The Stealth Tank

• Designation: AT-5 (Assault Tank)
• Affiliation: Nod
• Role: Guerrilla warfare and anti-aircraft
• Launch date: 2077
• Class: Attack
• Armament: 2–3 rapid-fire incendiary Scorpion Rocket launchers
• Type: Medium Tank
• Speed: Medium-fast

Background

The various versions of Nod’s Stealth Tank, based on the Wheel of Ezekiel, have been key elements of Kane’s war machine since the first skirmishes between Nod and the GDI at the start of the century. Whilst the development of the three previous generations is now well documented, there are few details regarding the origins of this fourth-generation Stealth Tank. Rumours abound, however, almost all centring on a series of events in Siberia.

The barren tundra that was to become TCN Node #51 was the scene of several mysterious events, long before construction of the tank officially began in 2072. In 2071, a GDI convoy carrying building materials disappeared en route, and the Orca patrol dispatched to locate it became lost in a snowstorm. Fearing that the severe weather conditions had jeopardised the construction effort, a ground team was hastily assembled and sent to the convoy’s last known position. The team reported no sign of any vehicles, but the transmission was abruptly cut off. The team was never heard from again. Another rescue attempt was launched, this time with a Mammoth Tank leading the way, but strangely, this group also vanished.

As a result of these disappearances, many troops from the nearby GDI Garrison refused to patrol in the vicinity of TCN Node #51. Some reported seeing the silhouette of a woman in the distance, walking quietly through the storm, giving rise to tales of a ‘White Lady’ said to haunt the nearby areas. The Commander of the GDI base, who was due to commence construction, not wishing to risk losing any more troops, requested a Noddie reconnaissance detachment to ascertain the fate of his missing personnel.

Several days after the team was dispatched, three of the fifteen members returned to base, accompanied by an unidentified young woman. At this stage, all official documents were sealed by direct order from Kane himself, leaving only a handful of witnesses to what happened next. Witnesses agree that the woman identified herself to the base commander as Alyssa and stated that she had a gift for Kane. Immediately afterwards, witnesses reported that a stealth vehicle appeared behind her, revealing the brand-new Stealth Tank.

This Stealth Tank was sleeker than the third-generation model, painted in a snowstorm colour scheme, and heavily armed and armoured. One witness claims to have heard the vehicle’s creator take sole responsibility for the destruction of GDI convoys and patrols using this single vehicle. Following an initial inspection, the vehicle was immediately transported to a secret location, presumably to join the Omega Project as a prototype for the next generation of stealth tanks. Although unconfirmed, some reports suggest that the Stealth Tank was returned to its original owner several years later, following a thorough investigation.

Details concerning the enigmatic Alyssa remain scarce, leading to rampant speculation amongst the world’s conspiracy theorists. Some believe she was in charge of a Nod facility at TCN #51, one of Kane’s pillboxes that housed secret Nod projects. Some claim she is a human-Scrin hybrid, born of the Nod’s twisted experiments in the frozen deserts of Siberia, and that she has incorporated cutting-edge Scrin technology into her vehicle. The most popular theory suggests that she is a descendant of Anton Slavik, hidden in the shadows to one day become Kane’s most brilliant General. Theories abound, but the White Lady remains a mystery, the key to which lies with Kane himself.

Battlefield Specifications

Agile, mobile, hostile The White Lady’s customised vehicle is the model that recently ushered in the 4th generation of Stealth Tanks, and for good reason: it is an improvement on the previous generation in every respect. Whereas the loss of a single wheel would have rendered a 3rd-generation tank inoperable, this new incarnation focuses on reliability and manoeuvrability, particularly in harsh environments such as snow and desert. This version can also carry a heavier payload, allowing for the use of Drone Armor for superior protection. In terms of armament, the Stealth Tank is configured to rapidly fire a volley of highly powerful rockets at both aerial and ground targets. The system may take several seconds to fully reload, but the pilot can fire the rockets as they are charged if necessary.You can’t hurt what you can’t see The new Stealth Generator is a major improvement on its predecessor, capable of rendering the Stealth Tank completely invisible to the naked eye. Although the vehicle is still visible when firing, the optical camouflage remains active, confusing the enemy as to what they should be targeting. Combined with Drone Armor, this feature improves the vehicle’s survivability and enables it to undertake more demanding missions. As this stealth vehicle is currently detectable only by experimental sensors, the Stealth Tank remains an essential and versatile component of the Brotherhood’s war machine.An Army of Phantoms

Despite the time spent analysing Alyssa’s tank, Nod’s scientists are still unable to fully replicate the technology at her disposal. Although stealth bubbles have been used in the past, notably with ‘Disruption Towers’ and ‘Cloaking Fields’, each had its drawbacks – the towers were stationary and could not render themselves invisible, whilst the field was ineffective and had adverse effects on infantry. Alyssa’s Stealth Generator overcomes all these drawbacks: it can render others – including itself – invisible; it can conceal infantry without harming them; and, most importantly, it is mobile. Once Nod unlocks this marvel of technology, Stealth Tanks can theoretically render the entire Nod army on the move completely invisible – a terrifying prospect for anyone who dares to risk Kane’s wrath.