I think this is the last concept (technically two of them) from me. The ON1-SX is clearly a precursor to the Heavy Gauss Rifle equipped monsters that Defiance starts churning out in the 3060s. The ON1-S is just a solid fire-support 'Mech, though not terribly flashy. In all cases, I tried to feature Defiance produced weapons that were not yet on full production 'Mechs, but which would have been available in their final production form by 3053.
Type: ON1-S and ON1-SX Orion
Production: Federated Commonwealth (Defiance Industries refit, Hesperus)
Combat Value: 1871 BV (ON1-S); 1656 BV (ON1-SX)
Total Cost: 7,105,000 C-Bills (ON1-S); 7,203,000 C-Bills (ON1-SX)
Internal Struc (Endo): 4t
Engine: Vlar 300: 19t
Walking: 4
Running: 6
Heat Sinks: 10(20)
Gyro/Cockpit (std): 6t
Armor Factor (Std): 14.5t (231-max pips)
Head 3/9
Center Torso 23/36/10
R/L Torso 16/22/10
R/L Arm 12/24
R/L Leg 16/32
Quirk: Anti-Aircraft Targeting, Easy to Maintain, Rugged (1)
WEAPONS (ON1-S)
1x ER PPC (3cr, 7t) RA
1x Gauss Rifle (7cr, 15t) RT
2x Ammo (Gauss) 16 (2cr, 2t) RT
1x Ammo (Streak) 50 (1cr, 1t) RT
1x CASE (1cr, 0.5t) RT
4x Streak SRM-2 (4cr, 6t) 2LT/2LA
WEAPONS (ON1-SX)
1x Long Tom Art. Cannon (15cr, 20t) 10RA/5RT
3x Ammo (LTAC) 15 (3cr, 3t) RT
1x Ammo (Streak) 50 (1cr, 1t) RT
1x CASE (1cr, 0.5t) RT
4x Streak SRM-2 (4cr, 6t) 2LT/2LA
+1 Double Heat Sink (0cr, 1t) -engine-
Throughout the centuries, the Lyran Commonwealth half of the Federated Commonwealth acquired quite a number of Orion ON1-K heavy ‘Mechs, either as battlefield salvage, or by purchasing surplus and used chassis from the Free Worlds League’s secondary arms market. Following the Clan Invasion, as the AFFC scrambled to rebuild their shattered ‘Mech forces, the Orion was seen as one of the ‘Mechs needing an upgrade, as the mid-ranged brawler had performed miserably against speedier, and longer-ranged, Clan forces. Defiance Industries’ proposal was among the most intriguing, and as one of the major arms manufacturers of the Commonwealth (with long-standing ties to the military procurement bureaucracy), their ON1-S proposal was quickly green-lit, with refits at their Hesperus facility proceeding apace by the middle of 3053.
Defiance clearly approached the refit contract as an opportunity to test out their latest lostech developments, starting with a bulky Chariot Type IV Endo-Steel frame that appeared to be slightly oversized as a chassis for the Orion (a nearly identical design would be used for their Salamander 80t assault ‘Mech, which would release a year later in 3054). All heat sinks were replaced with double-strength “freezers”, and the ancient comms and targeting systems were replaced with a matched TharHes HM-22 commset and targeting system, both taken from their new Battle Hawk line, both comparable to the 26th-century electronics on the older ON1-K models. Fourteen and a half tons of “Glasgow Limited”-branded ‘Mech armor, with integrated CASE protection, replace the existing armored plating, and retaining the peerless armored protection that defines the Orion line of heavy ‘Mechs.
All weapons systems on the older Orions were removed to make way for Defiance Industries replacements. The ‘Mech is assymmetrical, in that its long-ranged weapons are both on the right half, while its short-ranged weapons are on the left half; this is intended to allow ‘Mechwarriors to torso-twist the ‘Mech to better protect its critical weapons, by ‘blocking’ with the other half of their ‘Mech’s armor and chassis. The two main weapons systems on the ON1-S include a new Defiance product, the Defiance 1001 ER PPC, which first appeared on their Zeus upgrade in 3048. It is paired with a Poland Main Model A, under license from Johnston Industries, making clear Defiance’s interest in developing their own Gauss rifle lines. Two tons of ammunition feed the CASE-protected Gauss Rifle.
By comparison, the left side weapons, while just as cutting-edge, are much shorter-ranged. Four Defiance Streak SRM2 racks, two in the left arm housing, and two in the left torso housing, sip from a single ton of Streak SRM ammo in the CASE-protected right torso. The weapons are quite ammunition efficient, and can potentially hit as hard as the Gauss Rifle if all four weapons systems achieve target lock – by default, each pair of weapons is locked to fire as a set, but the TharHes Ares HM-22 targeting system can readily handle multiple target locks and cascading (as opposed to simultaneous) acquisition and launch.
As a showcase for their newest products, the ON1-S Orion is proving to be a tremendous success for Defiance Industries, leading to a great deal of interest throughout the ranks of the AFFC about upcoming Defiance releases and new ‘Mech designs. Defiance has also released test footage of an ON1-SX refit, available to the AFFC (or interested mercenary buyers) as a special order, highlighting yet another pre-production weapons system: this variant Orion replaces both the ERPPC and the Gauss Rifle (as well as the entire set of right arm actuators) with a short-barreled Long Tom Artillery Cannon, capable of inflicting damage comparable to an AC-20 at ranges of 600 meters, nearly identical to a Gauss Rifle. The tremendous weight and bulk of the LTAC, however, as well as its massive cooling demands (requiring an additional double heat sink in the ON1-SX), suggest that Defiance is looking for ways to create a more efficient big gun in the next generation or two of armaments R&D (indeed, the earliest successful implementation of this concept would see production in 3061 with the release of the Defiance “Hammerfist” Heavy Gauss Rifle, and the Fafnir assault mech in 3063).
