Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

Fifth Generation BattleMech
The fifth generation of BattleMechs never made it past
the initial design phase. The only real evidence of what
the next generation of BattleMechs might have looked
like can be found in the renderings of what were to be
General Motor’s successors to their 75-ton Marauder,
the MTR-X Maelstrom and DGR-X Dragon Fire.
based on a 75-ton chassis, these modules, and possibly
the actuators as well, would likely have been
interchangeable among all three models, allowing pilots
to tailor the arm mounted weapons for specific missions
on a case by case basis. This would also have had a
huge impact on logistics which the Star League was
already struggling with given the vast number of different
model ‘Mechs the SLDF fielded.
speed is open to speculation. Two of the most plausible
theories involve some kind of advanced myomer system
or an engine “supercharger.” There is also speculation
the Mercury used an entirely different type of heat sink,
or in the very least, some kind of advanced heat
management system.
Rendering of the MTR-X Maelstrom
The unique ball-and-socket arm joints found only on the
Marauder provide a greater field of fire as well as a
significantly faster transverse rate. The reverse canted
legs, first used on the humble Locust, provide an
incredibly stable platform even at high speeds. The
unusual insect-like profile presents a considerably more
difficult target than the traditional humanoid design of
most BattleMechs. The design drawings of both the
Maelstrom and Dragon Fire retain all of these distinctive
features.
However, perhaps the most tantilizing clue to what the
future of BattleMech design may have held is contained
in the arm mounted weapon “pods” used to house the
Marauder’s PPCs and medium lasers. As any
BattleMech technician who has worked on one can attest
too, the design is a modular one, allowing quick and
easy replacement or repair of damaged weapons. The
technician simply identifies the damaged module and
replaces it, allowing the damaged module to be repaired
at a later time.
It is likely that both the Maelstrom and Dragon Fire would
also have used this same modular approach for their
weapons. Furthermore, given that all three designs were
Rendering of MAD-X Marauder
The original Marauder was introduced in 2612, followed
by the upgraded -2D in 2760. It is interesting to note that
the only other BattleMech that incorporated a modular
approach to weapons was the MCY-99 Mercury,
introduced in 2742 by Mitchell Vehicles on Terra. While
a degraded Marauder eventually found its way into the
armies of the House Lords, the Mercury was never
allowed outside direct control of the SLDF. After the
departure of General Kerensky and the dissolution of the
Star League, a few Mercurys remained behind, most of
them with the Eight Recon Battalion of the Third
Regimental Combat Team, better known as the Eridani
Light House, that would go on to become one of the
most successful mercenaries units in the Inner Sphere.
It is reported the 20-ton Mercury could reach speeds of
up to 172 kph, carried exclusively energy based
weapons and used Ferro-Fibrous armor. Given the
Mercury was known to be powered by the same LTV 160
fusion engine found in the Locust, the source of this
15
MCY-99 Mercury
Other likely next generation technologies would include a
full line of the LB-X and Ultra autocannons, as well as
extended range versions of the medium and small laser.
It is even possible to imagine that both the extended
range and pulse technologies would eventually merge
into a line of extended range pulse lasers given enough
time. The Streak fire control system would appear on
both the SRM-4 and SRM-6, perhaps even on long
range missile packs.
Improved electrolytes could lead to the development of
“supercapacitors” which in turn could be used to
enhance particle projection cannons. Material advances
could lead to new types of internal structure and armor,
but it is almost certain some type of lightweight gryo
would be introduced, as it is one of the few components
that remains largely unchanged from the inception of the
BattleMechs.
The Star League had already begun to experiment with a
number of specialized munitions, including the homing
long range Swarm missiles and Thunder warheads
capable of laying down ad-hoc minefields on the
battlefield. Autocannons would benefit from shaped
charges and other advances, creating the potential for
armor-piercing and extended range cartridges, along