand to hand combat except increase the damages as listed.
   Restrained Punch: 2D6 M.D.
   Crush in Hand: 3D6 M.D.
   Full Strength Punch: 6D6 M.D.
   Power Punch: 2D6x10 M.D.
   Kick: 4D6 M.D.
   Leap Kick: 8D6 M.D.
   Stomp: 3D6 M.D.
   Body Block /Ram: 6D6 M.D.
   Body Flip /Throw: 4D4 M.D.

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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2006, Kitsune. All rights reserved.