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: Republic / 3089
Rules (Current): Advanced
Rules (Era): Advanced
Rules (Year): Advanced
Total Cost: 13,663,715 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,642
Structure: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 330 XL
Walking Speed: 64.8 kph
Maximum Speed: 97.2 kph [86.4 kph]
Jump Jets: Unknown
Jump Capacity: 180 meters [240 meters]
Armor: Hardened
Armament:
2 Medium X-Pulse Lasers
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown
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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.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 3.00
Engine: 330 XL 12.50
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9 [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
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