As the war against the Robotech Masters progresses, Southern Cross military engineers decided that that VFH-12 needed to be upgraded with more powerful weaponry in order to fight these new foes. The original AJACS design was conceived and prototypes were constructed before the Robotech Master's invasion in 2029 and therefore were primarily designed to fight any malcontent Zentraedi forces that might menace the earth while the Robotech Expeditionary forces were away. Resources by 2030 were stretched thin and as a result no new mecha designs could be produced. However, an upgrade to the standard AJACS was completed during the last couple of months of the Second Robotech War. Ninety percent of the basic AJACs design was left unchanged. Several key features were added, although. First the armor on the basic frame was upgraded providing an additional 25% protection on the key areas of the main body, legs and arms. The main engines were also upgraded to Pratt & Whitney JG96B providing some 10% more thrust than the standard models.The major upgrades for the VFH-12X dealt with the weaponry. The ineffectual head mounted E-19 colt laser was replaced completely. In its stead an additional E-21 arm mounted Bifors cannon was placed on the left arm. A dedicated protoculuture canister and generator was added to allow the pilot to fire both cannons at the nominal rate of 80 times per minute. The most deadly compliment was the addition of two more TLM-1A missile launchers. This provided the VFH-12x with 24 lightning or 60 hammerhead missiles.
Production of the VFH-12X began in early 2030 at the General Mecha production facilities outside of New Albuquerque base and the first operational squadron, the 147th Tactical Combat Wing "Black Hats", was formed in late March 2030 at Folker Field. Very quickly the new mecha was placed into combat against the Robotech Masters and proved themselves superior to the standard AJACS fighter. By the time the final assault of the Second Robotech War was underway in August of that same year, some 250 units had been rolled off the production lines. However, very few of these units saw service in dedicated squadrons of VFH-12X, as most were used as replacements for the staggering combat loses that the Armies of the Southern Cross had incurred up until that time. After the war ended, the surviving two mecha facilities at New Tokyo and Stockholm switched some of their production lines to the the VFH-12X. However, with protoculture resources dwindling and leadership from the United Earth Government destroyed, only 300 additional units were produced from those two manufacturing cites (225 at Stockholm, and 75 from New Tokyo).
It remains to be seen whether or not the Super Ajacs would have turned the war if it had been produced in higher quantities. There is no doubt that it was a superior mecha to that of the VFH-12; however, with more advanced bioroid designs such as the Tirolian Szatchi'dohl "Warrior" Bioroid and the Tirolian Tzensi'dohl "Warlock" Bioroid the Super AJACS would have more likely just "held the line" against these newer foes.
The remaining Super AJACS, some 376 units that survived the second Robotech war, continued the battles with the Robotech Masters after the "official" ending of the 2nd Robotech War. The Super AJACs proved extremely effective against the post-war bioroid designs ( Bioroid Terran Fighter and Command Terran Fighter) able to take either one out in one on one combat. Two hundred and four units were present when the Invid invaded Terra on May 15, 2033. Most of these were destroyed in the initial battles; however, REF intelligence believes that some 50 or so survived the initial invasion and are continuing the fight.
Service History:
Served in limited numbers with the Southern Cross Tactical Armored Space Corps from 2030 until the Invid invasion..
RPG STATS
Vehicle Type: VFH-12X AJACS
Class: Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: Southern Cross Tactical Armored Space Corps
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System.
Location
SUPER AJACS
- Head 60
Arms (2) 150 each
Hands (2) 40 each
Arm Turbo Thrusters (2) 50 each
Legs (2) 250 each
Tail Section 125
Tail Fins (3) 20 each
Blades (4) 40 each
Rotor 70
Wings (2) 125 each
Missile Pods (4) 100 each
Arm Pulse Laser (2) 100 each
**Main Body 300
Pilots Compartment 200
NOTES:
(*)Destroying the sensor head of the VFH-12x will knock out the mecha's major sensor systems, including all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, thermal). Radar and communications will be unaffected.
(**) Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.
ajacs_top2.jpg (82077 bytes)
SPEEDS:
56 kph
LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
50 ft (15 m) high or 70 ft (21 m) long without thrusters.
FLYING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
300 kph
FLYING, HELICOPTER:
386 kmph at sea level.
FLYING, FIGHTER CONFIGURATION:
Max level speed : 1460 kph at 18000m (Mach 1.5)
1100 kph at sea level (Mach 1.0)
Stall speed : 163 kph (VTOL rectification possible)
Initial climb rate : over 20000m per minute
Service ceiling (jet) : 28 km (unboosted).
Service ceiling (helicopter): 7000m
MAX ENGINE THRUST:
2 x Pratt & Whitney JG96B [Main] Fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix turbines. Max thrust, 125kN ea.
2 x Turbo-Union ATF 403 miniaturized fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix ramjets. Engines are mounted along the sides in battloid mode, with the nozzles pointing towards the feet. In helicopter and fighter mode, they point aftwards and are located just below the rotar assembly. Each engine is rated to 46.9 kN standard thrust, max overboost to 94.1 kN each.
3 x Nakajima NBS-2 high-thrust boosters: mounted in the tail.
Assorted maneuvering thrusters: in the rotors and elsewhere
STATISTICAL DATA:
HEIGHT:
8.9m in soldier configuration.
3.2m in fighter configuration.
WIDTH:
2.8m at shoulders in soldier
6.9m with wings at maximum extension.
LENGTH:
9.0m in fighter configuration.
WEIGHT:
19,800 kg empty.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 60
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings i
POWER PLANT:
4 x RRL-2R Miniaturized Protoculture-cell energizer
32 standard canisters of Protoculture
1 dedicated canister for each EP-13/EU-13 gun pod
200 lit. D2O reactant for fusion engines.
Delta V:
100 kps with an additional 50 kps mounted on centerline tank
COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:
None
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
ajax_e21.jpg (48195 bytes)
2xE-21 BOFORS PULSE LASER: Two E-21's are mounted on both arms. Each E-21, if two are mounted double if only a single cannon is mounted, can fire a 10MJ shot up to 80 times a minute. The VFH-12x mounts an additional RRL-2L protoculture -cell energizer which provides twice the power to the E-21's than the conventional AJAC fighter. As a result the VFH-12x can fire both E-21's at the nominal firing rate of 80 shots a minute..PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
RANGE: 2400 m
DAMAGE: 1D4*10 for each single shot or 2D4*10 for each short burst bursts
RATE OF FIRE: Single shots or bursts equal to the combined attacks of the pilot.
PAYLOAD: Conditionally unlimited. If a single E-21 is mounted up to 160 single shots or 14 short bursts per melee. Multiply this number by 0.5 (rounding down) if two E-21's are mounted.
ajax_missile_launch.jpg (34259 bytes)
4 x TLM-1A SEMI-FIXED MISSILE LAUNCHERS: Four launchers firing medium range Lightning or Ragnarok (Califronium tactical nuclear weapons). Three misiles are ready to fire with an additional three missiles stowed in bins located above.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault/Defense
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
RANGE: Varies
DAMAGE: Varies
RATE OF FIRE: One at a time or in volleys of two, three or four
PAYLOAD: 6 missiles per launcher for a total of 24 missiles
NOTE: GM's may allow players to use any standard Palladium medium range missile instead of Lightning or Ragnaroks.
or 4 x TLM-1A SEMI-FIXED MISSILE LAUNCHERS: Four launchers firing short range Hammerhead missiles. Five missiles are ready to fire with an additional 10 located in bins above the launchers.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault/Defense
SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
RANGE: Varies
DAMAGE: Varies
RATE OF FIRE: One at a time or in volleys of two, three, four, five, ten, fifteen, or twenty.
PAYLOAD: 15 short range hammerhead missiles per launcher for a total of 60.
NOTE: GM's may allow players to use any standard Palladium short range missile instead of Hammerheads
HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Super Ajax can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The Super Ajax is extremely agile and can execute most typical hand to hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc.
DAMAGE:
Punch in Battloid: 1D6*3
Punch in Guardian: 1D4*3
Kick: 1D6*3
Leap Kick: 2D6*3
Body Flip/Throw: 1D6*3
Body Block/Tackle: 1D6*3
Stomp: 1D4*3 . (only effective against small objects)
STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE VFH-12x:
AUTO-PILOT: The VFH-12 xis equipped with a computerized auto-pilot, allowing the pilot to relax or even sleep during long voyages. The auto- pilot can be programmed with a single destination or a complex flight plan involving multiple speeds, directions, and destinations. The onboard computer will alert the pilot when the fighter is near its destination, and can also be set to automatically signal when sensors detect objects near the mecha. The auto-pilot was designed with long intra-system space journeys in mind.
COMBAT COMPUTER: The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets, and has a database of over 10,000 images stored in memory. The computer can identify and track up to 250 targets simultaneously.
EXTERNAL AUDIO PICKUP: Range: 300 ft (91.5 m). A sound amplification system that can pick up normal conversation up to 300 feet away.
HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life threatening head and radiation. A radiation detection and alarm system are linked with the shields and will sound an alarm if there is a rupture in the shields and what the levels of radiation are.
HOMING SIGNAL: The escape pod of the VFH-12x is equipped with a homing device that enables rescue teams to locate a disabled craft or ejected life pod. The range of the signal is 400 miles (640 km). Most REF ships and veritecs can locate and track a homing signal, and the onboard computers will automatically notify their pilots if such a signal is detected.
LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the mecha's strike bonus.
LOUDSPEAKER: A loudspeaker system is built into the craft, which can be used to amplify the pilot's voice up to 90 decibels.
OPTICS: INFRARED: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye, but detectable by the mecha's sensors. The system allows the pilot to detect hidden/concealed objects by their IR reflectiveness. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however.
OPTICS: NIGHTVISION: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive light image intensifier that emits no light of its own, but relies on ambient light which is electronically amplified to produce a visible picture.
OPTICS: THERMAL IMAGER: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive optical heat sensor that detects infrared radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into a false-color visible image. The system enables the pilot to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke, and also adds a +10% bonus to pilots using a tracking skill.
WESTINGHOUSE APG-150: X-band spherical pulse doppler long range radar. 400 mile range.
RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 600 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
SELF-DESTRUCT: To prevent capture of an advance variable fighter by the enemy, the pilot can activate the VFH-12x self-destruct system, which will cause the fighter to explode after a delay of up to 60 minutes (time is set by the pilot). The explosive damage is contained within a 20 foot (6 m) area and inflicts 1D6x10 M.D. to everything within the radius of the explosion. All internal systems are obliterated. The escape pod will be automatically ejected prior to the explosion unless the pilot overrides the ejection sequence.
STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT: All Southern Cross veritecs come equipped with a portable survival kit. Inside the small reinforced box is a medium-sized flashlight, two hand flares, one rocket flare, a compass, infrared distancing binoculars, a small mirror, a pocket knife, dehydrated and concentrated food (can be stretched into a five day supply for one person) and basic first aid items (aspirin, bandages, disinfectants, etc.)
TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The VFH-12x cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The Southern Cross flight suit also contains an upper and lower g-suit that promotes blood circulation even during high-g turns, thus decreasing the possibility of pilot's blacking out in combat.
ELETTRONICA RADAR WARNING RECEIVER (RWR)
OLDELFT INFRA-RED WARNING RECEIVER (IRWR)
SELENA SKYWARRIOR ACTIVE/PASSIVE SENSOR JAMMERS
CHAFF AND FLARE DISPENSERS: 24 chaff and 24 flares are stored in the lower legs
COMBAT BONUSES FOR VFH-12 FIGHTER TRAINING:
4 attacks per melee (plus those of the pilot).
Add one additional action/attack at levels five and ten..
+2 on initiative in space
+3 to strike
+3 to parry
+3 (+5 in space) to dodge in solder and guardian, +5 (+7 in space) in jet mode.
+3 (+5 in space) to roll with a punch or fall with an impact, reducing damage by half.
Critical strike same as pilot's hand-to-hand.
Random Hit Locations
When there is an equal chance of hitting both sides from 1d6
1-3 hits the right side
4-6 hits the left
When there is a preferred side, roll 1d10
1-8 hits the preferred side
9-10 hits the opposite side
Fighter / Helicopter
Location Front Back Sides Top Bottom
Head (Main Body) 01-05 - 01-06 - 01-05
Arms (Main Body) - 01-05 07-14 01-03 06-12
Hands (Arms) - 06-08 - - -
Arm Turbo Thrusters (Arms) - 09-13 15-21 04-06 13-21
Legs (Main Body) - 14-20 22-33 07-10 22-38
Tail Section (Main Body) 06-07 21-26 34-41 11-18 39-44
Tail Fins (Tail Section) 08 27 42-44 19-21 45-47
Blades (Rotors) 09-12 28-31 45-48 22-30 48-52
Rotor (Main Body) 13-21 32-41 49-58 31-43 -
Wings (Main Body) 22-25 42-44 59-60 44-53 53-69
Missile Pods (Wings) 26-30 45-49 61-68 54-57 70-78
Forward Head Laser (Head) 31-33 50 69-72 58-59 79-81
Arm Pulse Laser (Arm) 34-50 51-55 73-75 60-62 82-85
Main Body (Pilots Compartment) 51-75 56-00 76-90 63-80 86-90
Pilots Compartment 76-00 - 91-00 81-00 91-00
Battloid
Location Front Back Sides Top Bottom
Head (Main Body) 01-07 01-07 01-07 01-09 -
Arms (Main Body) 08-15 08-15 08-15 10-12 01-07
Hands (Arms) 16-19 16-19 16-18 13-14 08-12
Arm Turbo Thrusters (Arms) 20-25 2-025 19-24 15-16 13-18
Legs (Main Body) 26-42 26-42 25-41 17-25 19-40
Tail Section (Main Body) 43-44 43-47 42-45 26-27 41-43
Blades (Rotors) 45-48 48-53 46-49 28-31 44-47
Rotor (Main Body) - 54-60 50-58 32-40 48-56
Wings (Main Body) 49-52 61-64 59-61 41-50 57-62
Missile Pods (Wings) 53-60 65-72 62-68 51-54 63-75
Forward Head Laser (Head) 61-63 73-75 69-71 55-56 -
Arm Pulse Laser (Arm) 64-69 76-81 72-76 57-59 76-81
Main Body (Pilots Compartment) 70-00 82-00 77-00 60-00 82-00
Pilots Compartment - - - - -
ajacs_bottom.jpg (41118 bytes)
REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN
Robotech Technical Files: Veritech Fighter Helicopter Auroran
Palladium Books: "The Southern Cross"
http://zarconian.wikia.com/wiki/Zarconian_outer_space_Navy http://zarconian.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Space_Airforce http://zarconian.wikia.com/wiki/Zarco_Space_Army