Lockheed Martin Skunk Works EX-17A Panther Stealth Exo

Like most military branches there are those missions that are best served through more covert actions then overt ones. Each branch of the military has developed their own versions of stealth technology. The Air Force developed the F-117 Stealth fighter, the Navy developed the Sea Shadow class vessel, and the Exo’s posses the Panther.  The Panther is the culmination of various stealth technologies applied to a modified Puma Exo. The Panther Exo is a slightly larger unit then the Puma; the extra room was needed for the incorporation of stealth systems. Special electronic dampening systems were installed as well as thermal masking and white noise generators. Composite rubber washers replaced the washers used in the Exo’s construction to prevent unnecessary sounds from the structure itself.

The development of the Panther remains a mystery, most of its history and abilities remain closely guarded secrets, lock deep within the vaults of some nameless security agency. To the few people that actually know of the existence of the Panther few facts are confirmed. What is generally excepted as fact about the Panther is that it was based originally on the lighter Puma Recon Exo, and that all its major systems were redesigned. The Puma was selected because it afforded the best possible speed and agility of any Exo in existence. A trait seen as more important then sheer strength and power, since the Panther was never intended for frontline combat speed was more important.

The skin of the Panther is a combination composite material very close in design to the skin of the Stealth Fighter and Bomber. The Panther’s outer skin is coated in radar absorbing material that reduces it radar cross section to something the size of a house cat. Furthermore several special systems are incorporated into its body. Special one-way opaque sensor screens are placed around the body, they allow internal sensors to scan the environment, but enemy radar and sensors cannot penetrate the screens.

Since the Panther is the newest Exo to be added to the Alliances active list it has the shortest operational history. But that by no way means the Panther has not distinguished itself. While all the mission reports of the Panther are still classified, it is rumored that they have participated in many daring raids, attacks, harassments and other missions. One such rumor implies that a small squad of Panthers penetrated behind enemy lines and entered a key city in the former Ukraine. Once inside the squad was able to plant explosives at two supply depots, one observation post, six anti-aircraft positions and even one Exo storage hanger. By dawn the squad had retreated back to safe distance without a single shot fired by the enemy. At oh-eight hundred hours (8:00 am) the pilots remote detonated there explosives and watched as much of the Axis’s assets in the city were instantly destroyed. A platoon of traditional Exo’s then marched into the city and took it over in less then 2 hours. All analysis’s had labeled the city as impregnable and any attempt to capture it would result in 80% or higher casualty rates for the Alliance. The city was taken without a single Alliance casualty thanks to the Panther Squad and their night operation.

Besides its advanced stealth systems the Panther also enjoys the benefits of other system upgrades. The engine of the Panther uses a dual super-conductor unit tied it a single turbine engine. While increasing the production cost of the engine to nearly double that of a normal unit, it also drastically increase the performance of the unit. Since the Panther is not intended for mass production the additional cost is justifiable. The other unique feature to the Panther is its computer. All the onboard computers used by Panthers are collected from first generation Jaguars. Since the first generation Jaguar computers demonstrate a near conscious level of computer complexity they were chosen for the Panther Exo. It was thought that the near human like computer intuition the XCPU’s demonstrated would help preserve the expensive machines. So far every pilot and XCPU assigned a Panther has proven that hypothesis over and over again.

The synergy that the experience pilots and XCPU’s bring to the battlefield has meant that the Panthers in service have a 93.2% mission success rate. A mission success ratio drastically greater then any other machine, squad, platoon or team currently in operation in the Alliance. However the classified nature of the Panther units means that no outside military personnel or civilian knows this. A great number of details about Panther missions remain classified even the leaders of the Alliance nations; only top military personnel and intelligence agents know the full history and operation of the Panther.  Any pilot asked to command a Panther instantly realizes that his or her career just changed forever. To date not a single pilot approached for Panther missions has declined the offer. Panther missions are a fast track to a productive and fruitful military career.

G.M.’s Note: Only experience characters, level 8 or better, should be allowed to pilot a Panther. Junior characters should not get the chance only because piloting one is reserved as a privilege or reward.