Red Bull Mk2

Specifications
Use	Tank-Strider
Manufacturer	Paxton Arms
Height	6.6 meters / 21.7 ft

The original Red Bull was an artillery strider designed to get into difficult to reach areas. When the Protectorate Defense Plan was enacted the PRDF realized that it needed more direct offensive punch, but was discouraged by the expense of creating both conventional tanks and Striders. Instead, they decided to try a new type of unit partway between both types.

The Red Bull earned the first part of its nickname because of the red ceramite plating chosen for the dorsal armor panels. Two artillery cannons jut out of its massive back like twin, grotesque horns. Each gun is automatically fed by a 12-cassette magazine, each cassette containing six shells and the liquid propellant required to fire them.

The Red Bull has a classic four-legged design: close to the ground, chosen for stability. The large clawed feet enable the vehicle to handle the trickiest of ground, and their great surface area limits the ground pressure to acceptable levels. The strider’s limited speed is a major problem, especially when trying to move to avoid counter-battery fire, but intelligent officers will deploy it only in extremely broken terrain where there is ample cover.

The operating and maintenance costs of a Red Bull tend to be quite high, which limits its use to a few specialized artillery units. Its limited mobility and the complexity of its on-board system make its deployment useful in a very narrow range of missions. Still, the Red Bull had its moments of glory. During the War, the self-christened Mad Bulls were instrumental in preventing the CEF advance toward UMF territory. Waging an artillery guerilla war from the heights of the Westridge range, the Mad Bulls helped stall the advance of the invading forces for nearly two seasons before being forced to disengage due to a lack of supplies.

The Mk2’s performance has proven the concept’s viability by presenting a platform with heavy tank like armor, and strider-esque flexibility featuring advanced SMS treads. These lumbering titans come providing the armies of Peace River with much needed artillery, missile, and direct heavy firepower.

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