History:
Earth commissioned several new types of smaller combat vessels after the First Robotech War. Three of these were dedicated orbital combat shuttles for the Southern Cross and the REF. While for a small duration it looked as if a common design could be produced, the vastly different requirements eventually created three separate classes, each capable of carrying a small attack force (8 mecha or an Infantry platoon) to their battlefields. The Southern Cross commissioned the Pegasus Assault Shuttle, a mecha transport that mostly relied on its small size and large numbers. The REF built two vessels: the Azteca, a variant of the Pegasus, and the larger, abler and heavier Predator Assault Dropship, which had far better performance, but was almost half again as heavy and twice as expensive.
The Azteca fulfilled a need the REF had for a smaller, less expensive shuttle than the Predator to use in its smaller ships. In comparison to the Southern Cross model, the Azteca needed to have VTOL capability and the built in ability to travel from orbit to a planet's surface and back to orbit. The result was the simple, reliable and light assault shuttle. Almost 400 of these craft were built by the REF and performed admirably in their chosen role.
Model Type: ASC-34T
Vehicle Type: Trans-Orbital Assault Shuttle
Crew: Seven. Can carry 32 troops.
M.D.C. by Location:
| Forward Laser Turrets (3) |
200 each |
| Point Defense Laser Turrets (8) |
100 each |
| [1] Tail Fins (2) |
100 each |
| [1] Wings (2) |
1000 each |
| Cargo Bay Doors (2) |
200 each |
| Engines (rear section) |
500 |
| Reinforced Crew Compartment |
250 |
| Reinforced Cargo Compartment |
200 |
| Landing Gear (4) |
100 |
| [2] Main Body (hull) |
100 per 30 sq.ft. |
| [3] Total Main Body |
4000 |
Notes:
[1] Destroying the tail fins or wings have no effect in space. In an atmosphere, losing one tail fin will result in a -15% penalty to piloting rolls. Losing both will result in a -30% penalty to piloting rolls. Losing a wing will result in a -20% penalty to piloting rolls. Losing both will result in a -40% penalty to piloting rolls. All penalties are cumulative.
[2] Depleting 100 MDC of the main body will will punch a 30 foot square hole in the spacecraft. The pilot and passenger areas have additional reinforced protection.
[3] Depleting the MDC of the main body will wreck it and set the ship adrift. If the pilot and cargo compartments are intact the personnel may survive (18 hour emergency air supply). Destruction of the engines will set the craft adrift, but all systems function as normal.
Speed:
Flight Speed: Can cruise in an atmosphere at a maximum speed of Mach 2.5, double that in space. The shuttle has an orbital insertion booster built in that temporarily boosts its speed to Mach 9 for five minutes.
Hover: Can hover as high as 50 feet off the ground in VTOL mode for two minutes.
Statistical Data:
Height: 23.3 meters. 13 meters, with tails and antennas stowed.
Width: 32.2 meters.
Length: 77.7 meters.
Weight: 1190 metric tons fully loaded.
Power Source: Turbomeca RT-56 reaction mass plasma thrusters.
Cargo Capacity: 8 mecha units stowed in battloid configuration, or 200 metric tons.
Notes: +6 to dodge in space.
Weapon Systems:
- Forward Laser Turrets (3)
: A laser system based on the light lasers mounted on Zentraedi cruisers. The installation is housed in a compact turret mount. The Azteca has three such turrets, one to the rear of the cockpit and two to the sides.
Primary Purpose: Assault.
Range: 15 miles in atmosphere, double in space.
Mega-Damage: 2D6*20 MD per blast.
Rate of Fire: Four per melee.
Notes: +1 to strike, plus gunner's Weapon System skill.
- Point Defense Laser Turrets (8)
: A laser system designed for anti-mecha and anti-missile operations. The Azteca mounts four lasers per side, two above the wing root and two below. 
These turrets have a 360 degree rotation with a 270 degree arc of fire.
Primary Purpose: Defense.
Range: 1 mile in atmosphere, double in space.
Mega-Damage: 1D4*10 MD per blast.
Rate of Fire: Six per melee.
Notes: +1 to strike, plus gunner's Weapon System skill.
Special Equipment
Radar System: Over 70 targets, within a 500-mile area, can be identified, tracked, and visually displayed, with an accuracy margin of 94%. An array of large computer screens cover the walls of the cockpit.
Long Range Video and Communications System: Can send clean, accurate audio-visual transmissions up to 4,000 miles away, as well as pick up and monitor outside transmissions. The range of transmission is doubled in space and can be further extended by bouncing transmissions from one ship to another.
Hit Locations . | Front | Back | Sides | Top | Bottom |
----------------------------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+
Tail Fins (Main Body) | 01-09 | 01-10 | 01-10 | 01-10 | |
Wings (Main Body) | 10-25 | 11-22 | 11-17 | 11-17 | 01-17 |
Landing Gear (Main Body) | 26-29 | 23-26 | 18-21 | | 18-28 |
Forward Lasers (Main Body) | 30-35 | | 22-31 | 18-25 | 29-34 |
Point Defense Laser Turrets | 35-38 | 27-30 | 32-40 | 26-31 | 35-40 |
Cargo Bay Doors (Main Body) | 39-45 | 31-39 | 41-51 | 32-50 | |
Main Body (hull) | 46-93 | 40-70 | 52-82 | 51-74 | 41-89 |
Engine Section (Main Body) | | 71-00 | 83-94 | 75-00 | 90-00 |
Bridge (Crew Compartment) | 94-00 | | 95-00 | | |
Copyright © 2006, Linwood Foster. All rights reserved.
