BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Black Knight BL-8-KNT
Designer: Alisa Wolfstein
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 75
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Jihad / 3077
Rules (Current): Advanced
Rules (Era): Advanced
Rules (Year): Advanced
Total Cost: 21,589,750 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,942
Structure: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 300 XL
Walking Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph [86.4 kph]
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Standard
Armament:
2 ER PPCs
3 Large Pulse Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown
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Overview:
A custom refit of the venerable design, a young and down-on-his-luck Mechwarrior found
himself inheriting a Black Knight alongside a large sum of C-Bills when a distant relation
he had never met died fighting in the Jihad with no other heirs. Being in good stead with
the banks, the loan sharks had no way of seizing his assets, and so they were passed onto
his only living relative. After the 'Mech arrived at his residence on Skye in late 3075, he
took it to one of the best 'Mech works on the planet and set about updating the Star League
Era technology. Due to its high prestige, the 'Mech works had links to Cyclops Incorporated,
a small company based on Skye whose only other facility (on New Earth) had been completely
destroyed. The Skye facility was relatively undamaged, however, thanks to the actions of
Devlin Stone in the defence of Skye from the Word of Blake, and was beginning to produce
(still experimental) Coolant Pods. Realising the potential of these on a 'Mech like the
Black Knight, with its all-energy configuration, he decided to purchase some at great
expense for use on his 'Mech; before getting to work refitting it.
Capabilities:
To start with, he got the 20 Single Heat Sinks stripped out and replaced with 15 Double
Strength models. Preferring big weapons systems, he also removed the Small and Medium
Lasers, alongside the Beagle Active Probe. Next, he upgraded the PPC to an ER variant and
upgraded the dual Large Lasers to Pulse versions. He also added a second ER PPC and third
Large Pulse Laser to the 'Mech. He placed one ER PPC and Large Pulse Laser in each side
torso, with the third Large Pulse being fitted in the Right Arm. To accomplish this, he had
to upgrade the 300 Standard Engine and Gyro to XL models at a high cost. With the four tons
left over from these changes, he increased the armour coverage by one ton, fitted a
Supercharger to the engine and added two Coolant Pods (located in either side torso). This
means that if a coolant pot is activated when the 'Mech is half submerged in water, the
Black Knight can fire all of its weapons and sink the exact amount of heat produced, gaining
a little if it moves. This devastating 48 point Alpha Strike, with the long range of the ER
PPCs and increased accuracy of the Large Pulses meaning that the weapons are unlikely to
miss, can tear clean through most Light and Medium 'Mechs, even some Heavies or damaged
Assaults.
Deployment:
Quickly becoming a natural at "riding the heat scale" in his custom Black Knight, the young
Mechwarrior was hired to join an elite mercenary group and he fought on the frontlines
during the remainder of the Jihad and was able to celebrate on the day Terra was liberated.
Returning home, he discovered that Cyclops Incorporated had decided to purchase the 'Mech
works and turn it into a new production line to help them recover after losing their New
Earth facility. They agreed to provide an unlimited supply of spare parts - including the
rare Coolant Pods - for his 'Mech if in return he would allow them to reproduce his custom
Black Knight. Naturally, he agreed, and the newly christened "BL-8-KNT" was slowly produced
from the old 'Mech works from 3082 onwards. The fame of the design amongst Black Knight
pilots due to its success in the Jihad meant the factory had a waiting list of mercenaries
wishing to purchase the new 'Mech to replace their old Black Knights using the money they'd
accumulated during the Jihad. The design continued to be produced well into the 32nd
Century.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 4.00
Engine: 300 XL 9.50
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6 [8]
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Double): 15 [30] 5.00
Gyro: XL 1.50
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 224 14.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 23 35
Center Torso (rear): 8
R/L Torso: 16 26
R/L Torso (rear): 6
R/L Arm: 12 24
R/L Leg: 16 30
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coolant Pod RT 1 1.00
ER PPC RT 3 7.00
Large Pulse Laser RT 2 7.00
Coolant Pod LT 1 1.00
ER PPC LT 3 7.00
Large Pulse Laser LT 2 7.00
Supercharger LT 1 1.00
Large Pulse Laser RA 2 7.00
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