This fits in the 10th double heat sink that the 9Q really wishes it had. Surprisingly easy fix, and it fits into the existing fluff extremely well -- Technicron appears to completely stop manufacture of the Pitban 240 when they upgrade to the 9M.
Type: AWS 250-series (AWS-8U, AWS-8T2, AWS-8Y)
Production: Free Worlds League (Technicron Manufacturing, Savannah)
Combat Value: 1796 BV (8U0, 1780 (8T2), 1776 (8Y)
Total Cost: 7,194,119 C-Bills (8U), 6,675,719 C-Bills (8T2), 7,366,919 (8Y)
Internal Struc (std): 8t
Engine: Magna 250: 12.5t
Walking: 3
Running: 5
Heat Sinks: 10(20): 0t base (but see below for variants)
Gyro/Cockpit (std): 6t
Armor Factor (std): 15.5t (247-max pips)
Head 3/9
Center Torso 25/31/19
R/L Torso 17/24/10
R/L Arm 13/26
R/L Leg 17/34
Quirk: Battlefist (only on the 8T2 and 8Y, lost on the 8U)
WEAPONS INVENTORY (AWS-8U)
4x PPCs (12cr, 28t) RA/RT/LT/LA
+10 DHS (30cr, 10t) 6RA/9RT/9LT/6LA
WEAPONS INVENTORY (AWS-8T2)
1x Large Laser (2cr, 5t) RA
+2 DHS (6cr, 2t) RA
12x LRM-5 (12cr, 24t) 6RT/6LT
10x Ammo (LRM) 240 (10cr, 10t) RT/LT
2x CASE (2cr, 1t) RT/LT
WEAPONS INVENTORY (AWS-8Y)
1x Large Laser (2cr, 5t) RA
+2 DHS (3cr, 1t) RA
2x AC-20 (20cr, 28t) RT/LT
1x Guardian ECM (2cr, 1.5t) CT
1x CASE (1t, 0.5t) LT
6x Ammo (AC) 30 (6cr, 6t) LA
One of the challenges facing Technicron Manufacturing is that their two signature ‘Mechs – the Quickdraw and the Awesome – are also produced by much larger armaments firms with stronger ties to the Great Houses – Luthien Armor Works for the Quickdraw, and Irian Battlemechs Unlimited for the Awesome. Ironically, both competitors arose as a result of Technicron’s struggles to survive throughout the Succession Wars, but despite that, Technicron has often had to demonstrate considerable agility in order to retain market share against their far larger rivals.
Technicron invested heavily in lostech in the 3040s, choosing to focus on Star-League era extended range energy weapons and extra light fusion engines. The AWS-9M was released to great fanfare in 3049, and its 64kph top speed and ER PPCs were major selling points, and the tremendous retail price of the 9M (over double that of the classic 8Q) was eagerly paid by House forces anxious to gain an edge over their rivals.
Then the Clan Invasion changed everything. Following the peace at Tukayyid, rebuilding FedCom and Combine forces were unwilling to spend over twice as much for an assault ‘Mech that was only marginally faster and longer-ranged than an older variant, and as a smaller firm, Technicron was unable to offer value-added service and logistics contracts that could compare to those underwritten by Irian. The problem was exacerbated by the chronic shortage of Fusigon Longtooth ER PPCs, which had been advanced ordered well into the late 3050s by the Federated Commonwealth for their own ‘Mechs and units.
Technicron scrambled for an alternative, and were able to restart production of older Kreuss standard PPCs, but had already converted their Pitban 240 standard fusion engine production lines, and the only ready source of 240-rated engines would have been the Hermes 240, manufactured by… Irian Battlemech Unlimited, which was already offering limited runs of classic, low-cost AWS-8Qs to interested parties. Instead, Technicron acquired the remaining stockpile of Magna 250 engines being held by smaller firms Kali Yama Weapon Industries of Kalidasa, and Corean-Stewart. The Magna 250s were available in part because both firms had upgraded their Trebuchet lines to use XL engines. Although intended purely as a stop-gap measure, Technicron discovered that the slightly oversized fusion engine allowed them to squeeze in additional double heat sinks to increase the cooling capacity of the Awesome. Test pilots also liked the modest additional ‘responsiveness’ of the lumbering ‘Mech, and as a result, their so-called 250 series effectively became their new standard power source.
The core Awesome in Technicron’s new catalog is the back-numbered AWS-8U, which represents a sizable step back from Technicron’s massive investment in XL technology and ER weaponns. The 8U is an extremely basic design, with four reliable and durable Kreuss PPCs, and twenty double-strength heat sinks packed into its massive 80-ton frame. It carries a full fifteen-and-a-half tons of “Durallex Heavy” standard ‘Mech armor, half a ton more than the classic Awesome, but does sacrifice any short-ranged firepower in doing so, relying exclusively on the threat of its four big guns.
Due to customer interest, Technicron offers two other variants to its 250-series, with the AWS-8T2 an upgrade of a moderately popular LRM variant from the Succession Wars era. Fitted with sixty-tubes of Zeus LRM launchers (sourced from KaliYama and Corean-Stewart) with thirty in each side torso, and a Magna Mk III large laser in the right arm housing as a ‘backup’ weapon, the AWS-8T2 has double the throw-weight of the older 8T variant, more than even an Archer or Longbow – an achievement possible because of the use of double heat sink technology. Ten tons of CASE-protected ammunition supply the launchers, with five tons of missiles in each side torso.
Technicron also offers the AWS-8Y, effectively turning the Awesome into a bipedal Demolisher. It carries a massive Kali Yama Big Bore AC/20 in each side torso, with six tons of ammunition in a boxy left-shoulder ammunition feed, indirectly CASE-protected at the left-torso rotator joint. As a single “backup” weapon, it carries a Magna Mk II large laser, and unusually, it also equips a Guardian ECM Suite in its center torso. Intended purely as a defensive anvil and offensive linebreaker, the 8Y has truly terrifying levels of firepower, although it is hampered to a great extent by the limited range of its primary weapons systems.
With an eye toward the future, Technicron is already working on a licensing deal with ImStar Aerospace to manufacture a ‘Mech-based variant of their GM 250a fusion engines, and the popularity of their AWS-8U, in particular, has forced Irian to re-assess their own production of Awesomes.
