Atirathi Variable

**Key Features** | »»»»»

## Tactical Analysis

* **Your mileage will vary:** The Commonwealth's answer to Japanese transforming units, this bizarre contraption takes the initial form of a fixed-wing aircraft that flies at high speeds. While in this configuration, the Atirathi Variable Craft serves as a faster alternative to the Ultralight in the scouting role.

* **Have it both ways!:** Upon encountering hostiles, the Atirathi folds up its wings and unfurls its helix, turning into a helicopter. Slower than its jet mode, it comes armed with a heavy machine gun that rains down bullets on both aircraft and ground units alike. When no enemies are nearby, the Atirathi Variable Helicopter can change back to its jet mode to fly away.

* **Swatted out of the sky:** The Atirathi takes longer than Imperial mecha to switch between modes, rendering it completely vulnerable to counterattack in the process. Its machine gun is not as effective in pinning down tanks as it is in taking out soldiers.

* **A shortcut:** The original team behind the Atirathi recently launched an upgraded variant that shifts faster between modes, allowing for further versatility. As of now, only select pilots have clearance to take these to the skies.

## Background

*"More than meets the eye."*

-  Atirathi pilot.
Some outside observers see a pattern in the Frontier Corps motor pool. They developed the Hanuman IFV as a response to the Soviet Pincer ICV. When Allied tankers faced the dreaded the JS-2 "Mammoth" Tanks in Kraków two wars ago, Rakshasa superheavies towered over Imperial vehicles invading Calcutta in the third. Combined with unsubstantiated rumors where 'Jade-powered mutants' wreak havoc on the Chinese wastes, it appears that Commonwealth scientists have a knack for analyzing their enemies' technology, finding out how it works, and integrating it into the Corps in some way.

This was the same principle when universities across the Commonwealth took part in a government-sponsored contest for the 'Best Military Design - Variable Category'. Blueprints were to be judged based on these criteria: versatility, ease of usage, and combat effectiveness. A generation of engineering students, having witnessed Japanese mecha cut through their countrymen during WW3, shared the same source of inspiration: those very same mecha. Others 'borrowed' designs from their favorite mecha anime, tapes securely hidden and only known by 'otaku' clubs not wanting suspicion from those who don't share their interests.

Imperial College of Engineering's winning design was, ironically, the most conventional entry in the whole contest. Compared to the bipedal or humanoid entries, it was simply a jet/helicopter hybrid that can transform between the two when needed. On its jet configuration, its variable-sweep wings and powerful engine makes it an excellent reconnaissance aircraft, able to fly distances at considerable speeds. But as it approaches enemies, it sweeps back its wings, and reveals a helix and a heavy machine gun, turning into a helicopter to dispatch them. At its first deployment against NVA soldiers attempting to establish a base in Tiền Giang, the newly-named XP-18 **"Atirathi"** Variable Jet/Helicopter Craft shot across South Vietnam at record speed. Thinking the wing of Atirathis was unarmed, the NVA servicemen called for MiG backup only for jet-turned-helicopter fire to interrupt. True to their name, multiple Atirathis fight off all kinds of infantry in all kinds of theaters. While obviously powerless against 60,000 soldiers (or one-hundredth of them armed with rockets), they find great successes against GLA warlords in the Yemeni offensive, where their MGs rain down bullets at rebels and warplanes.

Since a major Indian defense contractor promised the Atirathi team sure employment once they've graduated, dozens of blueprints from enthusiastic students flood the Frontier Corps brass every day, and officials have migraines sorting out the good ones from the bad and mediocre.