Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

ARC-2Rx Archer
History:
The ARC-2R is of the oldest BattleMechs still in
production. Introduced in 2474 by Earthwerks
Incorporated, it has come to define what a fire support
‘Mech should be. It is also the first BattleMech to be
designed and built from the ground up based on the
Second Generation of BattleMech technology.
Carrying a pair of Doombud LRM-20s, each fed with two
full tons of ammunition, the Archer can sustain a
devastating barrage of missile fire for two full minutes.
Often used to bombard enemy fortifications or heavily
entrenched units, the Archer also carries a pair of
Diverse Optics Type 18 medium lasers for close combat,
and another pair mounted in the rear center torso.
When it was first released, the Archer was considered an
assault class BattleMech and it’s 13 tons of Maximillan
100 armor makes it among the most heavily protected
‘Mechs of all time. If the Archer has a shortcoming, it is
in the number of heat sinks it carries. Equipped with only
the standard 10 heat sinks built in its Vox 280 fusion
engine, the Archer will steadily build up heat during a
sustained barrage, although with only two forward facing
medium lasers, this is rarely a problem during close
combat.
To make it a more formidable and versatile ‘Mech at
close range, the Earthwerk engineers equipped the
Archer with a full set of arm actuators including two
heavily armored battle fists. This enables the 70-ton
‘Mech to deliver punishing physical attacks with little
worry of damaging the ‘Mech. The designers also
placed the cockpit beneath the center torso, with the
main armor belt running above it to protect the delicate
gyro assembly and expensive fusion engine.
It is interesting to note that over time the Archer has
become one of the ‘Mechs favored by field commanders.
This is due in large part to its ability to provide massive
indirect fire support to friendly units while staying well
back from the front lines thus allowing commanders to
relatively safe as they watch the battle unfold.
For being such an old design, surprisingly few variants of
the Archer were ever produced, a testament to the
effectiveness of the original design. Predictably,
however, the Star League Defense Force did
commission a “Royal” variant of the vaunted fire support
‘Mech, although for some reason they would wait until
2752 before doing so. Carrying the ARC-2Rb
designation and built using an Endo-Steel chassis, the -
2Rb retains the two original LRM-20s but enhances them
both with the Artemis IV Fire Control System, increasing
the number of missiles that strike the target by 35%. An
additional ton of LRM ammunition was added at the
expense of one of the rear mounted medium lasers and
the chassis is fully protected by CASE. Finally, the heat
sinks were upgraded to double strength versions, taking
an already daunting ‘Mech and making it even more
effective.
Fairly recently, however, the Draconis Combine began
retrofitting their existing stock of Archers beginning in
2856. The ARC-2K downgrades both LRM-20s to LRM-
15s while upgrading the two medium lasers to heavy
lasers. Both rear mounted medium lasers are removed,
as well as two tons of armor, but two additional heat
sinks have been added. This gives the -2K substantially
more staying power on the field allowing it to provide
medium range direct fire support with its heavy lasers.
Notable ‘Mech and MechWarriors
Mechwarrior Yuan Li
Blandford's Grenadiers trace their roots back to the
Tikonov Union that existed before the formation of the
Capellan Confederation. In 2368 the unit was absorbed
into the Capellan Hussars, the most prestigious brigade
in the CCAF and based on the strategically important
world of Sarna, the home of Tengo Aerospace.
The Grenadiers are noted for their successful defense of
Lee against the Fifth Davion Guards in 2802-03. Just
seven years later the Grenadiers would go on to destroy
Edom’s Bandits, a mercenary unit employed by the Free
Worlds League, during the Bandit’s attempted conquest
of Sirius. Most recently, In 2854 the Grenadiers would
go on a deep penetration raid, striking deep into the
heart of Davion space and destroying yet another
mercenary outfit, this time Tamara's Black Sword in the
employ of House Davion on Carver V.
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As befitting such a successful regiment, the Grenadiers
get priority access to the best equipment the Capellan
Confederation can produce.
Mechwarrior Yuan Li, a member of the Grenadiers,
piloted an ARC-2R Archer until it suffered a devastating
ammunition explosion fighting against elements of the
Second Free World Guards on Tsinghai. The explosion
destroyed the entire left side of his BattleMech including
both legs. While Li ejected successfully, the neural
feedback from the detonation of the ammunition left him
in a coma for almost a month.
The explosion was not caused by enemy fire. Rather Li
stared down an approaching Guard striker lance,
unleashing a non-stop barrage of LRMs, bringing down
both a Wolverine and Trebuchet before being forced to
switch over to short range missiles where he accounted
for the destruction of a Hermes II before his Crusader
critically overheated, detonating its ammunition.
His heroic stand bought enough time for reinforcements
to arrive, and ultimately the Guard thrust was pushed
back. A thankful Grenadier commander ordered the
reconstruction of what was left of his Archer. What the
technicians had however, was a surplus of Crusader
parts and a serious lack of Archer parts.
Consequently, the techs were forced to rebuild Li’s
Archer by fusing it with a number of Crusader limbs,
including both legs and the entire left side. The resulting
‘Mech is as much, if not more Crusader than Archer.
When Li awoke from his coma, the first thing he asked
about was his beloved ‘Mech. Upon seeing the rebuilt
machine, he immediately named it “Arcinstein.”
“Arcinstein” still carries the original LRM-20 and medium
laser from the Archer, but now also has a LRM-15, SRM-
6, and a machine gun from a Crusader. Since then, it
has seen a number of minor engagement and performed
well. How long it will hold together still remains to be
seen.
Alpha Strike Statistics
TP: BM SZ: 3 TMM: +1
MV: 8” Role: Missile Boat
Damage S: 2 M: 3 L: 3
OV: 1
Armor: O O O O O O O
Sructure: O O O O O O
Special: IF3, LRM 2/3/3, SRM 1/1-, REAR 1/1/-