"Tikal tuv quezt onrom." ("Tyrants must sleep with one eye open.")
- Naram proverb and motto of the 369th Fighter Wing (The Grand Jaguars)
The Nah Tikal´s design specs from the Centurion boardgame´s Legions sourcebook.
Etymology[]
Nah Tikal (sometimes written Nah´Tikal or NahTikal) is a Naram word that loosely translates as "viper". Its more exact meaning comes from the Naram folk tale of a nah tikal, or serpent, sent by Providence to kill a seemingly unassailable tyrant who held the people in his iron grip.
Design Philosophy and Tactical Role[]
The Viper is the standard Commonwealth and Renegade Legion light armoured personnel carrier. Its design is Naram and reflects Naram combat doctrine. Its primary attributes are high acceleration, good protection, and a large missile load. Because it carries so many missiles, the vehicle can be used offensively, unlike its TOG counterpart, the Lupis. The Viper sacrifices six tons of armour protection to carry these TVLGs, however.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Viper´s design is its double hull. The chassis is sheathed by a thin curved shell of additional armour braced anywhere between 30 to 100 centimeters away from the main hull. Though this configuration does not reduce the weight of the main armour, it does provide two advantages. First is that the spacing makes it easier for technicians to service the external sensors because they do not have to work on them from the inside of a cramped vehicle. Second, the outer shell is configured to provide dismounting Legionnaires with umbrella-like protection from shell fragments and small-arms fire.
Standard tactics dictate that the Viper ground in a crater and that the infantry dismount under the protective shell. Once the troopers have all disembarked, the Viper moves on, and the troopers rush to their positions. This tactic allows the infantry to quickly dismount and disperse while protected, and alleviates the need for multiple doors, as on the Lupis. Unlike the Lupis´ separate cells for each Legionnaire, the Viper´s infantry compartment allows for contact between the soldiers, which reduces stress, makes pre-egress planning easier and promotes comradeship.