Tech Assault-Mecha

With the rise of fighter supremacy, the role of the marine in space seemed to diminish more and more. Now battles were largely being decided well before ships could close to a short enough distance to make boarding operations feasible. And while they were still vitally necessary for securing targets on the ground as well as providing security onboard starships and other facilities, their role in space-combat seemed less and less important.

However, innovations in power-armor design (mainly intended for use on the ground) had unprecedented consequences in space. When modified for the vacuum, these suits were almost undetectable on most sensors. Specialized insertion vehicles were later developed which could effectively deliver armored marines onto the hull of an enemy vessel, thus eliminating the need for warships to close to extremely close range in order to attempt a boarding action. Despite the less pressing need to capture enemy craft (to expand ones navy) it quickly became clear that in many circumstances this was preferable to destroying them. Both the intelligence gathering and military organs of many nations saw the wisdom in retaining marine combat capacity in space, if only for more “specialized” roles. It was at this time that the marine space combat-suit, or SCS saw heavy investments of both research time and money.

In general, the modern Assault Mecha derives much of its ancestry from these early combat suits. Despite the fact that the marine had finally evolved to fit a more specialized purpose, there was still a fairly large amount of tension between the Navy and the far younger Fighter corps, which often had its own chain of command. Many Navy personnel were highly disdainful and distrustful of so-called “fighter-jocks” whose relative role on the modern fighting force had somewhat eclipsed the navy in terms of prestige, as it was common for individual pilots to distinguish themselves in combat (something very difficult for commissioned naval crew). These feelings, along with internal and external pressure to further modernize, led the navy to make a push toward developing its own small, dedicated, manned, combat platform that was effective both in space and on the ground, and could compete with fighters in combat. From these directives, the modern AM was born.

Larger then a fighter, and significantly more well-armed, the AM is capable of mounting a variety weapon configurations. Baring a strong resemblance to their smaller SCS cousins, Assault Mecha are capable of assisting boarding actions, engaging fighters and small craft at close range, physically landing on the hull of starships to destroy or threaten vital systems, and assisting in point-defense activities ranging from torpedo interception to anti-fighter screening. When inserted via armored drop-pods onto a planet’s surface, they are just as deadly. Due to their robust life-support systems for space-based operation, these craft are capable of operating in the harshest of weather conditions (ranging from extreme heat to intense cold, high-radiation areas, poisonous environments, etc). AMs have also shown themselves to be adept at spearheading and/or supporting urban combat, battling in rough or broken terrain, and even in air-to-air interception.

However, this comes at a cost, both literally and figuratively. The average AM is abhorrently expensive to build and the time it takes to train pilots effectively makes it difficult to field many of them at once. Attrition rates, while actually lower then other sectors of the navy, is still devastatingly high. On many older models, maintenance requires specially trained personnel, so much so that each AM must have a dedicated 7-man repair crew. The craft is larger then a fighter, and far more nimble (by taking advantage of its many vernier thrusters), but its top flight-speed is pitifully slow, and its armor coverage, while greater then most fighters, is lacking in certain key areas (namely the rear). This makes it vulnerable when isolated by a superior number of opponents. While in the USN, common wisdom dictates that for every one AM lost, three enemy fighters are destroyed, new AISN drones have wreaked havoc among its older Velius class, highlighting the AM’s vulnerability to masses of small-craft with superior weaponry. This has led to the development of several new AM models which the navy plans to enter into active service in the next year.

They have a lot of weapons with relation to their mass because AMs have to engage in combat in all directions, one AM is meant to be able to hold off a flight of fighters independently, so it has to be a threat on all axis (hence the preponderance of small, short-range missiles and ballistics). Since they're meant to stick close to capital ship, re-arming and refueling are less of a hassle, so they can afford to go weapon heavy without the ammunition/fuel longevity fighters tend to enjoy.