Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/Bushmaster Tank

The Rata Tank is the. This unit is planned to be voiced by

History
"C'mon mate, show me that juicy, tasty heel that I can munch on..."

-Bushmaster pilot, taking aim at an Imperial tank

Tanks were something the Community forces lacked in the invasion. While the forces on the islands did have tanks, of course, they were typically dated Reservist designs that were probably better used in the hands of the Minuteman or Unionists. Calling them tanks was a generous mercy to the crews for their morale, and by the war's end they were being used as particularly mobile bunkers in the closing days of the war. Lacking tanks and desperate for more, the Community dove headfirst into the abandoned prototypes and experimental systems left behind.

One of the most promising was an upgrade to the Guardian. The most obvious benefit was the rounded design, based on the Voshkod tanks that utilized similar engineering properties to survive direct hits from dozens of HE rounds. The system also had an advanced main gun, capable of mounting more powerful ammunition than the standard Guardian MBT. Originally the tank was codenamed "GRIZZLY", but the Community shook off the cobwebs and dust to give it a new title: the Bushmaster. Testing made the tank look promising indeed, and a hastily formed company was sent to try and break through the lines at Brisbane.

The battle at first was a triumph for the tank. The Bushmaster's rounded armor and powerful main cannon made scrap out of many Imperial tanks until the vector tanks started moving into position. This was the first evidence of flaws with the design. To start, powering the transmission and turret took power away from both, meaning the tanks couldn't turn fast enough to face a threat in time, and powering the turret means the tank becomes immobile. Then there was the failure of many tanks’ rear armor, sacrificed to focus on the front and main gun. Though the battle was eventually won, the losses to the tank corps were too great. That's when command suddenly realized they'd put in for hundreds more.

Crews of the design do appreciate the tank's rugged handling of all-terrain, watching news reports of other more "advanced" tanks getting trapped in mud and jungle. Of course, these crews know their tank's own weaknesses, but like professionals they focus on the positives. To start, no other tank has as powerful a main gun, thanks primarily to the depleted uranium SABOT rounds that are used. The frontal armor is also effective, thanks primarily to the lack of any sharp angles. Still, the power division between turret and transmission is troubling, and a more powerful engine has also been put into production. Still, the Bushmaster crew are professionals (Especially when compared to the Minutemen), and are willing to go through the teething problems their system will have before it's perfected.