AMCO
I'm Sorry Dave
- Intent: Atmospheric Vulture Droid-analogue for the Open Market.
- Image Source: Invasion by Michael Oberschneider
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: Vulture Droid
- Manufacturer: The Globex Corporation
- Affiliation: Globex Security Division
- Market Status: Open-Market
- Model: MV-D1 Vanguard-series Aerial War Droid
- Modularity: Moderate; aesthetics, programming, minor technical alterations, etc.
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: Duranium-plated Tridurium, Droid Components, Visium Reactor.
- Classification: Variable Geometry Attack Craft
- Role: Air Superiority | Air/Ground-to-Ground
- Size: Average
- Weight: Average
- Armaments: High
- [1] Heavy Particle Cannon
- [2] Anti-Infantry Blasters
- [1] Projectile Launcher
- 100 Deathwasps or 20 Micro-Rockets or 5 Missiles.
- Defences: Average
- Ablative Armouring
- Manoeuvrability Rating: High
- Speed Rating: High
- Propulsion: Repulsorlift/Tripedal.
- Minimum Crew: Unmanned.
- Optimal Crew: Unmanned.
- Passenger Capacity: N/A
- Cargo Capacity: None
- The Heavy Particle Cannon serving as the Vanguard's primary weapon has two firing modes, an intense burst designed for anti-material purposes and a lower-yield prolonged "scything movement" optimised for mowing down infantry. As a Visium-fuelled particle weapon, the beams it produces are a luminous blue-white; they have been noted to produce "most splendid" explosions upon striking a target.
- Vanguards rely primarily on powerful repulsorlift engines for mobility; this solution is cheaper than ion engines and affords them greater agility in atmosphere, but renders them all but useless in space. Their all-terrain magnetisable legs are still useable, however, and they can produce some limited thrust - as with other vacuum-rated vehicles, they could theoretically be used in space battles by a clever commander.
- Vanguards are not Starfighters. They are barely mobile in space, making them easy pickings for point-defence cannons.
- Most Vanguards are outfitted with various anti-slicing countermeasures, prominently Morality Chips that terminate rogue units.
- Rapid Assault Craft: Fast, agile, precise, and utterly fearless, Vanguards are well-suited for spearheading assaults.
- Variable Geometry: Vanguards can land to serve as ad hoc walkers, improving the stability/accuracy in the process.
- Flight of Icarus: While highly effective in lower altitudes, Vanguard performance drops off in the mesosphere; they are not Starfighters.
- Support Structure: Vanguards carry no troops nor supplies and can be downed by infantry missile launchers; support is advisable.
Designed based on the old adage that the best defence is a good offence, Globex's Vanguards are purpose-built to bring the fight to the enemy, whoever they may be; often assigned to colonies or frontier facilities, these war droids stand ready to take to the skies at a moment's notice, soaring above the battlefield and unleashing beams of cerulean death, or taking to the ground to stabilise aiming conditions.
Like the Vulture Droids upon which they are based, Vanguards can attach themselves to surfaces, especially metallic ones, though unlike Vultures they serve little purpose in space, and so rarely attach themselves to capital ship hulls unless boarding or being dropped off.
Given their frequent use of shock and awe tactics, they have proven unsurprisingly effective against disorganised primitives/pirates.
