Defenses

Such wealth and freedom as are found in Cape Suzette must be safeguarded at all times. Due to its tremendous affluence, Cape Suzette is the target of several unscrupulous criminal organizations, not the least of which are the Air Pirates led by the notorious Captain Don Karnage. For years, the Air Pirates have tried to plunder Cape Suzette — unsuccessfully, thanks to the protection offered by the formidable Cape Suzette cliffs as well as a host of other defenses which serve to protect the city from invasion.



Cliff Guns

During the Great War, Cape Suzette needed protection from hostile enemy forces as it was a well-known center for Usland's war efforts. The cliffs surrounding the harbor were an effective natural defense, but their effectiveness was only increased by the presence of dozens of artillery cannons. The most powerful artillery of that era, the Cape Suzette cliff guns made it impossible for enemy planes and ships to reach the city, let alone attack it. Rather than being dismantled after the Great War ended, the cliff guns were upgraded and organized into an effective air-defense network. This proved to be a wise decision, especially with the post-war outbreak of Air Pirate attacks upon the city.

	Above and lower left: The guns of Cape Suzette vigilantly stand watch over the harbor entrance.

There are several different types of cliff guns, each serving a special purpose in Cape Suzette's defense scheme. Lines of several cannons are mounted on a rock ledge which runs across the cliffs' outer wall. Supplied by the military, these cannons are posted on either side of the cliff entrance. Renowned for their superior range and accuracy, mid-altitude guns are used for long-range assault and 'warning shots'.

Higher up on the cliffside are smaller, more flexible short-range guns used for close and mid-range assault. These rapid-firing weapons do not boast a superior range, but more than compensate with improved firepower and pinpoint accuracy at short ranges. The greatest concentration of guns, however, is found on the very top of the cliffs. Cliff artillery here is arranged in two or three-gun clusters, coordinated to bring the greatest firepower to bear on the target.

Most cliff guns fire explosive shells which are usually timed to release an explosion or burst of flak near the target. The short-range cannons usually fire smaller shells or anti-aircraft rounds, which are more accurate and cause greater damage at close ranges. Additionally, several of the topmost guns are equipped with rocket-propelled shells, known for their improved range and accuracy over regular explosive shells (but rarely used by most gunners).

Despite the unique varieties of cliff guns, they all share two fundamental weaknesses — they cannot be turned to face inland, and their range is severely limited when firing at steep angles. Invaders may possibly avoid damage by traveling at high altitude, but there are few aircraft that can remain at such high altitudes for long. Firing the guns at steep angles can create an additional danger: high winds may catch vertically-launched shells and carry them back over the cliffs, where the resulting explosions may damage the city itself.

CLIFF GUN
Weapon: Cape Suzette Cliff Gun Type: Anti-aircraft cannon Scale: Aircraft Skill: Heavy weapons: anti-aircraft Crew: 2, skeleton: 1/+5 Cover: 1/2 Cost: $15,000 (new) Availability: 2, X Body Strength: 3D Fire Rate: 1/3 Fire Control: 2D Ranges: 20-600/1,000/4,000 ft. Damage: 6D

Cliff Gunners

The gunners who operate the cliff guns are usually trained gunners from the Usland military, but a special division consists of volunteers from the mainland. Regardless of previous experience, all qualified enlistees are given extensive training on aiming and firing heavy weapons. Teamwork is everything; trained cliff gunners must know how to coordinate their firing with that of the other gun crews.

The men are split into two- and three-man crews which are each assigned to a certain gun station. The clifftop short-range cannons can be handled by only one person, but usually there are no fewer than two officers operating the guns at any time (most cliff gun models require at least two gunners to operate effectively).

Gun crews man their posts in shifts, replaced by different sets of gunners throughout the day. Most of them live with their families in buildings atop the cliffs or along the cliffside so they can respond to emergencies at a moment's notice. Elevators link the houses with the different levels of the cliffside. Shore leave is granted every week to return to the mainland for food and supplies, although an elaborate (and particularly dangerous) runway system is installed on the middle outside level for making food deliveries to the gunners stationed there.

Cape Suzette cliff gunners are very dedicated to their duty and seldom abandon their guns unless the opposition becomes overwhelming. Some individuals have worked on the guns for over 40 years, setting up ramshackle homes along the cliffs where they spend their retirement.

Above: Two of the cliff gun commanders in charge of the gun crews.

CLIFF GUNNER
DEXTERITY 3D Heavy weapons: anti-aircraft 5D KNOWLEDGE 2D+1 Tactics: anti-aircraft 4D+1 MECHANICAL 2D PERCEPTION 2D STRENGTH 3D TECHNICAL 2D+1 Weapons repair 4D+1

Defense Fighters

Should a pirate attack prove too fierce for the cliff gunners to manage on their own, artillery commanders may inform the Cape Suzette airfield to "scramble the planes." Numbering about sixty aircraft, the Cape Suzette defense squadron is the city's airborne retaliation force against invaders.

The Cape Suzette defense squadron is composed mainly of Khan Industries "Tiger" combat fighters supplied by Khan Industries to help protect the city. Fast and well-armed, Tiger fighters carry two pairs of .35-caliber machine guns as armament. Very durable planes, Tiger defense fighters are capable of receiving tremendous amounts of punishment.

Although not quite as agile as the Air Pirates' CT-37s, defense fighters more than make up for this in strength of numbers and tactical superiority.

A full complement of these fighters can be airborne within five minutes of an emergency call. Officially, head artillery commanders and the Cape Suzette mayor are the only ones who can order a fighter scramble, but Shere Khan himself has been known to summon fighter planes during an emergency.

Defense Fighter Pilots

Only the best and most dedicated pilots serve as part of the Cape Suzette defense squadron. Capable, well-trained, and skilled in dealing with emergency combat situations, the Cape Suzette fighter pilots are among the best pilots in the sky, with the exception of those in Shere Khan's own elite air squadrons.

Pilots who join the defense squadron are usually natives of Cape Suzette who feel compelled to protect their loved ones and their homes from Air Pirates and other threats. Although they realize their job involves serious risks, they also know that what they have in Cape Suzette is worth defending at any cost. Rigorous training and years of experience are needed to produce the veteran pilots that currently serve on the squadron. Even though the defense squadron numbers over sixty planes and pilots, battle tactics stress coordination and teamwork over brute firepower.

Because pirate attacks are sudden and often unexpected, defense pilots are trained for quick response to emergency scrambles. Reportedly a trained pilot can have his craft armed and in the air within three minutes of a scramble alert.

DEFENSE FIGHTER PILOT
DEXTERITY 3D KNOWLEDGE 2D+1 MECHANICAL 3D Aircraft gunnery 5D, aircraft piloting: Tiger fighter 5D, navigation 4D PERCEPTION 3D Command 4D STRENGTH 2D+2 TECHNICAL 2D+1 Aircraft Repair 3D+1