The Hellcat II was commissioned in 2710 for the Star League Defense Force, it had the position as a heavy scout that could normally outfight anything it couldn't outrun. When Pryde Rock finally began looking to replace losses incurred in their St. Ives Campaign and the Second Battle of Pryde Rock, the design for the Hellcat III came out of nowhere. Agents are attempting to track down its origin, but we have lost contact with three already. The design replaces the old Star League Beagle Active Probe with a new Rockhound Active Probe as Pryde Rock calls their version of the Bloodhound.

The first Hellcat III came off the lines of PRI in April of 3063 and is the first aerospace design produced on Pryde Rock since Star League days when this facility produced Phoenix Hawk Land Air 'Mechs for use in the Terran Campaign. This a troubling developement.

The Hellcat III carries slightly less armor than the Hellcat II, but mounts an XL engine that massively increases the amount of weaponry it can carry. In addition, two heatsinks have been added to the Hellcat III, and while replacing the engine they upgraded the system to use freezer heatsinks. A Starslayer-C Clan Equivalent Particle Cannon was added to the nose of the craft and is tied directly into the Rockhound Active Probe.

Also, the old Diverse Optics/A Large Lasers were replaced with four Farstar-C Clan Equivalent Extended Range Medium Lasers, each one having the range of the old weapons and nearly as much firepower. Even after refitting the heatsinks to freezers though, this machine runs very hot after firing all weapons. Also, it lacks the rear-firing medium laser of the Hellcat II.

The Rockhound Active Probe is the latest in detection equipment, can detect enemies 30 percent faster then a standard sensor suite and once identified, that target is permanently stored in its memory. Should the Rockhound meet the same target again, it will remember speed, damage, and even forcast a fighting style to the Hellcat III pilot much like the old Beagle Active Probes did. During off hours, the pilot can review any battle on the tactical display, modifying actions with a joystick. The Rockhound projects the tactical change and shows the results, making the Hellcat III a highly valuable trainer.

In addition, the Talk & Trac 15 system makes this design a superior firing platform and command vehicle [+1 bonus to targeting and a +1 bonus to initiative if leading a squadron] and makes this design good in the multi-role Aerospace Superiority and Anti-Dropship roles that Pryde Rock is tasking it with.

The Hellcat III is very similar to a design we have seen in action in the Chainlane Isles. Resources should be expended to find out if these people are in league with Pryde Rock or if this is an unrelated occurance.

PRI appears to be building four of these machines a month, though most of them are being sent to Comstar and the Free Rasalhague Republic. We believe approximately one of them each month are remaining with Pryde Rock however, bolstering their defenses on planet at rate that is not appreciated.