Axis T-22B Asp Scout-Recon Exo

The Asp T-22B is the Axis’s primary advanced scout recon unit. Equipped with the most compact and advanced sensors the Axis could create, the Asp represents the pinnacle of Axis electronics technology. Like the Alliances Puma Exo, the Asp is centered around an overpowered high performance engine. The initial design was conceived as both a recon unit, but also as a light combat Exo. However 6 month into the design and construction of the Asp Prototype it became clear that the compact space needed for a recon Exo would prevent it from carrying the heavy armor needed for a front line combat unit.

It was at this point that the Asp project was reconsidered, and it was decided that the Asp would operate solely as a scout recon unit. This was however the first of a series of problems that would plague the Asp’s development. Since the Asp was conceived as a small and agile unit the basic frame was designed as compactly as possible. Like the Puma, only pilots of below average size and stature could comfortable fit inside the Asp comfortably. But this was not its greatest obstacle to be overcome. During the design of the Asp’s electronic it became clear that the internal space needed was too small for existing electronics technology. The only solution was to miniaturize as much of the electronics as possible. Forcing generic hardware to operate in multiple simultaneous modes. Now various forms of software analysis would accomplish the job of dedicated hardware. This solved the problem of internal space, but caused a deadly flaw to creep into the Asp.

If the Asp were forced to perform complex analysis for long periods of time, the main computer would begin to overheat and crash. At first the problem was not apparent, since the Asp was developed at the Siberia research Station, the outside temperature served to keep the electronics cool, and thus hid the defect during testing. When the Asp was approved for production the defect was mass-produced along with all the other Asp’s systems. As the mass production model Asp T-22A began to be distributed to various military unit, report of critical systems shutdowns and failures started pouring in. Within 3 months of mass production over 25 recon teams had meet with disaster. Sensors would fail causing temporary ‘blindness’, or worse yet a complete core meltdown would occur. Completely destroying the CPU of the Asp.

It did not take long for the designers to track back the defect. However correcting it would take far longer. After 7 month of retrofitting the T-22B went into production. The new Asp was equipped with a liquid cooled circulation system; this allowed the computer to operate for long periods of time without fail. However it added unwanted weight to the light recon unit. Mass that would eventually slow the Exo down to speed less then the Alliance counterpart. The Axis accepted this compromise of design, rather then return to the drawing board and have to wait several more years for a new design to be completed.

Besides the critical overheat flaw, the Asp has function as expected. Now a little slower then the Puma, the Asps weapons had to be rethought. To maintain balance and power the designers decided to equip the Asp with the Axis counterpart to the Quantico Manufacturing 20mm Drop gun. Like the Puma, the Asp could use up the ammo supply of the Drop Gun and discard it, reducing the weight the unit carried. The major weapons difference between the Puma and the Asp comes from the dual rocket pods carried by the Asp. Where the Puma carries all its rockets in a single pod over the shoulder, the Asp carries all its rockets in a pair of rocket pods over both its shoulders. This configuration helped to maintain the balance of the Exo during high-speed maneuvers. The down side its that both shoulder hard points are consumed, so to accommodate extra communications equipment one of the rocket pods must be sacrificed.

Statistical Data

S.D.C. By Location

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