BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Rising Star RSR-X1
Designer: Ruger
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 80
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Star League / 2780
Rules (Current): Advanced
Rules (Era): Advanced
Rules (Year): Advanced
Total Cost: 7,325,640 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,827
Structure: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 240 Fusion
Walking Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: Unknown
Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor: Standard
Armament:
2 Autocannon/10s
1 SRM 4
2 Medium Lasers
1 Large Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown
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Overview:
In the closing years of the Star League, it was determined that a new mobile assault 'Mech
was needed that could fill the roles of both direct-fire and anti-aircraft support. Many
design proposals were put forth, but the one that generated the most interest was a design
dubbed the Rising Star.
Capabilities:
The Rising Star was designed to be an 80 ton Assault 'Mech. Although on the low end of such
machines, this would make it, nevertheless, an entry in this category. This also enabled the
design to carry some 15.5 tons of standard armor plate, making sure it lived up to the
"assault" portion of its classification. A Pitban 240 fusion core, long a staple of many 60
ton heavy 'Mechs would allow the 'Mech to top out at only 54 kph on the ground, but would
retain enough mass for a heavy weapons load. To alleviate concerns about its ground speed, 3
jump jets were added to allow it to make leaps up to 30 meters high or 90 across, and thus
clear most obstacles.
It is in the weapons package that the design truly shined. The centerpiece of the payload is
a pair of Mydron Class B 105 mm Type 10 Heavy Autocannon fitted with 5 tons of ammunition.
This allows the 'Mech to carry at least one ton of "flak" anti-aircraft ammunition to make
excellent use of its targeting system's remarkable anti-air capabilities. Backing the
autocannon is a single heavy 8 cm laser in the left arm, and a pair of 5 cm lasers in the
right arm. Finally, rounding out the armament package is a Holly short range 4 pack missile
launcher fitted with a ton of ammunition. Combined, these weapons make the design utterly
deadly to anyone within 450 meters of the 'Mech.
The one failing of the 'Mech, and the primary reason only a few dozen were made before the
design was shelved, was that its targeting system itself. The computer suffered from sensor
ghosts and poor targeting at short ranges. Combined with a poor cooling jacket on the heavy
laser, many pilots soon began ranting against the design they had been raving about only a
few short months before.
Deployment:
Before its failures were known, the Rising Star had been set to be widely deployed in the
Star League Defense Force. Once those issues became apparent however, most of the 'Mechs
were scrapped out, or sold to the various Houses and prominent families of the various
Successor States.
Variants:
An attempt was made to correct the issues found in the design. The RSR-X3 replaced the
standard model Mydron heavy autocannons with Lubalin dual purpose heavy autocannons.
Although ammunition for the autocannons was reduced by a ton, the capability of using
cluster rounds and the increase range of the more advanced weapons was felt to outweigh the
reduced ammunition count. The weight savings of the new guns also allowed the heavy laser to
be replaced with a standard model Parti-Kill particle cannon, which matched the range of the
new autocannons and inflicted a heavier hit than the older heavy laser.
However, neither change eliminated the targeting system's system's sensor ghosts, and
although the PPC's cooling jacking was much improved over the old laser's, firing the new
particle cannon ended up causing EM interference to the 'Mech. This resulted in malfunction
in the Artemis IV fire control system that had been added to the short range missiles to use
the extra ton available by reduction in the autocannon ammunition. These issues only
exacerbated the ill feeling beginning to rise for the design, so it was retired, even though
a different targeting system may have gone a long way to repairing the design's reputation.
Centuries after the design was shelved, it would be revived an updated to create the Word of
Blake's Legacy BattleMech.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 4.00
Engine: 240 Fusion 11.50
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 3
Heat Sinks (Double): 10 [20] 0.00
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 247 15.50
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 25 40
Center Torso (rear): 10
R/L Torso: 17 27
R/L Torso (rear): 7
R/L Arm: 13 26
R/L Leg: 17 34
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
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Jump Jet CT 1 1.00
Autocannon/10 RT 7 12.00
Autocannon/10 (Ammo 20) RT 2 2.00
CASE RT 1 0.50
SRM 4 RT 1 2.00
SRM 4 (Ammo 25) RT 1 1.00
Autocannon/10 LT 7 12.00
Autocannon/10 (Ammo 20) LT 2 2.00
Autocannon/10 (Ammo 10) [Flak] LT 1 1.00
CASE LT 1 0.50
2 Medium Lasers RA 2 2.00
Large Laser LA 2 5.00
Jump Jet RL 1 1.00
Jump Jet LL 1 1.00
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