Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/M1 Predator

"Predator rolling out!"

-M1 Predator

The M1 Predator is the successor to the M1-Z Medium tank and serves as the standard medium tank of the Aion Defense Initiative. Planned to be voiced by.

Tactical analysis

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Background
After the Katsuragi-Asmodia War, ADI realized how expensive it was to maintain most of its walkers, such as the Titan Mk. I, and had shifted almost all of their walkers into the newly made Steel Talon elites and showing it's age of the original M1-Z Medium Tank from 1995 V.C. Replacing the gap made by such move with more conventional vehicles, which were durable, reliable, and maintainable, for their standard forces. One such vehicle was the Predator tank.

The 65-ton tank is armed with the same 105mm cannon as the original one back in 1995 V.C. and a rocket pod effective against vehicles and structures, which their ammo can be switch to either penetration or normal rounds. It is also fast and quite maneuverable than it's 1995 V.C. model. Its hull is protected by thick composite armor plates for increased survivability during urban operations, but lacks anti-personnel weapons and requires support from anti-infantry vehicles.

History
The period between the GVAW and Elysea's Conflict saw the development of many tank designs all over Gaiaterra. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, tensions between the Aquilans and Voshkod that continued even after the war had ended led to a massive arms race on both sides, each side seeking to surpass the other. As a result of this, the development of new weapons of war proceeded at a pace pretty much the same as during the war. The Aquilans wanted only the best to defend their homes with should the Voshkod attack again. The second reason was the formation of the Alliance in Hawke. While the Alliance continued to use the Leopard 1s, AMX-30s, Panzer 68s, Chieftain, and locally produced Pattons as their primary tanks for several years after their formation, in the early 1990s, they announced a massively lucrative contract for a new main battle tank. Given the size of the contract offered, it was not surprising that numerous defense contractors took part. Many of them had already been in the development of new tanks for their respective countries.

The Aselian company Henschel & Son was among the companies that took part. Having already developed a solid reputation for expertise in tank design following their development of the King Tiger Tank, the engineers at Henschel & Son had already been working on a main battle tank design when the contract was announced. Their design, the Predator, had been developed with the intention that it should be able to beat any current as well as possible future Voshkod main battle tank designs in a one-on-one fight. Their final design was a masterpiece of Aselian engineering. Combining thick sloped armor, a powerful engine, and an offset 105mm main gun, the Predator was fast, hard-hitting, and durable.

However, the Predator failed to secure the Alliance main battle tank position, instead losing out to the Fereldan Grizzly. Though the Predator could best the Grizzly in a one-on-one fight, it was overengineered and costly. The offset main gun, rocket pod, and various other features made the Predator unnecessarily complicated. Ultimately, the Grizzly proved far easier to produce, being far less complex and affordable to mass-deploy by comparison.

The ADI on the hand, preferring something heavier than the Patton, while also looking a replacement for the aging Leopard C1s and M1-Zs after the Katsuragi-Asmodian War and switching to more conventional vehicles, snatched up the Predator immediately, making it their MBT.

Its armament has also caused many ADI personnel to refer the Predator as a "mini-Mammoth".

Trivia

 * Their design is a combination of the Renegade X Medium Tank and Tiberium Wars Predator

Guardians of the Tacitus

 * Crusader/Laser Crusader (Aquila)
 * Coyote/Stryker MGS
 * Centurion Hovertank/Enforcer Hovertank
 * Grizzly Tank (Alliance)
 * Cavalier Tank
 * Liberty Tank
 * M1 Predator (ADI)
 * Type 74 MBT/Tsunami Tank (Protectorate)
 * Leopard 3 (Andora)
 * Guardian Tank
 * Panther
 * Battlemaster Tank (Empire)
 * Nuclearmaster
 * Cadillac Stingray (Community)
 * Bushmaster Tank (Wolf Clan)

Destroyers of Balthazar

 * Kodiak Tank (Voshkod)
 * T-64 Rhino
 * Ursa II Tank
 * Tick Tank (Brotherhood)
 * T-62
 * Type 59 (Horde)
 * Looted Lemia Russ Tank
 * T-72 "Scarab" (MLA)
 * Lasher Tank (Collective)
 * T-55 (Encantadia)
 * Ch'onma-Ho (Hathoria)
 * M15/42 (Lireo)
 * Devourer Tank (Scrin)

Neutrals

 * Predator Destructor (Coalition)
 * Sicaran Tank (Heralds)
 * Cleric Track (Order)
 * M48 Patton "Mastiff" (Survivors)
 * Talos AFV (Syndicate)
 * BMPT Terminator (Conglomerate)
 * Lemia Russ Tank (Legion)

Bonus Faction

 * MBT-52 Kuma (ASA)
 * OF-40 "Takhar" (Bastion)
 * MBT Creep (Rangers)
 * AAV-7 (Pirates)
 * PT-76
 * KPz T-62 "Hammer" (Ascalia)
 * White Shock Rhino Tank (Alfheimr Shock Corps)
 * Rama Tank (Elona)
 * Lion of Babylon
 * Predator Walker (Dominion)
 * M60 Sabra (Security)
 * Dandelin Armoured Rover (Ascendancy)

DLC

 * Bison (Federation)
 * Qilin Tank (Corona)
 * ... (Party)
 * AAT (Skynet)
 * Sd. KS 78 "Isegrim" (Elemental)
 * 2-M (Autocracy)
 * 59-Patton (League)
 * ... (Swarm)
 * TAM Tank (Confederation)
 * Oaxaca Tank
 * Tyrian Leopard 1D
 * Strv 103B (Kingdom)
 * Strider (Goo)
 * Panzerwagen (Imperium)
 * ... (Dynasty)
 * T-44 (Warlords)
 * Abomination (Cult)
 * Bison Combat Tank (Raiders)
 * Mark V (Theocracy)
 * Panzer IV (Reiksgard)
 * T-55AMV (Insurgents)
 * Conqueror (Guardians)
 * Phase Tank (Hierarchy)
 * ... (Sundered)
 * T-62M (Ecumene)
 * Centurion (Concordat)
 * Cromwell
 * Cantha-Panzer
 * M60-2000 (Contingent)
 * PL-01 (Eden)
 * Edenfire Crusader (InGen)
 * Elephant Tank (Society)
 * ... (Conclave)
 * M47-Mod (Commune)
 * Type 61 (The Uncorrupted)
 * ... (Lordships)
 * ... (Directorate)
 * ... (Sanctum)
 * ... (Hallows)
 * Vickers (Clique)
 * Chi-Ha (Guild)
 * Spike Bug (Threat)
 * Gallagher Outlaw Mk. II (Traders)
 * CS-63 (Entente)
 * Mancubus (Oblivion)
 * T-103 (Corporation)
 * Eklon'Dal Workshop Marauder (Covenant)
 * H.I.S.S. Tank (Institute)
 * TT77 Nosorog (Eremite)
 * ... (Nimbus)
 * Parasol Tank (Carnival)
 * Chrono Chieftain (Wraiths)
 * ... (Chronophage)
 * Tiger Armoured Car (Privateers)
 * Predator Apex (Foundation)
 * Panzerwanderer (Spartacus)