Fatbod APC
During the early days of the Rebellion the Alliance was often forced to modify
non-combat vehicles into effective weapons to throw at the Imperial forces.
Such widespread modification created a large variety of patchwork vehicles
throughout the Alliance. If a particular modification on a specific vehicle
proved to be exceedingly effective, that modification was made standard on
all other similar model vehicles in the area.
One such common patchwork vehicle was the "flying fortress" - not to be
confused with the Empire's floating fortress - which was a heavily modified
Aratech B-A7 cargo airspeeder. The Aratech B-A7 was originally marketed
on worlds similar to Coruscant where there just wasn't much room for
landpspeeders and the bulk of all transportation was done by airspeeder or
starship. The B-A7 is essentially a speeder truck with a much higher altitude
range than standard speeder trucks.
When the Alliance got a hold of a few B-A7s during a cargo raid on a supply
depot on Celanor the local SecForce commander was hit with a brilliant idea
- flying combat APCs.
The modifications invested in each B-A7 were quite expensive and time
consuming. Most of the cargo space was removed to make room for troop
benches capable of seating up to eight as well as room for the four gunners.
The armor plating was increased slightly and power was rerouted from the
main repulsorlift drive to the weapons reducing the maximum altitude nearly
three kilometers.
The craft is self carriers four blaster emplacements: an anti-vehicle blaster
turret mounted on the dorsal side of the craft, a pair of anti-personnel
repeating blasters with one on each side and finally a double repeating blaster
cannon in the rear to ward off pursuit. The anti-vehicle blaster turret is
mounted under a bubble canopy giving the gunner an unobstructed view all
around. However, the gunners manning the repeating blasters on either side of
the craft must stand directly behind their weapon and rely heavily on a cheap
holographic display as the side mounts are merely modified E-webs mounted
in small openings. Finally, the tail gunner lays down on his stomach across
a bench where he looks directly over the barrels of his double repeating
blaster and out of another bubble canopy which provides only limited
movement for aiming.
These modified B-A7s are typically reserved for two main roles in a combat
scenario: air support and troop transport. They have been used quite
successfully on numerous occassions where heavy ground resistance is
expected. A single modified B-A7 can effectively lay down enough cover fire
in every direction to allow the squad of troops it is carrying to safely
debark and seek cover.
After the first few combat missions in which the modified B-A7s were used
the crews gave them the rather odd nickname of "fat and tough bringer of
doom" or Fatbod for short. While the local SecForce commander didn't quite
understand the meaning behind it, he didn't argue.
Only three B-A7s were modified in this manner on Celanor while there are
several other B-A7s - and other similar vehicles - modified in very similar
ways serving the Alliance across the galaxy.
Craft: Rebel Alliance "Fatbod" APC
Class: Airspeeder
Size: Colossal (19.8 m long)
Hyperdrive: None
Passangers: 8 (troops)
Cargo Capacity: 250 kg
Maximum Altitude: 5 km
Cost: 24,000 (as modified)
Maximum Speed In Space: Not applicable
Atmospheric Speed: 530 km/h (7 squares/action)
Crew: 2 (Skilled +4)
Initiative: -4 (-8 size, +4 crew)
Maneuver: -4 (-8 size, +4 crew)
Defense: 12* (-8 size, +10 armor)
Shield Points: 0
Hull Points: 35 (DR 5)
*Provides full cover to crew and passangers.
Weapons:
Blaster Cannon
Fire Arc: Dorsal turret
Attack Bonus: -5 (-8 size, +2 crew, +1 fire control)
Damage: 3d8
Range Increments: 100 m
2 Repeating Blaster Cannons
Fire Arc: 1 right turret, 1 left turret
Attack Bonus: -4 (-8 size, +2 crew, +2 fire control)
Damage: 4d8
Range Increments: 50 m
Double Repeating Blaster Cannon
Fire Arc: Back
Attack Bonus: -4 (-8 size, +2 crew, +2 fire control)
Damage: 5d8
Range Increments: 50 m
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