In the years following the Jihad the Ravens took full advantage of the peace that had settled over the Inner Sphere and continued to expand and built up their holdings in the Outworld Reaches cantered around the new capital of Wynn's Roost.
They also worked with the Outworld Alliance in a series of industrial and economic programs that were intended to bind the two more closely together. Key to this was the growth of the shipbuilding facilities at Quatre Belle. Outside of Titan there was no larger series of yards and slips and these would be used by other Clans to repair their own WarShips as well as becoming a major production centre for DropShips and JumpShips for internal use and export.
Other factories to build ground vehicles and Mechs were established and Raven scientific knowledge met Outworlder ingenuity as new crops were developed and grown which rapidly increased the yield of farms whilst there was also a boom in asteroid mining, all of which helped feed the economic growth of the budding alliance.
But over Wynn's Roost, the facilities there were purely for the Ravens and the continued strength and growth of their naval forces and it was here that the next generation of Raven Assault OmniFighter would take shape.
Although the Scytha had been in service with the Ravens prior to REVIVAL, it was one of the casualties of the evacuation of the Homeworlds and its production facility was lost to the Ravens during their flight into the Inner Sphere. The remaining Scytha in service were thus having to be maintained by a dwindling number of spare parts and custom-built pieces and this popular craft was facing extinction in Raven service.
Distance and the growing aggression of the Falcons meant that trade was difficult if not impossible and so a replacement was needed.
Designed with Outworld researcher input and echoing the lessons learned from the Jihad the new fighter would be tough, well-armed and fast, but unlike the somewhat unconventional Horus the newer craft was longer, broader and had a greater internal volume at the cost of speed. Its 340 rated XL engine still let it hit the same speed as the larger Scytha though which put it at a higher speed than most hostile fighters of a similar size.
One key factor was a large fuel tank. Many Clan fighters carried small amounts of fuel and had to rely on external tanks for long duration missions, but these were heavy and had to be jettisoned in combat. So, to counter this usual flaw the new fighter was built around a six-ton fuel tank, huge by Clan standards and even large by Inner Sphere standards.
Further Outworld influence showed in the provision of 17 tons of Ferro-Aluminium armour which would shield the craft and let it rival larger craft in terms of protection or exceed them.
Whilst the design was undergoing preliminary testing it faced competition from a home-grown version of the Scytha, the Scytha-XR which was larger and massively protected thanks to the inclusion of Ferro-Lamellor armour in its construction. Both craft had similar performance envelopes and in trials both prototypes performed well in simulations and mock battles. The smaller craft would win out though on the merit of expense. The Scytha-XR was fabulously expensive to produce and was so different from its progenitor that it was an entirely new craft structurally. Also, the Ferro-Lamellor armour was difficult to produce and very difficult to work with. The smaller 85-ton fighter now called the Cimmerian was chosen to enter production although a small number of Scytha-XR's would also be produced and would form part of the Corvus Keshik as a prestige fighter mostly for the benefit of visiting dignitaries.
The Cimmerian (also known as the Barbarian or the 'Shimmy') would start entering service in mid-3090’s and would become a common unit by 3099 in both superiority and strike roles supplementing the dwindling number of Scytha's and Jengiz types in Raven service. It would start to be exported to the Outworlds Alliance in the 3100's with the craft being issued to only the best and most politically reliable pilots.
VariantsPrime - A multi-role fighter equally at home in space or making ground attack strafing runs the Prime's armament consists of a pair of ER Large lasers for long range engagements whilst at shorter ranges a pair of deadly accurate large pulse lasers and a single LB-10 pattern autocannon can flay armour off targets. At shorter ranges a pair of ER medium lasers can be brought to bear whilst the fighters stern is covered by a Streak SRM-6 launcher and an ER small laser. The fighters 16 double heatsinks however are easily overwhelmed by a full alpha strike, but a smart pilot can use the fighter’s weapons to their fullest at any engagement range.
Cimmerian Heavy OmniFighter Prime
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,973
Cost: 14,992,378 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 16 [32]
Structural Integrity: 8
Armor: 326 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 90
Left Wing 80
Right Wing 80
Aft 76
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Large Laser LWG 12
ER Large Laser RWG 12
Large Pulse Laser LWG 10
Large Pulse Laser RWG 10
LB 10-X AC NOS 2
Streak SRM 6 AFT 4
ER Medium Laser NOS 5
ER Medium Laser NOS 5
ER Small Laser AFT 2
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LB 10-X AC Ammo NOS 10
LB 10-X AC Ammo NOS 10
LB 10-X AC Ammo NOS 10
Streak SRM 6 Ammo AFT 15
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Ferro-Aluminum NOS
A – Designed to engage at long range the A’s seems under-gunned for a craft its size but few fighters have its endurance. A pair of Artemis V enhanced LRM-20’s each with their own 4-ton ammunition bin give the craft a formidable and accurate long-range punch whilst a HAG-20 with a 3-ton ammunition hopper is buried in the nose. Together all three weapons can flay a target at the longest of ranges. Up close a pair of medium pulse lasers and a forward firing ER medium provide additional firepower whilst the stern is covered by an ER medium laser and a heavy small, giving it a nasty punch for anyone who gets too close. Fifteen heatsinks can be overwhelmed but only when the fighter is firing all its forwards and aft mounted weapons.
Cimmerian Heavy OmniFighter A
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 3,315
Cost: 19,618,183 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 15 [30]
Structural Integrity: 8
Armor: 326 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 90
Left Wing 80
Right Wing 80
Aft 76
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
LRM 20 LWG 6
LRM 20 RWG 6
HAG/20 NOS 4
Medium Pulse Laser RWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser LWG 4
Heavy Small Laser AFT 3
ER Medium Laser NOS 5
ER Medium Laser AFT 5
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis V-capable Ammo LWG 6
LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis V-capable Ammo RWG 6
LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis V-capable Ammo LWG 6
LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis V-capable Ammo RWG 6
LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis V-capable Ammo LWG 6
LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis V-capable Ammo LWG 6
LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis V-capable Ammo RWG 6
LRM 20 (Clan) Artemis V-capable Ammo RWG 6
HAG/20 Ammo NOS 6
HAG/20 Ammo NOS 6
HAG/20 Ammo NOS 6
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Ferro-Aluminum NOS
Artemis V FCS LWG
Artemis V FCS RWG
B – Designed to strafe and attack ground targets the B is brutally direct and can cause tremendous damage in an attack run. A pair of improved large heavy lasers give the fighter its main punch and at long range a pair of ER large lasers can also cause significant damage. Each wing features a Streak SRM-6 launcher allowing it to barrage missiles into the holes ripped open in targets by its lasers whilst the rear is covered by a medium pulse laser and ER small laser. All of the energy weapons are linked into a targeting computer making the B fearsomely accurate in any role. But despite having 25 double heatsinks, the fighter can produce a brutal heat surge that can easily overwhelm them and threaten an ammunition explosion. So a pilot must make careful use of the firepower at their hands when making their attack.
Cimmerian Heavy OmniFighter B
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 3,326
Cost: 18,886,534 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 25 [50]
Structural Integrity: 8
Armor: 326 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 90
Left Wing 80
Right Wing 80
Aft 76
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
Improved Heavy Large Laser LWG 18
Improved Heavy Large Laser RWG 18
ER Large Laser NOS 12
ER Large Laser NOS 12
Streak SRM 6 LWG 4
Streak SRM 6 RWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser AFT 4
ER Small Laser AFT 2
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
Streak SRM 6 Ammo RWG 15
Streak SRM 6 Ammo LWG 15
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Ferro-Aluminum NOS
Targeting Computer NOS
C – Taking full advantage of the growing arms industry in the Outworld Reaches the C is built around easily available ballistic weapons and ammunition. A trio of LB-5 pattern autocannons can produce a cloud of shrapnel against a hostile fighter and can easily cripple hostile ground vehicles. A gauss rifle gives the craft its heaviest punch whilst a trio of ER medium lasers, one firing to the rear along with an ER small laser give it some ammunition independence. Each autocannon has a 2-ton ammunition bin and the gauss rifle draws from a 3-ton ammunition hopper giving the C considerable battlefield endurance.
Cimmerian Heavy OmniFighter C
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,612
Cost: 18,469,722 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Structural Integrity: 8
Armor: 326 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 90
Left Wing 80
Right Wing 80
Aft 76
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
LB 5-X AC LWG 1
LB 5-X AC RWG 1
LB 5-X AC NOS 1
Gauss Rifle NOS 1
ER Medium Laser LWG 5
ER Medium Laser RWG 5
ER Medium Laser AFT 5
ER Small Laser AFT 2
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LB 5-X AC Ammo LWG 20
LB 5-X AC Ammo NOS 20
LB 5-X AC Ammo RWG 20
LB 5-X AC Ammo LWG 20
LB 5-X AC Ammo RWG 20
LB 5-X AC Ammo NOS 20
Gauss Ammo NOS 8
Gauss Ammo NOS 8
Gauss Ammo NOS 8
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Ferro-Aluminum NOS
D – A multi-role heavy hitter the D’s primary energy weapons are a pair of ER PPCs mounted in the nose. Each wing has an ATM-9 with a 3-ton ammunition hopper as well as a medium pulse laser. The rear is covered by a pair of Improved heavy lasers, one medium and one small. Unfortunately this warload easily overwhelms the 22 heatsinks fitted on the fighter and a pilot must be careful not to overheat at despite the crafts heavy punch
Cimmerian Heavy OmniFighter D
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 3,373
Cost: 19,283,308 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 22 [44]
Structural Integrity: 8
Armor: 326 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 90
Left Wing 80
Right Wing 80
Aft 76
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER PPC NOS 15
ER PPC NOS 15
ATM 9 RWG 6
ATM 9 LWG 6
Medium Pulse Laser LWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser RWG 4
Improved Heavy Medium Laser AFT 7
Improved Heavy Small Laser AFT 3
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
ATM 9 Ammo LWG 7
ATM 9 Ammo LWG 7
ATM 9 Ammo LWG 7
ATM 9 Ammo RWG 7
ATM 9 Ammo RWG 7
ATM 9 Ammo RWG 7
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Ferro-Aluminum NOS
E - Rarely seen and based upon the venerable Kirghiz C the Cimmerian E is built to operate as an Elemental carrier or priority shuttle. Tests with Sylph battlesuits have been effective but the E is a rare sight and is only configured for special missions. Despite this special role the E still packs a formidable punch. To defend its cargo it is fitted with a pair of laser AMS’s, one in the nose, the other in the rear. For attack and defence the E is armed with a pair of large pulse lasers whilst at short range a devastating Ultra-20 pattern cannon can smash through any target. The rear is covered by an ER small laser which is barely adequate but the E would always be escorted in any mission and so its lack of rear firepower isn’t considered a weakness.
Cimmerian Heavy OmniFighter E
Clan advanced
85 tons
BV: 2,678
Cost: 17,999,472 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 340 XL
Heat Sinks: 15 [30]
Structural Integrity: 8
Armor: 326 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 90
Left Wing 80
Right Wing 80
Aft 76
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
Laser AMS NOS 5
Laser AMS AFT 5
Ultra AC/20 NOS 7
ER Small Laser AFT 2
Large Pulse Laser LWG 10
Large Pulse Laser RWG 10
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
Ultra AC/20 Ammo NOS 5
Ultra AC/20 Ammo NOS 5
Ultra AC/20 Ammo NOS 5
Ultra AC/20 Ammo NOS 5
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Ferro-Aluminum NOS
Cargo (10 tons) AFT
Which I had Plog base on the XP-67 Moonbat -
