Editing Nightshade (Combat Vehicle)

{{otheruses|the VTOL|the ground attack fighter|Nightshade (Conventional Fighter)}}
{{InfoBoxCombatVehicle
| image = Nightshade.jpg
| name = Nightshade
| manufacturer = 
[[Yelm Weapons]]
------
[[Meers-Skobel Defense Corporation]]
| production year=2596
| year reference=<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/2278/ MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
| Mission = Reconnaissance/ Electronic Warfare
| Type = [[VTOL]]
| cost = 1,222,222 C-bills
| mass = 25 tons
| armor = [[FiberTech Light]]
| engine = [[GM 210]]
| comsys = [[Johnston VRR 2.0]]
| T&T = [[Lamprey VXX]]
| heat sinks = 10 [[Heat Sink|single]]
| speed = 228
| Crew = 
| armament = 
* 1x [[medium laser]]
* 1x [[Guardian ECM suite]]
| BV (1.0) = 355<ref>''Combat Operations'', p. 106</ref>
| BV (2.0) = 367<ref name=TRO3050U>''Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', pp. 156–157: "Nightshade VTOL Profile"</ref><ref>''Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 173</ref>
}}

==Description==
The '''Nightshade''' is a light [[VTOL]] designed in [[2597]] specifically to provide an aerial platform for the [[Guardian ECM Suite]]. The first craft to carry the system, the Nightshade was highly unpopular with pilots due to the inadequate two tons of FiberTech Light armor and single weapon it carried, necessary costs for its high speed and the weight of the Guardian suite.<ref name=TRO3050U/><ref name=TRO2750>''Technical Readout: 2750'', pp. 92–93: "Nightshade VTOL Profile"</ref><ref name=TRO3050R>''Technical Readout: 3050 Revised'', pp. 196–197: "Nightshade VTOL Profile"</ref>

With the Guardian entering the realms of [[LosTech]] and the destruction of Yelm's main factory by a [[Lyran Commonwealth]] orbital bombardment in the early [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]], the VTOL was relegated to second line militias and warehouses such as [[ComStar]]'s [[Terra]]n stockpiles. Production of the design was finally revived by the [[Word of Blake]], with modern technology giving it an expanded role in the Blakists' [[Word of Blake Protectorate Militia|Protectorate Militia]] during the [[Jihad]].<ref name=TRO3050U/><ref name=TRO2750/><ref name=TRO3050R/>

==Weapons and Equipment==
Added almost as an after thought, the Nightshade carries a single nose-mounted Randal [[medium laser]]. While a sturdy dependable weapon, made highly accurate by being linked to track the movement of the pilot's helmet, it adds negligible firepower to a battle.<ref name=TRO3050U/><ref name=TRO2750/><ref name=TRO3050R/>

==Variants==
*;Armor : After the Guardian system became LosTech, the most common field refit was to strip the system out to create an impromptu and cramped two-person passenger bay.<ref name=TRO3050U/> BV (2.0)= 344<ref>''Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 174</ref>

*;Light AC : Rumored to have appeared along the [[Word of Blake Protectorate]]/[[Capellan Confederation]] border, this variant apparently served as an artillery spotter and supposedly mounted a [[Light Autocannon]]/2 and [[Target Acquisition Gear|TAG]]. BV (2.0)=325<ref>''Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 175</ref>

*;Light PPC (MSDC) : Contracted by the Word of Blake to investigate updated versions of numerous classic SLDF designs, the [[Terra]]n based Meers-Skobel Defense Corporation's version is slightly slower but carries a more useful equipment and weapons load. Clad in two and half tons of FiberTech Light Plus Ferro-Fibrous armor, the modern Nightshade retains the Guardian ECM but adds a [[C3i Computer]], carrying a single Moscovia [[Light PPC]] for protection. BV (2.0)=490<ref>''Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 176</ref>

*;Royal : The upgraded model used by the [[SLDF Royal units]], the standard engine was replaced with an [[XL engine|extralight version]] and armor switched to more advanced [[Ferro-Fibrous]] plate, with the weight saved allowing the VTOL to carry an extra ton of armor and the medium laser to be replaced with a [[Large Pulse Laser]].<ref name=TRO3075>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 169</ref> BV (2.0)= 631<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged'', p. 137</ref><ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 7</ref>

==Notes==
* In German products, the unit's proper name was altered to '''Belladonna''', the Latin name of the plant Deadly Nightshade, a term commonly (and alternatively to German ''Tollkirsche'') used in Germany.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Nightshade.jpg|Original ''Nightshade'' from ''[[Technical Readout 2750|TRO:2750]]''
File:3050U Nightshade.jpg|Upgraded ''Nightshade'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade|TRO:3050 Upgrade]]''
Image:Nightshade VTOL (CCG).jpg|A ''Nightshade'' in combat from ''[[BattleTech Trading Card Game|CCG]]''
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Revised]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade]]'' 
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]'' 

[[Category:Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:Light Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:25 ton Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:VTOLs]]
[[Category:Recon Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:Inner Sphere General Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:SLDF Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:SLDF Royal Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:German renamed units]]