Somewhat of a detour this week is bought to you in part by Abele’s entry and a lingering thought I keep getting. What would happen if a Clan Mechwarrior, in this case from the Fire Mandrills, took the best parts of the Nova (aka the Black Hawk and the star of last weeks upgrade) and mixed them with the best parts of the Quasar (see Quicksilver Program #8, link below) to create a new OmniMech? May I introduce you to the Pulsar created for Rupert Kline of the Simian Blazers.
Quasar (50 ton Zombie OmniMech)
https://www.ourbattletech.com/forum/index.php?topic=2670.msg36266#msg36266PULSAR
Mass: 50 tons
Chassis: Star League XTA
Power Plant: 250 XL Model SF-2
Cruising Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86 kph, 108 kph with MASC
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Compound FM3 Ferro-Fibrous
Armament: 22 tons of pod space available for weapons and equipment
Manufacturer: Field Rebuild
Primary Factory: N/A
Communications System: CH3B
Targeting and Tracking System: Version Omega-V TTS
OVERVIEW
Rupert Kline’s original Nova had been rebuilt countless times long before the Simian Blazers began their fight for unity among the Fire Mandrill Clan. The creation of the new Quasar OmniMech gave Chief Tech Megis the opportunity to meld the best of both fifty-ton designs into a superior new one. Eager to improve his war machine’s combat performance Rupert agreed to the senior technician’s suggestion. With the blessing of Star Colonel Alexandra Jannik the two set out on a whirlwind series of modifications which would culminate in the birth of a new OmniMech, the Pulsar.
CAPABILITIES
Built around the venerable Star League XTA chassis shared by both the Nova and the Quasar this century old combat skeleton provides an exceptional base for the new Pulsar. The electronics systems are also identical and enabled easy alteration between parts from either ‘Mech design. Using the 250 XL Model SF-2 Engine from the Nova enables the Pulsar to reaches speeds of eighty-six kilometers per hour at maximum power at about half of the tonnage of the Quasar’s standard fusion engine. Myomer Accessorator Signal Circuitry (MASC) used on the Quasar further boosts that speed to over one hundred kilometers per hour for short bursts. Also like the Quasar it has no fixed jump jets and only those Double Heat Sinks mounted directly to the extra light engine. Finally, Compound FM3 Ferro-Fibrous from the Quasar improve slightly on the Nova’s armor protection for less tons. While both this advanced plating and the lighter power plant take up additional internal space with their bulkier construction materials the benefits outweighed any potential drawbacks. As a consequence of all these adaptations the design has six more tons of pod space then either the Nova or Quasar can mount.
Rupert basing his initial weapons loadout on the original Nova Prime but replaced the dozen Extended Range Medium Lasers with eight Medium Pulse Lasers. Six additional Double Heat Sinks were added to help offset the heat generated by these energy weapons. Only heat produced by movement causes slight overages which must be monitored over the course of combat. While some critics warned about the dangers of such a limited close-range arsenal Rupert has already proven to be deadly accurate. At three hundred sixty meters or closer with this new configuration none have survived his brutal onslaughts thus far.
Type: Pulsar
Technology Base: Clan Level 2
Tonnage: 50 tons
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: 5
Engine: 250 XL 6.5
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8 [10]
Jumping MP: 0 0
Heat Sinks: 10 (20) 0
Gyro: 3
Cockpit: 3
Armor Factor: 163 8.5
Internal Structure Armor Value
Head 3 9
Center Torso 16 22 / 8
R/L Torso 12 17 / 6
R/L Arm 8 16
R/L Leg 12 23
Weight and Space Allocation
Location Fixed Spaces Remaining
Head 1
Center Torso MASC 0
Right Torso XL Engine 9
1 Ferro-Fibrous
Left Torso XL Engine 8
2 Ferro-Fibrous
Right Arm 1 Ferro-Fibrous 7
Left Arm 1 Ferro-Fibrous 7
Right Leg 1 Ferro-Fibrous 1
Left Leg 1 Ferro-Fibrous 1
Weapons and Ammo: Location Criticals Mass
Primary Weapons Configuration
4 Medium Pulse Lasers Right Arm 4 8
4 Medium Pulse Lasers Left Arm 4 8
2 Double Heat Sinks Right Torso 4 2
2 Double Heat Sinks Left Torso 4 2
Double Heat Sink Right Arm 2 1
Double Heat Sink Left Arm 2 1
The challenge for you this week is to come up with the rest of the configurations and for your fluff bonus tell me about your Mechwarrior who is no doubt linked to these loadouts. Like Megis and Rupert they no doubt realized the possibilities offered by the mixing the Nova and Quasar together to create one of these new OmniMechs.
Who uses the new Quasar you ask? Well it is a Fire Mandrill design which has spread quickly to four other Clans (Blood Spirit, Ghost Bear, Steel Viper, Goliath Scopion) who no doubt use it to prop up their existing Nova force, at least in part. Likewise, it is possible that a Mechwarrior from the four Clans (Hell's Horses, Snow Raven, Coyote, Burrock) who stubbornly refused to move on from the Nova has seized upon the Pulsar concept for their own use. Nine Clans to choose from folks!
Again, you are not allowed to alter the base design itself but the configurations are opened game. Clan Level 2 is the tech level for this contest just after Tukayyid so no ATMs, AP Gauss, Heavy Lasers, or Light Active Probes! Teamwork is also very welcomed so if you have an idea it is acceptable to collaborate. Since multiple configurations can win whoever gets the most wins, wins!
I am opened to those who may want to leave the MASC out for even more pod space - let me know what you think!
Please have your entries in by Friday February 23rd, 2018 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, good luck!!