Space Corps

Scorp — Space Corps in flight. Ships are as follows, from left to right: The Vanargand Cruiser, and R-9 Arrowhead Fighter. The Heimdall Heavy Dreadnought spans the entirety of the bottom portion.

ULUS10343 00013 — A side-view portrait of all Space Corps Ships in R-Type Command

The "Earth Allied Armed Forces", also known as the Space Corps is an organization in the R-Type series that serves as the player's employer and weapons provider. It is heavily implied to be the Humans' main defense against the Bydo forces, though confirmation of this has yet to be published. The Space Corps was largely unknown in the R-Type Series until the release of R-Type Final in 2003. The name "Space Corps" was never officially given beforehand, so the organization previously stood nameless, though it was called the World Government in R-Type (Game Boy).

History[]

Despite being the main 'force' in the series, the Space Corps' past is shrouded in mystery. Its foundation date is still unknown, and cannot be estimated. Although its main fighter, the R-9A Arrowhead is extremely widely known, its designers and builders, as well as test pilots, do not have official names. In addition to the many vessels developed by the Space Corps, Force units were co-developed to be used along with most fighters. The Space Corps has been known to contract outside designers for fresh ideas and new ships; two of the ships in R-Type Delta were the creation of external developers.

Spacecraft[]

R-Type Final Squadron — A diverse flight of R-craft.

The Space Corps utilizes an extremely wide variety of spacecraft, ranging from recon units to self-regenerating ships to massive battlecruisers and dreadnoughts. In most missions, squads of small fighters are deployed. Only during the events of R-Type Command are the larger capital ships seen.

Capabilities[]

Each R-craft, with the exception of those encountered in R-Type Command, has more or less the same flying capabilities. They are at home in atmosphere, vacuum, and even submerged. R-craft are durable enough to survive dimensional travel, given the frequent use of interdimensional wormholes such as Catapult Dimension and Dimension 26.

Durability[]

Each R-craft is a finely-tuned piece of high technology with the firepower of a ship of larger magnitude. As such, a single impact from any weapon is enough to disrupt and destroy an R-craft, no matter what ablative armor or defensive shielding it claims to have, whether it be a basic Bydo Shot or Xelf-16's massive energy beam. Reinforced armor from R-Type Delta forward protects ships from non-Bydo surfaces, but hazardous sources and surfaces will still destroy an R-craft instantly.

R-Type Command changes this by having either a squadron of five ships per unit or a set amount of HP per unit. Depriving a unit of either will remove it from the map.

Velocity[]

Until R-Type Delta, R-craft relied on collecting Speed Ups to increase their agility, up to five times. In Delta and Final, velocity can be adjusted instantly between four levels (technology borrowed from Image Fight). R-craft are able to hover and move smoothly in any direction. Pilots don't need to worry about fuel unless they're in R-Type Command.

Firepower[]

A key feature of every R-craft is that it employs use of a Wave Cannon, giving each fighter of at least the firepower of a capital ship, if not far more so. Every ship is armed with a Vulcan Cannon and can equip a complement of Missiles, Bit Devices, Laser Crystals, and, of course, a Force. Firepower increases are usually delivered to a battlefield by means of TP-2 POW Armor. Unless otherwise noted in R-Type Command, ammo is infinite. In addition the history below, there are also specific records of Craft History.

Development History[]

2040 Spacecraft development project, titled "OF Project" started.
2043: Spacecraft development project, titled "RX-Project", started and headed by Dr. Jim Client.
2045: General machine equipped with R-engine model type-3. Problems were found with high-speed output inertia control.
2047: RX-Project modified; machine equipped with 12 rocket motors for stability, 4 motors added. RX-T1 skeleton completed, a simple machine designed for experiments and not equipped with armor.
2048: RX-T1 improved, equipped with armor for test with Japanese spacecraft "Sakura".
2048 The first OF Fighter is completed, codename "Daedalus". After being thoroughly tested in a simulator, it's deployed in real combat.
2051: RX-T1, now formally named R-1A, begins practical use. "R" designation used because of the shape of the canopy (Round) and the original project name.
2051 A new OF Fighter, codenamed "Garuda" is completed. An unknown enemy attacks the Earth.
2055: New, standardized RX-T2 enters development.
2063: R-1 class models, R-1A through R-1J, created by modifying minor parts.
2065: With the unification of the MMU (Manned Mobile Unit) R-1 series production ceases.
2067: R-2 series (RX-T2 base) enters use. The MMU becomes standardized.
2075: R-twin engine developed. R-2 series ends with model R-2D. Production of R-3 series begins (units interchangeable due to MMU standardization).
2083: R-3 models become ready for use, equipping twin engines gives this series high mobility.
2088: Development of low output model Wave Cannon started.
2098: Exploration spacecraft rolled out; its development is based on a new theory.
MC 0000/2102: "Forerunner", an exploration craft, begins maiden journey and is expected to return on June 27, 2120.
MC 0001/2103: Compact R-engine successfully equipped to a ship. RS-3 E-Unit engine, a low-output engine, completed.
MC 0002/2104: R-4 series with E-Unit engine finished.
MC 0006/2108: Low-output Wave Cannon completed. Development begins on R-5 series spaceships.
MC 0010/2112: "Forerunner" receives a signal from dimensional space of an unusual living body and energy signature.
MC 0013/2115: R-5 series unit equipped with a low-output Wave Cannon asteroid blaster. This craft was not provided for public use due to this special weapon.
MC 0018/2120: "Forerunner" returns with a sample of the Bydo, a compact high-energy living organism.
MC 0019/2121: R series selected for missions against the Bydo.
MC 0020/2122: Production of General Operation models halted with R-5F, due to increased weapons development.
MC 0021/2123: Development begins on the experimental RX-6. Though pilot-less, it has a high-output Wave Cannon.
MC 0023/2125: Compact, high-energy, organic weapons project started in a lab near Jupiter.
MC 0025/2127: An RX-6 is tested with a power release booster attached to the Wave Cannon.
MC 0027/2129: The power booster overloads causing unstable energy vectoring. A regulator is now installed.
MC 0032/2134: Contact with the project lab near Jupiter is lost. "Sky Hope" spacecraft investigates and finds 3 million meters of space missing. A Bydo fragment, itself a high-energy object with a diameter of 6 meters, is located in the missing space area that included the lab. This object is retrieved for study.
MC 0034/2136: Experimental R-7 model, requiring a pilot and equipped with a high-output Wave Cannon is introduced.
MC 0039/2141: Succeeded in controlling the super-compact, high-energy Bydo fragment found in 2134, dubbed a Force.
MC 0041/2143: With Colonel Guregobitchi Mikoyan piloting, an experiment combining the Force with the R-7 fails. Attaching the Force to the rear of the craft causes the regulator to overheat when the cannon is fired; this resulted in evaporation of the craft. Cause was determined to be insufficient power provided by the E-Unit engine. The Force was unharmed by the disaster.
MC 0042/2144: Development of an "Artificial Force" begins.
MC 0045/2147: Unmanned spacecraft RX-8 is finished. It's equipped with three Type 4 R-engines and 2 E-Units.
MC 0049/2151: Results of RX-8 Wave Cannon experiment are a success. Force experiments were also completed.
MC 0051/2153: Decided to develop RX-8 for pilots, resulting in the R-9 series.
MC 0052/2154: High-output Wave Cannon finalized. These are 5.7 times more powerful than low-output units.
MC 0058/2160: Though an overall success, Artificial Forces are still unstable.
MC 0060/2162: Prototype R-9A Arrowhead completed, a highly mobile patrol unit with a low-output Wave Cannon.
MC 0061/2163: Bydo Mission I begins. An R-9A Arrowhead squadron is assigned for the first space battle for the people of Earth. Project Eden also undergoes a revolt, leading to the events of R-Type Leo.
MC 0062/2164: In January, an offensive weapon experiment using a cyber interface to receive signals from the pilot's nervous system is started.
MC 0062/2164: In June, the "Seed of Bydo" event occurs. Prototype R-9A Arrowheads assist.
MC 0062/2164: Autonomous vehicles, affected by Bydo mutation, start attacking Earth cities, resulting in the Gallop mission.
MC 0062/2164: The R-Type Delta mission transpires, though events leading up to begin in 2163.
MC 0063/2165: Bydo Mission II starts after confirmation of Bydo regeneration is received. The R-9C War-Head is placed into active duty to exterminate this threat. The story of this mission is sometimes embellished.
MC 0065/2167: Bydo attack confirmed in outer solar system. The R-9S Strike Bomber is deployed. A lone commander and his armada are sent to combat the Bydo threat. All the deployed Strike Bomber fighters were destroyed.
MC 0067/2169: A Bydo mothership is confirmed which is said to carry the lost remnants of their civilization. The R-90 Ragnarok is deployed for this mission.
MC 0074/2176: An argument whether the Forces should still be used ends up causing a civil war between Earth and Mars; one side, the EAAF using Bydo technology and the other side, the Granzella Revolutionary Army, using non-Bydo technology. The Bydo Empire also make a return and invades Earth, forcing the war to end and the combined forces to fight them once more.
MC 0081/2183: In an effort to finally stop the war and exterminate the Bydo, Operation "Last Dance" is initiated. It seemingly succeeds.
MC 0100/2202: The first Ultimate Fighter prototype, R-99X "R-WALTZ" is completed.
c.MC 0105/2207: A Bydo armada reaches Earth, and assaults the Space Corps HQ, dealing severe property damage. The fleet is defeated, at a heavy cost. The incident is remembered as the Bydo Homecoming.
MC 0105/2207: During the Bydo Homecoming, 75 R-99 prototypes are deployed in combat for the first time. However, they prove to be much weaker than expected, and all of them are destroyed by the Bydo. The R-99 project is put on hold.
MC 0120/2222: After several years, the R-99 Project is completed. The upgraded and improved R-99 Last Dancer is deployed in combat and makes true on its title as the "Ultimate Fighter". With their success, no more mass-produced R-type fighter models were made.
MC 01xx/22xx: After designing two final models, the improved R-100 Curtain Call, and the perfected R-101 Grand Finale, Team R-Type officially disbanded, and no more R-series fighters were developed.

R-Series[]

The R-Series is the most widely-used spacecraft in the Space Corps' arsenal. It has more than 50 models, most of which are unique to one another. The R-Series was started in 2043 AD and was completed nearly two hundred years later with the R-101 Grand Finale, after which the R-Type development program was disbanded. It should be noted that "R-craft" is generally used as a collective term for all fighters in use by the Space Corps, but not all fighters are from the R-Series of fighter craft. A list of ships in the R-Series is listed below:

R-9 Series[]

The R-9 Series is the line of the R-9A Arrowhead and its direct successors. The R-9 Series list is from the R Museum of R-Type Final.

In R-Type Final 2, a backer-exclusive ship called the R-9uso800 April Fools is introduced. Nothing much is known about this model.

R-90 Series[]

The R-90 Series is based on the framework of the R-9S, and employs the Mega Wave Cannon and the Hyper Wave Cannon on the R-90, and ultimately the Giga Wave Cannon on the R-902.

R-9Leo Series[]

The R-9Leo Series is based on R-Type Leo.

R-9Sk Series[]

The R-9Sk Series is the flamethrower specialist.

R-9W Series[]

The R-9W Series is known for the test tube-like canopy to change the pilots easier because these fighters demands a lot mentally from their pilots, making them unable to leave the canopy after flights.

R-9B Series[]

The R-9B Series is the line of mid/long-distance cruise/bomber units equipped with a wide range of Missiles, notably the Balmung.

R-9D Series[]

The R-9D Series is originally a line of mid/long-range precision strike units equipped with the Photon-Belt Wave Cannon, but the R-9DV series and the R-9DP series go for different directions regarding the Wave Cannon.

R-9E Series[]

The R-9E Series is the line of units for reconnaissance and electronic warfare.

R-9F & RX-10[]

The R-9F and the RX-10 are test units in research of weaponizing the control rods of the Force.

R-11 Series[]

The R-11 Series is the last mass-produced line of fighters based on the data of the R-9A. They are based on Cosmic Cop and are mainly employed in urban patrol.

RX-12[]

The RX-12 is a test unit for breaking the limit of the Bydo coefficient, which ultimately leads to the R-13 series and the B series development.

RX-12 Cross The Rubicon

R-13 Series[]

The R-13 Series is the line of Anchor Force Units. The Anchor Force's Bydo energy is so high that a control line is required to connect the Force to the fighter directly.

Ultimate Fighters[]

The Ultimate Interchangeable Fighters are the goal of Operation: Last Dance in R-Type Final. They can use any Wave Cannon, any Force, any Bit Device and any Missile.

OF-Series[]

The OF-Series (Orbital Fighters), unlike the R-Series, was only available for use with the most experienced pilots and aces. Due to its advanced Bit Devices (known as Pods) and weapons systems from the Image Fight series, it could do massive damage to all targets. All of the ships are similar in appearance and flyability. The TX-T falls into this category because it was the base for all OF fighters. All OF fighters, including the TX-T, can cause damage with their thruster's flames when changing their speed.

TW/TP-Series[]

While the R-9E series was a formidable intelligence-gathering line, the need for a more inexpensive unmanned craft became increasingly large. With this need a prototype drone, deemed the Scope Duck was created. Following this, it was realized that its transportation capability was great. The rest of the TP-series was made for this purpose, with the exception of the Pow Armor II, which could also double as a close-air-support ship. They are equipped with the Bydic Dance as the Special Weapon.

TL-Series[]

As the R-Series went into mass production, an obvious flaw emerged: its melee capabilities were severely lacking. To balance this weakness, development began on a line of bipedal modules. This line was known as the TL-Series; bipedal 'sword-bearing' fighters. Most of these could transform into conventional fighters, along with their Hybrid Wave Cannon System.

U-Series[]

The U-Series is set apart from all the other Series' in the Space Corps' arsenal. Because the Bydo Empire had grown so large in its own time, a larger and more potent ship was needed. This is when the U-Series came to be. This special series consists mainly of destroyers, cruisers, battleships, defensive satellites, and other large and powerful units. Nearly every vessel is named after some aspect of Norse mythology.

B-Series[]

The B-Series is a special Top-Secret series created to equip and exploit more active use of the enemy's Bydo Tissue, which is shown to have amazing regenerative properties. While the Force was the first to apply Bydo Tissue, the B-Series is full of Bydo-like creations made from recovered specimens that employ different uses of the tissue. They are equipped with the Emboss as the Special Weapon.