Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

AS7-H Atlas
History:
The Atlas is the most famous and easily recognized
BattleMech in the Inner Sphere. Designed according to
specifications laid out by General Aleksandr Kerensky
himself in 2755, the 100-ton Atlas was built in hopes of
ensuring the Star League Defense Forces’ military
superiority over each of the Great Houses.
It proved to be everything General Kerensky had asked
for and arrived just in time to see extensive action during
the Amaris Civil War. Carrying 19 tons of armor, a full
four tons more than its nearest competitor the Awesome,
it was by far the most heavily protected BattleMech ever
built and quickly became a favorite among SLDF
commanders.
Carrying the massive Defiance ‘Mech Hunter Class 20
autocannon in its right torso, along with four Defiance
B3M medium lasers, two of which are rear mounted, and
a Thunderstroke SRM-6, a single volley at close range
can destroy or cripple most any other ‘Mech in existence.
For engaging at long range, the Atlas also carries a
FarFire Maxi-Rack LRM-20 supplied with two tons of
ammunition.
As if the weapons themselves are not intimidating
enough, over a year was spent designing the ‘Mech’s
trademark skull-like “Death’s Head,” making it as
Kerensky himself said, “A 'Mech as powerful as possible,
as impenetrable as possible, and as ugly and foreboding
as conceivable, so that fear itself will be our ally.”
Indeed, the mere sight of the formidable giant on the
battlefield has caused countless MechWarriors, even
veterans, to withdraw from battle rather than try and face
it. Equipped with powerful hand actuators, there are
stories of the behemoth picking up small BattleMechs
and hurling them across the battlefield or even into other
‘Mechs.
The Atlas also offers ground-to-space communications
capability via a small foldable satellite dish located in the
head. If it has one drawback, however, it’s speed.
Topping out at just 54 kph, the Atlas is an easy ‘Mech to
avoid, a choice most wise MechWarriors make. When
forced to fight this juggernaut, most pilots try to maintain
the greatest range possible, hoping to run it out of LRM
ammunition and then bring it down with their own longrange
weapons.
Oddly enough, when General Kerensky called for
members of the SLDF to join him on his Exodus, an
astounding two-thirds of Atlas pilots refused his offer,
choosing instead to serve in the armies of the Successor
States. Invariably, these experienced former SLDF
soldiers equipped with their assault class BattleMechs
were welcomed with open arms and often given high
rank, noble titles, land grants, and other gifts to sway
their allegiance and many speculate this is exactly why
so many Atlas pilots remained behind.
While originally produced at the massive Defiance
Industries complex on Hesperus II, Independence
Weaponry also manufactures the Atlas on Quentin.
There is also rumored to be a manufacturing site located
on one of the asteroids in the Al Na'ir system in the
Draconis Combine, which is located uncomfortably close
to Federated Suns controlled space.
Capabilities:
Few companies have facilities large enough to even
build assault class BattleMechs. Of these, only
Independence Weaponry has demonstrated a
willingness to try and improve upon the most successful
assault ‘Mech ever built.
But they did so only after thoroughly researching what
little information was left regarding the Atlas’ successor,
the Atlas II. The Atlas II was built in 2765, ten years after
the debut of the original, and it was reserved specifically
for use only by the SLDF “Royal” Divisions. It is believed
that Aleksandr Kerensky took every last Atlas II with him
when he departed the Inner Sphere, along with all of the
associated production information and blue prints.
What Independence Weaponry was able to determine
from archival sources and rare battle ROM footage, was
the weapons the monster carried. A lightweight Class 10
autocannon, a pair of extended-range heavy lasers, two
state-of-the-art medium pulse lasers, along with the
familiar LRM-20 and SRM-6 missile systems.
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Looking to emulate the loadout of the mystical Atlas II,
Independence engineers did their best to re-create the
legendary monster using available technology.
Having lost the ability to manufacture the advanced
weapon systems it used, engineers choose to replace
the original Lubalin Ballistics autocannon with a Magna
Hellstar particle cannon instead. The heavy and medium
lasers now use the readily available Sutel XII and Sutel
IX models from Precision Weaponry, and both the LRM-
20 and SRM-6 remain unchanged. One additional heat
sinks was, giving it a total of 21, and both rear mounted
medium lasers were eliminated.
Variants:
An extremely rare variant of the Atlas exists equipped
with a command console at the cost of the two rear
mounted medium lasers and one ton of the LRM
ammunition. Designated the AS7-D-DC, the command
console offers extensive command, control, and
communications equipment along with a full set of
BattleMech controls for a second MechWarrior, almost
always a commanding officer. Because these advanced
‘Mechs were heavily favored by high ranking officers,
they were often singled out as targets, leaving very few
units to survive to today.
Current Manufacturers:
Defiance Industries
Hesperus II – Lyran Commonwealth
Independence Weaponry
Quentin – Federated Suns
Yori ‘Mech Works
Al Na’ir – Draconis Combine
Model Cost BV PV
AS7-D 9,412,000 1897 52
AST-H 9,294,000 1918 ???
Alpha Strike Statistics
TP: BM SZ: 2 TMM: +1
MV: 6” Role: Juggernaut
Damage S: 3 M: 4 L: 3
OV: 2
Armor: O O O O O O O O O O
Sructure: O O O O O O O O
Special: SRM 1/1/-, IF2, LRM 1/2/2