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Eleventh Hour Industries Six Month Report
Chief Director Akira Ryuzaki
The Sale of the Draken Mark 2s: As ordered to by the courts we sold the Draken Mark 2s to Solingen
GmbH. I suspect that they hoped to reverse engineer Miss Belin's
armour and the Roberts weapon systems. Unfortunately we, with
the courts blessing, pulled the armour, the weapons and the engines
from each Draken before sending them on. Solingen GmbH was understandably
upset.
The Arrow 02 GP: The Arrow 02, General Purpose, was primarily designed for use
by the scouts, giving them a craft that would be quite useful
in exploration. It seems that the GP will move beyond that market
as we are already getting orders from many different organisations.
We have even started to produce a modification, the CM, Civilian
Model.
For the GP we simply started with the standard Arrow 01 frame.
As the GP was not to be a combat unit, we placed less armour on
it and only standard grade armour (with the option for the improved
grade for the scout units).
We also pulled the ECM gear, and all the weapons but for the anti-missile
laser pod. The ACE system was reduced to the lowest version. We
left the ASP system in, but pulled the target analyser. We also
removed the EMP protection, though it can be placed back in for
special orders.
The basic GP unit is only protected against space and re-entry,
though we have designed the suit in such a way that it can be
adapted for any environment. We suspect that only the scouts will
desire complete environmental protection.
While not a combat unit, a pair of low-powered lasers has been
placed in each arm. They should be enough for the standard troubles
a scout might expect to meet. While some scouts have wanted weapons
with more punch, the basic idea seems to be, 'if you had better
weapons, you might stay and fight when you should run'.
Also included in the left arm is a set of micromanipulators.
The CM model has no weapons systems included, not even the laser
pod.
Production has already begun for the first suits that will be
included with the Rambler Scout Ships.
The Widow Maker 2: While Miss Belin is no longer present at Eleventh Hour Industries,
she is pursuing her music career, her presence is felt. She is,
on paper, the chief designer, and she is somewhat of a legend
among the younger members of our growing design team.
Also, she is a consultant on the Widow Maker 2 project. It seems
Kareen Maxil wants a new suit and the Alincourts are happy to
indulge her. Every other day we can usually count on a courier
ship showing up, carrying Miss Belin's upgraded plans.
I have been completely cut free from the WM2 project so I only
hear rumour. It seems the Alincourts have decided it would make
an excellent test bed for their new ideas. They say that the WM2
will be a little smaller and lighter than the Arrow00 Widow Maker,
though very similar in over all design, though I have heard that
an intermediate form, between fighter and suit, is being tested
out on the WM2.
It will be tougher, using another upgrade of Miss Belin's refined
armour, and it will carry some extremely impressive weapons. I
have heard Dr. Roberts is designing a new weapon system for the
WM2.
Basically it will be faster, stronger, harder hitting and much
more deadly that its predecessor. No doubt it will live up to
its name.
On a side note, I have heard that Kirk Alincourt, something of
a child prodigy, and considered a warped genius by his family
members (and that is saying a lot) has been called in on this
project. I have been told he specialises in human mind/machine
interfaces. What this will mean for the WM2 is anyone's guess.
What I do know for certain is that the cost of this one suit will
probably be equivalent to a squadron of a more standard design.
The Big Cats: The Big Cats project continues on a steady pace, as is expected.
We have a name for the suits now. The AW (Arrow) 03 will be known at the Puma, the AW04 the Cheetah and the AW05 the Tiger. While I think there might be some confusion with Power Solutions Leopard, the names have been picked.
The Puma will basically be the new soldier suit of the Commonwealth (Battalion).
It will use the Arrow01's frame, and be very similar to that suit.
Changes include a decrease in engine output, a soldier suit does
not need to be quite that fast and there will be a complete weapon
redesign to give it a weapon system more in line with its new
function.
We are re-tooling the 01 line to start producing the new Puma
in order to replace the Draken Mk2s we were forced to sell. In
two days the last of the Arrow01s roll off the line. We are going
to hold a small ceremony.
The Cheetah, the interceptor of course, will require a new frame, as it will
be significantly lighter. Less armour, faster top speeds, and
a full complement of energy weapons to avoid the cost and weight
of ammunition. It supposed to be the fastest suit ever (with the
possible exception of the Widow Maker 2).
While we have not even finished designing this suit, a variation
is already being planned. The Were Cheetah. This design, if it
is ever produced, will use an energy boosting system to allow
it to get more punch from its energy weapons. I am, I'll admit,
a bit wary about this system. Early tests have, so far, resulted
in explosions.
The design team assures me that the energy boosting system will
be functional when the time comes.
The Tiger, which should come as no surprise, will be the HA. Producing
a transformable suit of that size will be rather complicated,
I'm sure. All the extra weight is bound to put a great deal of
stress on what is still a somewhat fragile transformation system.
If we can solve that problem, the Tiger will be the slowest of
the AW suits, but also the toughest, carrying a great deal of
armour and weaponry. Already we are testing an extremely powerful
energy cannon. Initial plans call for the basic components to
be split up within the frame and the main emitter to be mounted
on the chest, but there is some call to work the entire assembly
into a single rifle. A personal favourite design of mine calls
for twin cannons, mounted on each shoulder.
Currently it will be the only one of the new suits to be carrying
an energy melee weapon.
The Monster 00: I would like to say that since Miss Belin has left Eleventh Hour
Industries that we have had much better luck in controlling the
younger members of our design team. I cannot say that.
I have discovered the Mr. Lyons, along with a small cadre of new
designers, have been working on their own designs. Admittedly,
it was something I did at that age as well, but it seems that
Mr. Lyons has convinced the Alincourts of the value of his new
work.
The Monster 00 is, to put is simply, a corvette-sized suit with
the capability to transform.
I personally believe this cannot be done, but one happy side effect
is that work on the Tiger's problem with transformation is being
helped along.
I am told that once done the Monster will sport four gauss canons,
three laser cannons in each arm, and a variety of other weapons
on a more standard scale for use against the usual size suits.
Furthermore, a simple slap from the huge, handless arms will be
enough to reduce any other suit to scrap.
Lord help us all.
I will admit that I am somewhat intrigued that this new suit will
hold a number of PAFS in it for special missions. |
