Metalworks Incorporated PA-06M “Alpha Fox” SAMAS Power Armor:

Metalworks Incorporated is a company that their main facility is about 250 miles to the west and slightly to the north of the city of Tolkeen that constructs various ground vehicles, robots, and aircraft. Most of their designs are copies of other companies or nations. They have permission from Triax to produce under licence several Triax designs and sell them in North America. Metalworks manufactures a variety of very advanced designs as well as some relatively simple designs.

The SAMAS power armor is one of the most common power armors on North America. The armor is produced in large numbers by the Coalition states and the Free State of Quebec. Many of these have been captured in combat and many have been stolen over the years. As well, there are several manufactures who produce copies or modified versions of the SAMAS. As a result, the SAMAS is the single most common power armor on North America and one of the most common power armors on all of Rifts Earth. Most power armor pilots in North America can fly SAMAS power armors and many are experts in the armor. Even though there are large numbers of SAMAS in existence, there is still a large market for the power armor, especially advanced versions of the armor.

When Metalworks decided to expand production of power armors, they decided that the SAMAS would be the perfect basis for a new design. Compared to some other power armor designs, the SAMAS is a relatively simple design and is fairly inexpensive as well. Important to the new Metalwork’s design was to have a already established market for their new design.

Even though based on the Coalition PA-06A SAMAS power armor, the Metalwork’s new design has many improvements over the original design. Even so, speed was essential in the development of the new power armor and the first prototype was completed in less than four months. Due to the relatively low cost of the new Metalwork’s power armor, which was named by engineers the “Alpha Fox”, the power armor was an immediate success and production has been barely able to keep up with demand. Metalworks is planned to replace all SAMAS operated by mercenary companies supported by Metalworks as soon as production allows it.

One of the most important changes to the “Alpha Fox” over a standard PA-06A SAMAS is the engines. One of Metalwork’s allies is the REEF in Florida and they managed to capture a badly damaged Japanese SAMAS and Metalworks was able to acquire the crippled power armor for study. The new engines increase the top speed of the “Alpha Fox” SAMAS by about 20 mph with a top speed of approximately 320 mph. While speed is increased, the range before needing to shut down due to overheating is only slightly increased.

Armor is also slightly improved when compared to a standard Coalition SAMAS although the Metalwork’s design is not all that much heavier armored than the Coalition design. The cosmetics on the “Alpha Fox” are greatly changed compared to a standard SAMAS and is more streamlined in appearance although the basic dimensions are identical. It still looks like a SAMAS and the ancestry is also still quite clear to anybody who looks at the Metalwork’s power armor.

Weaponry is another major change on the “Alpha Fox” compared to the standard SAMAS. At first Metalworks was going to arm the armor with a modified version of the NG-202 Rail Gun which they used on a number of other designs. Compared to the standard NG-202, it fires a sixty round bursts instead of a forty round bursts in order to inflict greater damage. The problem was that the weight of the Northern Gun rail gun is greater than 200 lbs and as a result it was decided to develop a lighter rail gun.

At the same time, there was criticism with using just a rail gun. They have a limited payload and adding a pulse laser would be more useful and have an effectively unlimited. The only issue with pulse laser weapons is that they are not effective against targets which are impervious to energy weapons and they have reduced effects against some laser resistant materials.

As a result, Metalworks decided to develop a modified version of the C-40R rail gun carried on the SAMAS. This modified version is actually only slightly heavier than a standard C-40R rail gun but can fire both forty or sixty round bursts. There is discussion that the new rail gun will eventually replace the NG-202 rail gun carried on other Metalwork’s designs as well.

As far as adding a pulse laser as well, a mercenary who has worked with Metalworks carries a heavy rifle type weapon which combines both a rail gun and a pulse laser and it was decide that a similar design would be adopted. It was relatively straight forward with a JA-12 Juicer Assault Rifle mounted parallel with the rail gun. The pilot of the “Alpha Fox” then simply chooses between rail gun or pulse laser depending on the target. It was decided that the grenade launcher from the JA-12 would also be retained, often loaded with special purpose grenades.

The “Alpha Fox” also increase the number of missiles compared to the standard SAMAS. Instead of carrying mini-missiles on only one forearm, mini-missiles are carried on each forearm. As well, the intakes for the Alpha Fox were raised slightly compared to a standard Coalition SAMAS, allowing for the mounting of four mini-missile tubes under each intake. While not the equal in mini-missile payload of the Striker SAMAS or the Sidewinder SAMAS, with a payload of twelve mini-missiles, it is far better armed than the standard SAMAS.

Model Type: PA-06M “Alpha Fox” SAMAS Power Armor.

Class: Strategic Armor Military Assault Suit.

Crew: One.

M.D.C. by Location:

	Shoulder Wings (2):	50 each.
	[1] Shoulder Mini-Missile Launchers (2 total - 4 missiles each):	40 each.
	Upper Arms (2):	50 each.
	Forearms with Missile Launchers (2):	50 each.
	[1] Hands (2):	25 each.
	Legs (2):	100 each.
	Main Rear Jets (2):	60 each.
	[1] Lower Maneuvering Jets (2; small):	25 each.
	[1] Twin Air-Intake Jets (2; top):	40 each.
	[1] Ammo Drum (1; rear):	35.
	Combination Rail Gun / Pulse Laser:	60.
	[2] Head:	80.
	[3] Main Body:	260.

Notes:

[1] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot;” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.

[2] Destroying the head of the power armor will eliminate all forms of optical enhancement and sensory systems. The pilot must then only on his own human vision and senses. No power armor combat bonuses to strike, parry, and dodge! The head is a small and difficult target to hit, shielded by the air intake tubes and weapon drum. Thus, it can only be hit when a character makes a “called shot” and even then the attacker is -3 to strike.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the armor down completely, making it useless. Note: Destroying a wing will make flight impossible. However, even with no wing(s), the SAMAS can make jet powered leaps and hover stationary above the ground.

Speed:

Running: 60 mph (96 km) maximum, can go from 0 to 60 mph in twelve seconds. Note that the act of running does tire out its operator, but at 10% of the usual fatigue rate thanks to the robot exoskeleton.

Leaping: The powerful robot legs can leap up to 15 feet (4.6 m) high or across unassisted by the thrusters.

A jet thruster assisted leap can propel the unit up to 100 feet (30.5 m) high and 200 feet (61 m) across without actually attaining flight.

Flying: The rocket propulsion system enables the SAMAS to hover stationary in mid-air or fly. Maximum flying speed is 320 mph (512 km), but cruising speed is considered to be 150 mph (240 km). Maximum altitude is 6000 feet (1829 m; a little over one mile/1.6 km).

Flying Range: The nuclear power supply gives the SAMAS decades of life but the jet rockets get hot and need to cool after a maximum of 10 hours of continuous flight at speeds above cruising, 20 hours at cruising speed. It can fly indefinitely with rest stops every few hours.

Underwater Capabilities: Swimming: The SAMAS can swim by using the same types of paddling leg and arm movements as a human at a maximum speed of roughly four mph (6.4 km/3.4 knots). It can also walk along the bottom of the sea at about 25% of its normal running speed. Using the jet thrusters, the SAMAS can travel on the surface of water at 50 mph (80 km/42.5 knots), underwater at 40 mph (64 km/34 knots) or fly above the water surface an normal speeds.

Maximum Ocean Depth: 1,000 feet (305 meters).

Statistical Data

Height: 8 feet (2.4 meters).

Width: Wings down, 3.5 feet (1.06 meters) and with wings extended, 10 feet (3.05 meters).

Length: 4 feet 6 inches (1.4 meters).

Weight: 350 lbs (158.8 kg) without the rail gun and ammo drum.

Physical Strength: Equal to a P.S. 30.

Cargo: Effectively None.

Power System: Nuclear, average SAMAS energy life is 20 years.

Black Market Cost: 1.9 million credits for a new, undamaged, fully powered suit complete with rail gun and one full ammo-drum.

Weapon Systems

One (1) MI-RGPL Rail Gun / Pulse Laser: Combination of a rail gun and pulse laser. Rail Gun is the MI-RG-40-X Rail Gun, a modified version of the Coalition C-40R Rail Gun. While the weapon is widely duplicated, Metalworks has managed to improve the rail gun with the ability to fire either 40 round or 60 round bursts. While the 60 round burst uses ammunition far faster, it inflicts greater damage and is only slightly heavier. Previously, Metalworks Industries purchased NG-202 Rail Guns but plans to replace Northern Gun rail guns with their own model although it is twice the cost. The power armors used by Metalworks Incorporated uses APFSDS (Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot) ammo that increases damage. The pulse laser is a modified version of the JA-12 laser rifle with the grenade launcher although powered directly from the power armor. Due to power constraints, both weapons cannot be fired together.

Weight: Gun: 118 lbs (53.5 kg), 92 lbs (41.4 kg), One SAMAS Ammo-Drum: 190 lbs (85.5 kg).

Maximum Effective Range: Rail Gun & Laser: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters). Grenade Launcher: 2,000 feet (610 meters).

Mega-Damage: Rail Gun: With Normal ammo, can fire a burst of 40 rounds which inflicts 1D4x10 or can fire a burst of 60 rounds which inflicts 1D6x10. A single round inflicts 1D4. With APFSDS Ammo, can fire a burst of 40 rounds which inflicts 1D6x10 or can fire a burst of 60 rounds which inflicts 2D4x10 . A single round inflicts 1D6. Heavy Laser: 4D6 for Single Shot and 1D6x10+10 for 3 simultaneous blasts. Grenade Launcher: 3D6 to 10 feet (3 meters) radius for high explosive or varies special warheads.

Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4-6).

Payload: Rail Gun: 2,000 round drum, that's 50 bursts of 40 rounds or 33 bursts of 60 rounds. A second drum can be hooked to the undercarriage of the rocket jets, but first the used drum must be manually removed by another SAMAS or character with a strength of 26 or higher before it can be replaced with the new one. Reloading a drum will take about five minutes for those not trained, but a mere one minute by somebody trained in the use of SAMAS power armor. Pulse Laser: Effectively Unlimited Grenade Launcher: 4 Grenades, reloaded individually or by speed loader.
Two (2) Shoulder Mini-Missile Chest Launchers: Located in each of what would be the collar bone of a human (under the power armor’s intakes), are four mini-missile launchers (eight total). The missiles are launched by voice command or by hidden firing studs in the forearm.

Missile Type: Any mini-missile can be used, but standard issue is armor piercing (1D4x10 M.D.) or plasma (1D6x10). Fragmentation will be used for anti-personnel operations.

Maximum Effective Range: Usually about a mile (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

Rate of Fire: Can fire mini-missiles one (1) at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) mini-missiles.

Payload: Four (4) each shoulder for eight (8) mini-missiles total.
Two (2) Forearm Mini-Missile Systems: Each of the forearms carries two small mini-missile launchers for a total of four mini-missiles. Like previous weapon systems, the missiles are launched by voice command or by hidden firing studs in the forearm.

Missile Type: Any mini-missile can be used, but standard issue is armor piercing (1D4x10 M.D.) or plasma (1D6x10). Fragmentation will be used for anti-personnel operations.

Maximum Effective Range: Usually about a mile (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

Rate of Fire: Can fire mini-missiles one (1) at a time or in volleys of two (2) mini-missiles.

Payload: Two (2) mini-missiles each forearm for four (4) mini-missiles total.
Energy Rifles: The “Alpha Fox” SAMAS is small enough that it can use any of the standard infantry weapons from pistols and vibro-blades to rifles. These weapons can be substituted for the rail gun or kept as backup weapons. Can be slung on the belt on a utility belt or strapped to the power armor’s leg. Space limitation usually limits the number of weapons to one pistol / rifle. Grenades can also be carried in a satchel but cannot normally be hooked to a belt or bandolier because it is likely that they would get blown off when traveling at high speed.
Hand to Hand Combat: Rather than use a weapon, the pilot can engage in mega-damage hand to hand combat. See Basic and Elite Power Armor Combat Training on page 45 of the Rifts RPG for combat bonuses.

6 Sensor System Note: The SAMAS has full optical systems, including laser targeting, telescopic, passive night vision (light amplification), thermal-imaging, infrared, ultraviolet, and polarization. Plus all other features common to all power armor. See Basic and Elite Power Armor Combat Training in Robot Combat section of Rifts on page 45 of the Rifts Main Book for details.

Sensor Bonuses: The SAMAS gets a bonus of+1 to strike, and +1 to dodge in addition to the power armors targeting computer bonuses and Basic or Elite Combat Training bonuses.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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