Cadillac: Car of the Millennium, Every Millennium

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CrayModerator
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navigation systems (with self-updating features for planets with out-of-date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.
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!
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!!!
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!
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.
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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