/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/ \- -\ \- The Strata-Crackers Present..... -\ \- -\ \- StarGlider -\ \- -\ \- Protection Removed by MindReader -\ \- -\ \- Docs Typed By Otay -\ \- -\ \- Call These Cool Lines -\ \- -\ \- The Silver Tongue AE/BBS.....(312) 759-1916 10 Megs -\ \- -\ \- Trader's Connection AE/BBS...(312) 246-9493 20 Megs -\ \- -\ \- Hotel California AE/BBS......(312) 234-6237 30 Megs -\ \- -\ \- The Apple Tree // AE/BBS.....(305) 556-6858 10 Megs -\ \- -\ /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/ Introduction Welcome to the Airborne Ground Attack Vehicle, the latest and most revolutionary of the new range of two-seater fight craft designed and manufactured by Draziw Industries. Novenias leading armaments company for the past eight hundred years. This manual is divided into chapters detailing most of the features of the AGAV. However, because of the unique flexibility of the craft's design. notably the ability to upgrade and modify the weaponry, control systems, and fuel-feeders without needing to rebuild the craft from scratch. You are reminded that this document is classified at Level 4.2, and is therefore printed on anti-Holostat paper. Any attempt to duplicate this manual will result in auto-decomposure of the complete document, and the simultaneous release of Kryplex gas, which will paralyse the nervous system of all known carbon based life-forms in the western spiral arm of the galaxy. Yrag Draziw Chief Designer, Project AGAV. Stardate 3429.6.81. Entering the AGAV To enter the AGAV craft, follow the standard procedure:- 1. If the AGAV plasma drive is in operation, press the switch marked OPEN CANOPY, situated below the canopy rim (there is a switch on both sides of the vehicle). If the drive is inactive, release the safety catch and slide back the blister canopy manually, using the handles of the rim. 2. Climb onto the wing and stand as far forward as possible, close to the auxiliary oxygen port. 3. Place both hands on either side of the rim of the canopy, and lift your legs over the rim and into the cockpit. 4. Lower yourself into the pilots seat. 5. Adjust the seat until comfortable, using the posture control switches situated under the seat. 6. Fasten the safety harness. 7. Close the canopy by pressing the small green button to your immediate left (marked CLOSE CANOPY). If emergency power restrictions are in force, slide the blister canopy forward, using the handles situated just behind the pilots seat. The co-pilot or instructor should follow steps 2 to 7, standing slightly further back on the wing. The AGAV Instrument Panel Your AGAV has one of the most comprehensive computer control systems ever developed for a fighter craft. This means that the pilot only has to concentrate on the vital aspects of flying, such as navigation, combat, and docking at repair stations for fuel and extra weaponry. A-Local Area Scanner This hexagonal screen displays the position of all objects within the AGAV's range. The scanner can detect density and movement extremely accurately, to the extent of the sensing the colours of each building, vehicle or aircraft. B-Energy Level This instrument shows a constant indication of how much energy the AGAV has stored for its Plasma Drive Unit. It is advisable to always keep the energy level above 15%. C-Shield Status The molecular Neutralising Force-Shields should NEVER be allowed to drop below 10% under any circumstances. Shields are replenished when the craft is repaired at a maintenance silo. The shields are at their weakest around the undercarriage, therefore it is important that you never allow the AGAV to scrape along the ground during flight. D-Laser Cell Status All four Saphire II laser units are fed from the laser cell. If it drains completely, your craft will be unable to fire laser bolts. The laser cell can be refuelled at any Novenian airbase or maintenance silo equipped with a PosiLok recharger. E-Altitude Meter The altitude meter shows your current height. If it gets below a safe level (usually 5%), the meter will flash rapidly and emit a sonic warning. You are reminded that it is an offence to fly low in a surburban area except in times of military emergency, unless you have clearance from your Area Commander. F-Velocity Indicator The velocity indicator displays the current air speed, up to 2550 urads. G & H-Bank Level Indicators These twin indicators (one indicator is affixed to each wing tip) display the level at which the AGAV is banking. The AGAV can bank to 45 degrees unladen, although cameras or missles will alter the maximum banking angle. Both indicators should always display the same bank factor, unless one of the wings is severely damaged. I & J-Plasma Drive Status Display These waveform display units indicate various internal values of the Plasma Drive. As an AGAV pilot, you need not worry about these unless they stop completely, or start moving in a reverse direction during flight. K-Sector Display The Novenian landscpae is divided into 10,000 sectors, on a 100 x 100 matrix. The sector indicator will show the current X and Y position ranging in value between 0 and 99. L-Missle Indicator The missle indicator shows the number of missles currently on board. The maximum number of missles allowed at any one time is two. M-Heading Display This instrument displays the heading of the AGAV in relation to the Irralya Star (discovered by Carrido Otnip in 2601.55.2) in accordance to the north, south, east, west convention. The following is a crude map of the above devices..... --------------- ---------------------- -------------- | | | M | | | --------------- ---------------------- -------------- ------- ------ | C | | B | ------- -------------- ------ ----------- -------- / \ --------- | D | | I | / \ | J | ----------- -------- |-- A --| --------- / / ---------- \ / ----------- ----- -------- | G | \ / | H | | | | | ---------- ------------- ----------- | F | | E | ------------- | | | | | K | ----- -------- ------------- ------ | L | ------ Flying the AGAV Taking Off Once all safety checks have been completed, you may take off using the following procedure: 1. Pull back on the joystick to increase altitude. 2. Increase thrust and accelerate forward. The AGAV has a top speed of 2550 urads, enabling it to outrun any sub light-speed Alliance craft, as well as all Egron and Aruloid military craft currently in service. It is quite safe to fly at full speed, as the computer will monitor the plasma drive at all times, and modify the neutron stabilizer automatically to ensure the plasma converter is always operating within its safe range. Flight Manoeuvres If you have not had full training in one of Draziw Industries comprehensive flight simulators, you should familiarise yourself with the more frequent manoeuvres when attacking land vehicles and escaping reprisal from a nearby enemy is accelerating, banking and gaining altitude in one smooth operation. Likewise, when at high altitudes, it is essential that you are able to decelerate, change direction downwards, and accelerate towards an attacking enemy target as quickly as possible. When flying at low speeds, the bank factor of the AGAV is so acute that you will be able to turn by 180 degrees with extreme ease. Even at maximum thrust, the turning circle of the craft is very tight. The quickest way to turn by 180 degrees is to decelerate to standstill, bank left or right to the AGAV's maximum bank factor, and accelerate quickly away. Landing the AGAV The AGAV is fitted with all-terrain landing pads, enabling you to land on any surface, including molten lava, acid rock, and the vast Erialc fungi reefs. To land on a surface, bring the craft to level flight, and decelerate until the computer cuts in and holds you in hover mode at zero velocity. Push forward on your joystick slowly until you touch down. If you are landing on molten lava, do not be alarmed by the loud hissing sound of the landing pads cooling the surrounding lava streams. WARNING: During flight testing of the AGAV prototypes in the vast Tranalua desert, it was found that flying at extremely low altitude over an inductive energy powerline resulted in the absorption of small amounts of plasma energy. At the time, this seemed unimportant, but as the mk.1 AGAV's were brought into service in urban areas, where high capacity powerlines were more commonplace, the full size of the problem was realized. Daredevil rookie pilots, trying to prove their aerobatic prowess, decided that flying just above the ground at high speed between the twin towers at the beginning of a powerline and following the path until swerving to avoid the apex tower was a great test of skill. This resulted in large amounts of volatile energy being absorbed by the AGAV's energy storage pod, and subsequently overloading the neutron stabilizer and inflicting fatal damage to the plasma drive. Attempts to refuel in this way will result in severe action being taken by both the Novenian airforce, and the Plasma Energy Corporation against all guilty parties. Weaponary Systems The AGAV's main weapon is the Sapphire II quadpulse laser system. The laser is powered from a dedicated laser energy cell situated in the nose-cone of the craft, directly behind the PosiLok refuelling nozzle. Two laser cannons are situated under each wing of the AGAV, and each group of lasers fire simultaneously. The AGAV has two laser sight operation modes: fixed sights ensures that the sight is always in the center of the screen, requiring the AGAV to be directly in line with its target; whereas floating sights allows the sights to move freely about the screen in the direction of the joystick control movement. The laser fire button has a rapid auto-repeat, enabling a target to be hit many times at great speed. The Sapphire II has an armour piercing factor of 0.45 - powerful enough to destroy a vehicle with similar armour to an Alliance tank with only six direct hits. The laser cell has a capacity for around 250 full-power laser pulses and can be recharged by a PosiLok station at any Alliance airbase, maintenance depot or silo. Some AGAV's (mainly carried on Interstellar Exploration Fleet Dredgers) are fitted with short-range mk. 12 and mk. 14 proton missles. As a desperate measure, and provided your shields are sufficiently intact, it is possible to intercept enemy craft and ram them if no other option is available. For this to be successful, the enemy should have little or no shield or force wall of its own. The AGAV is fitted with a revolutionary new system: The VidiMon remote- controlled television guided camera. Using a high-definition video camera, the AGAV pilot is able to transmit pictures directly back to Military Headquarters at Qazalon City. An automatic sliding visual display has been incorporated into the craft which monitors the flight of the camera. The camera's flight is started by pressing the LAUNCH button on your keyboard console. Once the camera has been launched, you can guide it using the normal AGAV flight controls (the AGAV itself will simply hover in its current position under computer control). The plasma drive should be able to transport the camera for at least twenty minutes. If the camera is not returned to the proximity of the AGAV within that time, or if it is intercepted by the enemy, it will self-destruct. Docking and Maintenance Procedure Routine maintence checks are made on all Alliance craft, before and after every flight. The AGAV has a major overhaul after every five flights, or if any mechanical or computer related faults are discovered. During a flight, if you need to refuel the plasma drive, laser cell, or replenish the shields you should establish a datalink with the nearest airbase and follow standard docking. During a state of military emergency, or if the AGAV has been damaged and is in need of immediate attention, you may dock at an Alliance space station repair silo. The Alliance silos are vast underground chambers with a sloping entrance building at ground level. The entrance hatch to the silo is marked by a laser strobe which is easily detachable by the AGAV's Enhanced Vision System. The silos are used to build and maintain all Alliance space stations and large military air vehicles, but also have facilities available for the AGAV. Not all space stations maintain geostationary orbit, so as they approach the entrance, the silo will rotate to face the space station using the NavSynch system, and the pull it in using its tractor beams. The current docking procedure is as follows: 1. Establish a datalink with the Chief Engineer at the silo, and wait until clearance is given. The silo will rotate to face you, and then stop, unless you adjust your flight path. Manual flight into the silo is necessary, since the AGAV is too small to be automatically pulled in using the tractor beams. 2. Slowly guide the AGAV through the doors to the silo. Keep the AGAV central at all times, as hitting the door or a wall could result in major stuctural damage being inflicted upon your craft. 3. Once inside the silo, your Enhanced Vision System should alter your display so that only relevent sections of the silo are visible. 4. If you need to collect any new equipment, such as a replacement television guidance camera, or armaments for special projects (such as sonic bombsm or mk. 14 proton missles), instruct the Chief Engineer to deposit the equipment at an AGAV collection point, which is usually situated near the center of the silo. 5. When the equipment is ready, fly towards the collection point, where an AGRO unit will unlock it into place on the AGAV's fuselage. 6. To refuel your laser cell, fly towards the end of the silo, and slow down to an almost stationary speed. 7. Align centrally with the PosiLok Refuelling Point, and fly forward until you lock into position. When your laser cell has been refuelled, the force shields will be replenished, and any superficial damage will be repaired by the AGRO androids. While the AGAV is being prepared, you will be able to obtain food, liquid input, medical treatment, or a place to sleep in the recreation sector of the silo. End Part I Look for part II Docs Typed By Otay The Strata-Crackers