Nightward
10/02/03 07:31 AM
211.26.64.205
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Draconis Elite Strike Teams: Marine Strike Corps
After Tai-Sa Michael Ryan returned from Clan space with his handful of surviving DEST warriors, he was placed in command of training and recruitment efforts for a new arm of the DEST, creating the new Marine Strike Corps. The new DEST MSC are intended to operate both as standard DEST units and to fully integrate themselves with WarShip and DropShip support- including undertaking boarding actions and calling down Naval support fire.
In late 3067, Coordinator Theodore Kurita authorised a bold experiment; contacting Dante Enterprises and Midway Shipyards and ordering them to collaborate, he signed over three Buccaneer-Class DropShips and an Invader-Class JumpShip. Rebuilt with schematics from Dante Enterprises of Loysville by the Midway Shipyards, the ageing designs became the nucleus of the new Marine Strike Corps; the powerful new Shadow Blade-Class DropShips and the Night’s Wind command vessel.
Type: Shadow Blade-Class DropShip
Technology Base: Inner Sphere, Draconis Combine 3067
Mass: 3,500 Tons
Chassis: Rebuilt Buccaneer Airframe (Shadow Blade Superstructure-X on new vessels)
Power Plant: Midway NovaStar
Cruising Speed: 4 Gravities
Maximum Speed: 6 Gravities
Armour: Midway Shadow Blade Ferro-Carbide
Armament:
14 Lord’s Light 2 ER PPCs
12 Shigunga LRM-20s
8 Shigunga MRM-40s
12 Victory Heartbeat Medium Pulse Lasers
Communications System: Dragon’s Roar-12 Command Version
Targeting and Tracking System: dragon’s Eye with Integrated Artemis IV FCS
Primary Manufacturer: Dante Enterprises/Midway Shipyards
Primary Factory: Midway
OVERVIEW
As the Dragon does not have the time, nor the facilities, to evolve a new, custom-built DropShip, the only choice was to modify an existing design. After examining several available options, Dante Enterprises elected to use an Aerodyne design, maximising the new DropShips flexibility in both space and atmosphere. After narrowing the field down, Dante Enterprises investigated the current crop of available designs.
Somewhat surprisingly, at this point, the Dante CEO himself stepped in, contacting Tai-Sa Michael Ryan directly and involving him in the choice of base design. Impressed with a partner willing to pay attention to what his team wanted, Michael Ryan came to the table with his own list of design features.
After discussing the situation, Dante and the DEST came to an agreement; the new Shadow Blade would be based around the old Buccaneer.
Originally designed as a 'Mech carrier to compete with the Leopard, the Buccaneer failed to win the contract and was changed over to a civilian design. However, the original military nature of the design was there with the efficient layout and rugged systems.
After rebuilding the airframe and replacing the armour with cunningly built panels which completely conceal the new weapons systems, the Dante and Midway engineers completed the modifications by adding a new power plant that produces almost three times as much thrust and a powerful grappling system to negate the need for more vulnerable Battle Taxis; the Shadow Blade is capable of directly delivering its DEST Marines.
CAPABILITIES
Visually indistinguishable from a standard, merchantman Buccaneer, the Shadow Blade quickly becomes a dazzling surprise. Capable of moving as fast as an Achilles, yet more heavily armed and armoured, the Shadow Blade will certainly open the eyes of the unwary.
The S
Yea, verily. Let it be known far and wide that Nightward loathes MW: DA. Indeed, it is with the BURNING ANIMUS OF A THOUSAND SUNS that he doth rage against it with.
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