Type/Model:	Prairie Schooner PS-2b
Tech:	Inner Sphere / 3025
Config:	Hovercraft
Rules:	Level 1, Standard design
Mass:	35 tons
Power Plant:	105 GM Turbine I.C.E.
Cruise Speed:	86.4 km/h
Maximum Speed:	129.6 km/h
Armor Type:	Simple Armor Plate Standard

The Prairie Schooner has a long history shrouded in mystery and plenty of black ink. Originally designed during the Star League for black-op missions, the Prairie Schooner was built for the sole purpose of supporting and transport of raiding forces behind enemy lines. However, the Star League era Prairie Schooner is now extinct. The technological Dark Age spawned the need for the Prairie Schooner manufacturer, General Transport and Supply Inc, to downgrade the tank for use with current technologies.

The redesign team sat down and stripped the current model of any advanced technologies. Debate over fusion engine installation came to the table. Having their own small fusion engine plant on Solaris engineers wanted to place one into the redesigned Prairie Schooner, but was overruled by management. Management noted the fusion engine plant would be more profitable selling its small output to the government for use in mechs than in an infantry transport. Despite meddlesome members of management the engineering team presented the first PS-2b proto-type for trails in 3010.

The PS-2b is a shadow of the Prairie Schooner former self. Gone are any of the advanced technologies of the Star League and gone is nearly all of the so called advanced technologies of the Successor States. While the PS-2a model used a fusion engine, the new PS-2b does not. The conversion to an Internal Combustion Engine (I.C.E.) cost the Prairie Schooner in weight and speed. While the PS-2a was able to achieve a maximum speed of little over 151 km/h the I.C.E powered PS-2b can only reach a speed of just over 129 km/h. The GM Turbine can still get the Prairie Schooner out of the way of most mechs and enemy vehicles however, giving some measure of comfort to the platoon. The only problem reported with the GM Turbine has been an unhealthy consumption fuel making behind the line transport and support tricky for the PS-2b over earlier models. The slower top speed also forced engineer to upgrade the Prairie Schooner's armor. With six and a half tons of Standard Plate armor covering the haul the PS-2b can take a hit from all but the heaviest weapons and still have armor left for more punishment.

With the conversion from fusion to I.C.E. came a whole new armaments package in order to keep the machine from being hampered by power amplifiers, heat sinks, and other equipment needed to operate energy based weapons. For a measure of long-range support the PS-2b carries the Federated 5-Shot long range missile system. While not having the punch of earlier Prairie Schooner the PS-2b does enjoy better close in support. A Holly Derringer SRM 2 pack and a pair of turret mounted Sperry Browning machine guns help keep enemy infantry down until friendly support can come to help.

While nearly everything has changed from the Star League era Prairie Schooners the infantry carrying ability has not. Having the same capacity as the Maxim, one platoon, the PS-2b has been dubbed the poor man's Maxim by some. However, the PS-2b can carry more than just infantry thanks to a one ton cargo space nestled inside the protective armor. The "body locker" as it has been called is fully climate controlled along with the infantry bay and has electrical outlets powered by the Prairie Schooner's engine. The cargo space even has fold down seats that allow it to transport additional infantry in a pinch if called to do so.

If there is one thing the Prairie Schooner still does well, is keeping infantry comfortable. Having the same seating arrangement as its larger cousin the Maxim, the Prairie Schooner also includes personal venting systems built into the seats along with a small storage compartment below them. Keep enclosed infantry calm and informed of the PS-2b's situation is the Situation Awareness Computer (S.A.C.). The S.A.C. is a series of cameras mounted to the outside of the tank that allows infantry to see what is going on outside. Along with the cameras system is a small satellite dish that receives information from military satellites allowing the platoon commander up to the minute map retrieval and situational reports. If the commander decides to share the information one small flip of a switch transmits the information to the roof mounted monitors allowing the commander to brief the platoon with ease.

The black-op nature of the Star League era Prairie Schooner no known reports where public information. The current model is too new for any outstanding reports to come to light.

With a history dating back to 2752 the Prairie Schooner amazingly has a short history of Variants. The PS-1a was the first production model. Featuring a new extra-light engine the tank had an amazing speed of just over 183 km/h at flank speeds. The fusion engine also allowed the PS-1a to carry A Sunglow extended range large laser to support its troops against mechs. In order to operate behind lines supporting its platoon of infantry, the Ps-1a Prairie Schooner carried an advanced ECM suite and had internal space for a ton of cargo. Five tons of advanced ferro-fibrous armor gave the tank a fair measure of protection against enemy units.

By 2980 the collapse of the Star League and the subsequent decline of technology forced General Transport and Supply Inc to change the Prairie Schooner to meet current technological standards. The short lived PS-2a arrived on the scene. Maintaining a standard fusion engine allowed the tank to carry energy based weaponry. The PS2a carried a turret mounted large laser and dual small lasers for close in work. With the change to a standard fusion engine also came a decrease in the speed of the Prairie Schooner. The Prairie Schooner lost over 31 km/h an hour but still managed a respectable flank speed of just over 151 km/h.   Weight savings from the removal of two heat sinks and the extinct Guardian ECM allowed designers to give an additional half a ton of armor, to help offset the switch to standard armor. The remaining ton was given over to a larger internal cargo space for supporting its assigned platoon. However, some platoons converted the now larger space and its attached infantry bay in what was to become the PS-2aRV model.

Because of the early history of the Prairie Schooner no reports have come to light regarding its behind the lines deployment history. The Current model is too new for any crews or vehicles to distinguish themselves yet.

Some PS-2a and PS-2aRV models exist; most are currently operating within Federated Suns space. A notable exception is the Chesterton Reserves who have a company worth of PS-2a's captured from a raid on Lee in 2812. For the current Prairie Schooner, sales are not going as well as expected. Despite being sold on the open market, as of 3020, few Houses care to buy the PS-2b as they already have enough troop transports or have ready access to "in house" designs. Augmenting the sales to House units is a small number purchased each year by mercenary units however, as sales a few the General Transport and Supply are considering shutting down the assembly plant in order to concentrate on making parts and engines for mechs.