Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

FLS-7Kx Flashman
History:
The 75-ton Flashman is one of the most effective
BattleMechs ever built. Originally put into production by
Renault-Prime on Wasat beginning in 2701, its
configuration of exclusively energy-based weapons
allowed it operate almost indefinitely on the field of
battle.
It quickly became one of the most highly sought after
BattleMechs among SLDF line regiments, often finding a
home in heavy and assault lances. In fact, the SLDF
would go onto to create a number of battalions consisting
only of Flashmen. Being assigned a Flashman was all
but a guarantee a MechWarrior would serve on the
frontlines and see extensive combat.
Jokingly referred to as the “Flashbulb” due to its
distinctive bulb-like chest, the FLS-8K packs a trio of
Seiltex Radionic large lasers, five Ichiba 3000 medium
lasers, including a rear mounted one, and a Zippo Mk. X
flamer for use against infantry and other soft targets.
Not only is the Flashman capable of laying down a nonstop
barrage of laser fire, its also protected with 13.5
tons of Kemplar 5000 armor, making it more heavily
armored than many other assault class BattleMechs. Its
thick hide is not its only protection either. The Flashman
also mounts a Buzzsaw anti-missile system. This
system reduces the damage from incoming missiles
strike by almost 20%, making it an even more difficult to
bring down.
Equipped with 15 double strength heat sinks, the
Flashman can also maintain a blistering rate of fire,
which is quite an accomplishment for a ‘Mech carrying so
many heat intensive weapons.
Its electronics are also remarkable. A Duotek 195
handles communications duties but the Faust/Shinji
AT/TS is among the most accurate targeting and tracking
systems ever made. The Faust/Shinji is almost among
the most specialized T&T systems ever created. Since
the Flashman is armed only with direct energy weapons,
the T&T system is specifically built to handle the unique
profile of lasers.
This specialization comes at a cost, however. Most
other Targeting and Tracking systems can be
reprogrammed for use in other model BattleMechs.
Dynatec systems, for example, are found as standard
equipment in the Stinger, Quickdraw and Awesome and
the versatile O/P series of T&T systems are used in the
Locust, Spider, Shadow Hawk and Warhammer.
Attempts to repurpose the Faust/Shinji, however, have
all failed, often even resulting in degraded performance
when forced to hande ballistic and missile based
weapons.
The Flashman is powered by a state-of-the-art General
Motors 375 Extralight fusion engine. This mammoth
power plant can propel the 75-ton ‘Mech at speeds
approaching 90 kph, making the Flashman shockingly
quick and nimble for such a heavy machine.
If there is drawback to this successful and effective
design it was the price tag. At almost 18 million C-bills
per unit, the FLS-8K was by far the most expensive 75-
ton BattleMech, and one of the most expensive ever
manufactured regardless of size, costing twice that of the
100-ton AS7-D Atlas.
Production would temporarily end with the destruction of
the Renault-Prime assembly lines in 2796. Defiance
Industries then acquired the design schematics and
production blueprints from the now defunct Renault-
Prime and opened a line for it in their massive Hesperus
II facility.
Unfortunately, neither Defiance Industries nor any of its
subcontractors such as Edasich Motors, were capable of
producing the advanced lightweight GM 375XL engine
and consequently the Defiance engineers had to adapt
the original -8K design to use available technologies.
The resulting design, the -7K, is a pale shadow of its
former glorious self. Forced to replace the GM 375XL
with the commonly produced Vlar 300, found on ‘Mechs
throughout the Inner Sphere from the Dragon and
Marauder to the Orion and Atlas, it is one of the most
well understood fusion engines still manufactured by the
Successor States.
This change dropped the top speed of the FLS-7K to
64.8 kph, close the average speed for a ‘Mech of this
129
size. Also gone are the double-strength heat sinks,
replaced instead with 23 standard ones. The chest
mounted heavy laser has been removed along with the
lostech Buzzsaw anti-missile system. The armor is the
only thing that remains unchanged from the -8K version,
as Defiance Industries was also forced to change out the
cockpit electronics, using their familiar TharHes
counterparts.
Notable ‘Mech and MechWarriors:
Captain Rabbie “Rabies” Ramsay
A member of Marion's Highlanders, a unit of the
illustrious Northwind Highlanders, Captain Ramsay’s
Flashman is one of the few, if not the only one, left
retaining the original GM 375XL engine. Traditionally
favoring heavy and assault class designs, one of the
Marion’s Highlanders most recent actions was the
defense of Almach against the House Davion’s elite
Deneb Light Calvary.
During the heavy fighting, Ramsay’s Flashman proved a
stalwart point of defense and an effectiverally point,
although by the end his ‘Mech was seriously damaged.
While replacement limbs are available from Defiance
Industries, it is unknown how Captain Ramsay, and
those before him, have been able to maintain the
sophisticated GM 375 engine, leading many to suspect
Northwind must have been home to a Star League
lostech tech. Located so close to Terra, it is well known
Northwind was originally part of the Terran Hegemony
and at one time produced both the Crab and King Crab
BattleMechs for the SLDF on plant.
Ramay’s Flashman carries three heavy lasers along with
four medium lasers. It retains the formidable speed and
heat dissipation of the orginal. However, due to the less
than perfect repairs on its advanced engine, it has been
forced to drop the rear mounted medium laser, antimissile
system, and a half ton of armor in order to
prevent overstressing the chassis.
Alpha Strike Statistics
TP: BM SZ: 3 TMM: +2
MV: 10” Role: Brawler
Damage S: 5 M: 5 L: 0
OV: 0
Armor: O O O O O O O
Sructure: O O O O O O
Special: ENE