 | (SR-71 Blackbird bomber variant). | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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She was, in fact, a carefully rebuilt SR-71. She was integrated with early, crude, anti- gravity technology and traction drive, hydro-cell scram jets with dual-phase aeration (in atmosphere it sucks air in as normal, but outside an atmosphere it uses liquid air kept on board), and re-entry protection- Essentially fully trans-atmospheric. And she was armed. But why? She was apparently built late 1970's or early 1980's as the Cold War was winding down. To this day, nobody REALLY knows what the truth is; During the chaos of the GCW and later conflicts, the planes were moved, hidden, nearly stolen, stolen, stolen back, the plans stolen, bought back, re-stolen, destroyed, etc; Though the Americans never lost control of the planes, nor did the plans successfully fall into unfriendly hands, they were destroyed, so the "true" history of this incredible craft can not be known. However, the Aurora WAS inter-stellar capable LONG before the coming of "the Visitor" (eventually the SDF-1). The XB-71 Aurora has ALWAYS had the Chameleon Visible Wavelength Observation Limiting System used on Dragonlady, Blackbird, and Switchblade. Like it's less aggressive brother the SR-71 Blackbird, the XB-71 Aurora been equipped with space-drop re-entry shield, essentially a modified DS-2 Full-Force Barrier Field to protect the craft during reentry, and like the Blackbird the Aurora's wings do NOT have to be folded down. It also has space fold drives for strategic bombing. Due to the small size of the ship, her spacefold is TINY, and consequently has a spacefold signature too small to detect. The existence of Aurora has been declassified, but it's secrets continue to be closely guarded. The REF has publicly acknowledged ONLY that they are "aero-space," implying ONLY that they are trans-atmospheric, not interstellar. Another option that the Aurora added was "piggybacking" U-2 and X-29b as part of it's armament options; This gives it VERY limited flexibility in prosecuting an aggressive option. This secret, like the inter-stellar capabilities of the Aurora, is classified. Name: XB-71 Aurora Model Type: Experimental Bomber/Space Fighter Model Number: 71 Crew: 2. Passengers: None normally; However, on VERY RARE occasion someone can be carried, but only if DESPERATELY necessary. MDC By Location: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fuselage- Cockpits (2)- Engines (2)- Wings (2)- Thrusters (2)- | 500 250 each 350 each 400 each 150 each | Rudders (2 each)- Ball Turrets (2)- MRM Launcher- SRM Launchers (3)- | 150 each 100 each 150 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed and Statistical Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the air: Mach 20.8 Range in the air: 500,000 miles. Can be refueled in the air, and in fact MUST be (pre-grav-pod overhaul). On the ground: 0.2 MPH Range on the ground: 0.1 miles. Height: 22.1 feet Wingspan: 60 feet (the wings can NOT fold up). Length: 110 feet Weight: 40 tons Cargo: Only the pilot's emergence supplies can be carried. Power System: Quad JER-m15 Hydro-Cell Dual-Phase Scram Jet Engines (33,000 pounds each engine); This is TWICE as much power as the SR-71. Flight Systems: Primary: Grav Pods. Secondary: Normal Aero-Foil effect and Hydro-Cell Jets. | Thrust Systems (other than Space Fold): Primary: One BMm-050 Traction Drive. Secondary: Quad JER-m11 Hydro-Cell Jet Engines (33,000 pounds each engine). Note: During certain types of intelligence gathering, the grav pods and traction drives must be shut down, as they create electro-magnetic and electro-gravimetric waves which interfere with the hyper-sensitive electronics. Cost and Availability: Each cost 10 billion€ to build; Currently only 18 are available. No more will be built for some time to come. Black Market Cost and Availability: An equivalent jet or nuclear powered system COULD be made available, but it would be VERY rare, and would not have space fold capability. One such ship is BELIEVED to exist in the hands of a Fehran Malcontent faction, but does NOT have space fold capability. There would not BE a limit to how much such a ship could be sold for. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weapons Systems: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Ball Turret Lasers: A pair of retractable ball turret used to discourage blind-side attacks. This is EXACTLY like the one used on the SR-71, except that the TR-3A Black Manta has TWO of them, one dorsal, one ventral. Purpose: Defense/Anti-Aircraft/Missile MD: 4D6 per blast. Rate of Fire: Per gunners attacks per melee. Payload: Unlimited. 2. MRM Launcher: A ventral-mounted MRM Launcher is used to add to the crafts combat capabilities. Purpose: Anti-Ship/Aircraft MD and Range: Varies by type used. Rate of Fire: Volleys of 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 per pilots attacks per melee. Payload: 5 MRM's. A second bank of missiles are kept on board, and automatically load when the previous bank has been used. | 3. SRM Launchers (2): A collection of three fuselage mounted SRM Launchers, 1 ventral and 2 dorsal, just aft of the weapon systems operator's station (formerly the intelligence officer's station). Purpose: Anti-Aircraft/LRM MD and Range: Varies by type used. Rate of Fire: Volleys of 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 per pilots attacks per melee. Payload: 20 SRM's. A second and THIRD bank of missiles are kept on board, and automatically load when the previous bank has been used. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Features: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect: 01-50 Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud- Missiles are all destroyed. 51-75 Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (may lock onto another target). 76-00 No effect, missile is still on target. Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind nearby heat sensors (and optically based sensors at night) for 1 melee. They will suffer the following penalties: Reduce melee attacks/actions, and combat bonuses by half. Duration: 1D4 melee rounds. Payload: 60 chaff/flares. Each time the system is engaged, the system fires off 04 chaff/flares. | Minimum Effective Distance: 2,910 feet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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