Manufacturer: Chassis Number: 0B39 - Crew: 0 Weight: 0.90 tons Length: 3.30 m Width: 1.61 m Height: 0.82 m Engine: Primary: Dora NS465b Booster: 2x M-226 TKB Speed: 280 kph Terminal Phase: 500 km Range: 350 km Controller: TPO6(K) Primary Armament: EPB(K)10 kt Weapon Effect: Yield: 500 gigateslas Radius: 10 km (spherical) Words and image copyright '99, '00 F. Savino. First operational use of the EPB 227 BLINKER was as a first wave weapon of the surprise attack on New Chicago in November of 2887. The resulting effect completely incapacitated New Chicago's air defence grid, leaving the city wide open for the devastating Shutoral air attack. The Shutoral use of the BLINKER had opened an EMP Pandora's box. Later that month, mercenary commandos raided the ATOMPOTENZ FABRIK at Kels, not only destroying the EMP weapon laboratory, but providing the allies with the technical information needed to produce their own EMP weapons. Rebuilding of the Shutoral EMP weapon plant dragged on until early 2889. By March, eight BLINKER had been constructed and were deployed in the Battle for the Five Cities. But, by then, mercenary scientists had developed their own EMP weapons and countermeasures.