Phaeton Assault Quadvee.The Phaeton was Clan Hell’s Horses first attempt at an assault weight Quadvee and is generally seen as a success. Although less well armed than an equivalent weight Mech it has allowed the Horses to add a well-armed ‘anvil’ unit to their ‘Mixed Vehicle’ Nova’s. It fills a gap as the Horses actually lack for an equivalent tank in the same weight class, with the Tourman being notably top heavy with the inclusion of the Aithon assault transport and the venerable Mars XL.
Built around a 340XL engine the Phaeton can reach a maximum speed of 64kph in Mech or Vehicle mode. Its four broad tracks give good ground resistance. Its endo-composite skeleton is draped in 17.5 tons of armour allowing the Phaeton to take a considerable amount of damage. And its speed allows it to outrun heavier assault tanks and keep up with the slower assault Omni Mech’s in Horse service.
Unlike the smaller Anansi/Euros the Phaeton, named after one of steeds of Ares, the ancient Greek God of war, there was no ‘controversy’ with the Quadvee’s name. Like the Anansi, the Phaeton also features a dual ejection seat for both driver and gunner but again, the ejection problems that trouble the Anansi are repeated, with ejection being easier for the gunner and more dangerous for the driver in the well shielded cockpit.
Designed as a general-purpose unit the Phaeton whilst difficult to maintain and due to it being newly deployed, spares are somewhat hard to come by, the Scientists in charge incorporated an Ares A/44 Battle Computer. This system helps sync the conversion systems as well as assists in coordinating the firing cycles of the Quadvee’s weapon systems. When fully active the system helps the Quadvee run somewhat cooler by regulating recharge cycles and reactor draw.
Like the Anansi the Phaeton makes full use of modular technology to carry a wide range of weapons and electronics. In Iota Galaxy, the Phaeton is still fairly rare but is often a command unit for a ‘vehicle’ Binary. This has not stopped them from being massed together for larger engagements although this is rare due to the low number of them in service.
QuirksDifficult to maintain
Non-standard parts
Dangerous ejection
Combat Computer
VariantsPrime – The ‘standard’ and thus far most common variant is a hot-running general-purpose design that can engage targets at all ranges. A gauss rifle, fed by a 2-ton ammo bin forms the Prime’s main armament whilst a quartet of ER Medium lasers and a pair of SRM-6s provide additional firepower as the range drops. The SRM’s only have 1 ton of ammo between them but they are viewed as a more defensive weapon than offensive and this somewhat limited ammunition supply is not viewed as a negative. Finally, an ECM suite can help spoof hostile fire control systems and jam enemy C3 systems. The Prime is a jack of all trades and its flexibility make it popular with its crews.
Phaeton Prime
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,282
Cost: 22,418,609 C-bills
Movement: 4/6
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 138 (Endo-Composite)
Armor: 279/279
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 27 41
Center Torso (rear) 13
Right Torso 18 27
Right Torso (rear) 9
Left Torso 18 27
Left Torso (rear) 9
Front Right Leg 18 36
Front Left Leg 18 36
Rear Right Leg 18 36
Rear Left Leg 18 36
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser LT 5
ER Medium Laser LT 5
ER Medium Laser RT 5
ER Medium Laser RT 5
SRM 6 LT 4
SRM 6 RT 4
Gauss Rifle LT 1
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
Gauss Ammo LT 8
Gauss Ammo CT 8
SRM 6 Ammo RT 15
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Tracks RLL
Endo-Composite CT
Endo-Composite RT
Endo-Composite RT
Endo-Composite RT
ECM Suite HD
Alfa – The Phaeton A is built as a support unit, capable of engaging foes with indirect fire as well as in open battle. A pair of LRM-15’s with Artemis IV guidance form the main armament, with each launcher drawing from its own 2-ton ammo bin. A large pulse laser buried in the chest is supported at short ranges by a pair of Heavy Medium lasers, giving the A an impressive bite which has surprised several opponents. A pair of heatsinks were also installed to allow the A to use its weapons although like the Prime, the A runs hot when pushed. The A has also picked up the nickname of ‘boom-box’ amongst its crew due to the sheer volume of explosive or unstable equipment in the side torsos. Because of this, crews of the A tend to hang back and rely on their missiles and pulse laser to bring down opponents.
Phaeton A
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,210
Cost: 23,045,759 C-bills
Movement: 4/6
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 12 [24]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 138 (Endo-Composite)
Armor: 279/279
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 27 41
Center Torso (rear) 13
Right Torso 18 27
Right Torso (rear) 9
Left Torso 18 27
Left Torso (rear) 9
Front Right Leg 18 36
Front Left Leg 18 36
Rear Right Leg 18 36
Rear Left Leg 18 36
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
LRM 15 LT 5
LRM 15 RT 5
Large Pulse Laser CT 10
Improved Heavy Medium Laser LT 7
Improved Heavy Medium Laser RT 7
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo LT 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo LT 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo RT 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo RT 8
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Tracks RLL
Endo-Composite RT
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite RT
Artemis IV FCS LT
Artemis IV FCS RT
Bravo – Designed with an eye towards anti-armour and infantry operations the B also provides long range AA protection thanks to its HAG-20 which draws from a 2-ton ammo bin. The opposite torso is home to a Plasma cannon and its 2-ton ammo bin as well as a pair of Medium pulse lasers. A pair of flamers allow the Phaeton to destroy infantry forces whilst the Plasma cannon can cripple tanks and cause heat problems for hostile Mechs. An active probe allows the Phaeton to hunt down targets in rough terrain or built up areas and then it can engage them with its wide range of firepower. Unfortunately, like the Prime, the B has no extra heatsinks installed and it runs hot when pushed, and this forces the gunner to be quite selective with their weapon choices.
Phaeton B
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,056
Cost: 22,773,809 C-bills
Movement: 4/6
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 138 (Endo-Composite)
Armor: 279/279
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 27 41
Center Torso (rear) 13
Right Torso 18 27
Right Torso (rear) 9
Left Torso 18 27
Left Torso (rear) 9
Front Right Leg 18 36
Front Left Leg 18 36
Rear Right Leg 18 36
Rear Left Leg 18 36
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
HAG/20 LT 4
Plasma Cannon RT 7
Medium Pulse Laser RT 4
Medium Pulse Laser RT 4
Flamer LT 3
Flamer RT 3
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
HAG/20 Ammo LT 6
HAG/20 Ammo LT 6
Plasma Cannon Ammo RT 10
Plasma Cannon Ammo RT 10
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Tracks RLL
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite CT
Endo-Composite CT
Endo-Composite RT
Active Probe HD
Charlie – Built to operate with minimal support in longer engagements the C is a dedicated sniper. A pair of ER PPCs and a pair of small pulse lasers comprise the C’s armament, making it little more heavily armed than the 35-ton Adder. Like the Adder the C is equipped with a targeting computer, which makes it a fearsomely accurate sniper. And unlike the Adder, the C is fitted with an extra six tons of laser heatsinks which allow the Quadvee to use both PPC’s without any heat troubles. In service, the C has started to replace the venerable Athena Combat vehicle as a long-range support direct fire unit. And although less well armed at shorter ranges, its considerably faster and much better protected, and does not have to worry about ammunition. Finally, the flexibility of the Quadvee allows it to cross terrain that an Athena crew could only dream about traversing.
Phaeton C
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,390
Cost: 21,416,834 C-bills
Movement: 4/6
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 16 [32]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 138 (Endo-Composite)
Armor: 279/279
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 27 41
Center Torso (rear) 13
Right Torso 18 27
Right Torso (rear) 9
Left Torso 18 27
Left Torso (rear) 9
Front Right Leg 18 36
Front Left Leg 18 36
Rear Right Leg 18 36
Rear Left Leg 18 36
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER PPC LT 15
ER PPC RT 15
Small Pulse Laser LT 2
Small Pulse Laser RT 2
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Tracks RLL
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite RT
Endo-Composite RT
Targeting Computer RT
Delta – Designed as a ‘brawler’ the D is built to bring heavy firepower to bare against opponents at medium to short range. An Improved heavy large laser and Ultra AC-10 give it the firepower to quickly bring down hostile Mechs, whilst a pair of ER Medium lasers can also be employed, all be it at a significant heat burden. Finally, the D has a micro-pulse laser for limited anti-infantry defences. An ECM and AMS are installed to buy time for the D to get into range to bring its heavy firepower to bare. Two extra laser heatsinks barely help with the heat of the D’s weapons though and even with the Battle computer operating at full capacity the D runs very hot.
Phaeton D
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,103
Cost: 22,777,972 C-bills
Movement: 4/6
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 12 [24]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 138 (Endo-Composite)
Armor: 279/279
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 27 41
Center Torso (rear) 13
Right Torso 18 27
Right Torso (rear) 9
Left Torso 18 27
Left Torso (rear) 9
Front Right Leg 18 36
Front Left Leg 18 36
Rear Right Leg 18 36
Rear Left Leg 18 36
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser LT 5
ER Medium Laser LT 5
AMS HD 1
Micro Pulse Laser LT 1
Improved Heavy Large Laser LT 18
Ultra AC/10 RT 3
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
AMS Ammo CT 24
Ultra AC/10 Ammo RT 10
Ultra AC/10 Ammo RT 10
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Tracks RLL
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite RT
Endo-Composite RT
ECM Suite CT
Echo – Whilst the ATM would seem like a good match for a Quadvee, the weight of the launcher and the required tonnage of ammo cut into the limited space and weight available on a Quadvee chassis, and this limits its utility.
Armed with a pair of ATM-9’s each drawing from a 2-ton ammo bin, the Phaeton E can make full use of the flexible warheads of the ATM, but this also entails careful ammunition selection prior to deploying. Alongside the ATMs, an ER large laser gives the E a potent long-range bite, and to defend itself at short range, a quartet of ER small lasers can cause a surprising amount of damage and act as a deterrent to hostile Battle Armour forces. Three extra heatsinks allow the E to use its laser and ATMs without any heat concerns whilst retaining full mobility. Despite its somewhat limited battlefield endurance the E is quite popular and is one of the more commonly seen variants.
Phaeton E
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,059
Cost: 22,307,609 C-bills
Movement: 4/6
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 13 [26]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 138 (Endo-Composite)
Armor: 279/279
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 27 41
Center Torso (rear) 13
Right Torso 18 27
Right Torso (rear) 9
Left Torso 18 27
Left Torso (rear) 9
Front Right Leg 18 36
Front Left Leg 18 36
Rear Right Leg 18 36
Rear Left Leg 18 36
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ATM 9 LT 6
ATM 9 RT 6
ER Large Laser CT 12
ER Small Laser LT 2
ER Small Laser LT 2
ER Small Laser RT 2
ER Small Laser RT 2
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
ATM 9 Ammo LT 7
ATM 9 Ammo LT 7
ATM 9 Ammo RT 7
ATM 9 Ammo RT 7
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Tracks RLL
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite LT
Endo-Composite RT
Endo-Composite RT
DeploymentOnly just entering service the Phaeton often acts as a command ‘vehicle’ for a Nova or Binary, but it’s also been used as a general assault unit thanks to its toughness and firepower. One Phaeton, the personal ride of Star Colonel Zarak Hawker and the Star Colonel is viewed as being somewhat eccentric due to his open channel broadcasts during battle which are a mixture of barked orders and high-handed taunts to his opponents from the gunnery seat of his green and purple Phaeton. The Star Colonel is a proponent of Quadvee’s despite not being a TankWarrior himself and his Cluster makes extensive use of the ‘tanks’ in Trials against Clan and Spheroid opponents alike.
Art by the AMAZING Matt Plog -
https://mattplog.deviantart.com/Fluff and variants by me with input from Dragon Cat.
Thoughts and comments are most welcome!
