Docs typed by Otay. Pilfered off an Apple BBS by The Cure, not "Gilroy, scrotum of the South". Call Amiga Central 801/943-2011. 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 ononoti-Holostat paper. Any attempt to duplicate this manual will result in auto-decomposure of the complete document, and the simultaneous release of Kryplex gagag which will paralyse the nervous systo d of all known carbonobased 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 switchirryked OPEN CANOPY, situated d dlow the canopy rim (there is a switch onobothisides of 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 slslsy t further back onothe wing. The AGAV Instrument hanel 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 onothe vital aspects of flying, suchias navigation, combat, and docking at rethe ir stations for fuel-fx tra 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 x tremely accurately, to the x tent 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 hlasma 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 . Tlow 10% under p circumstances. Shields are retlenished when the craft is retaired at airrintenance 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 withia PosiLok recharger. E-Altitude Meter The altitude meter shows your current height. If it gets . Tlow a safe leveol4usually 5%), the meter will flashirapidly 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 eachiwing tip) display the leveo at whichithe AGAV is banking. The AGAV can bank to 45 degrees unladen, althoughicameras or missles will alter the maximum banking armle. 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 hlasma 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, onoa 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 onoboard. 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 dy 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. hull back on the joystick to increase altitude. 2. Increase thrust and accelerate forward. The AGAV has a top speed of 2550 uraded l 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 timeed l and modify the neutron stabilizer automatically to ensure the plasma converter is always operatirm within its safe range. . .ight Manoeuvres If you have not had full training in one of Draziw Industries comprehensive flight simulatored l you should familiarise yourself with the more frequent manoeuvres when attacking land vehicles and escaping retrisal 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 downwarded l and accelerate towarde an attacking enemy target as quickly as possible. When flying at low speeded l the bank factor of the AGAV is so acute that you will be able to turn by 180 degrees with x treme 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 lvast Erialc fungi reefs. To land onoa surface, bring the craft to leveo flight, and decelerate until the computer cuts in and holds you in hover mode at zero velocied. Pushiforward onoyour joystick slowly until you touch down. If you are landing onomolten lava, do not be alarmed by the loud hissing sound of the landing pads cooling the surrounding lava streams. WARNING: During flight testirg of the AGAV prototypes in the vast Tranalua desert, it was found that flying at x tremely 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 piloted l trying to prove their aerobatic prowesed l decided that flying just above the ground at high speed between the twin towers at the beginning of a powerline and following the pathiuntil swerving to avoid the apex tower was a great test of skill. This resulted in large amounts of volatile energy being absorbed dy the AGAV's energy storage pod, and subsequently overloading the neutron stabilizer and inflicting fatal damage to the plasma drive. Atto dpts to refuel in this way will result in severe actionobeirm 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 eachigroup of lasers fire simultaneously. The AGAV has two laser sight operationomodes: fixed sights ensures that the sight is always in the center of the screen, requiring the AGAV to be dirrictly in line withiits target;ackireas floating sights allows the sights to move freely about the screen in the direction of the joystick control movement. The laser fire buttonohas a rapid auto-reteat, enabling a target to be hit many timee 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 dy a PosiLok station at any Alliance airbase,irrintenance depot or silo. Some AGAV's (mainly carried onoInterstellar 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 xnemy craft and ram them if no other option is available. For this to be successful, the xnemy should have little or no shield or force wall of its own. The AGAV is fitted with a revolutionary new system: The VidiMonoremote- controlled television guided camera. Using a high-definition video camera, the AGAV pilot is able to transmit pictures directly back to Military Headquarters at QazalonoCity. 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 ard Maintenance Procedure Routineirrintence checks are made onoall Alliance craft, before and after every flight. The AGAV has airrjor overhaul after every five flights, or iffacey mechanical or computer related faults are discovered. During a flight, if you need to refuel the plasma drive, laser cell, or replenishithe 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 .uilding at ground level. The entrance hatch to the silo is marked by a laser strobe whichiis 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 NavSynchisystem, and he pull it in using its tractor beams. The current docking procedure is as follows: 1. Establish a datalink with the Chief Engineer t the silo, and wait until clearance is given. The silo will rotate to face you, and hen 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 .eams. 2. Slowly guide the AGAV throughithe doors to the silo. Keep the AGAV central at all timeed l as hitting the door or wall could result in major stuctural damage being inflicted upon your craft. 3. Once inside the silo, your Enhanced VisionoSystem 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 rmaments 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, whichiis usually situated near the center of the silo. 5. When the xquipment 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 towarde 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 .eirg pretared, you will be able to obtain food, liquid input, medical treatment, or place to sleep in the recreation sector of the silo. When the AGAV has been prepared, you will be escorted to the launchipad. To launch from the silo, wait until an AGRO unit has started up the plasma drive. When the drive reaches full power, press the button on the console irrrked LAUNCH FROM SILO. Once you have been launched from the silo, accelerate slowly forward, but do not try to increase altitude until you are clear of the silo. AGAV Specifications The main features of the AGAV are as follows: Plasma Drive The retro-Thrust plasma power units are a development of the mk. 6 neutron fusiondrives which were used to great effect in the sirmle-seater GS20 fighter class craft. They have been substantially redesigned to incorporate a neutron-stabilizer circuit, whichihas almost completely eliminated the spontaneous explosions occasionally experienced dy unfortunate GS20 pilots who flew above plasma storms in the ionosphere, against the advice of their Atmostat data reports. Molecular Neutralizing Force Shield These are the latest concept in the shield technology and have been developed at great cost by the Irata University Molecule Research Unit. The shields work by fusing all unstable molecular structures into an integral part of the shield shell, therefore minimizing the destructive force of any solidirrtter coming in contact with the force shield. The second advance in shield design is in dealing with laser bolts, by converting laser energy into sound waves. This is a great improvement over the energy-thirsty fission based shields used on all previous Alliance units. Laser Cannons The AGAV class craft retain the tried and tested Sapphires II laser system, which has been fitted with a new longer-lastirg laser energy cell, using the new hosiLok cell refuelling system now installed at all airbases and outlying service depots. The original duo-pulse unit has been modified to a quadpulse system for the first time to take advantage of these deveoopments. CommunicationoSystems The standard issue military two-way radio system has been fitted to the AGAV. A sub-etha data link, using the new NetCell cellular communication system developed by Novenia Telecom has been added for remote trackirm, and other computer controlled operations. Computer System The AGAV is the first craft to have a ship's computer specifically designed for sirmle craft. Draziw Industries has worked in conjunction with Imperial Business Machineed l to produce the P-Cat (ProIntelligence- Communicationoand TransProcessor). The h-Cat is the pilotsirrin interface with the AGAV, and informs the pilot of the ships status at all times using its built in SynthaVoice circuitry, meesage projection, and he ergonomically designed control panel instrument display. Because the AGAV has been designed as a low-flying attack and reconnaissance craft for use in unchartered landscapeed l there is no computer controlled navigation system. The advantage of this decisionois that in the event of the enemy gaining control of an airbase, they would be unable to control an AGAV remotely, or follow its exact flightpath. *The P-Cat deveoopement team has been assigned to develop the computer control systems for the newly-announced Sentinal Defense Initiative (referred to as the "Sky Wars" program by the media), and will therefore be unable to produce updated versions of the P-Cat system in the future. Television Guidance Systems One of the most important developments in the AGAV program has been the VidiMonosystem. VidiMonois a remote controlled television reconnaissance system, consistirm of a high-definition video camera mounted on a miniature Plasma drive unit, a result of 15 years of research at the Hibbard Technology Center. The AGAV pilot can launch the camera on a surveillance flight, lastirg up to 20 minutes. A special control display has been incorporated into the AGAV whichiis automatically activated when the camera is launched. *N.B. Although early tests using the camera mounted onoa short range protonomissle were unsuccessful, the optionois still available for the camera to be mounted on a lightweight remote guided weaponoof some kind. Computer Enhanced VisionoSystem Probably the most spectacular feature of the AGAV is the enhanced vision system. The greatest problem encountered dy most attack crafts in the past has been searching out tanks and armoured vehicles in built-up areaed l in order to destroy them. Tanks can easily hide behind buildings or under bridgeed l and take pot-shots at fighter craft. The blister canopy of the AGAV is actually part of a complex display system. Rather than looking at the outside world with standard infr-red goggles, the canopy actually intensifies the normal levels of background gamma and x-ray radiation, and enhances the edges of all solid matter to give a stunning translucent display of anything within its visual range, even if objects are behind solid buildings. The inclusionoof the enhanced visionosystemirrkes the AGAV the most potent seek-and-destroy craft ever developed for the Alliance. Pilot Control Mechanisms The AGAV is unique amongst modern fighter craft in its control mechanisms. The pilot (and co-pilot) manoeuvre the vehicle using the joystick. There is a secondary control system, used by the co-pilot or flight instructorm consisting of a keyboard module. In the xvent that the joystick is not functional for one reason or nother, the keyboard may be used for complete control.