Harpy

The Harpy was a Nod support gunship used during the Second Tiberium War and the Firestorm Conflict.
==Background==
These helicopter gunships are the successor to the AH-64 Apaches that were used by the Brotherhood in the First Tiberium War, and were developed when their predecessors had come to be less effective in the face of the Global Defense Initiative's newly developed Orca Fighters as well as increasing local anti-air capability.
The Harpy features a highly aerodynamic, stealthy design, a powerful rotor and twin wing-mounted chaingun pods. It is mainly a scout, used to patrol areas or occasionally to evacuate important personnel (evidently, there was enough interior space to squeeze in an extra passenger during emergencies), roles in which its speed and low radar signature were great assets. 
In combat, it is the bane of infantry, as its chaingun can easily slaughter advancing infantrymen, while its large ammunition supply allowed it to whittle down light vehicles and even buildings over time, although it struggled against more heavily-armoured targets. Unlike the Apache before it, the Harpy typically does not carry rockets nor missiles. However, it has two chainguns as opposed to one on the Apache, giving it twice the firepower in that aspect. Despite this being the case, they were no match for the Hover MLRS or the Mammoth Mk. II walker, whose anti-air missiles could make short work of a Harpy.
===Deployments===
After the start of the Second Tiberium War, Black Hand leader Anton Slavik took his loyalist forces to combat those of the rebel leader General Hassan. During one of his missions, Slavik rescued a captured Nod commander that was trapped in one of Hassan's prison bases and used a Harpy to evacuate him from the facility. Before, at the onset of the Firestorm Conflict, Slavik asserted his dominion over the Inner Circle by having his agents assassinate rival generals; one of whom was traveling on his Harpy when it exploded.
===Legacy===
These gunships were later retired from service from Nod's arsenal as they had become obsolete and instead work began on Vertical Take Off and Landing, the technology used to create the Orca. This led to the creation and the deployment of the Venom patrol crafts which were used in the Third Tiberium War.
==Game unit==
The basic air unit of the Brotherhood in Tiberian Sun, the Harpy is a pretty weak unit, though useful for taking out infantry or harassing other units. Since it is also invisible on the mini-map, it is useful for ambushes and as a distraction.
Despite the fact the Harpy has rotors in renders, there are none present in-game, due to engine limitations.
===AI behavior ===
Harpies controlled by the AI have the following attack patterns:
====All difficulties====
* 1x targeting structures 
** This task force may be accompanied by 1 additional Harpy (Easy only)
*1x guarding base
==== Easy====
*1x targeting Construction Yards, production structures, power plants, Tiberium Refineries or Upgrade Center
**This task force may be accompanied by 1 Attack Cycle
**This task force will only be ordered to attack power plants if enemy base is at low power mode
**This task force will only be ordered to attack Tiberium Refineries if the enemy owns 4 or more of these
====Medium/Hard====
*1x targeting Construction Yards, production structures, power plants, Tiberium Refineries, Upgrade Center or Missile Silo
**This task force may be accompanied by 4 Attack Cycles
**This task force will only be ordered to attack power plants if enemy base is at low power mode
**This task force will only be ordered to attack Tiberium Refineries if the enemy owns a certain number of these (3 in Medium, 2 in Hard)
==Trivia==
*In Greek mythology, the Harpy was a horrible half-woman, half-bird monster who harassed its enemies from the sky.
==Gallery==
File:Harpy.gif|Firestorm cutscene render, showing a rotor
File:Tiberian Sun Nod Harpy Cutscene 01.png|Cutscene image showing the Harpy firing its twin underwing gunpods
==See also==
*Orca fighter, GDI fighter counterpart
Category:Tiberian Sun aircraft