Elderlore

Source: GearHead RPG

Ideally you want every mecha to have a unique look, but at the same time it should be possible to tell which mecha belong together just by looking at them. Thus far I haven’t been thinking of this as much as I should have.

I think Mobile Suit Gundam did this well with the Zeon mecha (some of you are probably wondering if I watch any TV shows other than Gundam lately. Well, I’m also watching Corner Gas, but I find that it has far less relevance to GearHead). Each of these mecha has a single red eye, and can be identified from the shape of its visor.

You can see the originals at the GundamOfficial website. Obviously this train was also made by Zeonic Corporation:

Well, maybe not, but I think that it does show the power of a signature look. Anyhow, here’s a picture of mecha heads I made for GearHead2:

Most of the Comet mecha look similar except for the Trailblazer. They also have similar bodies, with three segments and the cockpit located just under the head. The Hoeller mecha are all kind of smooth with differently shaped viewports and optional spiky bits. Most of the MUGL mecha are round and stubby, with several models going for the scary mannekin look. The overall effect is meant to evoke the image of a 100 ton toybox.

Source: GearHead RPG

Though every Aegis citizen would agree that Luna is the pinnacle of human civilization, there are always a few brave or misguided souls who long for exploration and adventure.

Aegis Space Force

The ASF operates primarily in the L5 Region. Their primary stated mission is to defend the Lunar trade fleet from pirates and hostile nations. Their secondary stated mission is to build goodwill with the people of L5 through closer cultural and defense ties.

Most members of the Space Force are true believers in the Aegis cause. They signed up to protect their fellow space colonists and to spread the gospel of peace through unity. To qualify for the Space Force you must be diligent, highly skilled, and ideologically pure. Very few candidates meet these criteria.

Of course, diplomacy and defense are hardly the only missions Aegis Overlord has for the Space Force. By aligning them with the Rishiri Dominion, Aegis has leverage to affect politics in L5. In the event of a war with Earth it will be very useful to have allies and a large navy already stationed in deep orbit. Plus, there are the mineral resources of the Dusty Ring, which Luna needs to continue its expansion.

As foreign service goes, membership in the Space Force is pretty sweet. The spinner colonies are relatively safe and have most of the same amenities as Lunar domes. In many parts of L5, Lunars are regarded positively or at least not negatively. The same can’t be said for the…

Aegis Expeditionary Force

The AEF is the Aegis mission to Earth. Most of its members fall into one of two categories: travel-hungry adventurers who didn’t qualify for the Space Force, and unstable military officers too useful to dispose of but too dangerous to keep on Luna.

The Expeditionary Force has many different missions: reconnaisance, harassing the Federation Defense Force, searching for lost technology, keeping the base commander entertained… and they have to do all of this under conditions more severe than anything the Space Force ever has to deal with. To most Lunars, modern day Earth is a hellish place. The gravity is stronger than they’re used to. The living facilities are primitive and uncomfortable. There are insects and even worse sorts of wildlife. Even in those areas which maintain diplomatic ties to Aegis, Lunars are viewed with distrust.

One of the worst duties of the Expeditionary Force is collecting gene samples for Luna’s bioweapon program. To do this soldiers have to confront some of Earth’s most dangerous creatures. Even worse, they are sometimes ordered to bring in their targets alive.

Unlike the Space Force, which gets most of their equipment from back home, the Expeditionary Force relies heavily upon locally constructed mecha. Common trooper models include the Buru Buru, Ice Wind, and Vadel. These are generally obtained from allies or the black market, but certain undersupplied units aren’t above including battlefield salvage in their rank and file. Native Lunar mecha such as the Chameleon and Luna-II are reserved for commanders and elites.

Membership in the Expeditionary Force isn’t without its perks. Pay is nearly the higest of any Aegis division, even though the troops rarely get a chance to spend it while on Earth. Being so far from Luna means that commanders can operate without political interference. Unfortunately for the troops, it also means that commanders can operate without any oversight whatsoever. The greatest perk a member of the Expeditionary Force can earn is to be transferred back to the Lunar Defense Force. This is generally the reward offered for taking part in a suicide mission, and there’s never a shortage of volunteers.

Source: GearHead RPG

The RMA-01 Gaunt was the first unique design fielded by the Red Mask Raiders. It appeared shortly after Queen Rei Tajiko Madas took control of the fleet in NT155. Unlike the Crihna Gorilla, the Gaunt is built for speed and maneuverability. In standard configuration it carries a 70mm rocket rifle, a plasma torch, a six-rack of night missiles, and five anti-armor missiles.

With its wings stowed the Gaunt is merely 11m tall, making it one of the most compact battroids in its weight class. Its appearance has been described as reminiscent of a flying monkey. Some pilots express concern about the conspicuous front-mounted canopy, but this doesn’t really affect the model’s survivability since any direct hit to the body is likely to blow the fusion engine anyhow.

The trick to piloting a Gaunt is to avoid getting hit in the first place. Its speed and long range weapons mean that it rarely has to get too close to its enemies, and there are few mecha in L5 which can outmaneuver it. The Gaunt’s usual tactic is to strike hard and then get the hell out. They are typically deployed in waves, with two wings of Gaunts followed up by a heavier mecha.

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The Gaunt is at least as sophisticated as the mecha built by the spinner colonies. Before the arrival of Queen Madas pirates were limited to clunky kitbashed mecha; now, the Red Mask Raiders have access to some of the finest military hardware in the solar system.  It is thought that this design was the first one released because it requires few resources to produce. That way, the Queen was quickly able to build a sizable force with which to steal more materials to build even larger mecha.