Morningstar

Morningstar City Command Vehicle
Production information
Manufacturer	General Motors, Ceres Metals Industries
Production Year	3065
Mission	Urban Warfare
Type	Wheeled
Cost	8,336,250 C-bills
Technical specifications
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Mass	60 tons
Armor	Durallex Standard
Engine	VOX 280 XL
Speed	86 km/h
Crew	4
Communications System	Overlook J11 w/C3 Master Computer
Targeting Tracking System	Brightstar 17 Mk. II
Heat Sinks	10 single
Armament	1x Autocannon/10 3x Machine Guns
BV (1.0)	412 (C3: 47)
BV (2.0)	736

Description

The Morningstar City Command Vehicle is designed to coordinate battles that take place within urban centers. Though it was ostensibly created to coordinate defensive operations in said areas, it has proven equally adept at going on the offensive. The Morningstar was engineered by a joint team from General Motors and Ceres Metals Industries and is produced at their Kathil and Tikonov plants, respectively. Following the loss of Tikonov to the Capellan Confederation and the subsequent scattering of George Hasek's naval blockade, Morningstars began making their way into the CCAF. They are so well-liked that production is planned to expand to Warlock, despite the fact that the Morningstar is designed specifically to make use of the special autocannon munitions produced by the Federated Suns.

The Morningstar uses an XL engine to attain speeds up to 86 km/h. While not terribly fast, it is enough to maneuver in the restricted terrain it is designed for. Nine tons of armor protect it well enough, as it is not intended to be on the front lines. The Morningstar is built around a C3 computer that can coordinate the fire of three other like-equipped units, especially the Minion that it is designed to work with. Four tons of cargo space enable the Morningstar to ferry infantry into the battle, giving it the capability of inflicting a nasty surprise on an unwary flanker.

Weapons and Equipment

The Morningstar has a turret that contains a Mydron Excel Autocannon/10. This low-tech gun is included so that it can make use of special munitions, though it now seems decidedly antiquated. Two tons of ammunition are sufficient, though using heavier munitions can change this equation. A Targeting Computer makes the autocannon even more accurate. Three Slingshot Machine Guns serve to deter infantry from assaulting from the front or sides.

Variants

• Company Command 

  This variant that was only on the drawing board in 3068 downgrades the autocannon to an Autocannon/5 to make room for an additional C3 Computer, enabling this Morningstar to effectively coordinate the fire of an entire company. It also reduces the size of the turret and removes a ton of ammunition, giving it the same battlefield longevity while adding a Guardian ECM Suite. BV (1.0) = 350 (C3: 35), BV (2.0) = 680

• Laser 

  This unpopular variant was developed in 3065 and removes the C3 Computer that is the Morningstar's entire reason for existing to replace it with a Large Laser. BV (1.0) = 601, BV (2.0) = 975

• HPG Carrier 

  This version of the Morningstar was introduced in 3076 and replaces the weaponry of the original with a six ton infantry compartment, Ground-Mobile HPG, and a single Magshot Gauss Rifle covering the front, left, and right sides of the vehicle. BV (2.0) = 458

Gallery

• 

  Original Morningstar from TRO:3067

Bibliography

• Combat Operations
• Master Unit List
• Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged
• Technical Readout: 3067