When Emeraldess, her crew, and their ship were rifted to the Phase World dimension, most of the mecha aboard were old Stingers, some of which had still seen action during The Malcontent Uprisings before the Invid Invasion.

The Stinger was a mix of different types of armor, weapons and systems developed by micronised Zenteadi engineers to be a replacement for their larger mecha, many of which could not even be flown by micronised Zentraedi. No two of these versatile and heavily armed machines were alike, neither in performance, looks or armament. Stingers often looked like they were only half finished, or if parts had been welded on almost at random, and the design philosophy behind them was almost one of "Anything Goes".

Yet despite this they performed surprisingly well against the Veritechs and other "true" mecha of that time.

During the first deployment of Stingers in action in the Phase World environment it became clear that, no matter how well the Stingers had performed in the past, they were totally outclassed by the far more advanced Phase World mecha they now faced.

But Emeraldess and her crew had to make do with what they had available. Until they had gathered enough money to have the Terrible upgraded to Phase World standards the Stingers would be the mainstay of their Mecha.

When the money to upgrade their equipment was finally gathered, there was much debate about which PhaseWorld mecha should replace the aging Stingers. While captain Emeraldess was beset upon by salespersons from major weapons manufacturers, especially Naruni Industries, a salesman from Bushido Industries tried something different, and he talked to a few of the micronised Zentreadi that were roaming the dock at that time. He found out that, basically, the mecha that the pilots wanted was another New Stinger. This presented quite a problem for the BI engineers, as they were unaccustomed to producing essentially custom mecha. However, the money would be good, and if they could pull it off, then BI would gain a reputation for innovative design and for catering to their customers wishes.

When it was time for the Bushido Industries salesman to show his product, he amazed captain Emeraldess by presenting three very different mecha. When asked "Why Three?" he answered that they were made out of the same basic set of parts. The Bushido Industries engineers had produced a large set of components that were either interchangeable, or readily modifiable to fit to each other, from weapons, and armor to contra grav drives. The Salesman explained that this way, the engineers on the Terrible could make custom mecha for their pilots which would fit a individual pilot, much like the old Stingers. The biggest difference would be that since a standard set of components would be used, repair and maintenance would be greatly eased.

Thoroughly intrigued Emeraldess asked if the three mecha now present could be tested by the pilots, and modified with the standard parts by the engineers. This was no problem for the BI people. After thorough testing both her pilots and her engineers delivered a report full of heaps of glowering praise about the design. Although the total price for the package was not the lowest that was available, Emeraldess decided to purchase it anyway. After all, it was certainly the design that her personnel liked the most, and she was secretly pleased that even in a new dimension, the stinger would live on. The deal ultimately made with Bushido Industries was that BI would deliver the components, and would manufacture the first two-hundred and fifty of the NuStingers.

The NuStinger system consists of a basic frame, and several upgrades to this frame, in the shape of armor, various weapons, engines and a forcefield system. The basic frame as it is a incredibly fast and maneuverable mecha, but it carries no weapons, and little armor. On the various parts of the mecha are standardized attachment points, to which the various upgrades can be bolted. As each new weapon or piece of armor is added, the NuStinger becomes heavier, and loses some of its mobility and speed. Thus it is possible to build a lightning fast mecha with only one main weapon and little armor, or a heavily armored behemoth bristling with missiles, which will be rather slow and sluggish to move.

This power armor design uses modified starship speed and ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.

(Note: The power system is fusion not anti-matter because the author's opinion is that anti-matter is to dangerous to be used in vehicles that may be used in an atmosphere. If a starship powered by anti-matter was to detonate in an atmosphere it would cause huge planetary damage. At GM option, this can also be applied to all starfighters or this fighter can be changed to anti-matter.)

Model Type: Bushido Industries NuStinger Customizable Mecha.
Class: Medium Mecha
Crew: One

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Head:	130
	Shoulders (2):	150
	Arms (2):	300 each
	[2] Hands (2):	100 each
	Legs & Feet (2):	250 each
	[3] Main Body:	520
	Reinforced Pilot's Compartment(Standard):	150
	Engine Backpack (Rear):	250

Notes:
[1] Destroying the head of the NuStinger will eliminate all forms of optical enhancements and sensory systems. The pilot is forced to rely on his/her own human vision and senses. Furthermore, all Mecha combat bonuses to strike, parry and dodge are lost! Note: The head is a small and difficult target to hit, it can only be hit when a character makes a called shot and even then the attacker is -3 to strike.
[2] These locations are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a "called shot," but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[3] Depleting the Main Body MDC will shut the NuStinger down, making it useless.

Speed:
Running: 100 mph (160 km) maximum. Unlike smaller power armors, running does no tire out the operator.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the power armor to travel up to 20 percent of the speed of light. The NuStinger`s basic frame can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 1.3 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum cruise speed is Mach 4 (2965.8 mph / 4773 kph), can enter and leave an atmosphere because flight system is by contra grav.
Underwater: It can walk along the bottom of the sea floor at 25% of maximum speed. The NuStinger can also use its thrusters to travel up to a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km)
Maximum Ocean Depth: 2 mile (3.2 km)
Range: Limited only by the pilot's endurance. Emergency food and air supply will keep the pilot alive for a week. Because the power armors are anti-gravity in nature, they do not use reaction mass and can be sustained indefinitely in space as well.

Statistical Data (varies slightly with the various additions):
Height: 31.5 feet / 9.45 meters avg.
Width: 11 feet / 3.3 meters avg.
Length: 6.5 feet / 2 meters
Weight: 19 tons / 17.2 metric tons (basic frame)
Physical Strength: Equal to a P.S. 55
Cargo: 4 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft area behind cockpit for weapons, armor, and other small equipment.
Power System: Standardized Advanced Fusion; Average energy life is 25 years
Market Cost: Sold by Bushido Industries for approximately 140 million per set of parts If found on the black market it would probably be worth 180 million or more for a new, undamaged, and fully operational NuStinger.

Weapons Systems:
MAIN AND AUXILIARY WEAPONS AND ARMOR: The NuStinger`s basic frame can be upgraded with various weapons and armor pieces. These add mass to the mecha, and therefore it becomes less maneuvrable and fast. The ability to carry pieces of equipment of varying size and mass is represented by Attachment Points on the NuStingers body, and the cost in Attachment Points each piece of equipment has. This is not a true representation of what is really done: Attaching a large railgun to a arm does not merely mean that a railgun is bolted onto it, but that servos are upgraded to hold the weight, armor is removed and added, and that a ammo feed is run through the arm.
It is not possible to replace equipment in the field! That is a job for a fully equipped facility.
Unless stated otherwise a piece of equipment is only attached to ONE body part. There is no sharing of Attachment Points between varying bodyparts. If a certain bodypart has so much equipment attached to it that there are no points enough for a new piece of equipment, then it cannot be attached to that bodypart, no matter how much Attachment Points are still available on the rest of the mecha.
Some systems require two or even three Attachment Points due to their size.

Attachment Points by Location:

	Head:	(2 At. Points)
	Shoulders (2):	(1 At. Point each)
	Arms (2):	(4 At. Points each)
	Legs & Feet (2):	(4 At. Points each)
	Main Body:	(7 At. Points)
	Engine Backpack (Rear):	(3 At. Points)

Note:
Cost in Speed and Mobility: Although various pieces of equipment that take up the same amount of Attachment Points do not necessarily have the same weight, the movement and speed penalties for taking up a Attachment Point are the same for all pieces of equipment. Penalties are simply added for Attachment Points used!
Penalties per Attachment Point used:
Deduct .1 percent of light per melee of acceleration for every total five Attachment Points used.
Deduct 1 from every Hand to Hand bonus for every total five Attachment Points used (yes, you can get negative bonuses, treat as penalties).

1. GR-1000 Railgun: A large and very powerful railgun, this weapon is the heaviest that can be carried by the NuStinger. These powerful weapons can be used for just about any job, but they are excellent for use against targets that are impervious to energy. While the railgun is most often attached to a arm, it feeds off a ammo drum which is attached to the main body of the NuStinger. The ammo feed runs internally through the arm. This is a great weapon, but it is ammo dependant, and the drums CANNOT be reloaded in the field.
   Range: 16 miles (26 km) through atmosphere and 1,600 miles (2,575 km) in space.
   Mega-Damage: 40 round burst does 4d6x10 M.D.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the number of hand to hand attacks of the pilot and his power armor (usually 4-6, see Power Armor Training). Bursts and sprays are not possible.
   Payload: 4,000 Rounds (100 Bursts) each drum.
   M.D.C.: 100
   Attachment Points used: Three, two on the appendage that they are attached to, and one on the main body (taken up by the ammo drum)(needs at least one drum per gun!)
2. GR-1000 Ammo drum: Extra ammunition drum for the GR-1000. Attaches either on the appendage where the railgun is located, or on the main body of the mecha, on the same side where the Railgun is. CANNOT be reloaded in the field.
   Payload: 4,000 Rounds (100 Bursts) each drum.
   M.D.C.: 30
   Attachment Points used: One.
3. HI-Laser: A standard fighter sized HI-Laser cannon, this weapon lacks the punch of the GR-1000 Railgun, but it has good range, and is not dependant on ammunition. This weapon can be mounted on all body parts, but when mounted on the main body it only has a narrow cone of fire (30 degree cone), requiring that the entire body be used to aim the gun(s).
   Mega Damage: 2D6x10 per burst
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the number of hand to hand attacks of the pilot and his power armor (usually 4-6, see Power Armor Training).
   Range: 1,200 miles (1,925 km) in space and 12 miles (19.3 km) in an atmosphere.
   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
   M.D.C.: 80
   Attachment Points used: Three, two on the appendage or main body, and one in the main body for mounting the capacitors for the weapon.
4. Particle Beam cannon: A standard particle beam weapon, this has more power than the HI-Laser, and takes less space. The drawback is its short range. This weapon can be mounted on all body parts, but when mounted on the main body it only has a narrow cone of fire (30 degree cone), requiring that the entire body be used to aim the gun(s).
   Mega Damage: 3D6x10 per blast
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the number of hand to hand attacks of the pilot and his power armor (usually 4-6, see Power Armor Training).
   Range: 2000 feet (610 m) in an atmosphere and 37.9 miles (61 km) in space.
   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
   M.D.C.: 50
   Attachment Points used: Two.
5. Grenade Launcher: A standard grenade launcher, much like the one in the Silverhawks Multi-Rifle.
   Mega Damage: 3D6x10 per blast
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the number of hand to hand attacks of the pilot and his power armor (usually 4-6, see Power Armor Training).
   Range: 1000 feet (305 m) in an atmosphere and 8000 feet (2440 meters) in space.
   Payload: 100 grenades.
   M.D.C.: 50
   Attachment Points used: two.
6. Grenade Launcher extra magazine: Extra ammunition drum for the grenade launcher. Must be attached on the same body part as the Launcher, CANNOT be reloaded in the field.
   Payload: 100 grenades each drum.
   M.D.C.: 30
   Attachment Points used: One.
   
7. Medium Range Missile launcher: A launcher that holds four medium range missiles. Weapon system is used for hitting enemy robots, fighters, and against incoming cruise missiles. Missile has a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Each Battery can launch on multiple targets.(Faster than any starship).
   Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (See Phase World Missiles).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two or four.
   Maximum Effective Range: 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000 miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds) in space.
   Payload: 4 per launcher.
   M.D.C.: 80
   Attachment Points used: Two.
8. Large Short Range Missile launcher: A launcher that holds ten short range missiles. Weapon system is used for hitting enemy robots, fighters, and against incoming cruise missiles. Missiles have a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 4% of light per turn (faster than any starship except if it is acceding it maximum safe acceleration). Missiles can be launched on multiple targets simultaneously.
   Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (See Phase World Missiles).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two or four.
   Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 10 miles (16.1 km) in an atmosphere and 500 miles (804.7 km) in space.
   Payload: 10 per launcher.
   M.D.C.: 80
   Attachment Points used: Two.
9. Small Short Range Missile launcher: A launcher that holds four short range missiles. See above.
   Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (See Phase World Missiles).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two or four.
   Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 10 miles (16.1 km) in an atmosphere and 500 miles (804.7 km) in space.
   Payload: 4 per launcher.
   M.D.C.: 45
   Attachment Points used: one.
10. Large Mini-Missile Launcher: A launcher for mini missiles that holds twenty four mini missiles. Missile has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it is exceeding it maximum safe acceleration).
    Mega-Damage: Varies with mini missile type (See Phase World Missiles).
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two or four.
    Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space
    Payload: 24 total.
    M.D.C.: 60
    Attachment Points used: Two.
11. Small Mini-Missile Launcher: A launcher for mini missiles that holds ten mini missiles. See above.
    Mega-Damage: Varies with mini missile type (See Phase World Missiles).
    Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two or four.
    Maximum Effective Range: Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space
    Payload: 10 total.
    M.D.C.: 35
    Attachment Points used: one.
12. Fore-Arm Shield: A large shield made out of laser resistant armor, it attaches to the NuStingers Forearm. Can be used for blocking enemy fire, or for hitting a opponent with the reinforced and sharpened edge. The Fore-Arm shield takes half damage from lasers.
    Mega-Damage: Multiply Hand to Hand damage by 1.5 when using the shield during a Full strenght punch or Power punch.
    M.D.C.: 320
    Attachment Points used: Two.
13. Standard Armor Plate: Really an armor reinforcement of the body part as a whole, this really is what it says, Armor Plate. Can be added as long as there are Attachment Points left. Its M.D.C. is added to that of the body part it is attached to!!
    M.D.C.: 60
    Attachment Points used: One.
14. Force Field: A Naruni style force field, this is really build into the armor.
    The force field will stop energy attacks and fast moving objects. Slow moving objects can pass through. It Regenerates 1 MDC per melee unless overloaded and then cannot be activated for 12 hours if overloaded. The force field pulls its power off of the power plant.
    M.D.C.: 320
    Attachment Points used: Three, one in the backpack, and two in the main body .
15. Engine Upgrade: A engine upgrade which does not give penalties, but instead gives the following bonuses: Add .15 percent of light per melee of acceleration to the grand total. Adds +1 to all Hand to Hand bonuses for striking, parrying and dodging. When used together with the forcefield, raise maximum sublight speed to 30 percent of light (Forcefield has to have AT LEAST 100 MDC left!)
    M.D.C.: None, build entirely into the mecha.
    Attachment Points used: Four, two in the backpack, and two in the main body .
16. Handheld Weapons: The NuStinger can use almost any handheld weapon wich can be held by Mecha, including plasma guns, lasers and, (a favorite) the Silverhawk Multi rifle! All of these can be patched into the power supply of the armor, giving them a unlimited payload. Seldom done however.
17. Optional Hand to Hand: Treat as the same as the original hand to hand combat except increase the damages as listed.
    Restrained Punch: 2D6 M.D.
    Full Strength Punch: 6D6 M.D.
    Power Punch: 2D6x10 M.D.
    Kick: 6D6 M.D.
    Stomp: 2D4 M.D.
    Body flip: 4D4 M.D.

Special Equipment:
Has all the normal sensors of Large Powered armors/Robots in the Three Galaxies.

HAND TO HAND BONUSES

• Three Hand to Hand attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot).
• +2 to Roll with punch, fall, or impact (explosion), reducing damage by half.
• Body Flip/Throw: Damage 4D4 M.D., plus victim loses initiative plus one attack that melee.
• Kick Attack
• +2 to Strike
• +3 to Dodge (Auto Dodge while flying)
• +3 to Parry
• +1 to initiative
• One addition Hand to Hand attack at level six and level Twelve.

[ Phase World TM, Naruni TM, Triax TM, and Kittani TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

Image drawn and copyrighted by Timothy Leard (rurounichimoshi@hotmail.com) .
More Timothy Leard artwork at Elfwood (go to Zone 47 gallery 22, or Lothlorien gallery 115)

By Mischa Campen (E-Mail Mischa)

Copyright © 1999, Mischa. All rights reserved.

Special thanks go to Dave Deitrich for the original Stinger Powered Armor. (See his page at Macross Mecha Designs).