3087 is a Battletech alternate universe where The Jihad never happened. Instead, political fractures and spiraling conflicts temper much of the technological and industrial progress of the last few decades. Its history is told through the pages and designs of TRO: 3087. I'm sharing a series of four 'Mechs here, on Battletech.com and Sarna to gauge interest in further editing/development of this project. This is the last one.
DOC-05023086#1701; DIST-REF/TRN; CLASS-CON(b)(c)(d); AUTH-S. Kaas; STAT-Review(09023086); PUB-12103087;
TTL-"TRO:3087p91","TRO:3087p92";
Latest Revision by S. Kaas on 09023086
This document is in review for fact-checking and editorial standards. It is not for distribution.
DVO-10T Dervish
Overview
Of the four ‘Mechs and one JumpShip that originally comprised the Hellfire Pirate Band, only Chram “Hellfire†Tait’s Dervish survived the war to create the Federated Hellfire Territories.
In 3079, his model was upgraded to an omnimech, based on prototypes The Word had been providing to Tait’s ilk. Four years later, the Archenar plant on New Avalon was retooled to produce a similar model, touted as one of Tait’s most successful rebuilding efforts after taking the world.
The new model is deployed almost exclusively in The Federated Hellfire Territories, which is rather protective of the design. Those models which are salvaged by the Davions are often targeted first by Federated Hellfire Territiories Common Army soldiers. Raids on Davion worlds gravitate towards those whose defenders are known to have models in their ranks.
Capabilities
The Dervish acts as it did in many armies throughout The Succession Wars, as a mobile fire-support platform. Thanks to advancing technologies, recent upgrades have carried more missiles, allowing them to act as hit and run forces, moving ahead to down or soften up enemy units before strikers like the Kangaroo or Slaughtermech move in to finish them off.
The ubiquity of the unit, its impressive firepower, and its omni abilities see it in almost every battlefield role.
The new Dervish is very rare in garrison forces. The unit’s price and omni technologies demand it be placed in front-line units which see more action.
Battle History
Now the President For Life of the Federated Hellfire Territories, Tait began his career as a pirate commander leading the closest band of mercenary rabble. His capture in 3064 was an opportunity for him to build the reputation of “Hellfire,†an indomitable pirate riding in a Dervish the color of a setting sun and accented black with the smoke and scorches of combat. Tait’s escape from the prison and subsequent exploits made him a hero of the people in the dissatisfied Davion outback.
Over the years, his Dervish has been a reliable command ‘Mech, keeping him away from the thick of fighting and giving him the mobility to run if things wrong. Upgraded to an OmniMech unit after the Battle of Chirikof, it was also the prototype for the line unit produced today. Tait still pilots **** Me for parades and occasional battlefield maneuvers.
What would become The Federated Hellfire Territories relied heavily on ‘Mechs like the Dervish during their campaign against The Federated Suns. An end run against their supply lines during the Battle of Chirikof almost gave The Suns a victory. Instead, it forced the Word of Blake into tipping its hand and dropping three regiments and the Blake Ascendant onto the battlefield to gain victory. The battle, and its revelations about the Word was a loss for everyone involved, except for Tait and his Territories.
Variants
The Dervish often uses its pod space to supplement its missile compliment, using light autocannons, extended range lasers, or more missiles to optimize it for its fire-support roles. The prime configuration broadens the Dervish’s mission role. An extended range large laser gives solid ranged firepower to back up the missiles while a trio of smaller lasers help it with infighting. It has a tendency to run hot, so a pair of machine guns were added so it can still fire while cooling down.
Those heat problems were the main concern of the A configuration. It carries an additional pair of heat sinks with only a small laser to add to the heat load. A small autocannon is carried in the center torso to extend its reach by 14%.
The final main variant is the B, which dedicates the platform entirely to fire support. Additional short and long range missiles with three tons of extra ammunition give it the ability to deliver overwhelming numbers of missiles to a target.
One interesting deviation from the norm is a “switch hitter,†which makes the most of the new missiles’ lack of minimum range to maximize its city fighting potential.
The Fear variant used by Tait’s Rabid Cobra terrorist unit carries advanced electronics suites and missiles loads to both cause fires and maximize building damage. Flamers and medium pulse lasers are intimidating back up weapons.
The -6M line model with no upgraded equipment is still produced on New Avalon and exported to all buyers. That and the Dervish’s long history ensure that it remains a common sight on battlefields across the Inner Sphere.
DVO-10T Dervish
Type/Model: Dervish DVO-10T
Tech: Mixed / 3083
Config: Biped OmniMech
Manufactured: Federated Hellfire
Territories
Fielded:
Federated Hellfire Terr. (Common)
Federated Suns (Singular)
Mass: 55 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 14 1.50
(Loc: 2 LT, 2 RT, 5 LA, 5 RA) 91 pts
Engine:275 Fusion XL(IS)12 8.00
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 5
Jump Jet Loc: 1 CT, 2 LL, 2 RL 2.50
Heat Sinks: 10 Double (IS) 0 0.00
Gyro: 4 3.00
Cockpit: 5 3.00
Actuators: 12 0.00
L: Sh+UA R: Sh+UA
Armor Factor: 0 8.00
128 pts
Internal Structure Armor Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 10 22
Center Torso (Rear): 5
L/R Side Torso: 7 16/16
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 4/4
L/R Arm: 5 11/11
L/R Leg: 7 15/15
Weapons and Equipment Loc Crits Tons
---------------------------------------
Fixed Equipment
(CL) LRM-20 RT 4 5.00
(CL) LRM-20 LT 4 5.00
(CL) SRM-6 RA 1 1.50
(CL) SRM-6 LA 1 1.50
@LRM-20 (6) RT 1 1.00
@LRM-20 (6) LT 1 1.00
@SRM-6 (15) RA 1 1.00
@SRM-6 (15) LA 1 1.00
CASE LT 1 0.50
CASE RT 1 0.50
Crits & Tons Left: 10 9.50
Primary Configuration
(IS) ER Medium Laser CT 1 1.00
(IS) ER Medium Laser RT 1 1.00
(IS) ER Medium Laser LT 1 1.00
(IS) ER Large Laser RA 2 5.00
2 (IS) Machine Guns LA 2 1.00
@MG (1/2) (100) LA 1 0.50
Crits & Tons Left: 2 0.0
A Configuration
(IS) Autocannon/2 CT 1 6.00
(IS) Small Laser LT 1 0.50
@AC/2 (45) RT 1 1.00
(IS) Double Heat Sink RA 3 1.00
(IS) Double Heat Sink LA 3 1.00
Crits & Tons Left: 1 0.0
B Configuration
(CL) LRM-15 RA 2 3.50
2 (CL) SRM-6s LA 3 3.00
@LRM-15 (8 ) RT 1 1.00
@LRM-20 (6) LT 2 1.00
@LRM-15 (8 ) RA 1 1.00
Crits & Tons Left: 2 0.0
Fear Configuration
Active Probe HD 1 1.00
(IS) Md Pulse Laser CT 1 2.00
Guardian ECM Suite RA 2 1.50
(IS) Md Pulse Laser LA 1 2.00
(IS) Flamer LA 1 1.00
@LRM-20 (6) (Deci)* RT 1 1.00
@LRM-20 (6) (Deci)* LT 1 1.00
Upper Arm Actuator RA 1 0.00
Upper Arm Actuator LA 1 0.00
Crits & Tons Left: 0 0.0
*Decimation Missiles are SRM and LRM specialty ammunition types which deal no damage to armored targets. Decimation missiles deal double damage to unarmored infantry, terrain, and non-hardened buildings.
Known Issues: "The Word" should be properly spelled out as "The Word of Blake"; repetition of the word "models" under Overview; under Battle History "leading the closest" should read "always leading the closest"; explicitly state the Tait stepped into the role of "Hellfire" after his escape from prison; under Battle History "almost gave" should be "should have given"; maybe make up your mind on whether it's "The Word" or "the Word"; repetition of the word "small" in the A config description; under Variants "overwhelming numbers" should be "an overwhelming number"; remove Inner Sphere notations on equipment and note all ClanTech-equivalent equipment with a (C) notation after that equipment's description.
