Lackland Station herself.	XB-71 Aurora (SR-71 Blackbird Bomber variant).		Lackland Station herself.
XB-71 AURORA SR-71 Varaint. Multiple Views Of The XB-71. Type: Experimental Bomber/Space Fighter. Model Number: 71. Crew: 2. Passengers: None. In the air: Mach 20.8. 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. Flight Systems: Grav Pods; Normal Aero-Foil effect and Hydro-Cell Jets. Thrust Systems: One BMm-050 Traction Drive; Quad JER-m11 Hydro-Cell Jet Engines. Of all the Blackland aero-spacecraft, Aurora is the most controversial, and least known about. Even in her own time, only 100 people knew of her existence; The workers who rebuilt her (which included the pilot and weapons officer), the program manager (who was also the construction foreman), and three members of Congress- All of whom were also technical advisors on the project. XB-71 AURORA (the original) during flight trials over New Mexico. Another XB-71 (not AURORA herself). 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 credits 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:
Space Fold: One of the few aero-space craft so equipped. Allows the Aurora to travel from star system to star system; Additionally, it JUST BARELY powerful enough to from galaxy to galaxy. Note: The Aurora’s interstellar abilities are considered absolutely top secret; Only Aurora pilots, sensor/weapons operators, and command staff know this secret. Stealth: Gives the aircraft the radar cross-section equivalent to that of a hummingbird, hides the infrared signature to that of a bad cough, and minimizes other radiation from the craft to essentially nil. The acoustic signature also has been minimized using various techniques. Chameleon System: Pleizio-ceramic tiles darkened or lightened as necessary to render the craft invisible. Minimum effective distance: 2 feet. ESM: Radar Detector. Passively detects other radars being operated. Radar: Combat grade radar. Range 100 miles, can track up to 50 individual targets. 95% reliability (24% against unfriendly stealthed vehicles). Blue Force Tracker: Identifies friend from foe. Overlays the information on both the radar and HUD, ensuring that friendly forces are not accidentally targeted. GPS: Standard tracking device. Ties into the Blue Force Tracker. Anti-Jamming System: Reduces Electronics Countermeasure by ¾ (decrease skill level appropriately). AMC/FD (2): Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispensers. Actually launches a glob of burning magnesium/aluminum alloy to confuse both radar AND heat sensory systems. Fires off 04 chaff/flares each time it is activated. The system is KNOWN to work on all KNOWN radar and infrared systems, but concerns continue that somewhere out there their MIGHT be a system that will be totally unaffected by the system. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (add +20% to rolls for smart missiles). 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.		HUD: Displays maps, radar, targeting information, and any OTHER information the wearer wants directly in front of the user. FLIR/SLIR: Forward and Side Looking Infrared. Allows pilot to get visuals on targets at night. AJP: Active Jamming Pod. Causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/bases can detect that it is jamming, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to all radar guided weapons. The jamming pod is only mounted inside the port taileron. Virtual Map: Displays a continuously-updating map of local terrain for the pilot. Takes data from and gives data to other friendly units in the area. Effective land navigation of 85% as updates come. Good to 500 miles. Specific range can be adjusted in 1 mile increments. Video Camera: Records from the HUD. 50 hours of recording available. Full range optic sensory suite: Infrared, ultra violet, Magnification, night sight, color filters, thermal imager. Range is about 200 miles for MOST sensors. Survival Pack: A pack of simpler emergency survival supplies: Pup tent, sleeping bag, black light, GPS, first aid kit (bandages, gauze, bandage tape, pads, antiseptic/analgesic), plasma torch (for small repairs and starting fires), repair kit (with MDC Repair Spray), sewing kit (a small spool of thread and 5 needles), 7 star flares (250 foot apogee), 2 white parachute flares (1,500 foot apogee), 100 feet of black or brown parachute cord (150 lbs tensile strength), 2-5 days rations, 2 gallons water, water purification kit- good for about 10 gallons. Sensory Systems: The craft is equipped with sensors the likes of which no one has ever before imagined; Laser sensors that can listen in on spoken conversations, in crowded and noise-filled places; Cameras that can read the seconds on a digital wrist-watch in the dark; Signal interceptor systems that can not only eavesdrop on laser-secured radio systems, but in fact can even JAM them, causing a totally worthless signal to be received; Even a EMP-based dampening system that can tap into computers, copying all the data and leaving a blank computer in it's wake (unfortunately this does not work on hardened circuitry); Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems that can tell not only when one object is hiding amongst others (such as a power armor hiding in thick foliage with it's power plant off), but even near-alike objects intertwined (such as two different types of plants growing together); All from the edge of space. Smoke dispensers (8): Throws out smoke flares capable of obscuring IR and heat sensors, and defeats visual tracking of the vehicle. Mostly used to cover landings and takeoffs. Chameleon System: Pleizio-ceramic tiles darkened or lightened as necessary to render the craft invisible. Minimum Effective Distance: 2,910 feet.
Combat Bonuses from XB-71 Aurora Combat Elite: 3 additional attack per melee. One additional Attack Per melee at levels 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 with any additional bonuses for the pilot. +4 Initiative +5 Strike +4 Roll +2 Dodge
			Another XB-71 pic; Date and place unknown, but it is NOT Terra.