Overview
The Dire Wolf is the ultimate war machine in the arsenal of the Clans but failed to find a place both because it was produced late (only 40 years before Operation Revival), with the production being kept by two Clans (Clan Wolf and Clan Smoke Jaguar) and because its lack of mobility made it unable to truly fit in the tactics of the Clans.
Having managed to protect “their†‘Mech during the different Trials after Operation Revival, Clan Wolf nevertheless felt that something had to be done. Unwilling to rely on mass production of only one model (even if it was the epitome of a true Assault ‘Mech), they decided to launch Trials of Possession within the Clans still willing to use the Dire Wolf to design new Configurations based on the same chassis.
The proposal was sent to the 5 Clans concerned (Snow Raven, Steel Viper, Diamond Shark, Hell’s Horses, and Nova Cat), letting Clan Smoke Jaguar out of the picture with each Clan having the right to select 5 Warriors each and let them compete for the right to design a Configuration, which they would be allowed to take back to their Clan.
Because of the pride of being chosen and the gains in terms of reputation, Warriors within each Clan eagerly accepted the challenge, forcing their Khans to hold the selections as quickly as possible.
Capabilities
The first priority for Clan Wolf was to review the Dire Wolf to see if something could be improved. And they indeed found something: 3 Double Heat Sinks could be easily removed, giving the Dire Wolf a weapon capacity almost akin to a Heavy ‘Mech.
Prime Configuration was left for Clan Wolf and Warrior Wetzel of the 341st Assault Cluster won the right to design it. Keeping the mixed approach of the original Prime, the firepower laid in two massive volleys: one designed for longer ranges with 2 ER PPC and a LRM-15 with three tons of ammo, the second one for shorter ranges packs 9 Medium Pulse Lasers.
All these weapons have seen their precision increased through the use of a Targeting Computer and of an Artemis-IV Fire Control System. 20 Double Heat Sinks manage to keep the heat low when the weapons are fired in bracket.
For extra protection, an ECM Suite was added as well as 2 Flamers.
Warrior Aaliyah Attwater of the 4th Nova Cat Guard managed to come as the winner of her Trial for Configuration A. Focusing on the marksmanship that was the signature of this unit, she decided to go for a triplet of Gauss Rifles with 5 ton of ammo. As back-up weapons, a LRM-15 and 4 ER Medium Lasers were added.
Thanks to its 15 Double Heat Sinks, this Configuration can fire as long as it has ammo without having to think about the heat generated.
Nova Commander Markus of Clan Hell’s Horses managed to win the spot for Configuration B. A firm believer in combined-arms operations like his Clan but knowing well as a member of the 333rd Mechanized Strike Cluster that ‘Mechs were to deliver maximal efficiency for their payload to allow the pinning down of opponents while the Elementals moved in position to finish them.
To do so a massive gun was needed and a LB 20-X Autocannon was selected with 3 tons of ammo. 6 ER Medium Lasers were also added to bring more firepower at the spearhead of any attack, where the Dire Wolf should be. For opponents staying at longer ranges, a LRM-10 and 2 Large Pulse Lasers were selected, giving them the incentive to get closer or be slowly destroyed.
Knowing rather well the need to make each shot count, he requested the addition of a Targeting Computer and an ECM Suite to protect it from any hostile electronics. Due to the possibility of it fighting at really close ranges and against unseen enemies, 3 Jump Jets and an Active Probe were finally selected.
Configuration C is seen by most as a tribute to Natasha Kerensky. Designed by a Dire Wolf pilot, Warrior Regarro from the 13th Wolf Guards Cluster, it is more likely a mix between a Warhammer and a Thug. Packing 2 ER PPC, 2 ER Medium Lasers and 2 Streak SRM-6 split in the arms, it was also given a LRM-15, an ER Large Laser and a third ER Medium Laser.
22 Double Heat Sinks try to keep the heat at manageable levels, which is why a Targeting Computer was added to make each shot count. Almost as an afterthought, the mobility of this Dire Wolf was improved through the use of Jump Jets.
Configuration D shows that Clan Diamond Sharks might have learned something from their defeat on Tukayyid. Star Captain Ha-Jun Takahira of the 39th Striker Cluster decided to go for a Configuration that could operate without any support.
With 4 Large Pulse Lasers and 6 ER Medium Lasers, the Dire Wolf D can stay as long as needed on the battlefield. Should the need for more firepower arise, 3 SRM-6 are there to exploit the holes made by the energy weapons.
22 Double Heat Sinks allows it to fire in brackets but knowing that the best fights are the shortest ones, Star Captain Ha-Jun Takahira requested a Targeting Computer to make every shot hit the mark or the right spot.
The right to make Configuration E was won by Star Captain Adolfo, one of the surviving members of the 423rd Assault Cluster.
Going for the all-or-nothing approach so characteristic of the Clans, he mixed two ER PPC and two Gauss Rifles with 4 tons of ammo. 7 ER Medium Lasers were put for opponents trying to get too close while an Anti-Missile System provides some added protection.
17 Double Heat Sinks allows this Configuration to fire in brackets with two massive volleys.
Clan Snow Raven was worried that it was not winning any Trial but Star Captain Eric of the 14th Raven Battle Cluster managed to win one and to secure the rights to design a Configuration of the Dire Wolf.
Focusing on his experience in defensive battles and on the needs for his Clan to ensure air superiority first to defeat anyone, he went for 7 LRM-15 in the torsos with 6 tons of ammo. A Large Pulse Laser and 5 Medium ones are there to provide any needed secondary firepower or to take down Aerospace Fighters too.
Configuration G was not foreseen. Upon hearing that Clan Smoke Jaguar was not selected, Warrior Dominique decided to challenge this decision by a Trial of Refusal. Not requesting the permission of anyone (“might is right†being the philosophy of his Clan), he went to Strana Mechty and defeated the Wolf Warriors that tried to stop him, thus earning him the right to design Configuration G, which true to the way the Smoke Jaguar wage war is as brutal as possible.
At long range, a Gauss Rifle and an ER PPC supported by a LRM-15 are able to destroy almost anything with a few shots. At close ranges, a LB 20-X, a Large Pulse Laser and 2 ER Medium Lasers can do the same.
As often with the Dire Wolf, 15 Double Heat Sinks are failing to cool an Alpha Strike, meaning that some thoughts must be given to the weapons being fired.
Battle History
The first battle of the new Dire Wolf happened on Hellgate when elements from the Steel Viper Delta Galaxy raided the Snow Raven settlements on this planet.
Star Captain Eric managed to bring his Dire Wolf in position and to tip the scales by shooting down 2 OmniFighters, allowing the Snow Ravens to win aerial superiority and to repulse this invasion.
Deployment
In a surprising move, so far apart from the Dire Wolf won by each of the winning Warriors, no other Clan has been able to get their hands on the retrofitted OmniMech. It seems that Clan Wolf is still unsure about what it should do with it or that it intends to use it as a bargaining tool with other Clans.
Notable ‘MechWarriors
Warrior Dominique is a veteran of Operation Revival and thanks to his feats in securing for himself a new Dire Wolf, one that will be forever a Smoke Jaguar one, he has been noticed by his superiors.
Dire Wolf
Mass: 100 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped Omnimech
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3052
Cost: 24 855 000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1 277
Chassis: Titan HX Standard Standard
Power Plant: Starfire 300 Fusion XL Engine
Walking Speed: 32,4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54,0 km/h
Jump Jets: Unknown
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Compound 12B2 Standard Standard Armor
Armament:
53.5 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Wolf Clan Site 1
Primary Factory: Strana Mechty
Communications System: TJ6 "Bell" Integrated Communications System
Targeting and Tracking System: Mars System 9
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 152 points 10,00
Engine: XL Fusion Engine 300 9,50
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 12(24) 2,00
Gyro: Standard 3,00
Cockpit: Standard 3,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 304 19,00
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 31 47
Center Torso (rear) 14
L/R Torso 21 32
L/R Torso (rear) 10
L/R Arm 17 34
L/R Leg 21 41
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Loadout Name: Prime Cost: 29 325 000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A BV2: 3 479
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 20(40) 8,00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
CASE Locations: LT 0,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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ECM Suite RT 0 1 1,00
Flamer RT 3 1 0,50
Targeting Computer RT - 6 6,00
LRM-15 LT 5 2 3,50
Artemis IV FCS LT - 1 1,00
Medium Pulse Laser LT 4 1 2,00
Flamer LT 3 1 0,50
4 Medium Pulse Lasers RA 16 4 8,00
ER PPC RA 15 2 6,00
4 Medium Pulse Lasers LA 16 4 8,00
ER PPC LA 15 2 6,00
@LRM-15 (Artemis) (24) LT - 3 3,00
Free Critical Slots: 3
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 10 Points: 35
3 7 7 3 0 4 4 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: OMNI, ECM, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1
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Loadout Name: A Cost: 28 887 500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A BV2: 3 075
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 15(30) 3,00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 CT, 1 LL, 1 RL
CASE Locations: LT, RT, LA, RA 0,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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ER Medium Laser RT 5 1 1,00
Gauss Rifle RT 1 6 12,00
ER Medium Laser LT 5 1 1,00
LRM-15 LT 5 2 3,50
ER Medium Laser RA 5 1 1,00
Gauss Rifle RA 1 6 12,00
ER Medium Laser LA 5 1 1,00
Gauss Rifle LA 1 6 12,00
@Gauss Rifle (8) RT - 1 1,00
@LRM-15 (16) LT - 2 2,00
@Gauss Rifle (16) RA - 2 2,00
@Gauss Rifle (16) LA - 2 2,00
Free Critical Slots: 10
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 10 Points: 31
3 8 9 6 0 4 0 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1
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Loadout Name: B Cost: 30 700 000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A BV2: 3 444
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Jumping MP: 3 (Standard)
Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LL, 1 RL 6,00
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 15(30) 3,00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 LA, 1 RA
CASE Locations: LT, RT, RA 0,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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LB 20-X AC RT 6 9 12,00
LRM-10 LT 4 1 2,50
Targeting Computer LT - 6 6,00
Large Pulse Laser RA 10 2 6,00
2 ER Medium Lasers RA 10 2 2,00
Active Probe RA 0 1 1,00
ECM Suite RA 0 1 1,00
Large Pulse Laser LA 10 2 6,00
4 ER Medium Lasers LA 20 4 4,00
@LB 20-X (Cluster) (5) RT - 1 1,00
@LRM-10 (12) LT - 1 1,00
@LB 20-X (Cluster) (10) RA - 2 2,00
Free Critical Slots: 6
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 10 Points: 34
3j 5 5 2 0 4 4 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: OMNI, PRB, RCN, ECM, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, FLK 1/1/0
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Loadout Name: C Cost: 30 267 500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A BV2: 3 784
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Jumping MP: 3 (Standard)
Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT 6,00
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 22(44) 10,00
Heat Sink Locations: 3 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
CASE Locations: LT, LA, RA 0,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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ER Medium Laser HD 5 1 1,00
ER Medium Laser RT 5 1 1,00
ER Large Laser RT 12 1 4,00
ECM Suite RT 0 1 1,00
Targeting Computer RT - 4 4,00
LRM-15 LT 5 2 3,50
ER Medium Laser RA 5 1 1,00
ER PPC RA 15 2 6,00
Streak SRM-6 RA 4 2 3,00
ER Medium Laser LA 5 1 1,00
ER PPC LA 15 2 6,00
Streak SRM-6 LA 4 2 3,00
@LRM-15 (8) LT - 1 1,00
@Streak SRM-6 (15) RA - 1 1,00
@Streak SRM-6 (15) LA - 1 1,00
Free Critical Slots: 1
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 10 Points: 38
3j 7 7 4 0 4 4 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: OMNI, ECM, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1
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Loadout Name: D Cost: 29 330 000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A BV2: 3 318
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 22(44) 10,00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 CT, 2 LT, 1 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
CASE Locations: LT 0,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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2 ER Medium Lasers RT 10 2 2,00
Targeting Computer RT - 6 6,00
3 SRM-6s LT 12 3 4,50
ECM Suite LT 0 1 1,00
2 ER Medium Lasers RA 10 2 2,00
2 Large Pulse Lasers RA 20 4 12,00
2 ER Medium Lasers LA 10 2 2,00
2 Large Pulse Lasers LA 20 4 12,00
@SRM-6 (30) LT - 2 2,00
Free Critical Slots: 1
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 10 Points: 33
3 7 7 3 0 4 4 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: OMNI, ECM, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, SRM 1/1/0
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Loadout Name: E Cost: 29 830 000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A BV2: 3 452
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 17(34) 5,00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA
CASE Locations: LT, RT 0,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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Gauss Rifle RT 1 6 12,00
Gauss Rifle LT 1 6 12,00
Anti-Missile System LT 1 1 0,50
ER PPC RA 15 2 6,00
4 ER Medium Lasers RA 20 4 4,00
ER PPC LA 15 2 6,00
3 ER Medium Lasers LA 15 3 3,00
@Gauss Rifle (16) RT - 2 2,00
@Gauss Rifle (16) LT - 2 2,00
@Anti-Missile System (24) LT - 1 1,00
Free Critical Slots: 8
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 10 Points: 35
3 6 6 4 0 4 4 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: OMNI, AMS, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
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Loadout Name: F Cost: 29 460 000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A BV2: 3 094
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 19(38) 7,00
Heat Sink Locations: 3 LA, 2 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
CASE Locations: LT, RT 0,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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LRM-15 CT 5 2 3,50
3 LRM-15s RT 15 6 10,50
3 LRM-15s LT 15 6 10,50
2 Medium Pulse Lasers LT 8 2 4,00
3 Medium Pulse Lasers RA 12 3 6,00
Large Pulse Laser LA 10 2 6,00
@LRM-15 (32) RT - 4 4,00
@LRM-15 (16) LT - 2 2,00
Free Critical Slots: 6
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 10 Points: 31
3 6 6 4 0 4 1 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, LRM 3/3/3, IF 3
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Loadout Name: G Cost: 29 550 000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E-A BV2: 3 056
Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 15(30) 3,00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 2 RT
CASE Locations: LT, RT, LA 0,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
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ER PPC RT 15 2 6,00
LRM-15 LT 5 2 3,50
LB 20-X AC RA 6 9 12,00
ER Medium Laser RA 5 1 1,00
Large Pulse Laser LA 10 2 6,00
Gauss Rifle LA 1 6 12,00
ER Medium Laser LA 5 1 1,00
@LB 20-X (Cluster) (15) RT - 3 3,00
@LRM-15 (24) LT - 3 3,00
@Gauss Rifle (16) LT - 2 2,00
@Gauss Rifle (8) LA - 1 1,00
Free Critical Slots: 9
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 10 Points: 31
3 5 6 4 0 4 2 Structure: 5
Special Abilities: OMNI, CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1, FLK 1/1/0