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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Thunderstrike
Designer:           master arminas
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Clan
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            45
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Clan Invasion / 3050
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         9,445,590 C-Bills
Battle Value:       2,522

Chassis:              Endo Steel
Power Plant:          270 XL
Walking Speed:        64.8 kph  
Maximum Speed:        97.2 kph  [129.6 kph]
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:             
    1 ER Large Laser
    1 LRM 15 w/ Artemis IV FCS
    3 ER Medium Lasers
    1 Streak SRM 2
    2 Machine Guns
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown with Advanced Targeting Computer

================================================================================================
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.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Endo Steel                 2.50                     
Engine:                                       270 XL                   7.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 6                                               
    Running MP:                               9 [12]                                            
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         10 [20]                   0.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  153                     8.00                     
    Type:                                 Ferro-Fibrous                                         

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        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   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Light Active Probe                                        H                 1          0.50             
MASC                                                      CT                2          2.00             
LRM 15 w/ Artemis IV FCS                                  RT                2          3.50             
LRM 15 (Ammo 16)                                          RT                2          2.00             
Targeting Computer                                        RT                2          2.00             
3 ER Medium Lasers                                        LT                3          3.00             
Streak SRM 2                                              LT                1          1.00             
Streak SRM 2 (Ammo 50)                                    LT                1          1.00             
ER Large Laser                                            RA                1          4.00             
2 Machine Guns                                            LA                2          0.50             
Machine Gun (Ammo 100)                                    LA                1          0.50             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 53
TP: BM,  SZ: 2,  TMM: 3,  MV: 16"
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 4 / (L) 3,  OV: 2
Armor (A): 5,  Structure (S): 2
Specials: CASE, IF1, LPRB, RCN
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:46:23-04:00)