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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Obsidian Idol [BASE]
Designer:           Thunder
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Clan
Technology Rating:  E
Tonnage:            100
Configuration:      Biped OmniMech
Era/Year:           Civil War / 3067
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         25,142,500 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,253

Chassis:              Endo Steel
Power Plant:          300 XL
Walking Speed:        32.4 kph  
Maximum Speed:        54 kph    
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Standard
Armament:             
    59 tons of pod space available
Manufacturer:         Unknown
    Primary Factory:  Unknown
Communications:       Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown

================================================================================================
Overview:
    In the wake of the Battle for Katyusha it became apparent that the Ebon Keshik
    needed Battlemech support to insure the integrity of the Svoboda Zemyla and
    Hall of Khans.  Given that the Ebon Keshik is a special unit composed from all
    clans yet owing allegiance only to the ilKhan and Grand Council (despite any
    official statements to the contrary) it seemed appropriate to use a mech built
    specially for the Ebon Keshik and used by no clan.  Though no clan was to use
    the new mech, input from all clans was solicited to create a mech of
    unsurpassed lethality.

Capabilities:
    At first glance the Obsidian Idol is a fairly typical assault mech.
    Maneuverability is on par with almost every 100 ton mech ever made.  Armor
    coverage is actually lighter then average with only 18.5 tons of standard armor
    covering the chassis.  What truly makes this mech is the weapons capacity.  59
    tons of available pod space allows the Obsidian Idol to carry an unmatched
    bite.
    
    
    The primary configuration comes out strong mounting twin Gauss Rifles and Twin
    ERPPC's.  An LB-10x autocannon rounds out the weapons mix offering a means to
    exploit the holes created by the primary weapons.  Configuration A is extremely
    similar to the primary configuration.  Instead of an LB-10x a third Gauss rifle
    is added neglecting any finesse over more raw firepower.  The B configuration
    retains the arm mounted Gauss rifles and completes the configuration with a
    trio of large pulse lasers enhanced with a targeting computer.  The Continued
    use of Gauss rifles actually prompted one of the few snafus in the Obsidian
    Idol's design phase.  A Wolf scientist suggested making these weapons fixed
    since they were in every configuration to date, and making them fixed would
    ease construction and maintance requirements.  Fortunately for the Obsidian
    Idol this idea was quickly snuffed out and the Wolf scientist was forced to
    watch combat records of the now defunct Naga.
    
    
    After the first three configurations of the Obsidian Idol comes the second
    generation of configuration, produced after the Obsidian Idol entered service
    with the Ebon Keshik.  The C configuration is similar to the Prime in that it
    uses weapons with highly concentrated damage to punch holes into a target and
    follows up this damage with a Trio of LB-10x's firing cluster munitions to chew
    up the vitals.  The C configuration is also the first configuration to mount
    significant secondary weapons and to overheat to any great degree.  There is
    one flaw in this configuration that makes few Mech Warriors choice it.  With
    only 3 tons of ammo for the LBx's its utility in heavy fighting is limited.
    
    
    The next configuration, D, shares the C configurations Ammo deficiency, at its
    maximum rate of fire it will deplete its ammo in less then two minutes.
    Despite that, this configuration is quickly becoming one of the favored
    configurations of the Obsidian Idol.  A Trio of Ultra AC-10's with 6 tons of
    ammo are tied into a Targeting computer.  Backing up these weapons are five
    Streak-4 Missile racks used with the idea of savaging any holes opened up by
    the autocannon.  The combination has proven devastating.
    
    
    Configuration E was created at a warrior's request.  She had a natural knack
    for using Gauss rifles over any other weapon, and this configuration serves her
    capabilities well.  Backing up the quad of Gauss rifles are two pairs of Medium
    lasers offering medium range firepower, and short range punch respectively.
    Despite being designed for one Mechwarrior use of this configuration is not
    singular.  Others who choice to use this configuration often state that they
    feel this configuration is more aesthetically pleasing then other
    configurations, its simple weapon symmetry offering some indefinable quality
    that improves their own performance.
    
    
    The final official configuration attempts to address the issue of ammo
    dependency, a fact of life for all the configurations.  Multiple clusters of
    Medium Pulse lasers backed by a targeting computer give this configuration a
    dangerous edge in close combat.  The nearly ubiquitous Gauss Rifles are found
    once again in this configuration, but with three tons of ammo available to each
    one the chance of running dry is remote.  Refinement of this configuration
    changed its mission profile from simple attrition based endurance to close
    assault, including the introduction of heavy lifters and ECM.  In a close
    quarters environment the F configuration is not to be trifled with.

Deployment:
    Battle History:
    The Battle for Katyusha was the first strike in the Dark Caste war.  During
    this attack United Freemen entered the space of Strana Mechty using merchant
    caste codes.  With surprise on their side, their dropships descended upon
    Katyusha, while their aerospace forces cleared the Orbits notably destroying
    the McKenna's Pride.  The ships descending upon the city, included several
    ships making landfall within the Hall of Khans complex, the parks around the
    Hall the Khans known as the Svoboda Zemyla, and even worse from most Clansmen's
    point of view, the Master Genetic Repository itself was threatened by landings.
    The multi-Clan police force responsible for Katyusha responded vigorously and
    to great effect, but ultimately was unable to contest the landing.  Within the
    area of responsibility of the Ebon Keshik much the same story played out, but
    the Ebon Keshik is not to be taken lightly.  At great cost the Ebon Keshik
    Battlearmor was able to regain control of the Hall of Khans Complex, or at
    least the ruins of it.  Shortly there after Battlemech forces were able to drop
    into the parks around the Hall of Khans complex and pin the Dark Caste Bandits
    against the anvil of the Ebon Keshik.  At the Master Genetic Repository however
    things were not going as well.  The United Freemen were well dug in, and were
    using the Clans absolute need to reclaim their most holy shrine to lure them in
    and grind them up.  The Clan forces within the city understood this, but Honor
    is a strange thing and allowing their Master Repository to remain in Dark Caste
    Hands was unthinkable.  This stalemate was broken when the Ebon Keshik received
    orders from the surviving members of the Grand Council to go on the offensive.
    The use of underground tunnels and a massive cratering charge allowed the Ebon
    Keshik to deploy behind enemy lines and quickly swarm over the dug in
    defenders.  The Clan forces were then able to drive a wedge into the defenders
    lines and proceed to roll down their flank until finally the perimeter broke as
    the United Freemen attempted to flee to their dropships.  A number of the Dark
    Caste Bandits escaped only to die in space when Ebon Keshik squads taken aboard
    during the confusion of their rout destroyed the dropships from within.
    
    
    The Clan victory for the Battle of Katyusha was pyrrhic.  Though the attacking
    Dark Caste forces were forced off planet, their kill ratio was decidedly in
    their favor.  For several Months the Dark Caste war was one sided with United
    Freemen forces attacking with near impunity and the Clans only capable of
    defending where they were weak.  It was during this period that the Obsidian
    Idol was commissioned.  The Break for the Clans occurred when they finally
    discovered a Dark Caste world beyond their periphery.  Finally able to attack,
    bidding between the clans commenced for the right to take the world.  The Star
    Adders won.  Surprisingly a trial of possession bid was put forth by the new
    Ebon Keshik commander with the blessings of the Grand Council and IlKhan to
    replace a portion of the winning clans force with the Ebon Keshik.  The Star
    Adder Khan accepted the batchal bidding a single unaugmented warrior to defend
    in a 5 meter wide circle of equals.  The trial was simple and to the point with
    the defending warrior stating, "The Honor is yours" and stepping out of the
    ring.  This pattern continued for the rest of the war with Ebon Keshik forces
    participating in every major offense first as elite Battlearmor formations and
    later in nova's as the Obsidian Idol entered the ranks of the Ebon Keshik.
    
    
    Deployment:
    Today, years after the Dark Caste war, The Ebon Keshik still uses the Obsidian
    Idol to guard the new Hall of Khans.  These mechs stand silent guard around the
    Hall, and in small groups within the Svoboda Zemyla.  The majority of the Ebon
    Keshik's Battlemech force is of course housed in the great underground bunkers
    beneath the Svoboda Zemyla awaiting the unlikely event of another attack on
    Katyusha.

Variants:
    Beyond any official configurations are personal tweaking done by individual
    pilots.  Changes caused by this tend to be extremely limited however since the
    greatest advantage of the Obsidian Idol, the massive weapons tonnage available
    is limited by the limited volume available, which explains the prolific use of
    Gauss Rifles, a heavy weapon that does not take up to much space once heat
    sinks and ammo is taken into account.
    
    
    Beyond individual customization, research into additional configurations still
    continues.  The desire to incorporate ATM's into at least one configuration is
    still being looked into. To date however no potential configuration
    incorporating ATM's has reached a level of firepower that would do justice to
    the Idea of this mech.

Notable MechWarriors:
    Archivist notes:
    
    The Obsidian Idol holds near mythic status to the brane displaced United Freemen refugees we
    have taken in.  It was present at nearly every defeat they suffered during their attempt to
    liberate themselves from Clan oppression.  As such it held a prominent place in their
    tactical data.  The above description is somewhat out of date.  G H and I configurations
    were seen well after the United Freemen were shattered and scattered the first time.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Endo Steel                 5.00                     
Engine:                                       300 XL                   9.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 3                                               
    Running MP:                                 5                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         12 [24]                   2.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  296                    18.50                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              8       
    Center Torso:                      31             45       
    Center Torso (rear):                              15       
    R/L Torso:                         21             32       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                 10       
    R/L Arm:                           17             34       
    R/L Leg:                           21             38       

================================================================================================
Location                                     Fixed                            Spaces Remaining  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head                                      1 Endo Steel                               0          
Center Torso                                  None                                   2          
Right Torso                               2 XL Engine                                10         
Left Torso                                2 XL Engine                                8          
                                          2 Endo Steel                                          
Right Arm                                     None                                   10         
Left Arm                                      None                                   10         
Right Leg                                 2 Endo Steel                               0          
Left Leg                                  2 Endo Steel                               0          

================================================================================================
Fixed Equipment                                        Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 30
TP: BM,  SZ: 4,  TMM: 1,  MV: 6"
Damage: (S) 0 / (M) 0 / (L) 0,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 10,  Structure (S): 5
Specials: ENE, OMNI
 
"None but a coward dares to boast that he has never known fear." - Ferdinand Foch
Copyright © 1995-2024 Scott Bukoski. All rights reserved.
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:52:21-04:00)