Type: Seydlitz
Technology Base: Inner Sphere Tonnage: 20
Battle Value: 440
Equipment Mass
Engine: 180 7
Safe Thrust: 11
Maximum Thrust: 17 Structural Integrity: 11
Heat Sinks: 10 0
Fuel: 240 3
Cockpit: 3
Armor Factor: 32 2
Armor
Value
Nose 10
Wings 6/6
Aft 10
Weapons and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
Large Laser Nose 5 8 8 8 — —
F-10 CHEETAH 192
Mass: 25 tons Chassis: Imstar 10/f Power Plant: GM 250-a Armament:
1 Starfl ash I Small Laser 2 Starfl ash II Medium Lasers Manufacturer: Imstar Aerospace
Primary Factory: Atreus, Amity, Marik Communications System: Lassitor—3QS Targeting and Tracking System: IMB SYS 3600
Overview
A Marik variant on an old Star League design, the Cheetah is a swift, lightly armored aerospace fi ghter intend-ed for fast strikes and reconnaissance missions. Designintend-ed by Imstar Aerospace, the fi ghter was in production up until the fall of the Star League. After the Exodus, the Free Worlds League picked up production of the Cheetah and, after retooling several factories to produce the fi ghter, it became the standard light fi ghter of the Free Worlds League Military.
Capabilities
With a maximum acceleration of nine gravities, the Cheetah is one of the fastest (and most physically punish-ing) aerospace fi ghters in the Inner Sphere. The Cheetah needs this acceleration, however, because it is very lightly armored. The original SLDF craft relied on speed for protec-tion, and the Marik production model is the same.
Its armament is capable for a fi ghter of its size. One small and two medium Starfl ash lasers free the Cheetah from ammunition concerns and give it the fi repower to engage other fi ghters once its speed has given it the ad-vantageous position. The Cheetah functions as well in at-mosphere as it does in space, although there is apocryphal lore that claims the Cheetah is diffi cult to control in atmo-sphere and that the GM 250-a drinks more than the usual amount of fuel.
Deployment
In continuous production since the fall of the Star League in the Free Worlds League, the Cheetah appears in almost every Marik aero formation. Most planet-bound squadrons keep Cheetah fi ghters ready for recon or inter-diction duties, and it fl ies from most orbital platforms. Many Marik assault DropShip squadrons keep Cheetah fl ights in reserve for long-range patrolling or fast courier runs.
Variants
The 11-R Cheetah is a dedicated reconnaissance ver-sion of the fi ghter, which removes the medium lasers and adds two more tons of fuel to give the Cheetah tremen-dous legs. With its radical acceleration profi le, few craft can catch a retreating Cheetah, although the stress on the pilot is tremendous.
The 12-S Cheetah is an attempt to provide a swift strike fi ghter. The medium lasers are removed in favor of an SRM 4, and a ton of fuel is removed to make room for the mis-sile reloads. With its reduced fuel capacity the 12-S needs a ready resupply base, which means it is rarely found away from orbital installations or a DropShip carrier.
Upgrades
The standard F-11 production model corrects many of the F-10’s fl aws. Using a GM 250-a XL-engine, the armor mass is increased by half and upgraded to ferro-aluminum, while the lasers are upgraded to pulse models. Two tons of fuel are added, making the F-11 a well-rounded fi ghter.
The newer-production F-11-RR Cheetah also uses an extralight engine and adds back in the medium lasers. The shining star of the upgrade, however, is the increased ten-ton fuel capacity. The 11-RR variant has legs and teeth.
An upgrade of the 12-S, the 14-S Cheetah mounts twin Streak 2 packs and slightly less armor.
The most recent Cheetah variant, the F-13, Upgrades the lasers to ER models with an extra medium laser added to each wing. Double heat sinks keep the heat curve man-ageable, while heavy ferro-aluminum armor provides even more protection to the craft.
Notable Pilots
Captain Diane “Vixen” Virgil: Captain Virgil’s double-squadron mercenary fighter unit has operated for every Successor State and two Periphery nations. Consisting of a full squadron each of Cheetahs and Sabres, Captain Virgil’s unit excels at fast-strike or interception duties.
They often fight as squadrons rather than single fight-ers, with the whole group making a single high-speed slashing attack and then continuing on course to with-draw while the enemy regroups, allowing themselves to reform into another cohesive unit for Vixen and her fighters to destroy.
Her squadron uses the ancient skull and crossbones as their insignia, and outside of the cockpit her pilots carry cutlasses in addition to pistols. More than once a bar brawl has begun—and quickly ended—when someone makes fun of the swords, which every pilot is trained to use.
Pilot Marco Archibaldi: Pilot Archibaldi is a Cheetah pilot in the Fusiliers of Oriente. His fi ghter, “Swifty,” is rou-tinely gigged at in inspections for unauthorized nose art.
Archibaldi is an accomplished artist and likes to spend his alert time near his fi ghter, using the broad canards on the Cheetah’s nose as a canvas. Several of his paintings have been holographed before being removed and sent to vari-ous art museums on and around Oriente, where they have sold for healthy sums. He uses this income to spend what-ever leave time he can as far away from his fi ghter as pos-sible and spend some time with real canvas.
LIGHT AEROSPACE
193
F-10 CHEETAH
Type: Cheetah
Technology Base: Inner Sphere Tonnage: 25
Battle Value: 448
Equipment Mass
Engine: 250 12.5
Safe Thrust: 12
Maximum Thrust: 18 Structural Integrity: 12
Heat Sinks: 10 0
Fuel: 320 4
Cockpit: 3
Armor Factor: 48 3
Armor
Value
Nose 13
Wings 11/11
Aft 13
Weapons and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
Small Laser Nose .5 1 3 — — —
Medium Laser RW 1 3 5 — — —
Medium Laser LW 1 3 5 — — —
TR-7 THRUSH 194
Mass: 25 tons
Chassis: Mujika Aerospace Type 12 Power Plant: Rawlings 250 Armor: Starshield
Armament:
3 Kajuka Type 2 “Bright Blossom” Medium Lasers Manufacturer: Mujika AeroSpace Technologies
Primary Factory: St. Ives
Communications System: Endicott Type 22 Maser Targeting and Tracking System: Dwyerson Mark XI
Overview
Originally developed by Mujika AeroSpace in 2798, the fi ghter’s advanced Type 12 frame allowed the fi ghter to withstand the severe acceleration forces infl icted on it by its Rawlings 250 power plant. Effi cient and deadly, the Capellan Confederation found the craft to be an out-standing escort and interceptor, and quickly ramped up production to phase out its more ancient light fi ghters. It remained in general service with the Confederacy until the creation of the St. Ives Compact. The Thrush is very popu-lar among pilots for its excellent maneuverability, although many regret the craft’s relative lack of fi repower and armor compared to the heavier interceptors in common use.
Capabilities
As one of the most agile fi ghters deployed among the Successor States, the Thrush is capable of outrunning anything it can’t outgun. Armed with three Kajuka Type 2
lasers, the Thrush is capable of causing substantial dam-age to hostile light fi ghters, and heavier, less maneuverable fi ghters often fi nd themselves defeated by the swifter craft unless they have rear-fi ring weaponry. For all its impressive capabilities, the craft’s dominance is severely restricted, as even the lightest of weapons and individual missile strikes can result in substantial damage to the internal compo-nents of the fi ghter.
An additional substantial drawback for the Thrush is its tendency to enter uncontrolled spins during atmospheric operations. Pilots usually regain control over the craft swift-ly, but the time lost during this eff ort often allows their prey to shake pursuit. Cheetah pilots in particular have learned to use this eff ect, leading pursuing Thrushes in and out of the atmosphere as much as possible, sniping during the moments of uncontrolled behavior. It is widely presumed that the spins are a consequence of the craft’s circular wing design, which also plagues the Combine’s Sholagar.
Deployment
The Thrush remains one of the most common fi ghters in the Confederation’s arsenal. The Capellans do not currently seem to have any plans to fi nd a replacement for the Thrush. [EDITOR’S NOTE: The reclamation of the St.
Ives Compact ended the Capellan’s light fi ghter dilemma.]
The Compact meanwhile swelled the ranks of its aerospace fi ghter formations with the capable Thrush and was soon exporting excess production to interested buyers, House and mercenary alike, which has resulted in the fi ghter appearing in small numbers across the Inner Sphere.
Variants
There are no offi cial variants of the TR-7.
Upgrades
Mujika Technologies petitioned the St. Ives Compact for access to medium pulse lasers for use on a model that sacrifi ced a ton of fuel in order to mount two such weap-ons. This undesignated variant was never identifi ed in pro-duction before the Confederation reclaimed the Compact.
In 3065, the Confederation minimally improved the Thrush,
producing the TR-8. This upgraded the heat sinks and re-placed the lasers with extended-range versions. Plans for an XL-powered Thrush with much heavier armor and weap-ons never left the cash-strapped Confederation’s design software before the Jihad broke over the Inner Sphere.
Notable Pilots
Captain Jack Winfi eld: “Smiling” Jack Winfi eld is one of the most decorated and renowned Thrush pilots in the Confederacy. Feared along the Davion border, Winfi eld was credited with dozens of kills until he was re-assigned to the Sian Aerospace Training Command. He was re-acti-vated for frontline duty during the Fourth Succession War, where he was quite successful. Winfi eld was placed on a long list of military personnel to be demoted for their “fail-ures” in that war, a blessing given how many on the list were purged instead. Chancellor Romano Liao recognized the value of Winfi eld, who kept serving loyally even after being demoted, and gave him his own squadron in time for the Andurien Invasion. Captain Winfi eld found many opportunities to prove the wisdom of her decision and regain his rank.
Subcommander Marina Layton: Much like another fa-mous Thrush pilot, Uchita Tucker, Layton seems to have dedicated her life to the pursuit of aerospace combat ex-cellence. A bit of a maverick, Layton has been reprimanded several times for interpreting her orders liberally to allow her to engage hostile fi ghters. While her squadron can rely on her to not jeopardize them or the mission, her behavior has hampered her career. This does not appear to bother Layton, who seems focused on being an instrument of de-struction. This singular focus has led to increasingly wide-spread rumors in her unit that she is a part of the vicious Thuggee cult, much like Uchita Tucker. The cult attracted substantial negative attention to itself when they pro-claimed Kali Liao as an avatar of their goddess and began ritualistic murders to honor her.
LIGHT AEROSPACE
195
TR-7 THRUSH
Type: Thrush
Technology Base: Inner Sphere Tonnage: 25
Battle Value: 476
Equipment Mass
Engine: 250 12.5
Safe Thrust: 12
Maximum Thrust: 18 Structural Integrity: 12
Heat Sinks: 10 0
Fuel: 400 5
Cockpit: 3
Armor Factor: 24 1.5
Armor
Value
Nose 7
Wings 6/6
Aft 5
Weapons and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
Medium Laser Nose 1 3 5 — — —
Medium Laser RW 1 3 5 — — —
Medium Laser LW 1 3 5 — — —