CH-1M Chimera
Source: BattleTechnology: The Early Years
Mass: 75 tons
Chassis: Brigadier 5000
Power Plant: Vlar 300 XL
Cruising Speed: 47.3 kph
Maximum Speed: 69.9 kph
Jump Jets: Comet Trailblazer
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: StarGard
Armament:
1 Heartseeker Gauss Rifle
1 Doombringer LRM-15 Rack with Artemis IV FCS
1 Excelsior Large Pulse Laser
Manufacturer: Brigadier Corporation
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Rolm 7000 X
Targeting and Tracking System: ICM Lok-On
Overview:
The years just before the First Succession War were especially grim for Dr David Harrison and the Brigadier Corporation. When Dr Harrison had pioneered his revolutionary four legged ‘Mech designs, he was certain that they would usher in a new era of BattleMech warfare. His vision had convinced the tiny Brigadier Corporation to gamble its financial life on his novel designs.
Now, during the last days of the Star League, Harrison’s dreams were dying, and Brigadier was slowly sinking into financial oblivion. Criticism poured in from all sides, and even his supporters were referring to quads as "an idea whose time has not yet come." In desperation, Brigadier decided to try one last design. With Dr Harrison’s consent, the company pooled its remaining resources, ceased production of the Rhino, and radically reduced the number of Scorpions and Goliaths being produced to begin production of this new design.
All ‘Mechs are designed for a certain role: scouting, fire support, assault, etc. This new design, tentatively designated ‘Omega’, was no exception. The Omega was designed to save Brigadier from financial ruin, while simultaneously vindicating Dr Harrison. In short, the Omega was designed to satisfy all and displease none.
To this end, Dr Harrison began by taking a hard look at the criticisms of his designs. The Scorpion’s speed was a tremendous asset, but was more than offset by its rough ride, lack of armor, and inadequate support weaponry. The Goliath had excellent protection, a good long range punch, and a smooth ride, but these were offset by its lack of short range support weaponry and its sheer cost. Brigadier simply couldn’t afford to produce a large number of assault ‘Mechs with their limited resources. Finally, the Rhino had demonstrated that ‘Mechs based on a ‘surprise tactic’ were only effective until the surprise wore off. He resolved that the new design would inherit the best characteristics of his predecessors. In addition, Dr Harrison solicited opinions from the MechWarriors themselves. This design would be popular with the quartermaster and the warrior alike.
Capabilities:
The first critical consideration was size. Many felt that the Scorpion was too small, and the Goliath was too large for Brigadier to produce in great numbers. Dr Harrison finally settled on 75 tons, the heaviest ‘Mech that Brigadier could hope to produce in reasonable quantities. This aside, he turned to popular opinion.
Warrior feedback indicated that the risky ‘Death From Above' attack was extremely popular, yet none of the quad designs could jump. Dr Harrison integrated four Comet jump jets into the Omega. The jump jets are the Omega’s most distinctive feature. Dr Harrison had long since proved that four legged ‘Mechs are inherently more stable than two legged ones. This made the Omega perfect for ‘Death From Above' attacks. If the attack is successful, the ‘Mech has up to a thirty two percent better chance of remaining on its feet than a standard two legged design.
Unfortunately, there was a price to pay for this ability. The Omega required the most sophisticated gyroscope ever installed into a ‘Mech. The device was reliable, but only Brigadier manufactured replacements, and these cost up to 300% more than a ‘normal' gyro of the same weight.
In addition to the Omega’s mobility, Dr Harrison was determined to provide the Omega with considerable punch. He began by mounting the deadly HeartSeeker Gauss Rifle (complete with two tons of ammunition) for long range work. The medium ranges were covered by a DoomBringer LRM-15 rack with an Artemis IV fire control system. Finally, anything that wandered into short range had to face the fury of an Excelsior large pulse laser.
Protection was also a top priority for Dr Harrison and his design staff. The Omega’s internal systems are entombed in fourteen tons of StarGard armor.
The Omega had inherited the firepower and protection of the Goliath, and some of the mobility of the Scorpion, but nothing from the Rhino. Dr Harrison resolved to remedy this. It was well known that infantry often tried to sneak up under four legged ‘Mechs, hoping for an easy shot at the cockpit. The Omega boasted a well armored underbelly, and the ability to make a special‘squash attack’. In addition, the sophisticated gyro made it possible for the Omega to brace itself on its front legs and kick directly to its rear!
Finally, the only thing the Omega lacked was a name. Some members of the design staff favored the tentative designation. Dr Harrison pointed out that ‘Omega’ was Greek for ‘Last’*. He felt certain that this would not be the last quad design once the Great Houses saw its military abilities. In the end, it was Dr Harrison’s youngest daughter who solved their dilemma. She had always been fascinated with ancient Terran mythology, and she thought the new design looked like a chimera. Dr Harrison explained to his staff that a chimera was a four legged monster with huge bat wings and the heads of a dragon, a lion, and a goat. The new name seemed perfect – each of the heads corresponded to a weapons system and the jump jets to the wings. In a fit of inspiration, Dr Harrison hired the consultants that had designed the grim visage of the now famous AS-7D Atlas to improve the resemblance.
Once again these freelance consultants worked their magic. The Gauss Rifle resembled a dragon's head, the LRMs resembled a goat’s, and the large pulse laser was seemingly embedded in a lion's maw. Dr Harrison was thrilled with the results, even though they delayed production by a full three months.
The Chimera entered production in the latter years of the First Succession War. All of the Houses placed substantial orders, and it looked as if Brigadier might pull out of its financial doldrums until a fatal problem in the ultra-sophisticated gyro surfaced. Brigadier worked frantically on the problem, but by the time it was fully solved hostilities had ceased. Nevertheless, Brigadier resumed production until its demise in the very early years of the Second Succession War. It is estimated that of the seventeen hundred Chimeras manufactured by Brigadier, fully one fourth were destroyed in the opening years of the war, but the whereabouts of the others remained a mystery until one was seen serving in a Kurita Regiment in the 3039 War. Since then, several of these versatile ‘Mechs have appeared in the Com Guards.
* ' The designers of the Assault BattleMech who chose the name ‘Omega' took the other meaning of ‘Ultimate’.
Deployment:
Due to the incredible destruction of the Second Succession War, there are only fragmentary references of Chimeras in combat. In the first year of the war, a mercenary battalion in the service of House Davion was attacked by a Kuritan battalion on the planet Lucerne. The mercenaries had just bought an entire lance of Chimeras from Brigadier, deploying them as a last line of defense for the city they were defending. The Chimeras settled in on a ridge facing the expected Kuritan landing site. Their intelligence proved correct, and a horrific battle formed on the plains in front of the Chimeras. A lance of Kuritan BattleMasters managed to rip through the mercenary lines and headed for the city.
The combined long range fury of four Gauss Rifles and four LRM racks devastated the BattleMasters, who could only reply with their extended range PPCs. The wounded BattleMasters closed the gap between themselves and the Chimeras. Ostensibly, the BattleMasters had the Chimeras outgunned at short range, but the large pulse lasers and the HeartSeeker Gauss Rifle continued to deliver harsh punishment on the invaders, two of whom were destroyed. The remaining pair sought to flee, but one Chimera launched itself into what is described as "a perfect Death From Above jump kick" that devastated a fleeing BattleMaster’s tattered center torso, leaving it a smoking ruin. The last BattleMaster was directly behind the Chimera that had destroyed his lancemate, and moved in for the kill only to discover, to his horror, the Chimera’s ‘bronco’ kick. With the BattleMasters dispatched, the Chimeras returned to their ridge.
Type: CH-1M Chimera
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: 7.5
Engine: 300 XL 9.5
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 4
Heat Sinks: 10 [20] 0
Gyro: 3
Cockpit: 3
Armor Factor: 224 14
Internal
Structure Armor
Value
Head 3 9
Center Torso 23 32
Center Torso (rear) 11
R/L Torso 16 22
R/L Torso (rear) 10
R/LArm 16 24
R/L Leg 16 30
Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
Gauss Rifle RT 7 15
Ammo (Gauss) 16 RT 2 2
LRM-15 CT 3 7
Artemis IV FCS RA 1 1
Ammo (LRM) 8 LA 1 1
Ammo (LRM) 8 LA 1 1
Large Pulse Laser RA 3 7
Jump Jet LFL 1 1
Jump Jet RFL 1 1
Jump Jet LRL 1 1
Jump Jet RRL 1 1
