Post by Insano-Man on Sept 24, 2018 9:58:38 GMT -5
Fat, Slow, & Ugly
The AV14B, nicknamed "Shifty" in line with other Commonwealth troop transports, was at first commissioned in 2197 A.F. as an emergency vehicle for MIAV crewmen and rangers serving in civilian roles. Ungainly and slow for what would eventually become a military transport, its specifications would defy its original purpose and bring it into active service in theaters of war.
After some time in civilian service, it was eventually realized that the high-impact plating on the vehicle was not only strong enough to safeguard its crew and passengers from the threats commonplace on barren planets, but those of wartime. Micrometeors and other space debris would be exchanged for railguns and anti-tank missiles as the vehicle was redesignated from UV118 to AV14B in 2199 A.F. and pressed into military service.
In wartime and its continued civilian service, the AV14B is an oddity. Too slow to function as a mechanized infantry transport and too expensive for behind-the-lines logistics movements, it has nonetheless been employed successfully in a small array of mobile housing roles.
Even more strange than its practically improvised role as a mobile command center or drop troop munitions carrier is that in space warfare. In the boarding of large craft such as carriers and supply vessels, the AV14B has been used in a fashion none too distant from that of a torpedo. As one of the few land vehicles in the Garran military capable of unassisted space flight and one of the fewer still that have the dense armor necessary to survive heated combat, the Shifty has been used in a handful of famous operations to spearhead the takeover of the aforementioned varieties of hostile spacecraft. Delivered by dropships or even heavy bombers from Commonwealth Space Navy carriers and loaded with Ranger boarding parties, there has yet to be a recorded instance of a so-called "Shifty toss" operation failing to bring about a successful capture.
Due to its considerable weight, the AV14B is not outfitted with a weapons system and is instead expected to rely on supporting vehicles or infantry to accomplish its wartime assignments. Despite this, the vehicle is still provided with the powerful POD-21 point defense system, which offers it and the forces attached to it one of the most potent defensive screens available.
The AV14B, nicknamed "Shifty" in line with other Commonwealth troop transports, was at first commissioned in 2197 A.F. as an emergency vehicle for MIAV crewmen and rangers serving in civilian roles. Ungainly and slow for what would eventually become a military transport, its specifications would defy its original purpose and bring it into active service in theaters of war.
After some time in civilian service, it was eventually realized that the high-impact plating on the vehicle was not only strong enough to safeguard its crew and passengers from the threats commonplace on barren planets, but those of wartime. Micrometeors and other space debris would be exchanged for railguns and anti-tank missiles as the vehicle was redesignated from UV118 to AV14B in 2199 A.F. and pressed into military service.
In wartime and its continued civilian service, the AV14B is an oddity. Too slow to function as a mechanized infantry transport and too expensive for behind-the-lines logistics movements, it has nonetheless been employed successfully in a small array of mobile housing roles.
Even more strange than its practically improvised role as a mobile command center or drop troop munitions carrier is that in space warfare. In the boarding of large craft such as carriers and supply vessels, the AV14B has been used in a fashion none too distant from that of a torpedo. As one of the few land vehicles in the Garran military capable of unassisted space flight and one of the fewer still that have the dense armor necessary to survive heated combat, the Shifty has been used in a handful of famous operations to spearhead the takeover of the aforementioned varieties of hostile spacecraft. Delivered by dropships or even heavy bombers from Commonwealth Space Navy carriers and loaded with Ranger boarding parties, there has yet to be a recorded instance of a so-called "Shifty toss" operation failing to bring about a successful capture.
Due to its considerable weight, the AV14B is not outfitted with a weapons system and is instead expected to rely on supporting vehicles or infantry to accomplish its wartime assignments. Despite this, the vehicle is still provided with the powerful POD-21 point defense system, which offers it and the forces attached to it one of the most potent defensive screens available.
