Author note: I amazoned up some Mechwarrior Age of Destruction boosters the other day to sacrifice to the Hobby Saw. Upon receiving them I found I'd gotten a pair of DI multipurpose VTOLs. Looking at the front end of the VTOL, I got a ridiculous idea and began giggling...Whitestreak V-3000c
The Whitestreak series (affectionately known as the "Crotch Rocket", as the cockpit sits directly on top of the fusion plant) is best known as one of the premier civilian aerospace racers in the Federated Suns, having been produced for decades by Risling Pleasurecraft of Ramona. Quick, nimble, and cheap enough to be affordable to even the only moderately wealthy pleasure seaker, the Whitestreak has spread across the inner sphere, and can be found in many a garage or private airfield.
As the Jihad wore on, the world of Ramona and Risling Pleasurecraft became increasingly concerned with its own security. With industrial sites being destroyed across the Suns, Risling rightly feared that its manufacturing center (able to service and potentially construct combat capable aerofighters) would eventually become a target, however they also expected no help from the beleagered AFFS. Believing they had nowhere else to turn, Risling (with an enormous grant from the jittery planetary government) set out do handle thing themselves, and turned to the Whitestreak.
The V-3000c is a basic "combat refit" of the 3000 series racer. Mostly stock, the only modification came from removing the wing fuel tanks (accounting for two thirds of the Whitestreak's fuel supply) and trading them for a pair of single shot missile launchers, the only weapon system that would both fit in the wing cavity and could be fabricated quickly on site. The result... well, it isn't great. The Whitestreak is a one shot wonder, zooming in on its target, delivering its single volley, then running like cheap paint. Individually, it's barely an annoyance, while at best a large group of Whitestreaks might be able to catch an unprepared enemy off guard to inflict moderate damage, as was done when the Word of Blake finally sent a rading force to Ramona. This force, consisting of a single dropship with only a pair of fighters as outriders, was met in space by over fifty Whitestreaks. Relying on an external droptank for the initial burn, the defenders managed to attain tremendous velocity on their approach, blowing past the tiny fighter screen to deliver a single solid strike against the Blakist dropship. Though only lightly damaged by the attack, the blakist dropship aborted its approach upon detecting as many as a hundred more Whitestreaks were forming up for additional attacks. Unknown to the Blakists, this was nothing but a bluff, the remaining craft were unarmed civilian models that had been quickly pressed into service to create the appearance of a massive fighter fleet.
The Word of Blake never made a second attempt to raid Ramona.
Deployment/Variants:
The marketing department of Risling Pleasurecraft was quickly able to turn the successful defense of Ramona into steady orders for the V-3000c, mostly from minor worlds feeling desperately exposed with their parent states focusing on the Blakist threat. Though the sense of security they provided tended to evaporate the first time they were tested in combat, they can still be found, mostly across the fringes of the Inner Sphere or among the personal defense forces of various minor noble houses. Many of these have been refitted to mount a pair of small lasers (either extended range or standard depending on preferences and availability). Others have managed to squeeze a pair of rocket packs (something Risling originally tried but failed to do) into the original missile bays.
The Taurian Concordat is known to have stockpiled several hundred of these cheap fighters, but has not been seen to employ them aside from the occasional training flight in the Hyades cluster. It is known that these fighters are specifically not variants, and it is widely rumored that the Taurians have developed a nuclear warhead small enough to fit in a standard SRM casing. True or not, these craft are likely being reserved as a force of last resort, should the Hyades be attacked.
Rumors of a nuclear equipped Whitestreak in Taurian hands have alledgedly piqued the interest of the Principality of Regulus, with them both inquiring with the Concordat for design specifications, and working to develop their own version. Whether this is true or simply a rumor playing on the Principality's percieved fondness for nuclear warheads remains to be seen.
Base Tech Level: Standard (IS)
Level Era
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Experimental 3075
Advanced 3076-3084
Standard 3085+
Tech Rating: E/X-X-F-E
Weight: 5 tons
BV: 67
Cost: 968,779 C-bills
Movement: 11/17
Engine: 45
Heat Sinks: 10
Cockpit: Small Cockpit
Fuel Points: 0/40 (0.5 tons)
Structural Integrity: 11
Armor: 8
Armor
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Nose 3
Left Wing 2
Right Wing 2
Aft 1
Weapons Loc Heat
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SRM 2 (I-OS) RWG 2
SRM 2 (I-OS) LWG 2
Ammo Loc Shots
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Design Quirks: Atmospheric Flyer, Bad Reputation
