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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Gaki ((Perrin42's Mech)) GKI-1SW
Designer:           The Grand Poobah
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  E
Tonnage:            60
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Civil War / 3067
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         8,838,560 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,530

Chassis:              Royalstar ATE Endo Steel
Power Plant:          VOX-LE 240 Light Fusion
Walking Speed:        43.2 kph  
Maximum Speed:        64.8 kph  
Jump Jets:            Standard
    Jump Capacity:    120 meters
Armor:                ArcShield Maxi II
Armament:             
    1 Lord's Light 2 ER PPC
    1 Sutel Precision Line Large Pulse Laser
    2 Defiance P5M Medium Pulse Lasers
    2 Defiance B3M Medium Lasers
    1 Flamer
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown

================================================================================================
Overview:
    The Gae Bolg fire-support 'Mech from JB BattleMechs of Storfors had achieved some success in
    the hands of LAAF units along the Jade Falcon border. However, sales had not achieved the
    level that JB's executives had hoped for. In addition, poor sales of the company's other
    major design, the Dragonfire, threatened the company's future. Pers Untherhaart, the
    company's Marketing Manager, proposed a daring initiative to save the company - to produce a
    range of 'Mechs based on a single chassis. Not only would this simplify design and workup
    time for each new variant, but the prospect of having a range of 'Mechs which shared the
    same basic chassis, and 75% of the same components, was seen to entice the economically
    minded. Untherhaart was able to point to Troll Mech Work's Gunman series, which revolved
    around the same concept, and which was meeting with considerable success in the Chaos March
    at the time.
    
    The first variant to be designed was pegged to be the opposite of the Gae Bolg - instead, a
    well-armored, close-in brawler was aimed at. The result - the Gaki.

Capabilities:
    At first glance, or at a distance, there is little to differentiate the Gaki from its
    ancestor, the Gae Bolg. However, the differences lie beneath the skin - and become obvious
    to anyone unwise enough to close with the Gaki.
    
    JB's design team decided that three major changes needed to be performed on the Gae Bolg to
    transform it into the ideal brawler: - the design needed jumpjets for added mobility, as it
    was not practicable to re-engineer the design to accept a significantly bigger engine; -
    Obviously, a new weapons mix was needed to allow for close-in work, which necessitated
    upgraded heat-sinks, and - Lastly, articulated arms were a pre-requisite for a brawler.
    
    In the process of upgrading the Gaki's chassis for the 120-meter jumping ability selected,
    the engineers upped the 'Mech's armor from   a respectable 9 tons, to a more imposing 13
    tons. CASE was no longer needed, and was accordingly dropped. The rear armor was increased
    as well, as it was recognized that a brawler would face opponents from many angles at once,
    unlike a fire-support 'Mech (when well used, anyway).
    
    The ER PPC of the Gae Bolg was retained, due to its lack of a minimum range, but the
    Autocannon and LRMs were dropped. Ammunition-based weapons such as SRMs were ruled out to
    avoid ammunition explosions. A large pulse laser replaced the LB-5X autocannon, and three
    medium lasers - one pulse, and two standard - were mounted in a triangle where the
    autocannon ammunition had been. Finally, a medium pulse laser and a flamer were mounted
    under the newly installed battle-fists on the right and left arms respectively. Three
    additional double heat sinks were shoehorned into the increasingly tight chassis to help
    cope with the heat-load of the resulting all-energy weapons load.

Deployment:
    Despite the radically different weapons loadout, pilots report a quick and pleasant
    transition from the Gae Bolg to the Gaki. Indeed, seasoned Gae Bolg pilots have to be
    frequently reminded that their 'Mech has jump capacity, so seamless is the transition (In
    all fairness, it must be reported that Gaki pilots moving over to a Gae Bolg frequently halt
    for a moment as they "try" to use their non-existent jump-jets). What does take getting used
    to is the range of fire options available. The Gaki simply has too many energy weapons for
    its heat-sinks, and an unwise pilot can easily overheat after only a few exchanges of fire.
    
    Most pilots eventually get the idea to only use the ERPPC at ranges of 300m plus, and to use
    the battery of lasers at ranges under 200m. The mid-zone - from 200m to 300m - is best
    handled as circumstances permit; and most Gakis that have come to grief have done so by
    being unable to close their range from this distance. This can happen due to inferior
    tactics, or due to faster opponents - and most Gaki pilots agree that they would cheerfully
    trade in one of their "big guns" for a larger light fusion engine, and more jumpjets.
    
    However, JB's "Buy three, get one cheap" deal - any 3 Gae Bolgs or Gakis, and get 25% off
    the price of the 4th - has seen strong sales, particularly as fighting between revisionist
    old Davionist units and loyal LAAF regiments increases. Fire lances of 3 Gae Bolgs, plus one
    Gaki, are being increasingly purchased under JB's special deal.
    
    Finally, the name of the design - meaning "Hungry Ghost" in Japanese - appears to have
    attracted attention from within the Draconis Combine, who are negotiating with JB
    BattleMechs for rights to produce Gakis within the Combine.

Variants:
    As indicated, users have petitioned for a version of the Gaki which drops the ER PPC, and
    replaces it with a larger light fusion motor producing a top speed around 85 kph, and
    additional jump capacity. While acclaimed as clearly superior by LAAF pilots, LAAF
    quartermasters are still making the purchasing decisions, and prefer the existing
    chassis-compatability with the Gae Bolg for logistical reasons.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Endo Steel                 3.00                     
Engine:                                  240 Light Fusion              9.00                     
    Walking MP:                                 4                                               
    Running MP:                                 6                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 4                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         14 [28]                   4.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  201                    13.00                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      20             29       
    Center Torso (rear):                              11       
    R/L Torso:                         14             21       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  7       
    R/L Arm:                           10             20       
    R/L Leg:                           14             28       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Jump Jets                                               CT                2          2.00             
ER PPC                                                    RT                3          7.00             
Large Pulse Laser                                         LT                2          7.00             
2 Medium Lasers                                           LT                2          2.00             
Medium Pulse Laser                                        LT                1          2.00             
Medium Pulse Laser                                        RA                1          2.00             
Flamer                                                    LA                1          1.00             
Jump Jet                                                  RL                1          1.00             
Jump Jet                                                  LL                1          1.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 34
TP: BM,  SZ: 3,  TMM: 1,  MV: 8"j
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 3 / (L) 1,  OV: 2
Armor (A): 7,  Structure (S): 3
Specials: ENE
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:46:23-04:00)