Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

CDA-2Ax Cicada
History:
HartfordCo Industries got its start producing
communications and targeting and tracking systems for
the Terran Hegemony, followed by the Star League, and
then the Capellan Confederation before the destruction
of its headquarters on Bryant in 2840.
Its earliest products, the HartfordCo COM 2500 and
3000 series were found in the quadruped Xanthos and
the 60-ton Galahad. Those BattleMechs also utilized
their early targeting and tracking systems, the XKK 2 and
XHW 7.
In 2612, HartfordCo Industries, entered the military
hardware market with the introduction of the 100-ton Von
Luckner assault tank. The Von Luckner was one of the
few combat vehicles designed from the ground up to be
powered by a fusion engine. Considered to be a
“BattleMech without legs,” the Von Luckner carries a
formidable array of weaponry and is well protected by
eleven tons of 4/Star Slab armor, the same armor used
by the 55-ton Scorpion BattleMech.
Carrying a turret mounted Armstrong Class 20
autocannon, two Holly SRM-6s, a Dannel SRM-4, and a
Holly LRM-10, the Von Luckner is one of the few tanks
capable of destroying an enemy ‘Mech in a one-on-one
engagement. It also carries a Ramsey machine gun and
a Firestorm flamer for point defense and use against
infantry and other soft targets.
Having gained a measure legitimacy from the success of
the Von Luckner and with a proven track record for
producing quality BattleMech electronics, Hollis
Industries partnered with them beginning in 2633 to
provide the cockpit electronics for their new BattleMech,
the 85-ton BLR-1G Battlemaster. The BattleMaster was
an instant success, cementing Hollis Industries place in
the top tier of defense contractors, and giving HartfordCo
precious publicity among the generals and quartermaster
of the SLDF.
After the debut of the BattleMaster, the SLDF
quartermasters adopted the Von Luckner for use among
its frontline armor divisions beginning in 2683 thereby
solidifying HarrfordCo Industries financial future. Their
next big break would come in 2733 when Mitchell
Vehicles, one of the oldest, largest, and most successful
defense contractors of all-time, requested a license to
manufacture the HartfordCo COM 4000 and XKZ 1
targeting and tracking system, the same set used on the
BattleMaster, for use in their new 85-ton Shogun
BattleMech.
Having now worked successfully with two different
BattleMech manufacturers, HartfordCo Industries
decided it was finally time to enter that market as well. In
2740, they unveiled their 40-ton CDA-2A Cicada, a
BattleMech aimed directly at replacing Bergan Industries
antiquated 20-ton LCT-1V Locust.
Equally fast and weighing twice as much, the Cicada
carries two medium lasers and a small laser, giving it
slightly better firepower while carrying the same amount
of armor as the 20-ton Locust. The SLDF accepted the
design just as HartfordCo had hoped, using them to
replace destroying Locusts. However, the per unit cost
was over twice that of the 20-ton Locust and once they
had been deployed along the periphery border, it was
quickly discovered the HartfordCo heat sinks were
defective, operating at only 60% efficiency, necessitating
an expensive and embarrassing recall. Consequently,
the HartfordCo never achieved its goal of replacing the
Locust, and the Cicada remained a rare and somewhat
marginalized design.
Having failed to achieve any significant penetration in the
BattleMech market, HartfordCo took a step back,
designing and delivering an advanced “Royal” Von
Luckner tank to the SLDF Royal Divisions in 2761, and
then contracted with MatherTechno Incorporated in 2777
to provide electronics for their 40-ton Vulcan anti-infantry
BattleMech. They would go on this way until 2840 when
the storm inhibitors on their home planet of Bryant were
destroyed during the Succession Wars, making the
planet uninhabitable.
Notable ‘Mechs and MechWarriors:
Second Lieutenant Wilfred Wildes
A member of the Second Ceti Hussars, a House Davion
unit formed from the remnants of the SLDF's Eighth
Striker and 1894th Light Horse regiments, Lieutenant
Wildes originally piloted a LCT-1M, a variant of the
107
common 20-ton Locust. During one of the many
frequent attempts to wrestle the industrial stronghold of
Tikonov away from the Capellan Confedertion, his
Locust was destroyed during bitter fighting against the
Frist Chesterton Voltigeurs.
During the course of the unsuccessful campaign, the
Ceti Hussars salvaged a 40-ton Cicada, among other
BattleMechs, before they were forced to withdraw from
the planet.
The LCT-1M, with its dual arm mounted LRM-5s, was
envisioned as a fast mobile fire support platform,
however the increased weight of the missile launchers
left the 20-ton ‘Mech with only a single ton of armor to
protect it. Consequently, as Wildes found out, it is easily
destroyed.
Working with the Hussar technical team, Wildes directed
them to refurbish the Cicada along the same lines as his
former Locust. Replacing the destroyed Pitban 320
fusion engine with a Vox 280 salvaged from a Capellan
Assassin freed up a considerable amount of space in the
chassis allowing the technicians to install a Holly LRM-5
in each of the Cicada’s stubby arms while retaining the
two medium lasers.
Determined not to become dispossessed again and
blaming the destruction of his former LCT-1M on its
ridiculously light armor, Wildes went to instruct the
technical team to “slap as much armor on that ugly bird
as humanly possible and then add one more ton.”
Ultimately, the Ceti Hussar’s technicians were able to
cover Wildes’ Cicada with six tons of Riese-470 armor,
giving it vastly better protection than his original Locust,
and 50% more protection than even the original Cicada.
Current Manufacturers: None
Alpha Strike Statistics
TP: BM SZ: 1 TMM: +3
MV: 14” Role: Striker
Damage S: 2 M: 2 L: 1
OV: 0
Armor: O O O
Sructure: O O O
Special: IF1, LRM -/1/1