A new design from Fox-Tech, the Gannet is a light, inexpensive transport designed to get light items from one place to another as fast as possible. Named after a large ocean bird, the Gannet is much faster than it's name sake.
               Originally mounting a different engine and less armor, the Gannet was a light scout known as the "Skeeter", possibly in reference to mosquitoes. Unable to bring it's weapon to bear with being destroyed, the Skeeter was a failure as far as being a viable battlefield asset.
             Rolling with the punches, some brainstorming was done by the  technicians at a local restaurant, Mordel's Bar and Grill. They decided to make the Gannet a pseudo civilian craft; using no military technology the Skeeter would be reborn as the Gannet.

           Capable of speeds in excess of 750 kph, the Gannet is often the quickest way anywhere. The Gannet mounts a half-ton of simple Durallex light armor, more to protect the occupants from the possibility of birds stuck while in flight than from weapons fire. The armor also protects the occupants if the Gannet must crash land.
             Gannets carry a quarter ton of cargo or 4 passengers in relative comfort. Some mercenary units have experimented with using Gannets as infantry transports, but find that it is difficult and uncomfortable to squeeze even two men with equipment into the passenger section. The Gannet was simply not meant to be used as an aerial APC.

             Almost all of the original Skeeter variants have been destroyed, though a few have not been located. They mount only a quarter ton of armor, but carry a Magna Mk. IV ER Small laser and a prototype Nissan 50 XXL engine.

             Most worlds in the Inner Sphere claim at least several Gannets, generally used by rich executives or planetary nobles. Recently, the Gannet has become something of a pleasure craft among the rich elite, and races are becoming very common.
               In addition to its cargo hauling duties, some Federated Suns, Draconis Combine and Comstar units have been seen using the Gannet as a high-speed scout and spotter. Used this way, it attempts to avoid all fire directed at it and call out coordinates for missile and artillery strikes. So long as it maintains a good distance, the Gannet is fairly safe.