Skyfall Platform

## Tactical Analysis

* **Let the Sky Fall:** The Contingent's anti-air cavalry, the Skyfall is armed with a skyward facing metalstorm turret that isn't designed for accuracy, but sheer weight of fire. Since most aircraft have relatively thin armor, the Skyfall makes an unwelcome surprise for your enemy early in the battle. And it carries a small grav-generator capable of giving the rider the ability to cross water.

* **Let it Crumble:** The enemy might think they're safe with anti-ground weaponry, but the Skyfall also can boost its grav-generator to fly, though slowly thanks to the power drain away from the propellers, and they're now vulnerable to anti-air weapon.

* **We Will Stand Tall:** The skyfall is only good on land and against air targets. Trying to take on even enemy infantry is a death sentence, so you can forget about enemy vehicles.

* **We will all fall together:** Elite Skyfall riders can easily figure out a simple mechanical bypass, allowing them to essentially fly at the same speed as on land. Since they don't need to worry about changing their power anymore, they can now choose to either target enemy aircraft or ground forces whether on ground or flying.

## Background

- *To Ms. Kagome Akayama*
- *It pains me dearly to inform you that your husband, 2nd Lt. Shinji Akayama, has fallen in brave service to the emperor and the empire. I was with him in the engagement where he so bravely sold his life for our cause.*
- *The pain you are feeling can only be imagined, but I have come to know that the loved ones of my men deserve to know the truth of what has happened to their beloved. It was a routine patrol, our squadron had been flying through the area north of Brisbane attempting to spot any enemy movements beyond our lines. Shinji had been in high spirits, he could not stop bragging about your new son. I cannot blame him, and his happiness was infectious. We were all in good spirits that day thanks to him.*
- *It was halfway through our patrol that we received reports of an enemy camp nearby. Ordering the squadron to mecha mode, I had Shinji take point. He was our best lookout, and I trusted no other man to lead us to the dangers we would face. It was soon obvious where the threat was, a small enemy camp just behind the front. I ordered the attack, and when the enemy spotted us I ordered them to helicopter mode immediately.*
- *I thought it would be easy to avoid their fire and bombard them with out missiles, but the enemy had been busy despite our attacks. We started taking fire from the ground, and as I looked down I saw small vehicles,* Bushmen Hondas *we call them. Desperate to save the squadron because of the losses suffered through the invasion, I ordered the squadron to focus fire. To my shock, the riders took flight, though their mounts were so slow as to normally allow for our escape. But my squadron had sustained damage during the fighting, and some were too slow to escape.*
- *That was when Shinji broke formation and flew back to the enemy camp. He radioed that the squadron should return, that he would draw the enemy away. I watched, circling from the rear as Shinji flew through the enemy fire to their camp, the small vehicles vainly trying to stop him, his hand guided by the cause of our nation.*
- *Few things have stirred my heart like your husband's last action, Mrs. Akayama. Know that he died as befits a true warrior. He found the perfect target, one the enemy had no choice by to protect; one of their buildings for the dishonored, with a large red shape on the roof. He knew that this was where the enemy would fight the hardest to stop him. Yet he succeeded, the only man to die with honor in that despicable building.*
- *May your son know his father's deeds, Mrs. Akayama. May he grow up knowing that he has in hm the blood of heroes and warriors. Take heart, for you know well that you were wed to a man who was capable of such things. Know that I have nominated him for the Order of Benki's Stand for his actions, and that he will be forever remembered as a man of honor.*
- *Sincerely,*
- *Lt. Col. Takeshi Kudo*

- *To Lt. Col. Kudo,*
- *All the platitudes in the world do not change the fact that my husband is dead.*
- *Widow Akayama*