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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         ZZ Superheavy Artillery Test
Designer:           ZaneOlric
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere (Mixed)
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            200
Role:               Missile Boat
Configuration:      Superheavy Tripod BattleMech
Era/Year:           Dark Age / 3150
Rules (Current):    Advanced
Rules (Era):        Advanced
Rules (Year):       Advanced
Total Cost:         116,479,000 C-Bills
Battle Value:       4,205

Chassis:              Endo Steel
Power Plant:          400 XL
Walking Speed:        21.6 kph  
Maximum Speed:        32.4 kph  
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Standard with CASE II
Armament:             
    4 LRM 20 w/ Artemis IV FCS (C)
    2 Arrow IV Systems (C)
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown with Angel ECM Suite
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown

================================================================================================
Overview:
    The Fortalice is the culmination of nearly a decade of research by Etna Industries.  The
    design project that would lead to its creation began in response to reports that a foreign
    corporation, Rhodes Industry, had finally made a commercially and tactically viable
    Super-Heavy battlemech.  Seeing an untapped field, designers and researchers were
    immediately assigned to not just create a super-heavy mech, but a viable 200 ton behemoth.
    Many lessons were taken from previous efforts, such as using a tripod and multi-pilot
    design. They also sought to innovate by focusing on the utility such a large structure
    provided, allowing for it to mount massive weapons such as Arrow IV launchers with ease.
    
    Perhaps its most significant deviation from traditional mech design was it was created with
    crew tunnels and compartments to allow for rotating pilots, keeping the machine moving
    constantly in combat zones to avoid falling behind allied cavalry pushes.  This internal
    space also connected to a cramped but livable garrison of 12 battle armors that could be
    deployed should the the Fortalice be attacked.  The largest compartment of this
    submarine-like structure is an unpressurized cargo hold meant to allow the Fortalice to
    protect up to 100 tons of supplies for forces during aggressive advances, turning it into a
    forward operation base and supply depot.

Capabilities:
    The Fortalice is what it names suggests: a small, mobile fortress.  Protecting its crew is
    43 tons of standard grade armor over an endo-steel structure, making it more durable than
    even two Atlas mechs combined.  It's variety of advanced electronics are also guarded by an
    Angel ECM suite, though this can also help mask the large mech from detection.  This is
    warranted, as the Fortalice comes equipped with a C3 master computer and six extra tons of
    communications equipment (7 total) mounted in either shoulder.  This is to allow for it to
    act as a command center for whatever theater it finds itself.  The last of its utility is in
    the form of two lift hoists that are responsible for allowing the Fortalice to carry as much
    extra supplies as it does.
    
    Offensively, its primary weapons are two arm-mounted Arrow IV launchers, capapable of
    delivering devastating artillery barrages to nearby battlefields in support of allied
    forces.  Additionally, four torso-mounted LRM-20s with Artemis IV tracking systems are
    equipped as its primary form of offense against direct assault.  All of these missile
    systems are fed with enough built in ammo-capacity to last most engagements this durable
    mech finds itself in.  This offensive capacity is greatly multiplied by allied forces
    equipped with both C3 slave computers and TAG systems to allow for this incredible arsenal
    to be called in with percision accuracy.
    
    When it comes to speed, the Fortalice caps out at a measly 32.4 km/h, though thanks to its
    rotating crew it can cross up to 776 km/day, just barely fast enough to keep pace with most
    calvary forces that need to take breaks to allow for pilots to rest outside of their mechs.
    This allows it to act as a secure supply depot for prolonged offensive thrusts, holding up
    to 100 tons without any loss of speed.  While only 60% the speed of a cargo truck, these are
    vulnerable to ambush while forces advance while the Fortalice is not, instead often
    recieving shipments from these convoys before they retreat to safety.

Deployment:
    While the Fortalice is equipped to be a viable threat in any direct engagements it finds
    itself in, this is not its optimal role.  Instead, it is best used behind the front line as
    a fallback point while it delivers continuous artillery barrages with its primary weapons.
    It also can be used in response to heavy airospace presence, with its 80 LRM launchers
    capable of severely damaging, it not outright destroying, most of these forces.
    
    Additionally, the Fortalice is not a replacement for supply vehicles.  Those can travel up
    to ~1300 km a day, or 2600 if driven in shifts like the Fortalice is, crossing the
    equivalent of a terran continent in just 2-7 days under ideal circumstances.  The Fortalice
    is meant to weather non-ideal circumstances and be the base to which those supplies arrive
    rather than going back and forther constantly as its speed is not comparable to these
    dedicated vehicles.

Variants:
    FTL-1B: A prototype of the mech, it used an XXL engine inorder to have 72 tons of hardened
    armor, though lacked the communications array of later variants.  Additionally, it was
    equipped with only LRM-15 systems instead of LRM-20, with far less ammo. Its laughable price
    of a 1/3 a billion c-bills led to the design being abandoned.  BV2.0: 4,496.  Cost:
    372,347,000.
    
    FTL-1F: The first model that managed to incorporate an XL engine successfully.  It lacked
    the Lift Hoists for cargo transportation as well as both the C3 mast computer and
    communications equipment, but did have 72 tons of Hardened Armor.  It was also limited to
    only using 4 LRM-15 systems and still struggled with having sufficient ammo.  While this
    version saw some battlefield use, its unacceptable top speed of 21.6 km/h was unable to keep
    up with allied forces, leading to it regularly being ambushed and earned the entire series a
    lasting bad reputation as "loot pinatas"  BV2.0: 4,614.  Cost: 111,793,000.
    
    FTL-1S: Abandoning the Hardened Armor finally allowed the Fortalice to take its modern form,
    with the -1S becoming the standard for all variants going forward.  It had its lift hoists,
    LRM-20s, C3 Master, Coms equipment and every other feature it would become known for.  While
    it still had to fight the bad reputation gained by the -1F, it is slowly building up its
    legacy as a foundation upon which a battleline can be built.  BV2.0: 4,205.  Cost:
    116,479,000
    
    FTL-2S - A simple upgrade that uses experimental Improved LRM-20s.  These allow the mech to
    use semi-guided missiles, letting it devastate enemies trying to hide from its line of sight
    should an ally land a TAG designator.  The Artemis IV system is left intact however,
    ensurign that it can still use these weapons as Anti-aerospace weaopnry.

Notable MechWarriors:
    Quirks: if you use these optional rules, the following are reccomended
    - Bad Reputation (-1 point): due to earlier variants being poorly designed, it has a
    reputation as a "loot pinata" to overcome.
    - Slow Traverse (-1 point): while it can torso twist to compensate, the mech
    struggles to turn quickly to bring its forward armor around.
    - Rumble Seat x3  (+0 points): Three additional mech warriors can ride along, thoug
    tight corridors prevent them from changing during battle.
    - Internal Garrison (+1 point - custom): When using mechanized battle armor rules,
    battle armor infantry can be considered to be carried internally while riding this mech.
    - Internal Hoists (+1 point - custom): anything carried by this mech's hoists is
    considered to be carried internally.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                       Endo Steel (C)              22.00                     
Engine:                                     400 XL (C)                26.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 2                                               
    Running MP:                                 3                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                       23 [46] (C)                13.00                     
Gyro:                                       Superheavy                 8.00                     
Cockpit:                                Superheavy Tripod              5.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  684                    43.00                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               4             12       
    Center Torso:                      60             96       
    Center Torso (rear):                              24       
    R/L Torso:                         42             64       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                 20       
    R/L Arm:                           33             66       
    R/C/L Leg:                         42             84       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angel ECM Suite (C)                                       H                 1          2.00             
Arrow IV System (Ammo 20) [Homing] (C)                    CT                2          4.00             
Arrow IV System (Ammo 10) [Non-Homing] (C)                CT                1          2.00             
CASE II (C)                                               CT                1          0.50             
CASE II (C)                                               RT                1          0.50             
2 LRM 20 w/ Artemis IV FCS (C)                            RT                6         12.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 12) [Artemis IV] (C)                         RT                1          2.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 12) [Incendiary] (C)                         RT                1          2.00             
Lift Hoist (C)                                            RT                2          3.00             
CASE II (C)                                               LT                1          0.50             
2 LRM 20 w/ Artemis IV FCS (C)                            LT                6         12.00             
LRM 20 (Ammo 24) [Artemis IV] (C)                         LT                2          4.00             
Lift Hoist (C)                                            LT                2          3.00             
Arrow IV System (C)                                       RA                6         12.00             
Communications Equipment (6 tons) (C)                     RA                3          6.00             
Arrow IV System (C)                                       LA                6         12.00             
C3 Computer (Master)                                      LA                3          5.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 127
TP: BM,  SZ: 4,  TMM: 0,  MV: 4"
Damage: (S) 7 / (M) 7 / (L) 7,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 23,  Structure (S): 10
Specials: AECM, ARTAC-2, C3M, CASEII, IF5, LG, MHQ11, RCN, TAG, TUR(7/7/7, ARTAC-2, IF5, TAG)
 
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Code Release 2.25.4 (2025-10-27T19:08:48-04:00)