Cray
06/14/12 08:32 PM
173.168.112.109
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BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout VALIDATED
Type/Model: Cadillas STC Tech: Inner Sphere / 3060 Config: Wheeled Vehicle Rules: Level 3, Standard design
Mass: 2.5 tons Power Plant: 60 Leenex XL Fusion Cruise Speed: 345.6 km/h Maximum Speed: 518.4 km/h Armor Type: Ferro-Fibrous Armament: None Manufacturer: (Unknown) Location: (Unknown) Communications System: (Unknown) Targeting & Tracking System: (Unknown)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ==Overview:== The titanic General Motors conglomerate is mostly known for its production of military equipment like fusion engines and various BattleMechs, not the least of which include the Marauder series. However, the vast bulk of GM's profits - 95% or more - comes from manufacturing civilian vehicles (ranging from scooters to 1000-ton ore-hauling trucks) on dozens of planets in the Free Worlds League, Lyran Alliance, and Federated Suns. Indeed, nearly 50 of its factories individually produce more civilian vehicles per day than its entire military division produces annually.
The Cadillac STC is a high-profile (if actually rare) example of GM's civilian vehicle lines. It is a 4-seat, 2-door, rear-engined, all-wheel drive sport coupe with a monstrous 60-rated XL engine filling the rear engine compartment. It is not only designed for outrageous performance (usually only fully utilized by the autopilot on "smart highways" common to advanced worlds like Terra), but also substantial comfort and safety.
==Capabilities:== Built to military standards, major equipment features include (but not are limited to):
**Semi-active, variable height all-terrain, all-weather suspension typical of military wheeled vehicles **Individually powered, self-pressurizing, run-flat tired **Extensive (but user-friendly) inertial, optical, and satellite- based navigation systems (with self-updating features for planets with out-of-date maps) **An all-weather, radar-assisted thermo-optical sensor suite displayed via 3D window displays and wireless VR glasses (the latter support the illusion of "ghost walls", reducing the surrounding opaque vehicle structure to a ghost or wire frame for outstanding all- around vision) **Advanced satellite communications on par with that of military command units like the Cyclops or Atlas, including both two-way communications for the CEO who wants to run his interstellar corporation on the road or keep his kids quiet with 5000 channels of high-definition media entertainment for the whole trip to the summer mansion **Two front and two rear bucket seats adjustable from the most petite driver to mid-range Elementals, with ample elbow room (cupholders, power outlets, etc.) between them **A front trunk big enough to hide 5 bodies (or 7 if you don't mind some stuffing and jumping on the trunk lid) and 80kg of cargo; not that the STC's engine will notice a few hundred extra kilograms **Milspec environmental controls suited for the Jihad's NBC calamities **Security suite (available in several grades) that provides (at a minimum) intelligent anti-theft and perimeter monitoring, tamper detection (for noting placement of car bombs), "bug" and tracer detection (including detection of interrogation-activated units), and remote ignition (in case someone planted a car bomb that activates when the car starts) **Advanced autopilot compatible with Terran, Tharkad, Atreus, Andurien, and Federated Suns "Golden Five" traffic control systems and capable of limited cross-country excursions (piloting 7 offroad, piloting 6 onroad but outside traffic control zones, piloting 4 in areas with compatible traffic control networks) **Low maintenance, extreme reliability construction that can only result from annual upgrades to car models introduced on the first centennial of the Star League's birth.
The 60-rated GM XL engine barely exerts itself while powering this car to 350kph, and on appropriate unlimited-class highways it can open up to nearly 520kph. Not only does the 60 GM enable the Cadillac STC to accelerate 0 to 100kph in just under 2 seconds, the flat torque curve and variable gearing of the electric motors means it can sustain that acceleration through 520kph in merely 10 seconds. Typically, drive system governors prevent human drivers from killing themselves and leveling small hills with this excessive power.
Which is also delivered with surprising silence. The active aerodynamics and SmartTread tires minimize air and road noise, while the electric motors only produce a modest growl in the car.
The discrete, molded armor of these cars is not just civilian crash protection, but it is full, military-grade armor protection that can shrug off (once) the attention of light military weaponry. Three centuries of experience have shown that the Cadillac STC is far more likely to hit something headfirst than be rear-ended at truly threatening speeds, and the armor is arranged accordingly. This arrangement has produced a love-hate relationship with the STC on many planets. At its top cruising speed, it can lance through the typical family vehicle with only cosmetic damage.
Interestingly, GM took the time to provide discrete power ports to make use of the engine's bountiful energy. It advertised these in conjunction with the milspec all-terrain suspension as a means of taking a large sports car off-road to various swank campgrounds, where all appropriate luxuries and laser hunting rifles could be powered from the car. In practice, many owners simply use these to sell electricity back to their home's power companies.
While the Cadillac STC is several times more expensive than the average MechWarrior's annual salary, it is less expensive than a couple of tons of standard LRM ammo.
==Variants:== The Cadillac STC-E (Executive) uses a smaller engine (a 45 GM XL) to free up nearly a half ton, which is promptly spent on a complete, all-environment life support system, slightly more armor, and either more cargo or a limited amphibious system. It is marketed toward executives and nobles concerned about war or assassination chasing them into hostile environments or truly cross-country, and to wealthy individuals on planets with uninhabitable environments.
-------------------------------------------------------- Type/Model: Cadillas STC Mass: 2.5 tons Construction Options: Fractional Accounting
Equipment: Items Mass Int. Struct.: 4 pts Standard 0 .25 Engine: 60 XL Fusion 2 .75 Shielding & Transmission Equipment: 0 .38 Cruise MP: 32 Flank MP: 48 Heat Sinks: 10 Single 0 .00 Cockpit & Controls: 0 .13 Crew: 1 Members 0 .00 Armor Factor: 12 pts Ferro-Fibrous 2 .67
Internal Armor Structure Value Front: 1 5 Left / Right Sides: 1 2/2 Rear: 1 3
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass -------------------------------------------------------- 3 Passenger Seats (Support Vehicle) Body 1 .24 -------------------------------------------------------- TOTALS: 0 5 2.42 Items & Tons Left: 0 .08
Calculated Factors: Total Cost: 57,915 C-Bills Battle Value: 14 Cost per BV: 4,136.79 Weapon Value: 0 / 0 (Ratio = .00 / .00) Damage Factors: SRDmg = 0; MRDmg = 0; LRDmg = 0 BattleForce2: MP: 32W, Armor/Structure: 0 / 1 Damage PB/M/L: -/-/-, Overheat: 0 Class: GL; Point Value: 0
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is unofficial and non-canon unless directly quoted from a published book. Random internet musings of a BattleTech writer are not canon.
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scheinlen
06/16/12 06:37 PM
68.251.185.250
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I'll take one NOW.
It is not my job to judge my Enemies, that is there God's job. It is only my duty to arrange the meeting!
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His_Most_Royal_Highass_Donkey
06/16/12 07:59 PM
173.96.88.54
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I would have added a white glove cost of a couple of tens of thousands.
Nice overview
Why argue if the glass is half full or half empty, when you know someone is going to knock it over and spill it anyways.
I was a Major *pain* before
But I got a promotion.
I am now a General *pain*
Yay for promotions!!!
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scheinlen
06/16/12 10:58 PM
68.251.185.250
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At the price of fuel today it would soon pay for it self!!! lol
It is not my job to judge my Enemies, that is there God's job. It is only my duty to arrange the meeting!
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CYBRN4CR
06/18/12 05:24 AM
67.204.151.83
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Damn that Caddie is fast. Now make a limo version - then it would truly be the trademark executive's/nobles/politician's vehicle considering all the electronics and military grade armor on that thing.
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scheinlen
06/18/12 01:28 PM
69.208.131.118
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What is missing is the trap door, roof mounted HMG, as in the security detail for the U.S. Secret service.
It is not my job to judge my Enemies, that is there God's job. It is only my duty to arrange the meeting!
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