lr.11
MEGAZONE 23
"As your body grows bigger/Your mind will flower/It's
great to learn/'Cause knowledge is power"
--School House Rock
"Zoner, you wished to speak to me?" Lord Fahrvergnugen
asked.
"Yeah, I've got a few ideas I want to bounce off of
you."
"What type of ideas?"
"Well, here, look at this," Zoner said, spreading out
the plans for the Daytona from Hell's "beta" unit. "I think
this would help out a lot, sort of a captain's launch, and
I'd like to make it combat capable."
"Hmmm, I see you have been busy. It is a good design."
"Thanks, by the way, how large do warp engines have to
be? And what about weapons?"
"Well, microwarp engines can be fairly small, in fact
you could possibly install a pair. Here and here, along the
flanks. And as for weapons, it depends on the kind."
"Well, what do you have?"
"Conventional projectiles, directed energy, missiles,
mass drivers, you name it."
"Well, hmmm, I'd like the basic Daytona to be capable on
its own, and the `beta' should function independently. So,
how about installing an upgraded fusion turbine, and using an
energy bleed to power a couple of plasma weapons firing
through the fascia. And how big are missiles?"
"Well, long-range missiles are twenty feet long, but
that is too large. Short range missiles are about five feet
long, and mini-missiles are two feet long."
"Two feet? Hmmm. Where where where? I could put them
in the undercarriage, that's fine for space, but on the
ground they're useless. But still, how about two short
rangers mounted retracted along the frame rails, the entire
undercarriage is covered in armor sheeting anyway. We just
have to be careful of the hover ports. I've got it! We
split the rear bumper! A gang of four mini-missiles should
fit in each side, the ends pop open and I can fire to the
sides, or when separated they slide out a rotate to lie along
the sides so they aim forwards."
"Good thinking, original and functional. What about
this `beta' unit?"
"Well, since the airlock is centered in the rear with
the three Cyclones in the starboard corner and the Garland in
the port corner, there isn't much room for rear firing
weapons. I do have an affection for one weapon in
particular, and it should fit along the center line on top."
"What weapon is this?"
"The General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm rotary
cannon: seven barrels of death," Zoner said with an evil
grin.
"I believe we can manufacture one without many
problems," Wolfgang said, returning the grin.
"Great. Now, we take up the rest of the roof with a VLS
setup."
"VLS?"
"Vertical Launch System. I figure we can put one
hundred micro-missiles up there. The `beta' is about eight
feet by twenty feet, not counting the overhang over the car,
so that gives one hundred sixty square feet, and each missile
takes up what, a square foot including launch box? I figure
we mount them starting on the outer edges and work towards
the center, that'll leave the center three feet for the GAU-8
and associated systems. We can hang four long range missiles
under the `beta', and a rack of ten short range missiles in
fold out pontoons, like in the RAH-66 Comanche. Tracking can
be provided by a phased array radar, a la an Aegis system.
And the Daytona from Hell still has its radar shielding."
"Don't get carried away, lad. I think we'll be able to
handle this. I'll have my crew get right on it. Can I take
these drawings?"
"Sure, and thanks."
"No problem, I like to see you take the initiative."
With that Lord Fahrvergnugen swept out of the room.
"Why does he always have to sweep out of a room like
that?" Zoner mumbled to himself.
"Excuse me, Lord Fahrvergnugen?" Gryphon called out in
the corridor.
"Please, call me Wolfgang now."
"Ok, Wolfgang, I was wondering if I could mention some
ideas to you?"
"Of course, I've just come from speaking with MegaZone.
"Out of curiosity, what type of fightercraft will we be
using?
"We are in the process of gearing up to produce VF-1
Valkyrie fighters for those who request them, but the main
units will be using the Alpha-Beta Legios system."
"I kind of suspected that. Listen, how about some
modifications to the VF-1S?"
"Such as?"
"Well, like changing the cockpit layout so that they can
be piloted while wearing CVR-3, and providing storage space
for a Cyclone for emergency use, like in an Alpha."
"A sound suggestion, I will see to it. Is there anything
else?"
"Well, actually yes. I'd like a personalized craft,
seeing as I'm XO and all."
"What do you require?"
"I'd like a VF-1S, but there are a couple of things I
need. For one thing, I'm left-handed, so I'd like to have
the control layout reversed."
"You as well?" Lord Fahrvergnugen said, slapping the
sword hilt at his right hip. "You must be one of the Delta
series. I used some of my own genetics in them. But anyway,
go on with what you wanted. That should be no problem."
"Ok, whatever...anyway, I'd like to have a pair of
nacelles which contain microwarp drives, built into the Super
boosterpods, if it can be done. And I'd like a VT-1D two-
seater with the same type of nacelles for Kei and Yuri. The
nacelles will probably need a lot of power, so those two
Valkyries will need a more powerful reactor. I've got some
ideas for actuation modifications and such, too, but I'd need
to do the work on a finished machine, not paper."
"That should be no problem. Anything else?"
"Well, this may be pushing it, but I'd like the Pair to
have their own ship. How hard would it be to have a Wasp
class ship built?"
"Wasp class? I'm not sure what that is."
"Oh, yeah, right. I have tons of CADs of it."
"Well, bring them to my tech crew. Have them see what
they can do."
"Thank you again."
"My pleasure." Lord Fahrvergnugen strode down the
corridor and swept around a corner.