Vertigo (Tiberium Wars)

"They've bombed the power plants!"

- GDI soldier, after a Vertigo bombing run

The Vertigo is a next generation VTOL bomber in the service of Nod, developed using stealth technology regained by LEGION in the raid on a GDI Covert Lab in Australia. It is a powerful batwing aircraft carrying one high explosive Groundpounder bomb, and is equipped with an effective stealth generator and VTOL engines. Its primary role is destroying large structures and vehicles located deep within enemy bases, thanks to its stealth capabilities. For defense against pursuing aircraft, the Vertigo has a single chaingun turret in the rear of the plane, though the power of this weapon is lackluster. The articulated exhaust nozzles for the jet allow the Vertigo to conduct vertical take-offs and landings along with giving excellent maneuverability for such a large aircraft.

Design
"NO! NO!"

- An unfortunate Vertigo

The craft is constructed in the Nod Air Tower, which can support and maintain up to four Vertigos. It has a sleek, aerodynamic profile that allows it to fly at high speeds and engage the enemy before any anti-air weaponry reaches it. It is a rough equivalent of the GDI Firehawk, though it is better at air-to-ground combat to compensate for its lacking air-to-air ordinance, as while doing moderate damage, covers only the rear 180 degrees and can't be compared to a Stormrider's plasma guns or Firehawk's Rattlesnake missiles. As such, stealth remains the bomber's primary defense. If the pilot is lucky, the stealth field might be re-engaged soon enough to make the bomber virtually 'disappear', causing any missiles following it to lose their lock-on. Due to the Black Hand's rejection of air technology, the Vertigo is not used by them.

The Vertigo can also be outfitted with disruption pods distribution systems, allowing it to deploy stealth beacons anywhere on the field. The pods continuously emit stealth energy until their power source runs out and the pod stops working, thus making it a temporary cloaking device. The pods may also be attached to vehicles, providing an alternative to the rather expensive (but permanent) Cloaking Field.

The Vertigo lack ejection seats and often heard crying NO NO when shot down.

Use
The first use of the Vertigo Bomber by the Legendary Insurgent came during the evacuation of the Liquid Tiberium Bomb components from Brazil, when they were used to destroy the Guns of the Amazon emplacements defending the evacuation zone. Vertigoes played a major role at the start of the Third Tiberium War, attacking Blue Zone cities such as Washington, D.C. after 'appearing out of nowhere'. A modified version was also sighted carpet bombing a GDI base with significantly more powerful bombs during the Siege of Temple Prime.