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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Black Kite BLK-KT
Designer:           Alisa Wolfstein
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            55
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Dark Age / 3089
Rules (Current):    Advanced
Rules (Era):        Advanced
Rules (Year):       Advanced
Total Cost:         13,663,715 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,642

Chassis:              Endo Steel
Power Plant:          330 XL
Walking Speed:        64.8 kph  
Maximum Speed:        86.4 kph  
Jump Jets:            Standard
    Jump Capacity:    180 meters [240 meters]
Armor:                Hardened
Armament:             
    2 Medium X-Pulse Lasers
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown with Guardian ECM Suite
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown with Beagle Active Probe

================================================================================================
Capabilities:
    Designed to be the ultimate C3 spotter and Scout Battlemech, the Black Kite is fitted out
    with everything it needs to excel at its chosen role. 55 tons was selected as the best
    compromise between survivability and mobility. This amazing creation carries a 330 XL
    Engine, 6 Jump Jets and a Partial Wing to allow the Black Kite to spend more time in the air
    than on the ground, both making the 'Mech difficult to hit and allowing it to quickly engage
    and disengage with the enemy. Its amazing movement capabilities means that the Black Kite
    can jump up to 240 metres in one go, while the partial wing means that as soon as the 'Mech
    has landed the jump jets are re-charged and able to be used immediately.
    
    To assist in its scouting role, the Black Kite carries Target Aquisition Gear, a Guardian
    ECM Suite, a Beagle Active Probe and a C3 Slave. This extraordinary payload puts the 'Mech's
    electronic warfare capabilities on par with those of the Raven, which is not C3 nor jump
    capable in its primary configuration. For self-defence, the Black Kite carries two highly
    accurate Medium X-Pulse Lasers, however, these do a better job of drawing enemy fire than
    actually dealing the amount of damage you would expect of a Medium 'Mech. So that this
    ambitious design was achievable, an XL gyro was required to save weight.
    
    To ensure that a lucky-shot could not bring the 'Mech down, it was decided to use 18.5 tons
    of Hardened Armour, providing protection equivalent to an assault 'Mech. This unique
    combination of XL components and ridiculous armour protection means that the Black Kite is
    similar to a beetle in how it takes damage - the outside is hard and can take a lot of
    beating, put expose the squishy inside and it goes down fast. Because of this, opening up a
    side torso almost always results in a Black Kite withdrawing from the battlefield. The only
    issue is with this strategy is that it requires 2 AC/20 shots to a single location
    (excluding the Head) to open up any component of the Black Kite, and when you have the
    chance to fire on this 'Mech you'll be hard-pressed to ignore the supporting C3 Lance and
    Artillery Fire which always accompany the Black Kite on the battlefield.
    
    The unparalleled success of the Black Kite at its desired role comes at the hefty price of
    over 13.5 million C-Bills, but this is a price most buyers are more than willing to pay. The
    only weakness of the Black Kite is that it is so specialized, it can do little else. As
    such, it rarely features in mercenary units or smaller militias. No production variants
    exist of this 'Mech, because there is little - if anything - to be improved upon in the
    design and adapting it to perform a different role on the battlefield would require changes
    that would be too radical for any variant to be considered the same 'Mech as the Black Kite.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Endo Steel                 3.00                     
Engine:                                       330 XL                  12.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 6                                               
    Running MP:                                 8                                               
    Jumping MP:                               6 [8]                                             
Heat Sinks (Double):                         10 [23]                   0.00                     
Gyro:                                           XL                     2.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  148                    18.50                     
    Type:                                    Hardened                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      18             19       
    Center Torso (rear):                               4       
    R/L Torso:                         13             18       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  4       
    R/L Arm:                            9             18       
    R/L Leg:                           13             18       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C3 Slave                                                  RT                1          1.00             
Guardian ECM Suite                                        RT                2          1.50             
2 Jump Jets                                               RT                2          1.00             
Beagle Active Probe                                       LT                2          1.50             
2 Jump Jets                                               LT                2          1.00             
Partial Wing                                            LT/RT               8          4.00             
TAG                                                       LT                1          1.00             
Medium X-Pulse Laser                                      RA                1          2.00             
Medium X-Pulse Laser                                      LA                1          2.00             
Jump Jet                                                  RL                1          0.50             
Jump Jet                                                  LL                1          0.50             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 59
TP: BM,  SZ: 2,  TMM: 2,  MV: 10"/16"j
Damage: (S) 2 / (M) 2 / (L) 0,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 10,  Structure (S): 3
Specials: C3S, CR, ECM, ENE, JMPS1, MHQ1, PRB, RCN, TAG
 
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Code Release 2.25.5 (2025-11-01T16:12:58-04:00)