CAV 2.M UCOR Specialties

One major component of the CAV universe is the UCORs (United Corporate Organized Republics): massive semi-autonomous corporations chartered by one of the six major galactic governments. Prior to the UCOR War and the subsequent Second Galaxy War, the majority of UCORs operated fully independently of their parent government, selling equipment to all buyers and exercising political autonomy. This autonomy most notably included military operations, often by proxy through mercenary units, to control valuable star systems and conduct raids on their competition. Such behavior inevitably lead to an escalation of conflict, and with the Galaxy War reignited many UCORs have found themselves under far stricter scrutiny.

While they acted as the antagonists in CAV 1, set in the years following the First Galaxy War, in CAV 2 the UCORs have been brought to heel by their parent governments and function primarily as manufacturers of military hardware. Each UCOR has a unique history and style visible in the units it produces. For CAV 2.M, I have reexamined the UCORs with an eye toward enhanced differentiation in comparison to the original CAV 2 stats which treated UCORS of the same parent government near-identically.

Borsig-Spline Equipment (Adon): Leaders in innovative CAV design and premier manufacturer of particle bolt weaponry, drawing on its origins in optics and electronics. Best known as the sole manufacturer of multi-legged CAVs (the Scorpion, Spider, and Recluse) and for the sleek profiles of their equipment. Their designs tend to be fast and powerful but quite fragile, compensated for by superior range and electronic defenses.

RMI: Royal Military Industry (Adon): One of the largest military UCORs in the galaxy, RMI has a reputation for sturdy yet affordable equipment of all varieties, making them particularly popular with mercenary and planetary defense forces. Versatility is key in their designs, exemplified by the Sultan fire support CAV. While generally lacking the advanced features of their Borsig-Spline counterparts, RMI equipment is less susceptible to damage and easier to repair.

Grundor House (Malvernis): An off-shoot of the well-established Mark IV, Grundor House made its name in resource exploration, extraction, and transportation before branching into military equipment. Their rugged and reliable vehicles, often based on commercial models, are popular despite their consistently cramped interiors. Notable for their somewhat unorthodox approaches, as seen in the Assassin (essentially a copy of the Koda Works Dictator '60, which led to a protracted legal squabble) and the Nomad (based on a popular civilian off-road vehicle chassis).

Mark IV (Malvernis): An ancient UCOR closely aligned with the Malvernian government, perhaps best known for the Wraith CAV which set the standard for CAV design for decades to follow. Functional (some might say ugly) but effective, their designs tend to be well-armored but slow. Their rocketry is particularly powerful; a volley of missiles from one of their CAVs can be devastating.

Koda Works (Rach): As sole military manufacturer for the Rach Empire, their designs exemplify the Rach ideal. Their equipment boasts exceptional speed, a wide variety of high-powered weaponry, and above-average repair systems. However, their firepower tends to suffer at longer ranges and most of their CAVs have known weak points, which can be exploited by a skilled opponent.

KDM: Kruger and Dalton Manufacturing (Ritterlich): The primary supplier of the Ritterlich Confederacy Army, KDM produces some of the highest-quality equipment in the galaxy. Exceedingly tough, mounting superior Gauss weaponry, and featuring advanced repair and electronics suites, their only weakness is cost and a shortage of long-ranged weaponry. Particularly in recent years, KDM has emphasized firepower and durability over all other concerns, leading to such designs as the Mastodon and the legendary Rhino.

NTG: Naresch Taubern & fos Grausch (Ritterlich): Founded by dissatisfied KDM executives in 2272, NTG immediately set itself to addressing weaknesses in the Ritterlich order of battle. Initially offering light vehicles and strike aircraft utilizing licensed KDM weaponry, they believe maneuverability is key for Ritterlich forces to succeed in the current conflict. That said, light is a relative term when discussing Ritterlich construction, and their hardware performs reliably right up to the point of catastrophic failure.

Hughes-Marietta (Templar): A leader in CAV design for decades, Hughes-Marietta offers reliable equipment utilizing some of the most advanced technology available. Their CAVs mount solid armor, superior repair systems, powerful electronics, and innovative weapon systems. Since their disastrous losses in the UCOR War and subsequent acquisition by the Templar, they have undergone a major reorganization, and now share a close relationship with the native Templar UCOR Viper.

Viper (Templar): A Templar-owned corporation originally focused on retrofitting CAVs (e.g. Black Knight, Warhawk), Viper has expanded its operations significantly since its absorption of key Hughes-Marietta personnel during the Templar buyout. Since 2273, it has acquired a UCOR charter, produced a variety of premium vehicles for the Templar military, and announced a redesign of the aging Hughes-Marietta Sovereign III CAV.

Mitso-Ta (Terran): Originally making its name in the aerospace and electronics markets, Mitso-Ta is the product of early contact between the Terrans and the other spacefaring races. More than any other, it embraced its independence as a UCOR and has frequently butted heads with Terran leadership. Featuring excellent targeting systems and missilery, M-T CAVs offer a faster and more flexible counterpart to SyRaM's heavy designs. Their enhanced speed results from the lightweight Tate armor, also responsible for the distinctive curved profile of M-T equipment. While offering excellent initial protection, the armor does tend to fail under heavy fire with sometimes unfortunate results.

SyRaM: Systèmes Robotiques et Machines (Terran): SyRaM equipment performs exceptionally when kept in peak working condition. This is, unfortunately, quite difficult in the heat of battle, and SyRaM hardware is often found operating at less than optimal capacity. That said, complete failure of SyRaM systems is quite rare and heavy armor buys crews the time needed to make repairs. SyRaM's specialties are in Gatling Gauss weaponry (featured on their wildly successful Starhawk CAV series) and armor-piercing rockets.