M E A T B A G
Intent: To create a Thyrsian Combat Swoop Bike for use by the Sun Guards.
Image Source: Vertus Praetors - Warhammer 40k Wikiapage - Edited by Warhammer Community.
Canon Link: Swoop Bike.
Primary Source: Repurposed Cannon Articles.
Manufacturer: Republic Engineering Corporation - Repulsorfield Division; Coruscanti Foundries, The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy (Selected and Contracted Foundries.)
Affiliation: The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy, Closed-Market.
Model: TTH/TSP-001 “Anhur” - Pattern Combat Swoop Bike.
Modularity: Yes; Mounted Engines (As Listed Below), Exterior Aesthetics and External Equipment.
Production: Minor - Scale Production.
Material: Durasteel, Flexisteel, Armourplast, Reinforced Duraplast, Manganese Brass, Agrinium, Glasteel, Dallorian Alloy, Haysian Smelt, Chromium, Kiirium, Various Swoop Bike Components (Internal and External.)
Classification: Combat Swoop Bike.
Role: Aggressive Reconnaissance, Mobile Fire-Support Platform, Heavy and Shock Cavalry, Etc.
Size: Small Rating.
Length: 4.5 Metres.
Width: 1.5 Metres.
Height: 0.85 Metres.
Weight: 265 Kilograms - Average Rating.
Minimum Crew: One Thyrsian Sun Guard, Integrated Droid Brain.
Optimal Crew: One Thyrsian Sun Guard, Integrated Droid Brain.
Propulsion: Repulsorlift Generators and Maneuvering Thrusters; Integrated Ion Engines and Maneuvering Thrusters.
Speed: Very Fast Rating.
Maximum Speed: 850km/H.
Maximum Altitude: 35 Metres Above Ground.
Maneuverability: High Rating.
Armaments: Low Rating.
- Two Semi-Automatic Gauss Cannons [Fire-linked, Fixed Forward, Plasmatic Bowcaster Variants.]
- One Homing Nanomissile Rocket Pod [Twenty Homing Nanomissiles Per Pod, Retractable Cowling.]
- Ablative [Speeder-Class, Military-Grade] Armour Plating (Serrated Edges.)
- Integrated [Speeder Class, Military-Grade] Thyrsian Mirror Shields. [Fixed Forward.]
- Standard [Speeder Class, Military-Grade] ECM, Countermeasures, Flares and Chaff, Etc.
Passenger Capacity: None.
Cargo Capacity: 5 Kilograms (Survival Equipment and Consumables) - Average Rating.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Standard Speederbike Equipment, and Systems -- Including Remote HUD Uplink.
- Serrated Armour Plating (Front and Rear Armour.)
- Integrated Droid Brain, with Biometric Activation Suite [Thyrsian Military Encryption Keys.]
- Integrated Thyrsian Mirror Shields.
- Integrated Degaussing Module.
- Integrated Floodlights [Fixed Forward Mountings.]
- Secondary Power Plant; Reserve Power or Connective Supply.
- Modular Engine Bay.
- External Weapon Mountings (For the Sun Guard’s Primary Armament.)
- Swift and Nimble: In lacking the heavy armour and armament that usually adorns the vehicles that bore the Twinned Suns of Thyrsus, the ‘Anhur’ was capable of reaching mind-numbing speeds with relative ease; as well as being highly maneuverable through the addition of several integrated thrusters.
- Thyrsian Mirror Shielding: Much akin to the mirrored plates that adorned the starships of old, which acted as the progenitor to modern day deflector shields, the shimmering armour that adorned the Swoop Bike acted as an archaic method of protection; that granted them an excellent method of protection against energy weapons. Sadly, such defensive measures did little against kinetic weapons, should they manage to strike the ‘Anhur’ on the battlefield.
- Psychological Warfare: As the edges of the Anhur’s armour plating were serrated, the Combat Swoop was capable of mowing down swathes of enemy infantry -- should they be caught up in its thunderous advance, or carve through expansive sections of monofilament razor wire. In addition to such nightmarish deeds, the Swoop emitted a wailing shriek as it soared by; due to the combination of the anti-gravtic plates whining with activation and the serrated edges slicing through the atmosphere. Should the weak-willed find themselves frozen in terror at such a majestic sight, it was likely they’d be swiftly severed from their mortal coil.
- Limited Defences: Unlike the many vehicular designs that populate the Golden Company’s ever-growing list of assets, the ‘Anhur’ wasn’t equipped with heavy plates of armour or deflector shielding. Therefore, it wasn’t able to survive the same punishment as its heavier counterparts; leaving the Swoop Bike to focus more on its speed and maneuverability to be effectively utilized in battle.
- Limited Armament: Much to the chagrin of the Thyrsian Enclave, the ‘Anhur’ wasn’t outfitted with a vast array of weapons; instead of seeking to utilize the lighter weight to achieve incredible speeds on the battlefield. Thus, a lighter combination of weapons was selected in order to retain the desired boon but allowed the vessel to threaten troops on the ground and the vehicles that ferried them towards the frontlines.
- Exposed Rider: While much of the bike itself offered some shelter to the Operator, the ‘Anhur’s protective graces didn’t enshroud the Sun Guard in totality. This glaring flaw not only allowed the Rider to see their surroundings in their entirety but exposed them to enemy fire -- including that of hostile snipers.
- Limited EMP and Ion Protection: Although the Swoop Bike was outfitted with several methods of protecting its sensitive electronics from electronic overload; they were far from perfect. With speed being the focal point of the ‘Anhur’s overall design, the Swoop Bike would find itself succumbing to the overloading effects of Magpulse and Heavy ionic weaponry -- depending on the ignition points proximity to the vehicle itself.
Ever since the invention of the wheel, sentient life has desired to go faster -- to feel the rush of wind dance across their flesh and glide through their hair. It was the exhilaration and the thrill of travelling great distances in a short amount of time that propelled the innate, and organic desire to keep pushing the bar; creating new and faster ways to travel. From this drive to create new and dangerously addictive technologies, came the generator that defied the established laws of physics and gravity itself. The Repulsorlift engine; or more colloquially known as the Repulsor was created to allow newly manufactured vehicles to push against, and subsequently glide across a planet’s gravitational surface; seemingly levitating if stationary. With this almost “weightless” state, vehicles that were outfitted with such physics-defying engines could theoretically achieve speeds that weren’t possible before - making them threaten the barrier of sound without the use of combustion engines. It was marvellous, and it was that thrill-seeking spirit that the Thyrsian’s within the Golden Company sought to capture as they rendered such ideas into metallic flesh.
Thus, through one conceptual phase to another, the Anhur was born. The design began as a speeder bike and found itself nearing completion - until the first prototype was found to be too slow. It wasn’t capable of meeting the demands, nor desires, of those that wished to roar across the battlefield. Instead, that speeder bike was dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up as a swoop bike; which was merely an overpowered variant of the base design. This change from one model to another granted the Anhur the versatility that was requested; and allowed for the entirety of the platform to be adorned in the golden armour of the Sun Guard -- an armed in a similar manner to their Riders. While the loadout was nothing close to the walking armouries that straddled their gilded mounts, it was enough to threaten the swathes of Infantry and Light Vehicles they’d likely be arrayed against.
In addition to the exotic armament, the Anhur was outfitted with serrated edges along the Swoop’s prow and stern sections. These razor sharp edges would not only make a terrifying sound, akin to that of a Banshee’s wail as she mourned the loss of a loved one, but would make them insanely dangerous to anyone that stood in their path. Should an enemy combatant seek to either grasp the speeding vehicle or even be taken by surprise, they’d be torn asunder by the deadly combination. As an added benefit, these serrated edges made carving a swathe through an enemy’s entrenched position all the easier -- as the lengths monofilament razor wire would latch on and drag behind the Swoop until the momentum clove through the flexible thread. Even if the Anhur found it’s weapons starved for ammunition, it’d still find a use on the battlefield - either clearing fortifications or forcing leagues of nameless lessers to flee in terror.
However, despite all of the boon’s that the Swoop bike offered, there were a few drawbacks to its design. While they were expected, and wholly embraced, there was nothing that the Thyrsian Enclave could do. Because of its aesthetic, and inherent aim, the Anhur left it’s Rider exposed to enemy fire -- forcing them to rely on personal means of protection, rather than solely relying on what the Swoop had to offer. With the lack of heavy weapons, the Anhur was unable to engage heavier targets -- unless the Rider sought to defy conventional methods and equipped themselves with external weapons. Although one would believe this would be an effective tactic on the battlefield, it was very rare that one would see a Swoop bike cracking off a rocket; or three, whilst racing across the enemy’s line. With that being said, however, the Sun Guard encouraged their Warrior’s to outfit themselves with Force Pikes, or any variation thereof, to act as a ‘futuristic’ version of Ancient Heavy Cavalry.
Thus did the Sun Guard become Gilded Knights, astride their mighty steeds, bringing the Sun’s wroth to all that stood in their righteous path.
All shall bow before the glorious radiance of the Sun!
Modification Summary:- Reduced Defence Rating and Increased Production to Minor Rating.
- Updated Materials Section with Hyperlinks.
- Reduced Size Rating to match Dimensions.
