So for Liam's General War AU there's an event called the Apollo Crisis which is pretty clearly a fight between the Lyrans and the Terran Hegemony and their Rim World Republic client state. But the actual rebels on Apollo got no
Now, the Switchblade name was originally meant to hint that it was a swing-wing design. But then I thought, 'Vehrec, this is an anarchist-designed platform, surely they can't all be built to a unified standard.' And I was right-so let's build some varrients. We'll start things off with the actual Switchblade itself.
Switchblade RDAF-1
Mass: 50 tons
Frame: RWDAA Exo-Shell
Power Plant: RWDAA HyperSTAR-1
Armor: RWDAA Panoply Plate
Armament:
2 Small Laser
1 LRM 15
2 Large Laser
Manufacturer: Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories
Primary Factory: Apollo Workshops
Communication System: RWDAA Hermes-Ishtar Talkset
Targeting & Tracking System: RWDAA Heavenly Archer
Introduction Year: 2578
Tech Rating/Availability: D/C-E-D-D
Cost: 2,136,750 C-bills
Overview
Built in secret by Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories, the Switchblade was a weapon designed to drive into the guts of an unprepared enemy-and one
barely designed at all, considering it's lackluster aerodynamics, it's underpowered cooling system, and it's tiny engine. However, for a fighter built under
seige conditions, the Switchblade is quite formidable, and comparable in most respects to the Lucifer of the Lyrans themselves.
Capabilities
Designed as a strike-fighter launching from and returning to planetary surfaces, the Switchblade features extra-large fuel tanks and extended life support
bottles to allow longer transits to and from battlezones. Its primary weaponry, two forward large lasers, is capable of overwhelming it's heat dispersion
circuit, so an additional weapon is provided in the form of a 15 tube LRM launcher. Two rear-mounted small lasers are for keeping the tail clear.
Type: Switchblade
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 1,026
Equipment Mass
Engine 150 Fusion 5.5
Safe Thrust: 5
Max Thrust: 8
Structural Integrity: 0
Heat Sinks: 0 5
Fuel: 560 7.0
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 152 9.5
Armor
Value
Nose 52
Wings 35/35
Aft 30
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
Large Laser RWG 5.0 8 8 8 0 0
LRM 15 NOS 7.0 5 9 9 9 0
LRM 15 Ammo (16) FSLG 2.0 - - - - -
Large Laser LWG 5.0 8 8 8 0 0
2 Small Lasers AFT 1.0 1 3 0 0 0
The plain-jane Switchblade is modeled a bit on the lucifer-but is much, much cheaper, at 2.1 million C-bills instead of 3.1. It's built by the blandly named 'Apollo Workshops' but what that actually means is that there's a sizeable cottage industry building these things in sheds and only the fusion reactors are needing clean rooms to build them. It's components are blandly named but have a few standouts-the Heavenly Archer has a very broad spectrum of 'expansion slots' to customize the targeting system with additional capabilities, something the mods use a lot. And the Hermes-Ishtar talkset was built by a communications company turned commune that has used it's V-tuber technology to create battlefield holoconferencing tech. Enjoy seeing your squadron mates customized and stylized personifications in the corner of your vision during combat! The biggest weakness of the design is heat-a frontal alpha strike pushes you 6 points over the neutral heat dispersion without thrust, and that's with 5/21 available tons of spacecraft being heat-sinks. So obviously, our first varrient tries to fix that.
Switchblade RDAF-1A
Mass: 50 tons
Frame: RWDAA Exo-Shell
Power Plant: RWDAA HyperSTAR-1
Cruising Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Armor: RWDAA Panoply Plate
Armament:
2 Small Laser
1 Medium Laser
2 LRM 15
Manufacturer: Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories
Primary Factory: Apollo Workshops
Communication System: RWDAA Hermes-Ishtar Talkset
Targeting & Tracking System: RWDAA Heavenly Archer
Introduction Year: 2578
Tech Rating/Availability: D/C-E-D-D
Cost: 2,230,500 C-bills
Overview
Built in secret by Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories, the Switchblade was a weapon designed to drive into the guts of an unprepared enemy-and one
barely designed at all, considering it's lackluster aerodynamics, it's underpowered cooling system, and it's tiny engine. However, for a fighter built under
seige conditions, the Switchblade is quite formidable, and comparable in most respects to the Lucifer of the Lyrans themselves.
Capabilities
Designed as a strike-fighter launching from and returning to planetary surfaces, the Switchblade features extra-large fuel tanks and extended life support
bottles to allow longer transits to and from battlezones. The one-A varrient aims for higher missile firepower, at the expense of lasers, but has a much more
gentle heat curve.
Type: Switchblade
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 991
Equipment Mass
Engine 150 Fusion 5.5
Safe Thrust: 5
Max Thrust: 8
Structural Integrity: 0
Heat Sinks: 15 5
Fuel: 560 7.0
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 152 9.5
Armor
Value
Nose 52
Wings 35/35
Aft 30
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
LRM 15 RWG 7.0 5 9 9 9 0
Medium Laser NOS 1.0 3 5 0 0 0
LRM 15 Ammo (32) FSLG 4.0 - - - - -
LRM 15 LWG 7.0 5 9 9 9 0
2 Small Laser AFT 1.0 1 3 0 0 0
The 1A is a fairly simple conversion on paper, but in reality would prove much more complex. Replacing two large lasers with a medium laser and an extra LRM 15 meant that to ensure weight distribution, the design would need to shift its missile launchers into the wings, and the laser to the nose. However, the result is a very, very heat-friendly design, and one with quite a bit of stand-off firepower from 15 missile tubes, even if it's a bit sluggish. With each hit from those being 9 points though, it's pretty certain to threshold *something* eventually.
Switchblade RDAF-1B
Mass: 50 tons
Frame: RWDAA Exo-Shell
Power Plant: RWDAA HyperSTAR-1
Cruising Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Armor: RWDAA Panoply Plate
Armament:
2 Small Laser
2 Medium Laser
5 SRM 6
Manufacturer: Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories
Primary Factory: Apollo Workshops
Communication System: RWDAA Hermes-Ishtar Talkset
Targeting & Tracking System: RWDAA Heavenly Archer
Introduction Year: 2578
Tech Rating/Availability: D/C-E-D-D
Cost: 2,260,500 C-bills
Overview
Built in secret by Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories, the Switchblade was a weapon designed to drive into the guts of an unprepared enemy-and one
barely designed at all, considering it's lackluster aerodynamics, it's underpowered cooling system, and it's tiny engine. However, for a fighter built under
seige conditions, the Switchblade is quite formidable. The heavy SRM armament of the 1B prefigures the Ironsides by 20 years but carries twice as much
ammo.
Capabilities
Designed as a strike-fighter launching from and returning to planetary surfaces, the Switchblade features extra-large fuel tanks and extended life support
bottles to allow longer transits to and from battlezones. The one-B uses an excess of medium lasers and SRM launchers to create a close-in brawler that has
even worse heat characteristics than the original design. The resultant shotgun blast of missiles is however, highly effective, and it retains the standard
tailswatter twin small lasers.
Type: Switchblade
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 974
Equipment Mass
Engine 150 Fusion 5.5
Safe Thrust: 5
Max Thrust: 8
Structural Integrity: 0
Heat Sinks: 15 5
Fuel: 560 7.0
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 152 9.5
Armor
Value
Nose 52
Wings 35/35
Aft 30
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
2 Medium Laser NOS 2.0 3 5 0 0 0
SRM 6 NOS 3.0 4 8 0 0 0
2 SRM 6 RWG 6.0 4 8 0 0 0
SRM 6 Ammo (30) FSLG 2.0 - - - - -
2 SRM 6 LWG 6.0 4 8 0 0 0
2 Small Laser AFT 1.0 1 3 0 0 0
The B-variant might well stand for 'bad idea' but there's nothing bad about it's short range firepower, with a full alpha drilling through 50 points of armor, meaning that a squadron of these can, if they get close enough, deliver 30 points of capital damage before taking a turn to cool off and turn around. That's enough to crack the skin of a Vampire-class Destroyer, if they can get in close, though the odds of rolling that high and getting that close are admittedly remote.
Switchblade RDAF-1C
Mass: 50 tons
Frame: RWDAA Exo-Shell
Power Plant: RWDAA HyperSTAR-1
Cruising Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Armor: RWDAA Panoply Plate
Armament:
2 PPC
1 Medium Laser
Manufacturer: Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories
Primary Factory: Apollo Workshops
Communication System: RWDAA Hermes-Ishtar Talkset
Targeting & Tracking System: RWDAA Heavenly Archer
Introduction Year: 2578
Tech Rating/Availability: D/C-E-D-D
Cost: 2,127,375 C-bills
Overview
Built in secret by Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories, the Switchblade was a weapon designed to drive into the guts of an unprepared enemy-and one
barely designed at all, considering it's lackluster aerodynamics, it's underpowered cooling system, and it's tiny engine. However, for a fighter built under
seige conditions, the Switchblade is quite formidable.
Capabilities
Designed as a strike-fighter launching from and returning to planetary surfaces, the Switchblade features extra-large fuel tanks and extended life support
bottles to allow longer transits to and from battlezones. The one-C mounts a pair of PPCs with an augmented cooling system, and removes the paired small
laser tail gun in favor of a single medium.
Type: Switchblade
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 982
Equipment Mass
Engine 150 Fusion 5.5
Safe Thrust: 5
Max Thrust: 8
Structural Integrity: 0
Heat Sinks: 20 10
Fuel: 560 7.0
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 152 9.5
Armor
Value
Nose 52
Wings 35/35
Aft 30
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
PPC RWG 7.0 10 10 10 0 0
PPC LWG 7.0 10 10 10 0 0
Medium Laser AFT 1.0 3 5 0 0 0
The C variant is quite rare-PPCs are hard to come by, and it's not at all clear what the role of this design is that the standard can't do better. Still, sometimes you want to have dual lighting-based death to spew at all and sundry.
Switchblade RDAF-1P
Mass: 50 tons
Frame: RWDAA Exo-Shell
Power Plant: RWDAA HyperSTAR-200
Cruising Speed: 64.8 kph
Maximum Speed: 97.2 kph
Armor: RWDAA Adamant Jewel
Armament:
1 LRM 20
1 Medium Laser
2 Large Laser
Manufacturer: Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories
Primary Factory: Apollo Workshops
Communication System: RWDAA Hermes-Ishtar Talkset
Targeting & Tracking System: RWDAA Heavenly Archer
Introduction Year: 2578
Tech Rating/Availability: E/D-F(F*)-D-D
Cost: 2,703,958 C-bills
Overview
Built in secret by Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories, the perfected Switchblade was a weapon designed to drive into the guts of an unprepared
enemy-and one significantly cleaned up with merely average aerodynamics, a shockingly cutting-edge cooling system, and it's industry-standard sized
engine. Still designed to be built under Seige conditions, the Switchblade is meant to be assembled in secret for the grand break-out, using it's dual large
lasers and powerful LRM battery to cut through other fighters at range.
Capabilities
Designed as a strike-fighter launching from and returning to planetary surfaces, the standard Switchblade features extra-large fuel tanks and extended life
support bottles to allow longer transits to and from battlezones. The one-P is the 'perfected' and up-teched version of the fighter, mounting a larger
HyperStar 200 engine, double heat sinks, more advanced and more armor, though at the cost of a slight ammount of fuel.
Type: Switchblade
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 1,304
Equipment Mass
Engine 200 Fusion 8.5
Safe Thrust: 6
Max Thrust: 9
Structural Integrity: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 [20] 0
Fuel: 400 5.0
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor (Ferro) 188 10.5
Armor
Value
Nose 60
Wings 46/46
Aft 36
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
Large Laser RWG 5.0 8 8 8 0 0
LRM 20 NOS 10.0 6 12 12 12 0
LRM 20 Ammo (12) FSLG 2.0 - - - - -
Large Laser LWG 5.0 8 8 8 0 0
Medium Laser AFT 1.0 3 5 0 0 0
The P variant aims to correct everything wrong with the standard type. It increases the size of the LRM launcher, increases the armor, engine size
and heat capacity, and now only overheats slightly instead of impressively. About the only thing not improved is fuel capacity. While designs for the P had
existed for years at the time of the Apollo crisis, it is unlikely that any would prove ready for combat due to the need to source advanced technology for
armor and heat sinks. Its new engine is more reliable and quicker to start, and it's if anything, more modular and reconfigurable with the plumbing of the fighter ready to use it's fuel to actively rebalance in flight.
Switchblade RDAF-1X
Mass: 50 tons
Frame: RWDAA Exo-Shell
Power Plant: RWDAA HyperSTAR-200
Cruising Speed: 64.8 kph
Maximum Speed: 97.2 kph
Armor: RWDAA Adamant Jewel
Armament:
5 Medium Laser
1 Gauss Rifle
Manufacturer: Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories
Primary Factory: Apollo Workshops
Communication System: RWDAA Hermes-Ishtar Talkset
Targeting & Tracking System: RWDAA Heavenly Archer
Introduction Year: 2600
Tech Rating/Availability: E/D-F(F*)-D-D
Cost: 2,691,708 C-bills
Overview
Built in secret by Rim World Democratic Anarchist Armories, the perfected Switchblade was a weapon designed to drive into the guts of an unprepared
enemy-and one significantly cleaned up with merely average aerodynamics, a shockingly cutting-edge cooling system, and it's industry-standard sized
engine. Small numbers have been modified as technology testbeds.
Capabilities
Designed as a strike-fighter launching from and returning to planetary surfaces, the standard Switchblade features extra-large fuel tanks and extended life
support bottles to allow longer transits to and from battlezones. The one-X is the experimental mad science version of the fighter, mounting a larger
HyperStar 200 engine, double heat sinks, more advanced and more armor, and a unique gauss rifle.
Type: Switchblade
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 1,488
Equipment Mass
Engine 200 Fusion 8.5
Safe Thrust: 6
Max Thrust: 9
Structural Integrity: 0
Heat Sinks: 10 [20] 0
Fuel: 480 6.0
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor (Ferro) 188 10.5
Armor
Value
Nose 60
Wings 46/46
Aft 36
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
Gauss Rifle NOS 15.0 1 15 15 15 0
2 Medium Laser RWG 2.0 3 5 0 0 0
Gauss Rifle Ammo (16) FSLG 2.0 - - - - -
2 Medium Laser LWG 2.0 3 5 0 0 0
Medium Laser AFT 1.0 3 5 0 0 0
The X variant is a variety of experimental weapons testbed designs based on the P variant. These ranged from micro-PPCs, to this example, which hefted a prototype Gauss rifle. While not having the punch of some other designs, being first to mount such weapons does provide a noticeable morale advantage, even if some technicians decry the temperamental 'one off' nature of the X series. And it's always nice to send a 15 point giant marble out to ruin someone's day.
