Technical Readouts

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Technical Readouts

Overview | Distribution | Reviews | Cost | Battle Value

Design Overview

Designer:

master arminas

Technology Base:

Level 2, Clan / 3050

Mass:

45 Ton Custom

Configuration:

Biped BattleMech

Total Cost:

9,698,615 C-Bills

Battle Value:

1,771

Equipment		Mass
Internal Structure:	Endo Steel	2.5
Engine:	270 XL	7.5
Walking MP:	6
Running MP:	[12] 9 [12]
Jumping MP:	0
Heat Sinks:	10 [20]	0
Gyro:		3
Cockpit:		3
Armor Factor:	153	8
Armor Type:	Ferro-Fibrous

	Internal Structure	Armor Value
Head	3	9
Center Torso	14	22
Center Torso (rear)		6
R/L Torso	11	17
R/L Torso (rear)		5
R/L Arm	7	14
R/L Leg	11	22

Weapons and Ammo	Location	Critical	Tonnage
2 Machine Gun's	LA	2	0.5
Machine Gun (Ammo 100)	LA	1	0.5
3 ER Medium Laser's	LT	3	3
Streak SRM 2	LT	1	1
Streak SRM 2 (Ammo 50)	LT	1	1
Light Active Probe	H	1	0.5
MASC	CT	2	2
ER Large Laser	RA	1	4
LRM 15 w/ Artemis IV FCS	RT/RT	2	3.5
LRM 15 (Ammo 16)	RT	2	2
Targeting Computer	RT	2	2

Overview

In 3045, the Khans of Clan Goliath Scorpion ordered their scientist caste to create a new second-line Medium-weight BattleMech to provide speed, firepower, and--above all else--dignity to their garrison forces. A small Clan, the Scorpions were often degraded by their brother Clansmen for their pursuit of the relics of the past--and of course their use of necrosia.
The Khans were determined to restore the self-respect and dignity of their troops--as highly trained and able as any other Clan warriors--and instructed the scientists to spare no expense in the creation of the new unit. In 3047, the research team presented the protoype Thunderstrike before the Khans.
Seeking to remind the Warrior caste of their origins among the SLDF, the scientists took an ancient design--the TDR-5S Thunderbolt--and used it as the basis of the new garrison 'Mech. Astonished by the performance of the new war machine, the Khans immediately ordered it placed in general production.

Capabilities

Twenty tons lighter than the Thunderbolt, the Thunderstrike uses a powerful, yet lightweight 270XL engine to achieve speeds of 97.2 kilometers per hour, 50% faster than its parent design. In a stroke of genius, the design team also used MASC to give the Thunderstrike burst speed capacity of 129.6 kilometers per hour, if only for a limited time.
Using an endo-steel frame, the construction engineers layered eight full tons of ferro-fibrous armor protection on the new 'Mech, giving this design 100% of the maximum theoretical armor protection it was capable of carrying. While not as heavy an armor blanket as the original Thunderbolt, it did compare favorably with that carried by other Clan medium designs--both front-line and second-line.
The engineers concentrated on keeping the spirit of the Thud alive with its weapons package. Long-range firepower was provided by a LRM-15 launcher with Artemis IV and two tons of ammo, and by an ER Large Laser. At closer ranges, three ER Medium Lasers and a Streak SRM-2 with one ton of ammo gave the Warriors of the Clan a fearsome punch. For anti-personnel work, two machine-guns were mounted in the left arm, along with 100 shots (half-ton). Finally, a light active probe was included in order to provide the Warrior piloting the machine with enhanced sensor arrays.
One interesting fact, was that only ten double efficency heat sinks were mounted on the design, preventing the Warrior from firing away at will without consequences, at least for more than brief periods, at least. There is sufficient heat dissipation capability to fire the long-range weapons (LRM and ER Large), or the short-range weapons (Streak SRM and ER Mediums), and run without overheating. The design forces pilots to become better at making decisions of how far to push one's 'Mech--and just how badly pushing it too far can turn out to be.
All of the direct-fire weapons are tied into an advanced targeting computer, as is the Scorpion tradition. Despite the two missile launchers--and general Scorpion disdain for such systems--the Thunderstrike was well-received by the Warriors of the Clan. In fact, this 'second-line' 'Mech has become the subject of a number of Trials of Possession as some Warriors assigned to front-line Galaxies attempt to gain one for their own use.

Deployment

Originally intended for deployment with the garrison forces, the Thunderstrike has slowly spread to inclusion in even the front-line Galaxies of the toumen. Impressed with the 'Mech--and its homage to the ancient Thunderbolt--in 3053 Clan Star Adder fought a Trial of Possession for the rights to the design. Though the Scorpions won that fight, they soon lost a second one against the Burrocks. During the Absorption of that Clan, virtually all of the Thunderstrikes won from the Scorpions were recovered as isorla by the Adders.

Variants

The Thunderstrike 2 was created after Scorpion observers discovered the Eridani TDR-5SE. This variant of the design retains the ER Large Laser, and all three ER Mediums, as well as the targeting computer. Both missile systems are dropped however, along with the machine guns. Six jump jets are fitted to the design, and a single ATM-6 launcher has been installed in the right torso, along with three tons of ammunition (30 shots). Finally, a flamer was placed in the left arm, giving the Thunderstrike 2 some anti-personnel capability. This variant only entered production in 3054, with less than one hundred in service.

Notable MechWarriors

Star Captain Mordecai Scott serves in the veteran 12th Scorpion Cuirassiers of Mu Galaxy on the world of Marshall. A former seeker, Star Captain Scott returned after six months in the Inner Sphere, bearing an as-of-yet unvieled relic to the Temple of the Muses on Roche. Following his return, he was quickly sponsored for a Blood-name, and then quietly assigned to the 12th on Marshall.
Despite his ability in combat, Scott appears to have in some way alienated the Scorpion heirarchy. Any other Warrior, a successful Seeker, no less, would have been promoted to a front-line Galaxy, but this did not occur. Star Captain Scott appears to be unaffected by the matter--drilling his trinary virtually around the clock, both in 'Mech combat as well as in unarmed and armed drill outside of their 'Mechs.
Two months ago, he was challenged to his posistion by a young ristar among the Garrison forces. Once the circle had been drawn, and both Warriors were ready the battle began. Six seconds later, the ristar was unconscious, with six cuts across his chest, sides, and arms, and a huge bruise on his skull. Star Captain Scott has not been challenged since.
Normally, an officer of Scott's rank, serving in the heavy Cuirassiers of the Clan Goliath Scorpion, would pilot a heavier 'Mech. Scott, however, refuses to part with his Thunderstrike 1, using its superior mobility to move among his command on the field to wherever he is needed at any given time.