Republic Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To create a new generation of assault landers for the Militant branches of the First Order.
Image Source: Atmospheric Assault Lander Wookieepedia Page.
Canon Link: Atmospheric Assault Lander.
Restricted Missions: N/A
Primary Source: Atmospheric Assault Lander (Mk I), Atmospheric Assault Lander (Mk II).
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Sienar-Jaemus Army Systems, First Order Corps of Imperial Engineers.
Model: SJAS-AAL/FO-03 Tactical Troop Transport.
Affiliation: The First Order.
Production: Mass-Produced.
Material: Titanium-Reinforced Durasteel Armour Plating (Ablative and Redundant), Glasteel Viewports, Anti-Ion (Copper Faraday Cage) Mesh, Reinforced Duraplast Plating (Landing Struts and Solar Panel Coating), Reflec Enamel Coating, Photovoltaic / Solar Ionization Cells (Girondium, Colium), Internal Dropship Components (Assault Ramp and Etc).
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Classification: Atmospheric/Intergalactic Assault Transport.
Length: 18 Metres.
Width: 5 Metres.
Height: 4 Metres.
Armament:
- F-Z0 Antipersonnel Blaster Cannon. (Pintle-Mounted, Remote Controlled, Overhauled to Modern Standards.)
- Variable Repulsorfield Generator (with Integrated Augmentor. Prow-Mounted.)
- Two External Weapon Mounts. (Variable External Weapon Systems; EX: Shield Disruptors.)
Defenses:
- Redundant Armour Plating.
- Reflec Enamel Coating. (Sensor Silhouette, Incoming Internal Scanning Difficulty.)
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Deflector Shield.
- Secondary Deflector Shield Generator (with Integrated Augmentor. Prow-Mounted.)
- External Cartridge Launchers. (Anti-Blaster Aerosol, Smoke, Etc.)
Squadron Count: Five AAL’s Per Squadron.
Maneuverability Rating: [ Low. ]
Speed Rating: [ Moderate. ]
MGLT: 20 - 100 MGLT
Maximum Atmospheric Speed: 1,000 Km/H (Unshielded.) 1,200 Km/H (Shielded.)
Hyperdrive Rating: Class 2
Secondary Hyperdrive Rating: Class 10
Engine Unit(s): 4x SJAS-210 sublight ion engine(s), 4x P-w401 Ion Maneuvering Jet(s).
Power Plant/ Reactor: Hypermatter Annihilation Reactor (Gunship Scale.) Exterior, Retractable Solar Ionization Panels and Collection Arrays.
Crew: One Pilot, One Integrated Droid Brain.
Crew (Skeleton): One Integrated Droid Brain.
Passengers: Twenty Stormtroopers (Two Squads.) Or Twenty-Five Imperial Army Regulars.
Cargo Capacity: 500 Kilograms to 1 Metric Tonne.
Consumables: One Month.
STANDARD FEATURES- Standard [Military-Grade.] Sensor and Targeting Systems.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Navigation and Avionics Packages.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Communications Suite ( Encrypted with First Order Military Keys.)
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Subspace and HoloNet Transceiver(s).
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Life Support Systems.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Atmospheric Seals and Perfunctory Oxygen Scrubbers.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] External Axial Spotlight(s).
- Standard [Military-Grade.] VTOL Repulsorlift Anti-Gravity System.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Inertial Compensators with Crash Webbing.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Integrated Armoury (Retractable Wall Mounts.)
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Homing Beacon (Encrypted with First Order Military Keys.)
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Cartridge Launchers. (Smoke, Anti-Blaster Aerosol, Etc.)
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Landing Gear(s) with Repulsor Generator. (Assault Ramp.)
- Reflec Enamel Coating. (Sensor Silhouette, Incoming Internal Scanning Difficulty.)
- Rapid Action Deployment Ramp (Assault Ramp, Telescopic.)
- Integrated Droid Brain.
- Variable Repulsorfield Generator.
- Heavily Defended Assault Carrier.
- Integrated Droid Brain.
- Variable Repulsorfield Generator, with Integrated Augmentor.
- Reflec Enamel Coating. (Sensor Silhouette, Incoming Internal Scanning Difficulty.)
- Ponderous Maneuverability.
- Lightly Armed (Anti-Personnel Weapons.)
- Exposed Cockpit Module.
Like its predecessors, the AAL had changed little regarding the overall aesthetic design, which was an attempt to not only remain within the realm of feasibility concerning mass-production but to deny their long-standing foes an opportunity to determine which of their vessels was an updated variant. Also, while the interior and inner systems had changed, such a design choice had allowed Order pilot’s who had become accustomed to flying the previous generation to feel some measure of ease whenever they climbed into the cockpit module. The first, and most notable of these system changes was the use of Reflec enamel, which when applied to the exterior of the transport would allow the vessel to essentially become a silhouette on enemy sensors, denying them an easy target allocation and the opportunity to scan the dropship’s interior for signs of life. This allowed for the Order’s Stormtroopers to be safely deployed onto the frontline, without the fear of being easily targeted by anti-air emplacements. It should be noted here that there are cases when the enemy has been able to adapt to this tactic, and that deployment on hostile soil is never a One-hundred percent guarantee. Such an addition merely increases the odds of survival and the further possibility of a return journey.
The second was a more personal addition that came to fruition in the days following the Burning of Ossus. Gathered from the reports made by the various Stormtrooper Unit’s within that victorious theatre, the technicians had seen fit to affix the forward assault ramp with a Variable Repulsorfield Generator and an integrated field augmentor. In utilizing this device, should the AAL ever find itself boarding a hostile vessel, either by slipping into the hangar bay or through less conventional means, the Dropship was able to clear the landing zone effectively - before even the assault ramp slammed down. Having generated a concussive blast of artificial gravity, the Troopers within would be able to quickly board the enemy vessel and find their foes sifting through the wreckage before the defending soldiers had a chance to repel the invaders. However, due to the size and power requirements of such a device, it was a “trick” that would only work once before needing to be recharged, and would only generate a concussive cone from the vessel’s bow that stretched out approximately twenty-five meters. While it was not the most elegant solution to an ever-growing problem, the addition of the VRG would prove itself useful time and time again in the conflicts to come.
In addition to the VRG system, the standard-issue AAL would find itself equipped with a variable arsenal of defensive weapons to not only keep the vessel itself safe from harm, but it’s passengers as well. To this end, the Order’s engineer’s has seen fit to install a secondary shield generator with a variable field augmentor - that would deploy alongside its complement of military personnel and provide them safe passage out of the transport. Like the VRG, this was also brought into account after the events of Ossus by the Stormtroopers of the First Legion’s Eighth Assault Company, and their use of portable deflector screen generators as they boarded a hostile orbital shield installation. This would see use alongside retractable cartridge launchers, which were equipped with a variable armament of canisters, containing smoke or anti-blaster aerosol.
At the cost of speed, the SJAS-AAL/FO-03 Tactical Troop Transport was cloaked in the second layer of protective metallic flesh, thus allowing it to shrug off all but the most powerful of blows and keep its occupants alive during transit to the drop-zone. While a formidable bulwark against the vacuum of the void, this secondary armour plating would not make the vessel impervious to harm. Instead, it would merely act as a safeguard against specialized anti-vehicular munitions and an insulating buffer against the use of Ionic weaponry, due to the integration of anti-ionic mesh. That being said, there are circumstances where these precautions have been tossed out due to the deployment of unconventional weaponry, and where the AAL in its entirety has been atomized by the use of capital-grade armaments. Naturally, such a recorded event only transpired when the projected barriers were exhausted, and the dropship itself was vulnerable to attack.
To aid the soldiers of the First Order as they establish their foothold the exterior of the AAL was equipped with a remote-controlled anti-personnel turret that was operated by either the vessel’s integrated droid brain or the pilot themselves from the comfort of their exposed cockpit. This allowed the entirety of the understrength platoon to deploy onto the battlefield, without having to wait for the gunner to disembark. As an added benefit, the enclosed turret allowed the AAL to engage hostile forces in space when previous incarnations would require the internal compartments to be exposed to the void for such an event to occur. The integrated droid brain would also act as an emergency co-pilot should the cockpit module be severed, or targeted mid-flight. This would allow the dropship to land and deploy its sentient cargo safely, and provide a safety net to the armed forces of the First Order should the worst happen. This is also an option for the Pilot to toggle, should they desire to abandon their craft in the field, or rest their eyes during lengthy periods of transit, as it would allow the dropship to operate freely within its restricted command programming. Like everything within the First Order, the operation of the AAL required biometric input from the Pilot, and his command codes, so that thieves and pirates would find themselves unable to commandeer themselves a top of the line dropship, without circumventing the exhaustive security protocols.
Ultimately, they would be denied their prize as the forces of the Order would soon return and reclaim what was once lost with fire and fury.
