Pegasus Report

   By the mid-21st century, the United States military held several competitions to replace its aging rotorcraft designs.  They needed the new designs to fulfill combat, transport, reconnaissance and close air support roles.  The resulting entries succeeded in meeting the military's needs.  However, unmanned vehicles could meet the requirements of combat craft at a lower cost.  While transport craft were still needed, manned combat vehicles seemed to be on the verge of retirement.  The few combat rotorcrafts that resulted from the competition appeared to be the last that history would ever see.

   Indecently, with the widespread use of drones came a wide variety of weapons and methods to counter them.  Furthermore, warfare became "clean" as the only combatants were mechanized.  Nations and rogue factions were quicker to resort to hostile actions than to pursue other means of resolving their conflicts.  As drone pilots discovered that their machines could be hacked or disrupted by enemy forces, they realized that they could no longer trust machines to directly participate in armed conflict.  Manned combat aircraft saw a revival as humans returned to the cockpits and cabins.
  
   The rebirth of the piloted military vehicle came about around the launch of the first airship.  Airships provided nations with mobile airbases from which to conduct operations and ensure air superiority thanks to their advanced projectile defeating defenses.  Early airships were designed to launch agile fixed wing jets but as conflicts of the era moved towards urban centers, jet aircraft became less effective.  Their role was adapted to providing air cover for the newly developed close air support craft, the aerodyne.
  
   The most prolific aerodyne design was that of the Pegasus Utility Dropship.  The original model underwent numerous permutations before a base craft was developed that could be configured to suit nearly any role.  However, all Pegasi share several common features.  The overall fuselage is reminiscent of late 20th century helicopters with a short cabin for the pilot and copilot and a larger section for passengers, cargo or armaments.  A polyglass windscreen wraps around the nose of the craft and also extends towards the sides and floor.  This allows pilots to view a great deal of the sky and ground for safer maneuvering and landing.  Pegasi are propelled by dual co-axial ducted-fan rotor systems with a total of four 3-bladed prop-rotors. Twin Cloudsdale Mk. 3 hybrid fuel cell engines geared 20:1, with cross-shaft connection give the craft exceptional maneuverability and speed. The efficiency of the Cloudsdale fuel cell powered engines allow the aircraft to remain operational if one engine is damaged, giving the craft an increased level of resilience.  Additionally, the cockpit and passenger compartment are equipped with crash foam dispensers which deploy the buoyant and shock absorbing gel before impact.  The invention and use of crash foam increased the survival rate of downed pilots which earned the Pegasus a great deal of respect and praise.

   Although a standard Pegasus could support mounted door guns and two rocket pods, specialized combat variants were soon developed.  Pegasi armed with two forward facing chain guns were designed to be dogfighters and devoted the majority of their cargo capacity to carrying ammunition and coolant.  Their role was to engage enemy aerodynes and achieve air superiority.  "Gunslingers", as they were often called, were supported by electronic warfare Pegasus variants and more heavily armed close air support types.  CAS (Close Air Support) Pegasi (designated Hailstorms) brought guided missiles and unguided rockets into battle for use against armored ground targets.  Very rarely were these weapons turned on other aircraft as their speed and agility made them difficult to hit.  However, as fixed wing jets passed over a battle, they would attempt to launch air-to-air missiles at Pegasus squadrons.  It was for this reason that electronic warfare and defense specialists were used as well.  These craft employed the DISCORD electronic warfare system.  Named after its primary functions (Disruption, Intelligence, Scrambling, Communication, Overwatch, Redirection, and Defense) the DISCORD package protected the craft and those around it from incoming projectiles by either disrupting their guidance systems or by actively destroying them.  Electronic warfare Pegasi also handled incoming data transmissions and orders to and from ground teams.  In the case of special operations, incoming messages were encrypted to prevent enemy interception.  Overall, a few electronic warfare craft could prevent, redirect, manage and cause chaos in their area of operation, allowing their armed compatriots to carry out their missions.  Slightly larger Pegasi were designed to transport airborne troops into battle.  This "Air Calvary" variant saw the greatest amount of action in dense cities as combat teams needed to be ferried from skyscraper to skyscraper.  Special Forces teams used modified transports that were quieter, faster and more difficult to detect as their advanced engines reduced their heat signatures by 20%.

   Pegasi offered air commanders a great deal of flexibility on the battlefield but a large part of this was due to the ingenuity of their pilots.  Creative tactics were developed that took advantage of the craft's unique capabilities.  At higher altitudes, Pegasi could "stand" on thick cumulus clouds.  Enemy aerodynes, upon seeing a Pegasus, would give chase only to be ambushed by a squadron hidden inside the clouds.  Closer to the ground, pilots could utilize their exceptional speed and maneuverability to confuse and defeat their opponents when they engaged in the dangerous act of dogfighting in a city.  A famous tactic was lure enemy aerodynes into the paths of friendly Pegasi who hovered around the corners of tall buildings.  DISCORD equipped craft would jam hostile communications and weapons so their Gunslinger escorts could dispatch them.  Tactics such as these combined with the relatively resilient construction of the craft gave them an exceptional record in battle.

   After the wars, the Pegasus was adapted for civilian use as well.  Fire departments, search and rescue teams, hospitals, law enforcement and recreational aviators requested their own special versions of the most prolific aircraft of the time.  Speed, agility, safety, and reliability ensured that the Pegasus would maintain a steady stream of loyal customers for decades to come.  From the hostile skies above war-torn cities to the stormy seas and bustling urban landscape, the Pegasus tackled every job it was given.  Be it bringing troops into battle, rushing patients to hospitals or moving wounded animals in the wilderness or any of the countless tasks it accepted, the Pegasus is sure to be carried into history on the wings of legend.