Gravpack

[kilemall]

Equipment-

Gravpack (TL10-11+)

A backpack that uses a gravitic lifter to allow relatively immense loads to be carried on military, exploratory, or construction missions. It can also provide secondary power generation and medevac functions.

Using the LBB8 chassis/grav/power rules, the chassis is a URP 6 with 150 liters of volume, configuration box, HV Grav Module, Fuel Cell 0 generating 10 kw per hour, and provision for a fuel brick of 20 liters yielding 200 hours of operation (22 hours if in non-oxygen/vacuum environment).

On average, the gravpack will allow for lifting up to 300+ kg of weight without encumbrance.

Referees must watch for volume to make sure carried items will fit within reasonable volume tolerances.

Operation and electronics are simplified, just power on or off for the fuel cell, and a graduated power use for the grav module-on a practical basis, usually a dial or buttons to increase thrust. Standard practice is to bring the pack to 1-2kg of effective weight so it rests on the carrying person lightly but firmly.

This should NOT be considered an ersatz grav belt- its simplified so it's cheap and available at an earlier TL, does not move or allow control at speed, and would be highly dangerous to strap on and attempt any maneuver.

For example, the module only lifts with the pack less then a 45 degree angle perpendicular to the ground- any more and the full weight of the pack will apply, effectively immobilizing the carrier until the pack is righted again. Lifting up to a height then losing thrust would be VERY dangerous.

Average cost is 12,000 Cr, several common options will drive that cost up.

 

[kilemall]

As is the pack is metal framed since it is mounting power and gravitics, and has an armor rating of Mesh. Upgrading uses the LBB8 multiplier against the box chassis. So a Cloth upgraded chassis would cost 15750 Cr or 2250 Cr more, and the Combat Armor version if TL available costs 27000 Cr total or 15000 Cr more.

Gravpacks so upgraded are often used as ersatz shields/cover when under fire, much to the chagrin of logistical officers.

Radio sets are very commonly carried in gravpacks, being useful to practically any mission type. Most often, the continental version would be carried, and fully powered along with the grav module by the fuel cell. The Extensive ECM version for defeating jamming and homing would cost 37000 Cr, or 25000Cr more.

Electronic Circuit Protection is another common upgrade, both for military versions and exploratory, to protect against both intentional EW and harsh radiation/environmental threats. Multiply final price x1.5.

So besides the base 12000 Cr model, the three most common models are the Basic/Cloth model at 14,250 Cr, a ruggedized ECP/cloth continental radio for 28875 Cr, and the military radio pack Cloth/ECP/Ext. ECM version for 58875 Cr.

 

[kilemall]

Less common but no less useful are some of the following-

Reflec-

Costs x2 chassis price, multiply in combination with cloth/CA upgrades, signature should go up optically and against LADAR.

Open rack option-

The chassis is Open Rack, allowing for quick access to carried items, usually by other teammates. Whatever is carried is exposed to weapons fire or other damage rather then being protected by armor, but will require minimal time to detach and use.

Most often this would be used to carry and put a heavy weapon into action, greatly augmenting foot soldier base of fire. Much less often it is used for ammo carriers, for obvious reasons. In either case, it is used in support of doctrine for maximum firepower in the minimum amount of time.

By Striker terms the gatling guns, recoilless rifles, lighter MD/mortars/CPR guns/lasers, light MRLs/tac missiles and most of the plasma/fusion heavy weapons can be man-carried and placed into action.

By other system versions, just go with a rough 300 kg and reasonable volume limits.

-750 Cr for base chassis costs, 50 Cr for an environmental cover that both protects the racked gear from the elements and masks the soldier from being specifically targeted.

Medevac-

The pack is designed to carry wounded out of the line of fire. For 300 Cr the pack is modified to have internal straps, padded backing, and openings for head, arms and legs.

The person to be transported is lowered into the pack, strapped in, then carried papoose-style to an evac zone/med station.

An Open Rack version could be used for -400 Cr, an additional protective blanket comes with this option.

Many forces choose to make this option standard for their line infantry gravpacks as this halves the number of personnel needed for battlefield transport (or doubles their capacity). Some orgs do not, as there is a slight chance the extremity flaps will be left open and precious supplies dribble out of the soldier's pack. It is a standard for medic-designated packs.

Sensors/support electronics-

Gravpacks often are equipped with the full array of sensors including Striker RADAR/LADAR/DF and the more exotic LBB8 olfactory/neutrino/mass detectors at appropriate TLs. Other electronics such as exploratory computers/loggers/recorders, navigation instruments, and battle computers are used.

Be sure to add up the power requirements and resize the fuel cell and fuel as needed.

Power-

The gravpack could be equipped to house the squad/platoon/company man-portable power source for sensor, environmental and low level power recharge needs.

A good option is the top-end fuel cell at 90 kw per hour.

A rarer choice is the low-end 245 kw/h fusion gravpack (which requires the UH grav module which will consume all the thrust to carry), the latter option costs 300,000+ Cr.

At higher tech levels a hybrid generator/battery arrangement yields more demand power for heavy rapid use and so becomes desirable.

Expert Systems-

The sensor/comms/support packages could benefit from expert systems. In that case one could use the robot rules and provide the electronics 'smarts', or at least the ability to function autonomously which could be important if the electronics/commo/sensor ops expert is wounded or unavailable.

However, on a practical basis if one is to spend on the very expensive robot brains, might as well mount them on a moving/acting robot body and free that functionality from being a carry burden for the team.

 

[kilemall]

You know, of all the things I have posted, I figured this was most controversial.

This effectively eliminates encumbrance, allows for a LOT of equipment to be hauled around, and increases foot soldiers' firepower greatly, both the player parties AND their opposition.

People will argue how many angels can dance on the CPU of a Model/4 computer or the lineage of Strephon's fashion consultant but not argue this?

 

[SanDragon]

It still has bulk and inertia!!!

There. Does that satisfy?

 

[Spartan159]

Actually DGP did a G-Pack in one of their books/magazines, I have a copy of it in my equipment files, but I'll be darned if I can remember the source. I will try to find it.