Technical readout 2866 Rise of the Scavengers

ON1-N Orion
History:
The first true heavy BattleMech to be built, the ON1-C
Orion was constructed on Hesperus II in 2480.
Commissioned by the Terran Hegemony, the –C lacked
the LRM-15 of the popular –K introduced is 2525, and
mounted an AC/5 instead of the Kali Yama Class 10
autocannon seen today.
It went on to serve with distinction in the Reunification
War and become a mainstay in the SLDF and the armies
of the Member States. Perhaps its most famous role,
however, was that of the personal ‘Mech of General
Alexsandr Kerensky during the Amaris Civil War.
General Kerensky’s Orion was the ‘Mech that kicked
down the door to the Usurper’s palace on Terra, taking
Stefan Amaris prisoner and ending the war.
With the Cameron family dead and the House Lords
unable to agree on a Successor, the Council Lords
stripped Kerensky of his title as Regent and Protector of
the Star League and effectively dissolved the Star
League less than a year later in 2781. Unwilling to watch
the Great Houses descend into chaos and ultimately
war, Kerensky gathered the SLDF commanders still loyal
to him on Terra in 2783 and outlined Operation Exodus.
Less than a year later, over six million men, women, and
children accompanied Kerensky and disappeared into
the Deep Periphery.
After the fall of the Star League, Kali Yama Weapons
Industries took over production of the Orion and began
producing them on Kendall, in the Free Worlds League.
Carrying an AC/10, a Death Bloom LRM-15, two Irian
Weapon Works medium lasers, and an SRM-4, the Orion
is lethal at any range. In fact, this mix of weaponry
means the pilot will always have a weapon system at the
optimal range when engaging hostile forces.
The other key to its success is the 14 tons of Valiant
Lamellor armor, giving it more protection than many
assault class machines. Capable of withstanding
incredible punishment and carrying large ammunition
stores, the Orion can maintain high intensity operations
for far long than most any other currently produced
BattleMech.
Another reason for the ‘Mech’s longevity is the ease with
which it can be repaired. Technicians have long noted
the spacious interior and the ease of access to critical
component and systems.
However, technicians have also noticed the placement of
the Kali Yama autocannon in the right torso is
problematic. Protruding past the body of the ‘Mech, it
restricts the movement of the right arm and many
MechWarriors have inadvertently struck the weapon with
their arm, knocking it out of alignment. The feed
mechanism for it is troublesome as well although the fix
is well known. The weapon tends to jam if a full 20
rounds are loaded into the ammunition bins. Oddly
enough, if only 19 rounds are loaded, the feed problem
all but disappears.
The Wasat Agressor Type 5 targeting and tracking
system is also well known. One of the longest ranged
tracking systems available today, it features a full suite of
sensors, including infrared, electromagnetic, and seismic
capability. A full 360 degree scanning arc, along with
built in target identification, the Wasat Agressor can also
track fast moving aerial targets. For just these reasons,
the Orion is often assigned to guard mobile headquarters
and is highly sought after by company and even
regimental commanders.
Capabilities:
The ON1-N replaces the troublesome Kali Yama
autocannon with the Thunderbolt A5M large laser found
on the slightly heavier 80-ton Zeus. In fact, the
similarities between the Zeus and Orion are striking,
although the Zeus was not introduced until 2787, almost
300 years after the first Orion rolled off the assembly
lines. Historians and researchers have suggested, in
fact, that Defiance Industries was able to salvage
equipment and design information from ruins of the
original ON1-C factory and repurpose them into what
would become the Zeus.
The removal of the autocannon, the associated
ammunition, and one ton of armor, also allows the Death
Bloom LRM-15 to be upgraded to a full Doombud LRM-
20. The Irian Weapons Works Class 4 missile system
85
has also been upgraded to a full Harpoon-6 SRM-6. The
two medium lasers remain unchanged and an additional
six heat sinks have been added to help deal with the
additional of the heavy laser, giving it a total of 16 heat
sinks.
Variants:
In 2799, Kali Yama Weapons Industries debuted the
ON1-V. By removing three tons of armor, a second Irian
Weapons Works Class 4 missile system has been added
to the right arm.
Current Manufacturers:
Kali Yama Weapons
Kalidasa – Free Worlds League
Model Cost BV PV
ON1-K 6,501,250 1429 39
ON1-V 6,553,750 1298 35
ON1-N 6,496,000 1471 ???
Alpha Strike Statistics
TP: BM SZ: 3 TMM: +1
MV: 8” Role: Brawler
Damage S: 3 M: 3 L: 2
OV: 1
Armor: O O O O O O O
Sructure: O O O O O O
Special: IF2, LRM 1/2/2, SRM 1/1