Whitley's Guide - Cyclone
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English
This article originally appeared in Jump Point 6.08.
Tumbril Cyclone
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Tumbril Land Systems was incorporated in 2536 on Saisei with the specific goal of producing exploratory ground vehicles to assist with humanity’s burgeoning stellar expansion. The company’s founders, Kavya Crosby and Aaron Douze, were lifelong homesteaders financed by the University of Saisei who believed that recent attempts to apply hover (HOV) technology to exploratory ground vehicles were the wrong tack. Their project took the slogan ‘Tough, Fast, Durable’ as the set of watchwords for creating their first wheeled design, the ‘DX20.’
The initial version of the DX20 was developed by Crosby and Douze. The specifications for the vehicle were planned in record time with a bespoke prototype following quickly. The DX20 was designed specifically to traverse the extreme environments of Yar’s Red Desert and intended to be capable of traversing environments ranging from sub-zero ice worlds to low marshes on aquatic planets. The pair spent years testing prototype after prototype ‘in the wild’, in order to build a true ‘rough and tumble’ craft.
The DX20 became available on the open market in 2537, following deliveries to initial investors late in the previous year. Initial sales were unremarkable but the DX20 proved itself popular among outbound colonial concerns, with end users praising the vehicle’s ability to traverse extreme environments and its relatively simple maintenance requirements. The design team, it seemed, had delivered exactly what they had promised: a tough, fast, and durable all-terrain vehicle. While sales remained low, Tumbril itself seemed to be earning a reputation as a quality supplier of frontier-capable goods. The DX20 seemed briefly set to be another symbolic vehicle of Humanity’s peaceful expansion into the stars.
The DX20 would not, however, go down in history as a revered explorer. Current events quickly caught up with Tumbril, namely the beginning of the First Tevarin War. With the coming of the war, the shape and tenor of the UPE changed overnight, with investment in colonization efforts ceasing immediately and with designers and manufacturers around the known galaxy being recruited to adapt their machines and factories for the war effort. Desperate to outfit their expeditionary forces for the first major interspecies war, the UPE Army turned to Tumbril to convert the DX20 into a tough, fast, and durable weapon of war. The DX20 design team set upon the task immediately and quickly turned out the first military version of the vehicle, formally named the Cyclone by the UPEA.
The vehicle’s first moment of glory occurred in early 2543 during fighting that would later be named the First Battle of the Argon Chain. A hastily equipped UPE Army unit operating armed Cyclones found themselves with the high ground to overtake a significantly stronger Tevarin tank division. Colonel A.J. Krate, who would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, devised a strategy that allowed his limited forces to destroy or capture the entire enemy complement. Krate ordered a third of his Cyclones to the left and right flanks alongside the Argon range, making sure that they took care to make their position easily visible to the enemy. Meanwhile, he positioned another contingent of Cyclones armed with rockets along the ridge itself, allowing them to act as makeshift artillery firing into the divided Tevarin forces in the valley below. His third group of Cyclones remained camouflaged directly in the center of the battlefield, springing them and the rocket support only after the Tevarin seemed to believe they were assured victory. With one signal, Krate sprang the trap and engaged the Tevarin tanks in a close range, head-on battle. There, the handling of the Cyclone proved vital. While Tevarin tanks had trouble targeting at such close range, the Cyclones were able to maneuver through and around them during three hours of intense, almost face-to-face fighting. The battle was closely recorded by a group of embedded reporters and the outcome made for a major propaganda victory. Additionally, several Tevarin tanks were captured whole, allowing essential research into enemy weapons which helped turn the tide during the early days of the war.
For the rest of the war, Cyclones were everywhere. They served in every impacted system and heavily behind the lines. The UPE government bought additional allotments of them by the tens of thousands, with production by the war’s end encompassing 27 factories together capable of completing a Cyclone somewhere every 35 seconds.
In the years after the war, Tumbril divided their corporate energies between attempting to recapture the explorer market and to continuing to satisfy lucrative government contracts. The former proved to be something of a victim of the latter, as countless Cyclones produced for the war effort were now available on the open market as surplus equipment, reducing the overall need for newly-built explorer models. As time went on, Tumbril became fully reliant on government contracts and extended a great deal of effort attempting to capture the Cyclone’s success with more complex weaponry. While the company went on to create HOV weapon barges, tanks, artillery platforms, and other familiar weaponry for the Messer government, none proved as successful or emblematic as the Cyclone.
In the public sphere, the reputation of the Cyclone flourished. The ready availability of countless surplus vehicles, many never used in combat, meant that even the most cost-conscious homesteaders often had a Cyclone parked outside their prefab. The secondary market for parts and upgrade components flourished, while Tumbril Land Systems itself suffered alongside other military contractors of the era. Their one saving grace was that the nimble Cyclone itself never became strongly associated with the Messer regime. By the time it fell, the Cyclone was seen as an heroic veteran of a more noble war rather than a tool of oppression. A famous holograph showing a squad of Cyclones blockading outside Linton Messer XI’s palace also reinforced the idea that the design belonged to the people.
In 2862, Tumbril Land Systems shut down following a decline in interest in military vehicles. The company’s assets were sold off, with factories being converted to build spacecraft for companies like Argo and MISC. Intellectual property, including the overall design and mark of the Cyclone, was sold to a consortium of small-scale buyers as part of the bankruptcy process. The Cyclone story should have ended here… but it didn’t. In 2946, a joint venture by DevCo CEO Terrence Naban and a series of smaller investors surprised the Empire by announcing that they were bringing the Cyclone back, once again under the Tumbril branding. A small design team had spent four years modernizing the original DX20 with 30th century components, once again aiming to equip explorers with a reliable and iconic vehicle. There was also the familiar aim to secure lucrative government contracts to build weaponry for the increasingly large Vanduul conflict. Modern Cyclone factories were opened at Centauri, Terra, and Ellis with other locations already locked down for expected expansion.
Tumbril currently produces five distinct civilian variants of the Cyclone in addition to a military-only model built for the United Empire of Earth armed forces. The civilian models are based largely on aftermarket upgrades used by frontiersmen in the 28th century. They are:
Cyclone: the base model. Almost identical to the military model aside from the removal of some armored plating and classified control surfaces.
Cyclone-AA: the anti-aircraft model. The AA is armed with surface to air missiles and a set of countermeasures. It’s a nod to the makeshift artillery version used at the Argon Chain, though it is nominally equipped for light air defense rather than ground strikes.
Cyclone-RC: the racing model. The RC is stripped down and has been given a modified intake system to improve speed and handling. It’s an attempt to modernize the sport of buggy racing, popular among colonists on distant worlds without access to more organized entertainment.
Cyclone-RN: the light reconnaissance model. It’s intended for prospectors and other explorers who need access to fast and detailed in-person scans. It’s armed with additional sensors and is configured for beacon deployment.
Cyclone-TR: the ‘heavy’ of the group. The Cyclone-TR includes upgraded armor and a civilianized human-controlled turret that can mount a small gun. The TR is primarily sold to frontier worlds facing the threat of Vanduul raids.
Today, the Cyclone is the best-selling wheeled vehicle in the galaxy, surpassing even the ubiquitous Greycat. The new Tumbril Land Systems is clearly ascendant, despite following in the footsteps of their predecessor and aiming for additional military contracts with the revived Nova tank. The company has stated that they intend to produce additional civilian variants of the Cyclone should the need arise, with badged updated versions of the existing range on a yearly basis.
Tumbril Cyclone
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Tumbril Land Systems was incorporated in 2536 on Saisei with the specific goal of producing exploratory ground vehicles to assist with humanity’s burgeoning stellar expansion. The company’s founders, Kavya Crosby and Aaron Douze, were lifelong homesteaders financed by the University of Saisei who believed that recent attempts to apply hover (HOV) technology to exploratory ground vehicles were the wrong tack. Their project took the slogan ‘Tough, Fast, Durable’ as the set of watchwords for creating their first wheeled design, the ‘DX20.’
The initial version of the DX20 was developed by Crosby and Douze. The specifications for the vehicle were planned in record time with a bespoke prototype following quickly. The DX20 was designed specifically to traverse the extreme environments of Yar’s Red Desert and intended to be capable of traversing environments ranging from sub-zero ice worlds to low marshes on aquatic planets. The pair spent years testing prototype after prototype ‘in the wild’, in order to build a true ‘rough and tumble’ craft.
The DX20 became available on the open market in 2537, following deliveries to initial investors late in the previous year. Initial sales were unremarkable but the DX20 proved itself popular among outbound colonial concerns, with end users praising the vehicle’s ability to traverse extreme environments and its relatively simple maintenance requirements. The design team, it seemed, had delivered exactly what they had promised: a tough, fast, and durable all-terrain vehicle. While sales remained low, Tumbril itself seemed to be earning a reputation as a quality supplier of frontier-capable goods. The DX20 seemed briefly set to be another symbolic vehicle of Humanity’s peaceful expansion into the stars.
The DX20 would not, however, go down in history as a revered explorer. Current events quickly caught up with Tumbril, namely the beginning of the First Tevarin War. With the coming of the war, the shape and tenor of the UPE changed overnight, with investment in colonization efforts ceasing immediately and with designers and manufacturers around the known galaxy being recruited to adapt their machines and factories for the war effort. Desperate to outfit their expeditionary forces for the first major interspecies war, the UPE Army turned to Tumbril to convert the DX20 into a tough, fast, and durable weapon of war. The DX20 design team set upon the task immediately and quickly turned out the first military version of the vehicle, formally named the Cyclone by the UPEA.
The vehicle’s first moment of glory occurred in early 2543 during fighting that would later be named the First Battle of the Argon Chain. A hastily equipped UPE Army unit operating armed Cyclones found themselves with the high ground to overtake a significantly stronger Tevarin tank division. Colonel A.J. Krate, who would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, devised a strategy that allowed his limited forces to destroy or capture the entire enemy complement. Krate ordered a third of his Cyclones to the left and right flanks alongside the Argon range, making sure that they took care to make their position easily visible to the enemy. Meanwhile, he positioned another contingent of Cyclones armed with rockets along the ridge itself, allowing them to act as makeshift artillery firing into the divided Tevarin forces in the valley below. His third group of Cyclones remained camouflaged directly in the center of the battlefield, springing them and the rocket support only after the Tevarin seemed to believe they were assured victory. With one signal, Krate sprang the trap and engaged the Tevarin tanks in a close range, head-on battle. There, the handling of the Cyclone proved vital. While Tevarin tanks had trouble targeting at such close range, the Cyclones were able to maneuver through and around them during three hours of intense, almost face-to-face fighting. The battle was closely recorded by a group of embedded reporters and the outcome made for a major propaganda victory. Additionally, several Tevarin tanks were captured whole, allowing essential research into enemy weapons which helped turn the tide during the early days of the war.
For the rest of the war, Cyclones were everywhere. They served in every impacted system and heavily behind the lines. The UPE government bought additional allotments of them by the tens of thousands, with production by the war’s end encompassing 27 factories together capable of completing a Cyclone somewhere every 35 seconds.
In the years after the war, Tumbril divided their corporate energies between attempting to recapture the explorer market and to continuing to satisfy lucrative government contracts. The former proved to be something of a victim of the latter, as countless Cyclones produced for the war effort were now available on the open market as surplus equipment, reducing the overall need for newly-built explorer models. As time went on, Tumbril became fully reliant on government contracts and extended a great deal of effort attempting to capture the Cyclone’s success with more complex weaponry. While the company went on to create HOV weapon barges, tanks, artillery platforms, and other familiar weaponry for the Messer government, none proved as successful or emblematic as the Cyclone.
In the public sphere, the reputation of the Cyclone flourished. The ready availability of countless surplus vehicles, many never used in combat, meant that even the most cost-conscious homesteaders often had a Cyclone parked outside their prefab. The secondary market for parts and upgrade components flourished, while Tumbril Land Systems itself suffered alongside other military contractors of the era. Their one saving grace was that the nimble Cyclone itself never became strongly associated with the Messer regime. By the time it fell, the Cyclone was seen as an heroic veteran of a more noble war rather than a tool of oppression. A famous holograph showing a squad of Cyclones blockading outside Linton Messer XI’s palace also reinforced the idea that the design belonged to the people.
In 2862, Tumbril Land Systems shut down following a decline in interest in military vehicles. The company’s assets were sold off, with factories being converted to build spacecraft for companies like Argo and MISC. Intellectual property, including the overall design and mark of the Cyclone, was sold to a consortium of small-scale buyers as part of the bankruptcy process. The Cyclone story should have ended here… but it didn’t. In 2946, a joint venture by DevCo CEO Terrence Naban and a series of smaller investors surprised the Empire by announcing that they were bringing the Cyclone back, once again under the Tumbril branding. A small design team had spent four years modernizing the original DX20 with 30th century components, once again aiming to equip explorers with a reliable and iconic vehicle. There was also the familiar aim to secure lucrative government contracts to build weaponry for the increasingly large Vanduul conflict. Modern Cyclone factories were opened at Centauri, Terra, and Ellis with other locations already locked down for expected expansion.
Tumbril currently produces five distinct civilian variants of the Cyclone in addition to a military-only model built for the United Empire of Earth armed forces. The civilian models are based largely on aftermarket upgrades used by frontiersmen in the 28th century. They are:
Cyclone: the base model. Almost identical to the military model aside from the removal of some armored plating and classified control surfaces.
Cyclone-AA: the anti-aircraft model. The AA is armed with surface to air missiles and a set of countermeasures. It’s a nod to the makeshift artillery version used at the Argon Chain, though it is nominally equipped for light air defense rather than ground strikes.
Cyclone-RC: the racing model. The RC is stripped down and has been given a modified intake system to improve speed and handling. It’s an attempt to modernize the sport of buggy racing, popular among colonists on distant worlds without access to more organized entertainment.
Cyclone-RN: the light reconnaissance model. It’s intended for prospectors and other explorers who need access to fast and detailed in-person scans. It’s armed with additional sensors and is configured for beacon deployment.
Cyclone-TR: the ‘heavy’ of the group. The Cyclone-TR includes upgraded armor and a civilianized human-controlled turret that can mount a small gun. The TR is primarily sold to frontier worlds facing the threat of Vanduul raids.
Today, the Cyclone is the best-selling wheeled vehicle in the galaxy, surpassing even the ubiquitous Greycat. The new Tumbril Land Systems is clearly ascendant, despite following in the footsteps of their predecessor and aiming for additional military contracts with the revived Nova tank. The company has stated that they intend to produce additional civilian variants of the Cyclone should the need arise, with badged updated versions of the existing range on a yearly basis.
German
Dieser Artikel erschien ursprünglich in Jump Point 6.08.
Tumbril Zyklon
ENTWICKLUNGSGESCHICHTE
Tumbril Land Systems wurde im Jahr 2536 auf Saisei mit dem Ziel gegründet, Erkundungsfahrzeuge zu produzieren, die die Menschheit bei ihrer aufkeimenden stellaren Expansion unterstützen sollten. Die Gründer des Unternehmens, Kavya Crosby und Aaron Douze, waren lebenslange Siedler, die von der Universität von Saisei finanziert wurden und der Meinung waren, dass die bisherigen Versuche, die Schwebetechnologie (HOV) auf Erkundungsbodenfahrzeuge anzuwenden, die falsche Taktik waren. Ihr Projekt stand unter dem Motto "Tough, Fast, Durable" (robust, schnell, langlebig) und sie entwarfen ihr erstes Fahrzeug auf Rädern, den "DX20".
Die erste Version des DX20 wurde von Crosby und Douze entwickelt. Die Spezifikationen für das Fahrzeug wurden in Rekordzeit geplant und ein maßgeschneiderter Prototyp folgte schnell. Der DX20 wurde speziell für die extremen Umgebungen der Roten Wüste von Yar entwickelt und sollte in der Lage sein, Umgebungen zu durchqueren, die von Eiswelten unter dem Gefrierpunkt bis zu niedrigen Sümpfen auf Wasserplaneten reichen. Die beiden verbrachten Jahre damit, einen Prototyp nach dem anderen "in freier Wildbahn" zu testen, um ein echtes "robustes" Fahrzeug zu bauen.
Die DX20 kam 2537 auf den Markt, nachdem sie Ende des Vorjahres an die ersten Investoren ausgeliefert worden war. Die ersten Verkäufe waren unauffällig, aber die DX20 erwies sich als beliebt bei den Kolonialherren, die die Fähigkeit des Fahrzeugs, extreme Umgebungen zu durchqueren, und seine relativ einfachen Wartungsanforderungen lobten. Es schien, als hätte das Konstruktionsteam genau das geliefert, was es versprochen hatte: ein robustes, schnelles und langlebiges Geländefahrzeug. Die Verkaufszahlen blieben zwar gering, aber Tumbril selbst schien sich einen Ruf als Qualitätslieferant für grenzüberschreitende Waren zu erarbeiten. Der DX20 schien kurz davor zu sein, ein weiteres symbolisches Fahrzeug für die friedliche Expansion der Menschheit zu den Sternen zu werden.
Die DX20 würde jedoch nicht als verehrter Entdecker in die Geschichte eingehen. Die aktuellen Ereignisse holten Tumbril schnell ein, insbesondere der Beginn des Ersten Tevarin-Krieges. Mit dem Ausbruch des Krieges änderte sich die Form und der Tenor der UPE über Nacht: Die Investitionen in die Kolonisierungsbemühungen wurden sofort eingestellt und Konstrukteure und Hersteller in der gesamten bekannten Galaxie wurden angeworben, um ihre Maschinen und Fabriken für die Kriegsanstrengungen anzupassen. In ihrer Verzweiflung, ihre Expeditionsstreitkräfte für den ersten großen Krieg zwischen den Spezies auszurüsten, wandte sich die UPE-Armee an Tumbril, um die DX20 in eine robuste, schnelle und langlebige Kriegswaffe zu verwandeln. Das DX20-Konstruktionsteam machte sich sofort an die Arbeit und stellte schnell die erste Militärversion des Fahrzeugs her, die von der UPEA offiziell Cyclone genannt wurde.
Die erste Sternstunde des Fahrzeugs fand Anfang 2543 während der Kämpfe statt, die später als Erste Schlacht an der Argonischen Kette bezeichnet wurden. Eine eilig ausgerüstete Einheit der UPE-Armee, die bewaffnete Cyclones einsetzte, konnte eine deutlich stärkere Panzerdivision der Tevarin überholen. Oberst A.J. Krate, der für seine Taten mit der Ehrenmedaille ausgezeichnet wurde, entwickelte eine Strategie, die es seinen begrenzten Kräften ermöglichte, die gesamte gegnerische Einheit zu vernichten oder gefangen zu nehmen. Krate beorderte ein Drittel seiner Cyclones an die linke und rechte Flanke entlang der argonischen Schießbahn und achtete darauf, dass sie ihre Position für den Feind gut sichtbar machten. In der Zwischenzeit positionierte er ein weiteres Kontingent von Zyklonen mit Raketen entlang des Bergrückens, so dass sie als behelfsmäßige Artillerie auf die geteilten Tevarin-Truppen im Tal darunter schießen konnten. Seine dritte Gruppe von Zyklonen blieb direkt in der Mitte des Schlachtfelds getarnt und setzte sie und die Raketen erst dann ein, als die Tevarin glaubten, dass sie den Sieg sicher hätten. Mit einem Signal ließ Krate die Falle zuschnappen und griff die Tevarin-Panzer in einem Nahkampf an. Dabei erwies sich der Umgang mit dem Zyklon als entscheidend. Während die Tevarin-Panzer auf so kurze Distanz nur schwer zielen konnten, gelang es den Zyklonen, in einem dreistündigen, intensiven Kampf fast von Angesicht zu Angesicht zwischen ihnen hindurch und um sie herum zu manövrieren. Das Gefecht wurde von einer Gruppe von Reportern aufgezeichnet und das Ergebnis war ein großer Propagandasieg. Außerdem wurden mehrere Tevarin-Panzer erbeutet, die wichtige Erkenntnisse über die feindlichen Waffen lieferten, die in den ersten Tagen des Krieges das Blatt wenden konnten.
Für den Rest des Krieges waren die Zyklone überall präsent. Sie wurden in jedem betroffenen System und in großem Umfang hinter den Linien eingesetzt. Die UPE-Regierung kaufte Zehntausende von ihnen auf, so dass die Produktion bei Kriegsende 27 Fabriken umfasste, die in der Lage waren, alle 35 Sekunden einen Zyklon fertigzustellen.
In den Nachkriegsjahren teilte Tumbril seine Energien zwischen dem Versuch, den Markt für Entdecker zurückzuerobern, und der Erfüllung lukrativer Regierungsaufträge auf. Ersteres erwies sich als eine Art Opfer des Letzteren, da unzählige Cyclones, die für den Krieg produziert worden waren, nun als überschüssige Ausrüstung auf dem freien Markt erhältlich waren, wodurch der Bedarf an neu gebauten Explorer-Modellen insgesamt sank. Im Laufe der Zeit wurde Tumbril vollständig von Regierungsaufträgen abhängig und unternahm große Anstrengungen, um den Erfolg des Cyclone mit komplexeren Waffen zu wiederholen. Zwar baute das Unternehmen später HOV-Waffenkähne, Panzer, Artillerieplattformen und andere bekannte Waffen für die Messer-Regierung, aber keine davon war so erfolgreich und symbolträchtig wie der Cyclone.
In der Öffentlichkeit blühte der Ruf des Cyclone auf. Da zahllose überschüssige Fahrzeuge, von denen viele nie im Kampf eingesetzt wurden, zur Verfügung standen, hatten selbst die kostenbewusstesten Siedler oft einen Cyclone vor ihrem Fertighaus geparkt. Der Sekundärmarkt für Ersatzteile und Aufrüstungskomponenten florierte, während Tumbril Land Systems selbst wie andere militärische Auftragnehmer der damaligen Zeit litt. Die einzige Rettung war, dass der wendige Cyclone selbst nie stark mit dem Messer-Regime in Verbindung gebracht wurde. Als es fiel, wurde der Zyklon als heldenhafter Veteran eines edleren Krieges angesehen und nicht als Werkzeug der Unterdrückung. Ein berühmtes Hologramm, das einen Trupp Zyklone zeigt, die vor dem Palast von Linton Messer XI. eine Blockade errichten, verstärkte die Vorstellung, dass das Design dem Volk gehörte.
Im Jahr 2862 wurde Tumbril Land Systems geschlossen, nachdem das Interesse an Militärfahrzeugen zurückgegangen war. Die Vermögenswerte des Unternehmens wurden verkauft und die Fabriken wurden für den Bau von Raumfahrzeugen für Unternehmen wie Argo und MISC umgewandelt. Das geistige Eigentum, einschließlich des Gesamtdesigns und der Marke des Cyclone, wurde im Rahmen des Konkursverfahrens an ein Konsortium kleinerer Käufer verkauft. Die Geschichte der Cyclone hätte hier enden sollen... aber das tat sie nicht. Im Jahr 2946 überraschte ein Joint Venture von DevCo-CEO Terrence Naban und einer Reihe kleinerer Investoren das Imperium mit der Ankündigung, den Cyclone wieder auf den Markt zu bringen, diesmal unter dem Namen Tumbril. Ein kleines Designteam hatte vier Jahre damit verbracht, den ursprünglichen DX20 mit Komponenten des 30. Jahrhunderts zu modernisieren, um den Forschern wieder ein zuverlässiges und kultiges Fahrzeug zur Verfügung zu stellen. Außerdem ging es darum, sich lukrative Regierungsaufträge für den Bau von Waffen für den immer größer werdenden Vanduul-Konflikt zu sichern. Moderne Cyclone-Fabriken wurden auf Centauri, Terra und Ellis eröffnet und weitere Standorte wurden bereits für die erwartete Expansion gesichert.
Tumbril stellt derzeit fünf verschiedene zivile Varianten des Cyclone her, zusätzlich zu einem reinen Militärmodell, das für die Streitkräfte des Vereinigten Imperiums der Erde gebaut wird. Die zivilen Modelle basieren größtenteils auf Nachrüstungen, die von Grenzgängern im 28. Sie sind:
Cyclone: das Basismodell. Fast identisch mit dem Militärmodell, abgesehen von der Entfernung einiger Panzerungen und klassifizierter Steuerflächen.
Cyclone-AA: das Flugabwehrmodell. Die AA ist mit Boden-Luft-Raketen und einer Reihe von Gegenmaßnahmen bewaffnet. Es ist eine Anspielung auf die behelfsmäßige Artillerieversion, die bei der Argonischen Kette eingesetzt wurde, obwohl es nominell eher für leichte Luftabwehr als für Bodenangriffe ausgerüstet ist.
Cyclone-RC: das Rennmodell. Der RC ist abgespeckt und hat ein modifiziertes Ansaugsystem erhalten, um Geschwindigkeit und Handling zu verbessern. Er ist ein Versuch, den Sport des Buggy-Rennens zu modernisieren, der bei Kolonisten auf fernen Welten ohne Zugang zu organisierter Unterhaltung beliebt ist.
Cyclone-RN: das leichte Aufklärungsmodell. Es ist für Schürfer und andere Entdecker gedacht, die schnelle und detaillierte Scans von Angesicht zu Angesicht benötigen. Er ist mit zusätzlichen Sensoren ausgestattet und für den Einsatz von Baken konfiguriert.
Cyclone-TR: das "Schwergewicht" der Gruppe. Der Cyclone-TR verfügt über eine verbesserte Panzerung und einen zivilisierten, von Menschen gesteuerten Geschützturm, der ein kleines Geschütz aufnehmen kann. Der TR wird hauptsächlich an Grenzwelten verkauft, die von Vanduul-Angriffen bedroht sind.
Heute ist der Cyclone das meistverkaufte Radfahrzeug in der Galaxie und übertrifft sogar die allgegenwärtige Greycat. Das neue Unternehmen Tumbril Land Systems ist eindeutig auf dem Vormarsch, obwohl es in die Fußstapfen seines Vorgängers tritt und mit dem wiederbelebten Nova-Panzer weitere Militäraufträge anstrebt. Das Unternehmen hat erklärt, dass es beabsichtigt, bei Bedarf zusätzliche zivile Varianten des Cyclone zu produzieren und jedes Jahr aktualisierte Versionen der bestehenden Modellreihe auf den Markt zu bringen.
Tumbril Zyklon
ENTWICKLUNGSGESCHICHTE
Tumbril Land Systems wurde im Jahr 2536 auf Saisei mit dem Ziel gegründet, Erkundungsfahrzeuge zu produzieren, die die Menschheit bei ihrer aufkeimenden stellaren Expansion unterstützen sollten. Die Gründer des Unternehmens, Kavya Crosby und Aaron Douze, waren lebenslange Siedler, die von der Universität von Saisei finanziert wurden und der Meinung waren, dass die bisherigen Versuche, die Schwebetechnologie (HOV) auf Erkundungsbodenfahrzeuge anzuwenden, die falsche Taktik waren. Ihr Projekt stand unter dem Motto "Tough, Fast, Durable" (robust, schnell, langlebig) und sie entwarfen ihr erstes Fahrzeug auf Rädern, den "DX20".
Die erste Version des DX20 wurde von Crosby und Douze entwickelt. Die Spezifikationen für das Fahrzeug wurden in Rekordzeit geplant und ein maßgeschneiderter Prototyp folgte schnell. Der DX20 wurde speziell für die extremen Umgebungen der Roten Wüste von Yar entwickelt und sollte in der Lage sein, Umgebungen zu durchqueren, die von Eiswelten unter dem Gefrierpunkt bis zu niedrigen Sümpfen auf Wasserplaneten reichen. Die beiden verbrachten Jahre damit, einen Prototyp nach dem anderen "in freier Wildbahn" zu testen, um ein echtes "robustes" Fahrzeug zu bauen.
Die DX20 kam 2537 auf den Markt, nachdem sie Ende des Vorjahres an die ersten Investoren ausgeliefert worden war. Die ersten Verkäufe waren unauffällig, aber die DX20 erwies sich als beliebt bei den Kolonialherren, die die Fähigkeit des Fahrzeugs, extreme Umgebungen zu durchqueren, und seine relativ einfachen Wartungsanforderungen lobten. Es schien, als hätte das Konstruktionsteam genau das geliefert, was es versprochen hatte: ein robustes, schnelles und langlebiges Geländefahrzeug. Die Verkaufszahlen blieben zwar gering, aber Tumbril selbst schien sich einen Ruf als Qualitätslieferant für grenzüberschreitende Waren zu erarbeiten. Der DX20 schien kurz davor zu sein, ein weiteres symbolisches Fahrzeug für die friedliche Expansion der Menschheit zu den Sternen zu werden.
Die DX20 würde jedoch nicht als verehrter Entdecker in die Geschichte eingehen. Die aktuellen Ereignisse holten Tumbril schnell ein, insbesondere der Beginn des Ersten Tevarin-Krieges. Mit dem Ausbruch des Krieges änderte sich die Form und der Tenor der UPE über Nacht: Die Investitionen in die Kolonisierungsbemühungen wurden sofort eingestellt und Konstrukteure und Hersteller in der gesamten bekannten Galaxie wurden angeworben, um ihre Maschinen und Fabriken für die Kriegsanstrengungen anzupassen. In ihrer Verzweiflung, ihre Expeditionsstreitkräfte für den ersten großen Krieg zwischen den Spezies auszurüsten, wandte sich die UPE-Armee an Tumbril, um die DX20 in eine robuste, schnelle und langlebige Kriegswaffe zu verwandeln. Das DX20-Konstruktionsteam machte sich sofort an die Arbeit und stellte schnell die erste Militärversion des Fahrzeugs her, die von der UPEA offiziell Cyclone genannt wurde.
Die erste Sternstunde des Fahrzeugs fand Anfang 2543 während der Kämpfe statt, die später als Erste Schlacht an der Argonischen Kette bezeichnet wurden. Eine eilig ausgerüstete Einheit der UPE-Armee, die bewaffnete Cyclones einsetzte, konnte eine deutlich stärkere Panzerdivision der Tevarin überholen. Oberst A.J. Krate, der für seine Taten mit der Ehrenmedaille ausgezeichnet wurde, entwickelte eine Strategie, die es seinen begrenzten Kräften ermöglichte, die gesamte gegnerische Einheit zu vernichten oder gefangen zu nehmen. Krate beorderte ein Drittel seiner Cyclones an die linke und rechte Flanke entlang der argonischen Schießbahn und achtete darauf, dass sie ihre Position für den Feind gut sichtbar machten. In der Zwischenzeit positionierte er ein weiteres Kontingent von Zyklonen mit Raketen entlang des Bergrückens, so dass sie als behelfsmäßige Artillerie auf die geteilten Tevarin-Truppen im Tal darunter schießen konnten. Seine dritte Gruppe von Zyklonen blieb direkt in der Mitte des Schlachtfelds getarnt und setzte sie und die Raketen erst dann ein, als die Tevarin glaubten, dass sie den Sieg sicher hätten. Mit einem Signal ließ Krate die Falle zuschnappen und griff die Tevarin-Panzer in einem Nahkampf an. Dabei erwies sich der Umgang mit dem Zyklon als entscheidend. Während die Tevarin-Panzer auf so kurze Distanz nur schwer zielen konnten, gelang es den Zyklonen, in einem dreistündigen, intensiven Kampf fast von Angesicht zu Angesicht zwischen ihnen hindurch und um sie herum zu manövrieren. Das Gefecht wurde von einer Gruppe von Reportern aufgezeichnet und das Ergebnis war ein großer Propagandasieg. Außerdem wurden mehrere Tevarin-Panzer erbeutet, die wichtige Erkenntnisse über die feindlichen Waffen lieferten, die in den ersten Tagen des Krieges das Blatt wenden konnten.
Für den Rest des Krieges waren die Zyklone überall präsent. Sie wurden in jedem betroffenen System und in großem Umfang hinter den Linien eingesetzt. Die UPE-Regierung kaufte Zehntausende von ihnen auf, so dass die Produktion bei Kriegsende 27 Fabriken umfasste, die in der Lage waren, alle 35 Sekunden einen Zyklon fertigzustellen.
In den Nachkriegsjahren teilte Tumbril seine Energien zwischen dem Versuch, den Markt für Entdecker zurückzuerobern, und der Erfüllung lukrativer Regierungsaufträge auf. Ersteres erwies sich als eine Art Opfer des Letzteren, da unzählige Cyclones, die für den Krieg produziert worden waren, nun als überschüssige Ausrüstung auf dem freien Markt erhältlich waren, wodurch der Bedarf an neu gebauten Explorer-Modellen insgesamt sank. Im Laufe der Zeit wurde Tumbril vollständig von Regierungsaufträgen abhängig und unternahm große Anstrengungen, um den Erfolg des Cyclone mit komplexeren Waffen zu wiederholen. Zwar baute das Unternehmen später HOV-Waffenkähne, Panzer, Artillerieplattformen und andere bekannte Waffen für die Messer-Regierung, aber keine davon war so erfolgreich und symbolträchtig wie der Cyclone.
In der Öffentlichkeit blühte der Ruf des Cyclone auf. Da zahllose überschüssige Fahrzeuge, von denen viele nie im Kampf eingesetzt wurden, zur Verfügung standen, hatten selbst die kostenbewusstesten Siedler oft einen Cyclone vor ihrem Fertighaus geparkt. Der Sekundärmarkt für Ersatzteile und Aufrüstungskomponenten florierte, während Tumbril Land Systems selbst wie andere militärische Auftragnehmer der damaligen Zeit litt. Die einzige Rettung war, dass der wendige Cyclone selbst nie stark mit dem Messer-Regime in Verbindung gebracht wurde. Als es fiel, wurde der Zyklon als heldenhafter Veteran eines edleren Krieges angesehen und nicht als Werkzeug der Unterdrückung. Ein berühmtes Hologramm, das einen Trupp Zyklone zeigt, die vor dem Palast von Linton Messer XI. eine Blockade errichten, verstärkte die Vorstellung, dass das Design dem Volk gehörte.
Im Jahr 2862 wurde Tumbril Land Systems geschlossen, nachdem das Interesse an Militärfahrzeugen zurückgegangen war. Die Vermögenswerte des Unternehmens wurden verkauft und die Fabriken wurden für den Bau von Raumfahrzeugen für Unternehmen wie Argo und MISC umgewandelt. Das geistige Eigentum, einschließlich des Gesamtdesigns und der Marke des Cyclone, wurde im Rahmen des Konkursverfahrens an ein Konsortium kleinerer Käufer verkauft. Die Geschichte der Cyclone hätte hier enden sollen... aber das tat sie nicht. Im Jahr 2946 überraschte ein Joint Venture von DevCo-CEO Terrence Naban und einer Reihe kleinerer Investoren das Imperium mit der Ankündigung, den Cyclone wieder auf den Markt zu bringen, diesmal unter dem Namen Tumbril. Ein kleines Designteam hatte vier Jahre damit verbracht, den ursprünglichen DX20 mit Komponenten des 30. Jahrhunderts zu modernisieren, um den Forschern wieder ein zuverlässiges und kultiges Fahrzeug zur Verfügung zu stellen. Außerdem ging es darum, sich lukrative Regierungsaufträge für den Bau von Waffen für den immer größer werdenden Vanduul-Konflikt zu sichern. Moderne Cyclone-Fabriken wurden auf Centauri, Terra und Ellis eröffnet und weitere Standorte wurden bereits für die erwartete Expansion gesichert.
Tumbril stellt derzeit fünf verschiedene zivile Varianten des Cyclone her, zusätzlich zu einem reinen Militärmodell, das für die Streitkräfte des Vereinigten Imperiums der Erde gebaut wird. Die zivilen Modelle basieren größtenteils auf Nachrüstungen, die von Grenzgängern im 28. Sie sind:
Cyclone: das Basismodell. Fast identisch mit dem Militärmodell, abgesehen von der Entfernung einiger Panzerungen und klassifizierter Steuerflächen.
Cyclone-AA: das Flugabwehrmodell. Die AA ist mit Boden-Luft-Raketen und einer Reihe von Gegenmaßnahmen bewaffnet. Es ist eine Anspielung auf die behelfsmäßige Artillerieversion, die bei der Argonischen Kette eingesetzt wurde, obwohl es nominell eher für leichte Luftabwehr als für Bodenangriffe ausgerüstet ist.
Cyclone-RC: das Rennmodell. Der RC ist abgespeckt und hat ein modifiziertes Ansaugsystem erhalten, um Geschwindigkeit und Handling zu verbessern. Er ist ein Versuch, den Sport des Buggy-Rennens zu modernisieren, der bei Kolonisten auf fernen Welten ohne Zugang zu organisierter Unterhaltung beliebt ist.
Cyclone-RN: das leichte Aufklärungsmodell. Es ist für Schürfer und andere Entdecker gedacht, die schnelle und detaillierte Scans von Angesicht zu Angesicht benötigen. Er ist mit zusätzlichen Sensoren ausgestattet und für den Einsatz von Baken konfiguriert.
Cyclone-TR: das "Schwergewicht" der Gruppe. Der Cyclone-TR verfügt über eine verbesserte Panzerung und einen zivilisierten, von Menschen gesteuerten Geschützturm, der ein kleines Geschütz aufnehmen kann. Der TR wird hauptsächlich an Grenzwelten verkauft, die von Vanduul-Angriffen bedroht sind.
Heute ist der Cyclone das meistverkaufte Radfahrzeug in der Galaxie und übertrifft sogar die allgegenwärtige Greycat. Das neue Unternehmen Tumbril Land Systems ist eindeutig auf dem Vormarsch, obwohl es in die Fußstapfen seines Vorgängers tritt und mit dem wiederbelebten Nova-Panzer weitere Militäraufträge anstrebt. Das Unternehmen hat erklärt, dass es beabsichtigt, bei Bedarf zusätzliche zivile Varianten des Cyclone zu produzieren und jedes Jahr aktualisierte Versionen der bestehenden Modellreihe auf den Markt zu bringen.
Chinese
This article originally appeared in Jump Point 6.08.
Tumbril Cyclone
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Tumbril Land Systems was incorporated in 2536 on Saisei with the specific goal of producing exploratory ground vehicles to assist with humanity’s burgeoning stellar expansion. The company’s founders, Kavya Crosby and Aaron Douze, were lifelong homesteaders financed by the University of Saisei who believed that recent attempts to apply hover (HOV) technology to exploratory ground vehicles were the wrong tack. Their project took the slogan ‘Tough, Fast, Durable’ as the set of watchwords for creating their first wheeled design, the ‘DX20.’
The initial version of the DX20 was developed by Crosby and Douze. The specifications for the vehicle were planned in record time with a bespoke prototype following quickly. The DX20 was designed specifically to traverse the extreme environments of Yar’s Red Desert and intended to be capable of traversing environments ranging from sub-zero ice worlds to low marshes on aquatic planets. The pair spent years testing prototype after prototype ‘in the wild’, in order to build a true ‘rough and tumble’ craft.
The DX20 became available on the open market in 2537, following deliveries to initial investors late in the previous year. Initial sales were unremarkable but the DX20 proved itself popular among outbound colonial concerns, with end users praising the vehicle’s ability to traverse extreme environments and its relatively simple maintenance requirements. The design team, it seemed, had delivered exactly what they had promised: a tough, fast, and durable all-terrain vehicle. While sales remained low, Tumbril itself seemed to be earning a reputation as a quality supplier of frontier-capable goods. The DX20 seemed briefly set to be another symbolic vehicle of Humanity’s peaceful expansion into the stars.
The DX20 would not, however, go down in history as a revered explorer. Current events quickly caught up with Tumbril, namely the beginning of the First Tevarin War. With the coming of the war, the shape and tenor of the UPE changed overnight, with investment in colonization efforts ceasing immediately and with designers and manufacturers around the known galaxy being recruited to adapt their machines and factories for the war effort. Desperate to outfit their expeditionary forces for the first major interspecies war, the UPE Army turned to Tumbril to convert the DX20 into a tough, fast, and durable weapon of war. The DX20 design team set upon the task immediately and quickly turned out the first military version of the vehicle, formally named the Cyclone by the UPEA.
The vehicle’s first moment of glory occurred in early 2543 during fighting that would later be named the First Battle of the Argon Chain. A hastily equipped UPE Army unit operating armed Cyclones found themselves with the high ground to overtake a significantly stronger Tevarin tank division. Colonel A.J. Krate, who would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, devised a strategy that allowed his limited forces to destroy or capture the entire enemy complement. Krate ordered a third of his Cyclones to the left and right flanks alongside the Argon range, making sure that they took care to make their position easily visible to the enemy. Meanwhile, he positioned another contingent of Cyclones armed with rockets along the ridge itself, allowing them to act as makeshift artillery firing into the divided Tevarin forces in the valley below. His third group of Cyclones remained camouflaged directly in the center of the battlefield, springing them and the rocket support only after the Tevarin seemed to believe they were assured victory. With one signal, Krate sprang the trap and engaged the Tevarin tanks in a close range, head-on battle. There, the handling of the Cyclone proved vital. While Tevarin tanks had trouble targeting at such close range, the Cyclones were able to maneuver through and around them during three hours of intense, almost face-to-face fighting. The battle was closely recorded by a group of embedded reporters and the outcome made for a major propaganda victory. Additionally, several Tevarin tanks were captured whole, allowing essential research into enemy weapons which helped turn the tide during the early days of the war.
For the rest of the war, Cyclones were everywhere. They served in every impacted system and heavily behind the lines. The UPE government bought additional allotments of them by the tens of thousands, with production by the war’s end encompassing 27 factories together capable of completing a Cyclone somewhere every 35 seconds.
In the years after the war, Tumbril divided their corporate energies between attempting to recapture the explorer market and to continuing to satisfy lucrative government contracts. The former proved to be something of a victim of the latter, as countless Cyclones produced for the war effort were now available on the open market as surplus equipment, reducing the overall need for newly-built explorer models. As time went on, Tumbril became fully reliant on government contracts and extended a great deal of effort attempting to capture the Cyclone’s success with more complex weaponry. While the company went on to create HOV weapon barges, tanks, artillery platforms, and other familiar weaponry for the Messer government, none proved as successful or emblematic as the Cyclone.
In the public sphere, the reputation of the Cyclone flourished. The ready availability of countless surplus vehicles, many never used in combat, meant that even the most cost-conscious homesteaders often had a Cyclone parked outside their prefab. The secondary market for parts and upgrade components flourished, while Tumbril Land Systems itself suffered alongside other military contractors of the era. Their one saving grace was that the nimble Cyclone itself never became strongly associated with the Messer regime. By the time it fell, the Cyclone was seen as an heroic veteran of a more noble war rather than a tool of oppression. A famous holograph showing a squad of Cyclones blockading outside Linton Messer XI’s palace also reinforced the idea that the design belonged to the people.
In 2862, Tumbril Land Systems shut down following a decline in interest in military vehicles. The company’s assets were sold off, with factories being converted to build spacecraft for companies like Argo and MISC. Intellectual property, including the overall design and mark of the Cyclone, was sold to a consortium of small-scale buyers as part of the bankruptcy process. The Cyclone story should have ended here… but it didn’t. In 2946, a joint venture by DevCo CEO Terrence Naban and a series of smaller investors surprised the Empire by announcing that they were bringing the Cyclone back, once again under the Tumbril branding. A small design team had spent four years modernizing the original DX20 with 30th century components, once again aiming to equip explorers with a reliable and iconic vehicle. There was also the familiar aim to secure lucrative government contracts to build weaponry for the increasingly large Vanduul conflict. Modern Cyclone factories were opened at Centauri, Terra, and Ellis with other locations already locked down for expected expansion.
Tumbril currently produces five distinct civilian variants of the Cyclone in addition to a military-only model built for the United Empire of Earth armed forces. The civilian models are based largely on aftermarket upgrades used by frontiersmen in the 28th century. They are:
Cyclone: the base model. Almost identical to the military model aside from the removal of some armored plating and classified control surfaces.
Cyclone-AA: the anti-aircraft model. The AA is armed with surface to air missiles and a set of countermeasures. It’s a nod to the makeshift artillery version used at the Argon Chain, though it is nominally equipped for light air defense rather than ground strikes.
Cyclone-RC: the racing model. The RC is stripped down and has been given a modified intake system to improve speed and handling. It’s an attempt to modernize the sport of buggy racing, popular among colonists on distant worlds without access to more organized entertainment.
Cyclone-RN: the light reconnaissance model. It’s intended for prospectors and other explorers who need access to fast and detailed in-person scans. It’s armed with additional sensors and is configured for beacon deployment.
Cyclone-TR: the ‘heavy’ of the group. The Cyclone-TR includes upgraded armor and a civilianized human-controlled turret that can mount a small gun. The TR is primarily sold to frontier worlds facing the threat of Vanduul raids.
Today, the Cyclone is the best-selling wheeled vehicle in the galaxy, surpassing even the ubiquitous Greycat. The new Tumbril Land Systems is clearly ascendant, despite following in the footsteps of their predecessor and aiming for additional military contracts with the revived Nova tank. The company has stated that they intend to produce additional civilian variants of the Cyclone should the need arise, with badged updated versions of the existing range on a yearly basis.
Tumbril Cyclone
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Tumbril Land Systems was incorporated in 2536 on Saisei with the specific goal of producing exploratory ground vehicles to assist with humanity’s burgeoning stellar expansion. The company’s founders, Kavya Crosby and Aaron Douze, were lifelong homesteaders financed by the University of Saisei who believed that recent attempts to apply hover (HOV) technology to exploratory ground vehicles were the wrong tack. Their project took the slogan ‘Tough, Fast, Durable’ as the set of watchwords for creating their first wheeled design, the ‘DX20.’
The initial version of the DX20 was developed by Crosby and Douze. The specifications for the vehicle were planned in record time with a bespoke prototype following quickly. The DX20 was designed specifically to traverse the extreme environments of Yar’s Red Desert and intended to be capable of traversing environments ranging from sub-zero ice worlds to low marshes on aquatic planets. The pair spent years testing prototype after prototype ‘in the wild’, in order to build a true ‘rough and tumble’ craft.
The DX20 became available on the open market in 2537, following deliveries to initial investors late in the previous year. Initial sales were unremarkable but the DX20 proved itself popular among outbound colonial concerns, with end users praising the vehicle’s ability to traverse extreme environments and its relatively simple maintenance requirements. The design team, it seemed, had delivered exactly what they had promised: a tough, fast, and durable all-terrain vehicle. While sales remained low, Tumbril itself seemed to be earning a reputation as a quality supplier of frontier-capable goods. The DX20 seemed briefly set to be another symbolic vehicle of Humanity’s peaceful expansion into the stars.
The DX20 would not, however, go down in history as a revered explorer. Current events quickly caught up with Tumbril, namely the beginning of the First Tevarin War. With the coming of the war, the shape and tenor of the UPE changed overnight, with investment in colonization efforts ceasing immediately and with designers and manufacturers around the known galaxy being recruited to adapt their machines and factories for the war effort. Desperate to outfit their expeditionary forces for the first major interspecies war, the UPE Army turned to Tumbril to convert the DX20 into a tough, fast, and durable weapon of war. The DX20 design team set upon the task immediately and quickly turned out the first military version of the vehicle, formally named the Cyclone by the UPEA.
The vehicle’s first moment of glory occurred in early 2543 during fighting that would later be named the First Battle of the Argon Chain. A hastily equipped UPE Army unit operating armed Cyclones found themselves with the high ground to overtake a significantly stronger Tevarin tank division. Colonel A.J. Krate, who would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, devised a strategy that allowed his limited forces to destroy or capture the entire enemy complement. Krate ordered a third of his Cyclones to the left and right flanks alongside the Argon range, making sure that they took care to make their position easily visible to the enemy. Meanwhile, he positioned another contingent of Cyclones armed with rockets along the ridge itself, allowing them to act as makeshift artillery firing into the divided Tevarin forces in the valley below. His third group of Cyclones remained camouflaged directly in the center of the battlefield, springing them and the rocket support only after the Tevarin seemed to believe they were assured victory. With one signal, Krate sprang the trap and engaged the Tevarin tanks in a close range, head-on battle. There, the handling of the Cyclone proved vital. While Tevarin tanks had trouble targeting at such close range, the Cyclones were able to maneuver through and around them during three hours of intense, almost face-to-face fighting. The battle was closely recorded by a group of embedded reporters and the outcome made for a major propaganda victory. Additionally, several Tevarin tanks were captured whole, allowing essential research into enemy weapons which helped turn the tide during the early days of the war.
For the rest of the war, Cyclones were everywhere. They served in every impacted system and heavily behind the lines. The UPE government bought additional allotments of them by the tens of thousands, with production by the war’s end encompassing 27 factories together capable of completing a Cyclone somewhere every 35 seconds.
In the years after the war, Tumbril divided their corporate energies between attempting to recapture the explorer market and to continuing to satisfy lucrative government contracts. The former proved to be something of a victim of the latter, as countless Cyclones produced for the war effort were now available on the open market as surplus equipment, reducing the overall need for newly-built explorer models. As time went on, Tumbril became fully reliant on government contracts and extended a great deal of effort attempting to capture the Cyclone’s success with more complex weaponry. While the company went on to create HOV weapon barges, tanks, artillery platforms, and other familiar weaponry for the Messer government, none proved as successful or emblematic as the Cyclone.
In the public sphere, the reputation of the Cyclone flourished. The ready availability of countless surplus vehicles, many never used in combat, meant that even the most cost-conscious homesteaders often had a Cyclone parked outside their prefab. The secondary market for parts and upgrade components flourished, while Tumbril Land Systems itself suffered alongside other military contractors of the era. Their one saving grace was that the nimble Cyclone itself never became strongly associated with the Messer regime. By the time it fell, the Cyclone was seen as an heroic veteran of a more noble war rather than a tool of oppression. A famous holograph showing a squad of Cyclones blockading outside Linton Messer XI’s palace also reinforced the idea that the design belonged to the people.
In 2862, Tumbril Land Systems shut down following a decline in interest in military vehicles. The company’s assets were sold off, with factories being converted to build spacecraft for companies like Argo and MISC. Intellectual property, including the overall design and mark of the Cyclone, was sold to a consortium of small-scale buyers as part of the bankruptcy process. The Cyclone story should have ended here… but it didn’t. In 2946, a joint venture by DevCo CEO Terrence Naban and a series of smaller investors surprised the Empire by announcing that they were bringing the Cyclone back, once again under the Tumbril branding. A small design team had spent four years modernizing the original DX20 with 30th century components, once again aiming to equip explorers with a reliable and iconic vehicle. There was also the familiar aim to secure lucrative government contracts to build weaponry for the increasingly large Vanduul conflict. Modern Cyclone factories were opened at Centauri, Terra, and Ellis with other locations already locked down for expected expansion.
Tumbril currently produces five distinct civilian variants of the Cyclone in addition to a military-only model built for the United Empire of Earth armed forces. The civilian models are based largely on aftermarket upgrades used by frontiersmen in the 28th century. They are:
Cyclone: the base model. Almost identical to the military model aside from the removal of some armored plating and classified control surfaces.
Cyclone-AA: the anti-aircraft model. The AA is armed with surface to air missiles and a set of countermeasures. It’s a nod to the makeshift artillery version used at the Argon Chain, though it is nominally equipped for light air defense rather than ground strikes.
Cyclone-RC: the racing model. The RC is stripped down and has been given a modified intake system to improve speed and handling. It’s an attempt to modernize the sport of buggy racing, popular among colonists on distant worlds without access to more organized entertainment.
Cyclone-RN: the light reconnaissance model. It’s intended for prospectors and other explorers who need access to fast and detailed in-person scans. It’s armed with additional sensors and is configured for beacon deployment.
Cyclone-TR: the ‘heavy’ of the group. The Cyclone-TR includes upgraded armor and a civilianized human-controlled turret that can mount a small gun. The TR is primarily sold to frontier worlds facing the threat of Vanduul raids.
Today, the Cyclone is the best-selling wheeled vehicle in the galaxy, surpassing even the ubiquitous Greycat. The new Tumbril Land Systems is clearly ascendant, despite following in the footsteps of their predecessor and aiming for additional military contracts with the revived Nova tank. The company has stated that they intend to produce additional civilian variants of the Cyclone should the need arise, with badged updated versions of the existing range on a yearly basis.
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- Published
- 2 years ago (2023-06-13T21:00:00+00:00)