Behemoth

Specifications
Use	Gear/Personnel Transport
Production Code	NV-225
Manufacturer	Northco
Height	9.5 meters
Speed	Walker: 42 kph SMS: 72 kph

The Behemoth Gear transport was designed in TN 1706 by Northco when it became obvious that Gears could be used for more than simple sentinel duty. The first version, nicknamed “Big Guy,” was a variant of the Hunchback transport, which was used by regional technicians to tranport their Prairie Dogs when they were called away to perform heavy repairs in homesteads. The technical lab and crew quarters were removed and replaced by more vehicle bays. The transmission was reinforced as well, allowing the vehicle to increase its performance and durability. The less efficient engine of the Hunchback was replaced by a smaller and more powerful PPN-S24 diesel engine capable of generating above 1000 hp. Its armor was also 50% thicker than that of the Hunchback, ensuring solid protection for the Gears in the vehicle bay. An early prototype also had a hitch and a stronger engine to attach an equipment trailer to the back of the carrier, but it was abandoned because it reduced the maneuverability and speed of the Behemoth below the design specifications.

Unfortunately, despite the increased passenger count, the designers neglected to include an improved ventilation system. The resulting vehicle, while very uncomfortable for the crew and passengers, was efficient and very popular with the brass. During the War of the Alliance, a slightly more aggressive variant (Mk 3) was released. The passenger seating was removed and the Gear pilots had to stay in their respective machines throughout the trip, which led to many cramps and back pains for pilots of smaller models.

The “Big Guy” was a good enough machine for the time it was designed, but lacked the proper finish that is characteristic of most Northco products nowadays. Many of the Mk 1 models are still in operation in the Badlands, where they were sold once the Mk2 was released. The Mk 3 was discontinued after the War of the Alliance because of the health problems it caused. Engineers at Northco are currently working on a new and smaller engine which would allow for independent axle traction. Not only would the Behemoth have better traction, but it would save some internal space that could be converted into a small repair workshop for Gears.

Usage

The first run of Behemoths produced six hundred vehicles, two thirds of which were immediately sold to the Northern Lights Confederacy to fulfill a pressing request for Gear transports. Most of those, however, suffered from the early flaws of a first release, but those were quickly corrected by UMF technicians.

The Behemoths performed mostly non-combat duties until the St. Vincent’s War, where they allowed rapid deployment of Gears in positions far from supply bases or to outposts in need of reinforcements. Northern high command, in an attempt to reduce the number of raids conducted by Southerners against Behemoth convoys, had two hundred make-believe Behemoths built. Designed to be cheap to produce and simply look like Behemoths, those “Cardboard Behemoths” were used to create visible convoys and draw the attention away from the real reinforcements, which were camouflaged and sent along a less obvious route.

Most Cardboard Behemoths were totalled and did not survive the St. Vincent’s War. This tactic was used once more during the War of the Alliance and surprised the Earth forces, which were not familiar enough with Terranovan vehicles to make out the differences between the real and the fake Behemoth. It provided the Alliance with a valuable advantage to use against the technologically superior CEF units.