| The Z-23 Amphibious Surface Assault Craft, better known as the ASAC, was designed to be the Vauvusar's premier amphibious assault vehicle. It was in fact based on the highly succesful AT-47 amphibious tank.
Unlike the AT-47, which sports just the Avatar Chemical Laser Cannon (ACLC), the ASAC is a true weapons platform. Also unlike the AT-47, the ASAC features a modified version of the ACLC, split into two parts to accomadate the ASAC's design. Located in the crafts nose is the ACLC's barrel while the fuel cell and energy accelerater are located behind the craft's cockpit. The two are connected by high energy conduits. However, due to the greater distance a laser bolt must travel before it can leave the barrel, the damage it does is greatly decreased.
In addition to the ACLC, the ASAC sports two Harbinger Missile launchers and a Virus Bomb launcher. Each missile launcher carries six missiles. In contrast, the bomb launcher only carries three bombs. But of the two, the bomb launcher is the most dangerous due to the function of the Virus Bomb. It attaches itself to it's target and then proceeds to read the computer systems to discover what their anti-virus defenses are. It then modifies it's onboard viruses to bypass these defenses, or turn them against the computers they defend. So far, the only defense against a Virus Bomb is to destroy it before it can attach itself to it's target. If it is in imenent danger of being destroyed or disarmed, it self-destructs.
ASAC's provideground fire during an invasion. |