the Locust

The Locust is an incredibly small, yet heavily armed helicopter that was rolled out by the GI Joe team in 1990, primarily as a support mechanism for its immense General vehicle, though it is quite useful even without one of those rolling death platforms around. While limited in range, the Locust definitely has power to spare, and possesses these vehicular capabilities:

Body Armor (s): built from state of the art materials, the Locust is a light and fast support mini-copter. In addition to these qualities though, it's also quite durable; whenever flying it, the pilot is treated as though they possessed intensity 8, or +2, protection from attacks that strike the Locust, in the event that they manage to actually hit him or her.

Communications Link (i): the Locust is not a stand-alone weapon; no, it is intended as 'built-in' air support for the General. As such, it is equipped with a communications rig that allows for the transfer of orders and enemy data back and forth. This electronics package functions with intensity 6 range, allowing the Locust to talk to any other like equipment within a fifty mile range of itself.

Dual Armor-Shattering Machine Guns (a): mounted on each side of the Locust is a twinned machine gun, each of which is tied together to inflict surprising damage upon other aircraft. Each of these can fire a short burst of ammunition to inflict one's Agility +6 in damage, or be fired continously to inflict their Agility +7 in damage. If both are used at once, this damage is enhanced by +1 in either mode.

Flight / Levitation (a): while in its helicopter mode, the Locust can defy gravity itself! It can do this with intensity 4 ability, which gives the vehicle an approximate top speed of 120 miles per hour. That's not as fast as most helicopters, but then most helicopters can't transform. Possessing like levitation, the Locust can hover in place, supporting its pilot and up to four hundred additional pounds of matter.

Heat Seeking Missiles (i): mounted just under the rotor assembly of the Locust, on each side of the vehicle, are two air-to-air missiles. These are heat seeking missiles (they have a +2 to hit any sort of heat source of intensity 5 or above) that are built to emit low noise upon launch (though not upon detonation). These inflict intensity 12 damage to all within near missile range of their detonation point.

Personnel Transportation Security Platforms (Passengers): these titanium-supported, damage-resistant landing skids are primarily designed to allow the Locust to land with ease. However, they have a dual use in that they can be used in a pinch to transport two additional operatives in addition to the pilot; sure, they have to hang on and hope they don't fall, but this works when they need to go.

Windscreen Canopy (s): this transparent, flexi-form blue window helps to cover the pilot of the Locust from incoming damage, in addition to incidental trouble that could be caused by bugs or other things floating in the air. Possessing an m.s. of 12, this screen is 'blast-proof' and helps to provide the net protection the Locust offers its pilot (all around protection, see).

2003 Variations

the Locust, Mk 3

The third iteration of the Locust returned the vehicle to its original size, though definitely not its original engineering. Essentially a completely different ride, the Mark 3 Locust incorporates BTR technology, which allows it to be transformed in the field with a minimum of effort. In exchange for its windscreen canopy, the Mark 3 Locust has acquired this additional capability:

Shape Change (a): the primary feature of all BTR equipment, the Mark 3 Locust can be easily reconfigured between its two modes in the field. Depending on its operator's needs, the Mark 3 Locust can be transformed between a helicopter mode somewhat resembling the Mark 1, and that of a swamp buggy. This change between modes only takes five exchanges, minus two exchanges per additional Joe helping in the effort.

Extra Goodies:

GI Joe directories featuring a version of the Locust:

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