Overview
Having suffered huge losses after fighting the Clans both in terms of units and of worlds (with only 12.6% of their units remaining and 8.3% of their worlds), the Free Rasalhague Republic is facing a serious threat to its own existence.
Even if ComStar bought some relief by winning a truce thanks to their win on Tukayyid and is pouring units and money in what remain of the Free Rasalhague Republic, its leaders know that it is never good to rely on someone else’s generosity and have taken several initiatives to solve this problem. One of them is to make use of the “peace†to test new tactics and new equipments to go along what could be seen as a new military doctrine.
The loss suffered means that each remaining world will have to be defended and kept in KungsArmé hands and this can only happen by using the weaknesses of the Clans against them, one of them being the lack of proper reconnaissance at the strategical and tactical levels and another one being a refusal to concentrate firepower when allowed.
The first part was obviously for either Light ‘Mechs or speedy vehicles that could evade detection and outrun most troubles but once on the battlefield where space was so tight, they were too vulnerable for the superior firepower enjoyed by the Clans. This is where a proposal was made to use a heavier model.
The “freedom†enjoyed by the decrease in the number of ‘Mechs in the army, the lack of production capacities (meaning that there was no industrial lobby to use a certain model rather than another) and the support of most States in the Inner Sphere allowed the KungsArmé to launch an experiment with retrofits of older designs before deciding if they were interesting enough to build new production lines or to secure privileged access to them.
Based on the prescriptions, the Ostroc was selected. Its rarity allowed it not to be missed in front-line units if things went wrong and its profile and mix of speed, armour and firepower made it a good fighter in different roles from urban fighter to heavy scout or deep raider.
Capabilities
Odin Manufacturing got the contract for this test run as it was already producing Ostscout on Orestes and as a compensation since its production lines were not going through a heavy upgrade like Grumium Creations or Janesek Industries.
The first step was upgrading all the available chassis to the OSR-2D standards and this was done thanks to a shipment of ER Large Lasers from ComStar sponsored Blankenburg Technologies.
The following step was to decrease the number of Double Heat Sinks, dropping all those not in the Fusion Engine, preventing it from alpha-striking but keeping it in capacity to fire its twin ER Large Lasers without any problem.
The next choice made was to use Ferro-Fibrous to improve the overall protection.
Willing to test and try several ideas, the KungsArmé requested Odin Manufacturing to come up with some new ideas for tactical scouting and fire coordination variants based on this chassis, both areas where the Inner Sphere could enjoy some superiority.
5 designs were presented by the manufacturer, each christened according to one of the names of the God Odin or to something linked to it to show its role on the battlefield.
The first, Geirvaldr or Spear Master, dropped the classical SRM-4 for 9 tons of Ferro-Fibrous Armour, 6 Medium Lasers and a Remote Sensor Dispenser to detect where Clans are headed. To shield it when it drops the sensors, a Guardian ECM was added.
The second variant is Geirtýr, or Spear God, and exchanges 4 Medium Lasers for a Narc Missile Beacon and one ton of ammo, allowing to tag team with other missile equipped units.
To be efficient, sensors must be monitored and this is where the Rúnatýr, God of Runes, comes in. 6 Medium Lasers and a Beagle Active Probe allows it to be dangerous on its own while being able to “read the future†and detect hidden or moving opponents. To shield it a bit more, the armour was upgrade to 9.5 tons.
The last two variants are named Huginn and Muninn for the two ravens of the god Odin and were constructed only thanks to a shipment of C3 Computers given through ComStar for further test.
As said in the Poetic Edda from old,
I fear for Huginn,
that he come not
back,
yet more anxious
am I for Muninn.
Muninn carries the heart and soul of a C3 unit, a C3 Master Computer. To do that, the only available weapons are the 2 ER Large Lasers and the 2 Medium Lasers. However, the armour was increased to 10 tons of Ferro-Fibrous.
Huginn packs the firepower of other Ostroc variants with 6 Medium Lasers added to its twin ER Large Lasers. This way, it can bring a lot of firepower while serving as a spotter for others thanks to its C3 Slave Computer.
Battle History
So far, only tests have been conducted to verify the feasibility of the new tactics under development but they have proven quite successful giving the KungsArmé some extra flexibility by allowing it to detect the approaching threats and to mass its strength to take it down.
Deployment
The KungsArmé seems pleased with the new Ostroc and a decision regarding which one(s) to retain is likely to happen quickly. However without ComStar funding, it is unlikely that a production line will be created.
Notable ‘MechWarriors
Fjalar or Deceiver is the nickname of a Lance of the new Ostroc variants assigned to the 2nd Kavalleri where it leads a scout unit. Following Överste Pegrem’s claim to her ties with a long line of ninjas, the identity of their pilots and the exact variant in this Lance is kept a secret to further confuse its potential opponents about who or what they are facing.
Ostroc OSR-3 Geirvaldr
Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-D-D
Production Year: 3052
Dry Cost: 6 088 960 C-Bills
Total Cost: 6 088 960 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 616
Chassis: OST-II Standard
Power Plant: Vlar 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Aldis Heavy Ferro-Fibrous Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
2 Blankenburg Technologies/Blankenburg ER Large Lasers
6 Ostmann Industries/Fuersturm-b Medium Lasers
1 New Samarkand Metals/New Samarkand Nimbus Guardian ECM Suite
1 Odin Manufacturing/Gangráðr Remote Sensor Dispenser
Manufacturer: Ostmann Industries
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Ostmann-L
Targeting and Tracking System: Ferdinand-a
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 99 points 6,00
Engine: Fusion Engine 300 19,00
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 12(24) 2,00
Gyro: Standard 3,00
Cockpit: Standard 3,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 161 9,00
Armor Locations: 9 LT, 5 RT
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 20 24
Center Torso (rear) 8
L/R Torso 14 22
L/R Torso (rear) 6
L/R Arm 10 12
L/R Leg 14 20
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guardian ECM Suite CT 0 2 1,50
ER Large Laser RT 12 2 5,00
5 Medium Lasers RT 15 5 5,00
ER Large Laser LT 12 2 5,00
Medium Laser LT 3 1 1,00
Remote Sensor Dispenser LA 0 1 0,50
Free Critical Slots: 20
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 5 Points: 16
5 3 3 1 0 3 2 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: ECM, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
Ostroc OSR-3 Geirtýr
Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-D-D
Production Year: 3052
Dry Cost: 5 992 960 C-Bills
Total Cost: 5 998 960 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 511
Chassis: OST-II Standard
Power Plant: Vlar 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Aldis Heavy Ferro-Fibrous Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
2 Blankenburg Technologies/Blankenburg ER Large Lasers
2 Ostmann Industries/Fuersturm-b Medium Lasers
1 Ceres Metal Industries/Apple Churchill Guiding Light Narc Launcher
1 New Samarkand Metals/New Samarkand Nimbus Guardian ECM Suite
1 Odin Manufacturing/Gangráðr Remote Sensor Dispenser
Manufacturer: Ostmann Industries
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Ostmann-L
Targeting and Tracking System: Ferdinand-a
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 99 points 6,00
Engine: Fusion Engine 300 19,00
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 12(24) 2,00
Gyro: Standard 3,00
Cockpit: Standard 3,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 161 9,00
Armor Locations: 9 LT, 5 RT
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 20 24
Center Torso (rear) 8
L/R Torso 14 22
L/R Torso (rear) 6
L/R Arm 10 12
L/R Leg 14 20
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guardian ECM Suite CT 0 2 1,50
ER Large Laser RT 12 2 5,00
Medium Laser RT 3 1 1,00
Narc Launcher RT 0 2 3,00
ER Large Laser LT 12 2 5,00
Medium Laser LT 3 1 1,00
Remote Sensor Dispenser LA 0 1 0,50
@Narc (Homing) (6) RT - 1 1,00
Free Critical Slots: 21
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 5 Points: 15
5 3 3 2 0 3 0 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: ECM, SNARC, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
Ostroc OSR-3 Rúnatýr
Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-D-D
Production Year: 3052
Dry Cost: 6 056 960 C-Bills
Total Cost: 6 056 960 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 578
Chassis: OST-II Standard
Power Plant: Vlar 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Aldis Heavy Ferro-Fibrous Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
2 Blankenburg Technologies/Blankenburg ER Large Lasers
6 Ostmann Industries/Fuersturm-b Medium Lasers
1 Defiance Motors/Diplan Inquisitor Beagle Active Probe
Manufacturer: Ostmann Industries
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Ostmann-L
Targeting and Tracking System: Ferdinand-a
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 99 points 6,00
Engine: Fusion Engine 300 19,00
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 12(24) 2,00
Gyro: Standard 3,00
Cockpit: Standard 3,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 170 9,50
Armor Locations: 9 LT, 5 RT
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 20 26
Center Torso (rear) 9
L/R Torso 14 22
L/R Torso (rear) 6
L/R Arm 10 15
L/R Leg 14 20
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beagle Active Probe CT 0 2 1,50
ER Large Laser RT 12 2 5,00
5 Medium Lasers RT 15 5 5,00
ER Large Laser LT 12 2 5,00
Medium Laser LT 3 1 1,00
Free Critical Slots: 21
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 6 Points: 16
5 3 3 1 0 3 2 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: PRB, RCN, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
Ostroc OSR-3 Huginn
Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-D
Production Year: 3052
Dry Cost: 6 152 960 C-Bills
Total Cost: 6 152 960 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 595
Chassis: OST-II Standard
Power Plant: Vlar 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Aldis Heavy Ferro-Fibrous Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
2 Blankenburg Technologies/Blankenburg ER Large Lasers
6 Ostmann Industries/Fuersturm-b Medium Lasers
1 Kallon Industries/Kallon Sure-Shot C3-SU C3 Computer (Slave)
Manufacturer: Ostmann Industries
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Ostmann-L
Targeting and Tracking System: Ferdinand-a
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 99 points 6,00
Engine: Fusion Engine 300 19,00
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 12(24) 2,00
Gyro: Standard 3,00
Cockpit: Standard 3,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 179 10,00
Armor Locations: 9 LT, 5 RT
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 20 27
Center Torso (rear) 9
L/R Torso 14 22
L/R Torso (rear) 6
L/R Arm 10 17
L/R Leg 14 22
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C3 Computer (Slave) HD 0 1 1,00
ER Large Laser RT 12 2 5,00
5 Medium Lasers RT 15 5 5,00
ER Large Laser LT 12 2 5,00
Medium Laser LT 3 1 1,00
Free Critical Slots: 22
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 6 Points: 16
5 3 3 1 0 3 2 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: C3S, ENE, MHQ1, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
Ostroc OSR-3 Muninn
Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-D
Production Year: 3052
Dry Cost: 7 896 960 C-Bills
Total Cost: 7 896 960 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 469
Chassis: OST-II Standard
Power Plant: Vlar 300 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54,0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86,4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Aldis Heavy Ferro-Fibrous Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
2 Blankenburg Technologies/Blankenburg ER Large Lasers
2 Ostmann Industries/Fuersturm-b Medium Lasers
1 Kallon Industries/Kallon Sure-Shot C3-MU C3 Computer (Master)
Manufacturer: Ostmann Industries
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Ostmann-L
Targeting and Tracking System: Ferdinand-a
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 99 points 6,00
Engine: Fusion Engine 300 19,00
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 12(24) 2,00
Gyro: Standard 3,00
Cockpit: Standard 3,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 179 10,00
Armor Locations: 1 HD, 9 LT, 4 RT
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 20 27
Center Torso (rear) 9
L/R Torso 14 22
L/R Torso (rear) 6
L/R Arm 10 17
L/R Leg 14 22
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Large Laser RT 12 2 5,00
Medium Laser RT 3 1 1,00
C3 Computer (Master) RT 0 5 5,00
ER Large Laser LT 12 2 5,00
Medium Laser LT 3 1 1,00
Free Critical Slots: 22
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 6 Points: 15
5 3 3 2 0 3 0 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: C3M, TAG, ENE, MHQ5, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA