Anyone familiar with this Mecha's configuration knows that he is about to seriously "Open a Can of Whup-Ass!"
This is my favorite Mecha from Robotech and it got all of one episode of screen time. It is normally a pilotless drone but I'm making a special modification for just this one case and so it has a pilot, and yes she's hot.
I wanted to try my hand at drawing Anime and as it turns out this is the stuff Illustrator WAS MADE FOR!!!!
Made wallpaper size so everyone that likes these things can enjoy it like me.


QAF-6 VANDAL SHADOWDRONE
AI EQUIPPED VERITECH SHADOW FIGHTER

During the Sentinels Conflict, the REF investigation of battle encounters with the Invid suggested that Invid had a unique sensor device that could detect REF battle formations at a strategically significant distance. In other words, Invid hives, and troopships could detect REF spacecraft and mecha at extreme ranges- giving them a sizable tactical advantage. This advantage resulted in a number of early defeats and losses for the REF during the Sentinels War. Dr Lang's Robotech Research Group immediately went to work researching the Invid's sensor and the principles on which it operated. "Project Shadowchaser" soon uncovered that active protoculture-powered devices gave off a detectable radiation. The Invid's connection to the Flower of Life and the Protoculture from which it is derived allows them to sense it a significant distance. While it was a latent ability in the Invid themselves, much of their war technology was built around protoculture, so the ability to scan for its use was a logical capability.

Shortly after the departure of the Mars Division, Project Shadowchaser developed the SF-6 "Shadow" generator, which effectively masked protoculture radiation. The REF decided to incorporate this stealth feature into the next production series of veritech mecha. Unfortunately, serious problems were encountered when they tried to incorporate the SF-6 into the Veritech Alpha Fighter. These problems were mostly caused by the Alpha's small size and the massive power requirements of the SF-6 It was decided that the VF-1V Vindicator has the necessary size and power output needed for the SF-6, and all Vindicator were outfitted with the device. Still, the REF wanted to equip the smaller Alpha sized mecha with a shadow device, but in order to do this, it was necessary to redesign the Alpha in a number way. The REF eventually decided to resurrect the old "Ghost" program and build an artificially intelligent veritech. Removing the cyclone and the equipment necessary to support a human life gave the designers space to include the SF-6 shadow device. The culmination of the project was the QAF-7 Vandal Shadowdrone. While an extremely advanced artificial intelligence, the MK83 Neural Net Processor was specifically designed to prevent self-awareness. The designers did not want a fully intelligent weapon capable of questioning orders or becoming an independent entity. In case the AI became damaged or erratic in some way, an override was built into the fighter to allow it to be controlled by a remote operator, in much the same way as the old Ghost fighters had been operated. Still, the Vandal fighter is a complex almost lifelike drone fighter capable of performing any combat maneuver as well a following complex orders in the heat of battle.

Both the shadowdrone and the VAF-7A Alpha were used in the Jupiter and Saturn Group attacks on Reflex Point, with most QAF-7A drones sent against the Reflex Point in a last ditch effort to avoid using the Neutron-S Missiles. The Shadow Fighters performed well against the Invid, but its dog fighting skills were barely adequate to get the fighter past the random blasts fired by the Invid during their orbital defense. Still the few fighters that managed to get to the surface wreaked havoc on the Invid defenses inside reflex point. Note: The vandal can attach to any type Beta Fighter. While there is a beta equipped with a shadow generator, there is no AI-Equipped Beta. The Vandal is programmer to operate a Legioss unit in much the same way as a human pilot can.


SPECIFICATIONS:

Vehicle Type: AI-Equipped Veritech Alpha Fighter
REF Nickname: Ghost.
Models: QAF-7 Vandal
Crew: None
Height: 28.6ft (8.75m) in battloid Mode, 15ft (4.6m) in fighter mode.
Width: 13ft (4.3m) in battloid Mode, 22ft (6.7m) in fighter and guardian modes.
Length: 34ft (10.3m) in fighter mode and guardian modes
Weight: 12 tons without missiles, 16.9 tons with missiles
Cargo: none, the CPU and shadow devices occupy all available cargo space.
Range: 16 protoculture cells will give the mecha an active combat life of one year. The mecha can operate on half that number (8) for 10 months, but maximum speed is reduced by half and it is -1 to strike, parry and dodge.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. MM-54 Multi-missile System. The Shadowdrone does not carry missiles in its shoulder pods. The Vandal has a maximum payload of 64 missiles.
2. GR-12 Multi-missile System.
3. EU-13 Destabilizer Gun Pod.
4. Optional Connection to a VBF Series Beta Fighter/TREAD Unit
Like a conventional Alpha, the QAF-7 can connect with a Beta/Thruster Unit. The QAF-7 will have access to all the Beta's weapons and capabilities.
5. Hand-to-Hand Combat.

STANDARD SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT FOR QAF-6 Vandal Shadowdrone

* SF-6 Shadow Cloaking Device: The SF-6 is a larger less efficient processor to the SF-7 installed in the VAF-7A Alpha and VBF-1 Beta. Using the SF-6, the QAF-7 Shadowdrone is invisible to most forms of electronic detection. It utilizes an RRG mk2 SF-6 shadow cloaking device (a fourth-dimensional distortion field generator that dampens protoculture radiation) and an RRG mk3 EM-absorbing stealth cover (absorbs EM radiation from radio through UV wavelengths). Developed by Emil Lang and Cabell, the shadow fighter is immune to virtually all detection except for light based detection systems, such as optical and laser tracking. It is only after they enter visual range are they visible. This gives the Vandal initiative for the first round of combat (provided that it was not seen) and +3 on initiative and +1 to strike on every attack. Note: After the Shadowfighter has lost 1/3rd of its MDC, there is a 75% chance of the shadow device failing with every hit that strikes the main body.
* Radar: Range: 10 miles (16 km). Can identify and track 48 targets.
* Radio Communications: Wide band and directional radio and video telecast capabilities. Range is 600 miles (945 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
* Laser Communications: Long-range, directional communication system. Effective range: 100,000 miles (157,500 km).
* Combat Computer/Artificial Intelligence: Calculates, stores, and transmits data Hardwired into the targeting computer.
* Targeting Computer/Artificial Intelligence: Range: 100 miles. Assists in the tracking of enemy targets.
* Laser Targeting System/Artificial Intelligence: 100 mile (160 km) range. Assists in the striking of enemy targets.
* Motion Detector and Collision Warning System/Artificial Intelligence: 200 ft (152.5 m) range. Sounds an alarm and red light warns AI of impending collision and/or immediate target.
* Computerized Optical Enhancement/Artificial Intelligence: 2000 ft (609 m) range. 20 ft (6.1 m) field of vision.
* Self Destruct: A last ditch effort to prevent the capture of a Veritech unit (usually preceded by the pilot's ejection from the Veritech) is self-destruction. Explosive damage is fairly contained. A Vandal without missiles (or few) does 1D6 x 10 MD, but a Veritech with all or most of its missiles (40 or more) will do 2D6 x 100 M.D. to a 50 ft (15.2 m) radius..
* Heat and Radiation Shields: Special shielding prevents the penetration of circuit damaging heat and radiation.
* Detachable AI Unit/Flight Recorder: The cockpit, containing the AI, can be detached and mounted on the arm of an Alpha, Vindicator, Valkyrie, or carried by a Destroid.

QAF-7 VANDAL COMBAT BONUSES

NOTE: The Vandal Shadowdrone can operate autonomously or can be directed via remote control from an REF Starship or Base. The stats below represent bonuses for operators trained in remote control operation of the Shadow fighter. In order to have Shadowdrone combat training the controller must also have the following skills: Computer Operation, Radio: Scrambler, Read Sensory Instruments, Pilot: Veritech Fighter, and Weapon Systems.

ADVANCED SHADOWDRONE REMOTE COMBAT TRAINING:
The Vandal was is equipped with an override system that allows remote control of the fighter in case the AI becomes erratic or damaged in some way.

While the central nervous system of the vandal is first Artificial Intelligence produced since the development of the GMP's Golem Security Robot. Since then, several major advances have been made in AI technology. These advances are largely the result of the help of android Haydonites. The Mk83 Neural Net CPU is the veritech's controlling brain. When it is installed in the body of a veritech fighter, it forms a living organism programmed to fight and obey. The Vandal can perform any combat maneuver available, but it lacks true "battlefield inspiration" (some would say desperation) that gives human pilots and edge in air combat.

SOURCES
* Robotech Research.com [link]
* Palladium's Robotech RPG Book V: Invid Invasion: VAF-7A Shadow Fighter
* The Robotech Technical Files: QAF-6 ASVAN Shadowdrone.
* Dave Deitrich's Macross Mecha Designs: X-9 Ghost Fighter