Surprise, surprise. Contrary to expectations, the Dark
Future has not yielded any staggering new developments in transportation. Years of economic strife and
civil unrest have discouraged research into new ways
to travel—in fact, the very act of travel has become
very restricted. Don't expect the inner-city world of the
Time of the Red to be much like the 20th century—a
network of crowded freeways, packed trains, and
swarming airports. Instead, think of it as a patchwork
of badly up-kept roads, abandoned airports, and
trains plagued by gangs and intermittent service.
Ground Transport
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Groundcars
Various manufacturers
- Powerplant: CHOOH2 or methane-fueled internal combustion
- Top Groundspeed: 100 to 300 MPH, depending on model
- Structural Damage Points: 50
- Cost: Varies depending on model
There haven't been any major changes in automobiles
since the 1980s—externally. Most cars are still basically a box on wheels, with smooth or hard edges.
The Cyberpunk ethos being, "If it works, keep it til it
doesn't work." In the cash poor environment of the
2000s, auto manufacturers have kept to conservative,
unimaginative designs, so that by today the average
family car is little changed from its practically antique
roots.
With the extremely high price of petroleum,
almost all cars of the 2000s are powered by tanks
of liquefied methane or meta-alcohol fuels such as
CHOOH2. Electric cars are the exception, not the rule,
simply because the infrastructure for rapid charging is
non-existent.
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Cybercars
Cybercar control systems are roughly like those of
the late 20th century but employ a few more digital
displays and push-button controls. In addition to control, most cars offer cybernetic control systems.
These systems employ servos at the wheels, throttle,
and transmission, which are controlled by a modified
cybermodem in the dash.
The driver simply "studs" their Interface Plugs into the
cybermodem and thinks the car through the motions.
Vehicles without external controls are relatively
uncommon, as the removal of external controls renders
the vehicle useless to anyone but a cybered driver.
So far, no major manufacturer has produced a purely
cyber-driven automobile, although there are several
after-market firms which will convert a car purely to
cyber control.
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Cyberbikes
Various manufacturers
- Powerplant: CHOOH2 or hydro-fueled internal combustion
- Top Groundspeed: 100 to 300 MPH, depending on model
- Structural Damage Points: 35
- Cost: Varies depending on model
There's a huge number of bikes and trikes out there
these days as well. Most are hydro or CHOOH2
fueled. Models include Kundalini, Harlon-Dawson,
Zondo, and Toyo-Tomo.
Sea Transport
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Speedboats
Various manufacturers
- Powerplant: CHOOH2 or hydro-fueled internal combustion
- Top Surface Speed: 60 MPH
- Structural Damage Points: 50
- Cost: 30,000eb (Super Luxury)
Any one of a number of small, light, mono-hulled performance craft designed for smuggling, rescue, law
enforcement ops, piracy, or (rarely) water-skiing. Hulls
are made primarily of a flexible dense polymer with
titanium reinforcement. Common upgrades include
onboard machine guns and other heavy weapons.
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OTEC Hammerhead Multipurpose Minisub
- Powerplant: Battery, CHOOH2 propulsion
- Top Surface Speed: 15 MPH (10 MOVE)
- Top Submerged Speed: 60 MPH (20 MOVE)
- Structural Damage Points: 100
- Crew: 3-8
The Hammerhead is an example of most "taxi" subs
used throughout the oceans. Employed as a longrange shuttlesub, it was never intended for combat
and has a notoriously "dirty" silhouette which makes it
easy to spot on sonar. Still, it is functional and flexible,
with two onboard Pseudo-AIs to assist the pilot and
crew in their tasks.
Despite its apparent lack of combat utility, some
have been armed with twin rocket pods and pushed
into the fray as stop-gap patrol subs. Those who pilot
these "torp-tubs" have developed a standard tactic of
firing their torpedoes at any hostile bogey as soon as it
enters their weapon's maximum range. They then turn
and run back to their bases, avoiding any possible
close encounter with undoubtedly better-equipped
foes.
Air Transport
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Gyrocopters
Various manufacturers
- Powerplant: CHOOH²-powered rotary aircraft engine
- Operational Radius: 50 Miles
- Top Airspeed: 100 MPH
- Structural Damage Points: 35.
- Cost: 20,000eb (Super Luxury)
The riots of the late '90s required new tactics for
operating in urban areas. Chief among these was
the introduction of light, low passenger helicopters or
"gyrocopters."
Currently used by police units, Corporate defense
teams, Solo assault operations teams, and drug-running gangs. Unarmed versions are popular as recreational vehicles.
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Helicopters
Various manufacturers
- Powerplant: CHOOH²-powered turboshaft engine gas turbine
- Operational Radius: 600 Miles
- Top Airspeed: 200 MPH
- Structural Damage Points: 60
- Cost: 50,000eb (Super Luxury)
Most helicopters mount two large, wide-propped
engine nacelles at the ends of long, high-lift wings. The
engines can be tilted from a forward-facing direction to
a vertical position, allowing the aircraft to take off and
hover vertically. The wings can also be folded back
along the body for easy storage, making them a perfect
vehicle to launch from rooftop helipads and airstrips.
A revolutionary concept when it was unveiled in
1988, the tilt rotor aircraft has become a standard
vehicle throughout the 2000s. The military version
served with distinction throughout the riots of the '90s
and the Central American Conflicts. Various civilian
manufacturers have licensed the tilt-rotor design
and applied it to smaller commercial and business
applications.
Helicopters are used as commuter vehicles for
trips between city centers and hub airports, or as
Corporate aircraft operating from rooftop pads atop
starscrapers. Small versions such as the AE-800
Featherlite are popular light aircraft throughout the
world, allowing flight operations in even the most
remote and unprepared sites.
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AV-4 Multipurpose Aerodynes
Various manufacturers
- Powerplant: Single vectored thrust turbofan
- Operational Radius: 400 Miles
- Top Airspeed: 200 MPH
- Structural Damage Points: 100
- Price: 50,000eb (Super Luxury)
The nearest thing to a science-fiction jet-car, the AV-4
was originally developed as a light assault aircraft
capable of operation in close urban areas where
rotary and tiltwing aircraft cannot penetrate. Short,
bulbous, and equipped with only rudimentary maneuver wings, the AV-4 has the aerodynamic characteristics of a rock, relying on the brute force of its huge
jet engine to keep it aloft (the original engine lifted a
19,550 lb. jumpjet, while a fully loaded AV-4 weighs
about 8,600 lbs).
The AV-4 is used by police or Corporate troops
for urban assault after being upgraded with a belly-mounted onboard machine gun. They are also used
as emergency vehicles by the Trauma Team, and as
Corporate vehicles for making special deliveries. The
most common upgrade made to an AV-4 is to armor
its chassis.
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AV-9 Super Aerodynes
Various manufacturers
- Powerplant: Twin vectored thrust turbofans
- Operational Radius: 400 Miles
- Max Airspeed: 300 MPH
- Structural Damage Points: 60
- Cost: 100,000eb (Super Luxury)
A relatively recent development of the AV class, these
are smaller aerodynes designed to fulfill the role of a
sports car, with twin vectored thrust turbofans mounted
in heavily armored side housings. In addition to the
increase in thrust provided by the second fan, the
reduction in weight gained from its minimal cabin
allows the AV-9 to scream through the air at extreme
speeds. They are primarily purchased for recreation
by the wealthy, but a select few on the street have
found their own uses for them.
Orbital Transport
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Delta 4 Spaceplane
- Powerplant: Batteries, Hi-Lox fuel cells
- Top Airspeed: Mach 6
- Structural Damage Points: 40
- Crew: 1-2
A holdover from the 4th Corp War, Deltas are highspeed, suborbital spaceplanes designed for combat
and interception. They usually have two engines: a normal supersonic jet for reaching an altitude of
35,000 m/yds, and a solid-fueled rocket engine for
boosting into orbit. Occasionally, deltas are carried
piggyback by larger jet aircraft, or boosted into orbit
by using disposable rockets. They can also be carried
aboard deep space craft.
Once in orbit, deltas use maneuver thrusters to
move in on orbital targets. Well-armed with twin
smart rocket pods, deltas must strike quickly and then
use their remaining fuel to reenter safely. Deltas are
exceedingly rare; the EuroSpace Agency only had
around 24, but recently discoveries of hidden spaceplane attack wings stashed in remote airbases in the
U.S. and the EuroTheatre have made them available
to the most well-heeled Execs and Nomad Families
through world-class Fixers.
Mega Vehicles for Maximum Transport
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Light Rail Lev Train
Various manufacturers
- Powerplant: Electric third rail inductance field
- Top Groundspeed: 300 MPH (60 MOVE)
- Structural Damage Points: 100 per train car
Superconductor magnets have made it possible to
build extremely cheap and durable "levitation trains."
Riding on magnetic cushions, these "levs" have
become one of the major transportation resources in
the 2000s. Financed by Corporations or city governments, they are present in most major cities.
Levs are usually built underground within city
limits, and run on high pillars out in the suburbs.
Usually one line, headed out to the Executive Zone,
is sealed off and requires an entry pass to get onto.
Corporate lev stations are always clean, well-lit, and
well-guarded by Corporate security. City lev stations
are usually not up to these standards, although most
cities run police patrols on the line to control crime
and vandalism.
Lev tickets are charged at a rate of 1eb per station
passed; a trip passing through three stations, for
example, would cost 3eb. Tickets may be purchased
from automatic ticket machines using cash. These
machines are located in the stations themselves and
in local convenience store outlets.
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CINO RELaCS Cargo Sub
- Powerplant: Battery, CHOOH2 propulsion
- Top Surface Speed: 15 MPH (10 MOVE)
- Top Submerged Speed: 60 MPH (20 MOVE)
- Structural Damage Points: 300
- Crew: 6-36
This cargo sub is perhaps the closest thing that any
Nomad group will ever own that could hope to
compare to the big governmental "boomers." Over
one hundred m/yds long and more than ten decks
high, the ClNO cargo sub is the largest cargo submersible currently in production, and is always operated by a full Nomad clan. Designed by the Russians
of the Neo-Sov, and affectionately known as the
Really Exceptionally Large Cargo Sub (RELaCS),
it is a fifty-year-old design that was refitted for the
2040s and beyond. A smooth hull layered with sound
absorption tiles and oversized caterpillar drives makes
the RELaCS an amazingly quiet sub (considering its
size). Despite the ship's mass, it has a small crew
and can be operated by only 6 people (depending
heavily on its automated systems). Features include
quad rocket pods and a Minisub bay, which these
days typically houses a Hammerhead.
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K151 AeroZep
- Powerplant: CHOOH2 or hydro-fueled internal combustion
- Top Airspeed: 100 MPH (20 MOVE)
- Structural Damage Points: 300
- Crew: 2-36
Based on the pre-War U.S. Army's popular Overlord
design, this Aerozep is now used primarily as a cargo
hauler, redesigned to move up to ten cargo modules
between staging areas. They are the primary heavy lift
transports for aerial-based Nomad Families, and do
not operate anywhere near a potential Combat Zone;
they are always kept as far away as operationally
possible, guarded by several fast-strike combat AVs
or air-superiority fighters. The K151 can be piloted
with a crew of 2, although this is rare; usually a K151
is the primary workhorse of a single Nomad Family
with upwards of 30 people onboard, or sometimes
more when cargo is not being carried.
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