ADI-88 Interceptor

The ADI-88 Interceptor was a remotely-piloted twin-engine multirole Aerospace Fighter that served as the primary air-and-space combat vehicle of the Earth Defense Alliance, built in staggering numbers with the intent of combatting the incoming alien invasion. A manned variant, the AI-89, also existed as an untested prototype, but the 88 itself was an unmanned drone, controlled by a pilot from a Drone Control Center via a Quantum Communication Link.

## Design

The ADI-88 was powered by a Fusion Reactor scavenged from "Europan" Craft. (Most, if not all, of the ADI-88's technology was gained in this fashion, as its technology is far in advance of the technological mainstream at the time) Although the reactor maintains a net-positive power increase, prolonged or extreme use of the vessel's weaponry or engines can lead to energy requirements that exceed the reactor's ability to provide. In these instances, functionality of the Interceptor will decline, leading first to the automatic disabling of the onboard shields, then weaponry, and finally the engines, leaving the ship dead in space until its reactor can recharge its systems. The reactor is located just behind the direct center of the craft, presumably since its lack of an onboard living pilot removes the necessity for most radiation or thermal shielding.

The Interceptor's design largely reflects that of the Rebel Snowspeeders on Hoth in the movie *The Empire Strikes Back,* (presumably in line with the EDA's habit of "borrowing" design elements from popular 80's sci-fi) with an overall trapezoidal shape, possessing forward-facing triangular wings at the rear sides and the protruding "fangs" of the Sun Guns.

Along the wings also lay two Lateral Solar Pylons, (the function of which is unknown, but presumably photovoltaic in nature) and a stereoscopic camera is mounted in place of a cockpit. (Most likely for ease of transition from manned conventional aircraft for veteran EDA pilots and from other piloting videogames for the EDA's vast conscripted gamer pilot force)

## Weaponry

The ADI-88 possessed three primary weapons: its "Sun Guns," Macross Missile Pod, and its Dorsal Laser Turret. Its Sun Guns are stated to be Plasma Weaponry, and they are the go-to weapons in any combat situation for an ADI pilot because they consume minimal power, can be fired very rapidly, (Likely at semiautomatic speeds.) and are capable of firing more than once.

The function of the Macross Missile is not specified, but it is likely either lacking in destructive capability or has a specialized function. From the provided designs of the ADI-88, it appears that each Interceptor only carries one missile, indicating that it most likely has a specialized function like ground bombardment. (While this is not necessarily the case, its use was not observed in the entirety of *Armada* despite numerous instances in which a conventional missile weapon would have proved immensely useful, hinting that there is another reason it isn't being used)

Lastly, there was the Dorsal Laser Turret. Unlike the Sun Guns and Macross Missile Pod, which were both forward-facing weapons mounted near the front of the craft, the DLT was capable of a full 360-degrees of rotation, as well as very high traverse capabilities that enabled it to destroy large numbers of Europan Glaive fighters occupying disparate positions in short order. Its destructive capability was also its own greatest weakness, as well, as it was known to consume large amounts of power and overheated quickly. Veteran *Armada* player Zackary "IronBeagle" Lightman observed that skilled ADI pilots tended to use it sparingly.

## Operational History

### Pre-Invasion

The extent to which the ADI-88 Interceptor was in use prior to the Europan invasion in the late spring of 2018 is unknown, but it is clear that its existence and use by the EDA predates the invasion by several years at least.

The ADI-88 features prominently in the Chaos Terrain videogame *Armada,* which preceded the invasion by several years, and were presumably used during the Jovian Opposition Conflicts for initial aerospace defense before the battles proceeded to the Lunar surface. Their en-masse production also must have preceded these events by several years, as a number of the craft must have been in place on Moon Base Alpha, and then replaced after each successive battle, as well as filling the storage racks of covert EDA bases, meaning the design was likely based on imperfect understandings of Europan technology intended to serve adequately enough for a mass-produced aerospace fighter.

### Europan Invasion

The ADI-88 served extensively throughout the invasion, first being used in the Battle of Crystal Palace, and then in the later Battle of Moon Base Alpha, both from within the base's internal hangars and reinforcements sent from Earth. It was later used throughout the Battle of Earth, fending off the First Wave of the Europan invasion but suffering heavy losses, and engaging the preliminary phases of the Second Wave before a ceasefire was negotiated by EDA Lieutenant Zackary Lightman.

It demonstrated exceptional service, with the combat advantage of its human pilots outmatching the "Europan" forces despite their technological superiority and earning it a positive kill ratio. Unfortunately, it was dramatically outnumbered by its Europan counterparts, (it is implied that the First Wave alone(!) had a numerical advantage over the EDA's aerospace forces, despite composing only one-sixth of the invasion force) and it seems likely that the EDA's forces would have been overwhelmed had the ceasefire not been negotiated.