BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Gaki ((Perrin42's Mech)) GKI-1SW
Designer: The Grand Poobah
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 60
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Civil War / 3067
Rules (Current): Tournament Legal
Rules (Era): Tournament Legal
Rules (Year): Tournament Legal
Total Cost: 8,838,560 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,530
Chassis: Royalstar ATE Endo Steel
Power Plant: VOX-LE 240 Light Fusion
Walking Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Jump Jets: Standard
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: ArcShield Maxi II
Armament:
1 Lord's Light 2 ER PPC
1 Sutel Precision Line Large Pulse Laser
2 Defiance P5M Medium Pulse Lasers
2 Defiance B3M Medium Lasers
1 Flamer
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown
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Overview:
The Gae Bolg fire-support 'Mech from JB BattleMechs of Storfors had achieved some success in
the hands of LAAF units along the Jade Falcon border. However, sales had not achieved the
level that JB's executives had hoped for. In addition, poor sales of the company's other
major design, the Dragonfire, threatened the company's future. Pers Untherhaart, the
company's Marketing Manager, proposed a daring initiative to save the company - to produce a
range of 'Mechs based on a single chassis. Not only would this simplify design and workup
time for each new variant, but the prospect of having a range of 'Mechs which shared the
same basic chassis, and 75% of the same components, was seen to entice the economically
minded. Untherhaart was able to point to Troll Mech Work's Gunman series, which revolved
around the same concept, and which was meeting with considerable success in the Chaos March
at the time.
The first variant to be designed was pegged to be the opposite of the Gae Bolg - instead, a
well-armored, close-in brawler was aimed at. The result - the Gaki.
Capabilities:
At first glance, or at a distance, there is little to differentiate the Gaki from its
ancestor, the Gae Bolg. However, the differences lie beneath the skin - and become obvious
to anyone unwise enough to close with the Gaki.
JB's design team decided that three major changes needed to be performed on the Gae Bolg to
transform it into the ideal brawler: - the design needed jumpjets for added mobility, as it
was not practicable to re-engineer the design to accept a significantly bigger engine; -
Obviously, a new weapons mix was needed to allow for close-in work, which necessitated
upgraded heat-sinks, and - Lastly, articulated arms were a pre-requisite for a brawler.
In the process of upgrading the Gaki's chassis for the 120-meter jumping ability selected,
the engineers upped the 'Mech's armor from a respectable 9 tons, to a more imposing 13
tons. CASE was no longer needed, and was accordingly dropped. The rear armor was increased
as well, as it was recognized that a brawler would face opponents from many angles at once,
unlike a fire-support 'Mech (when well used, anyway).
The ER PPC of the Gae Bolg was retained, due to its lack of a minimum range, but the
Autocannon and LRMs were dropped. Ammunition-based weapons such as SRMs were ruled out to
avoid ammunition explosions. A large pulse laser replaced the LB-5X autocannon, and three
medium lasers - one pulse, and two standard - were mounted in a triangle where the
autocannon ammunition had been. Finally, a medium pulse laser and a flamer were mounted
under the newly installed battle-fists on the right and left arms respectively. Three
additional double heat sinks were shoehorned into the increasingly tight chassis to help
cope with the heat-load of the resulting all-energy weapons load.
Deployment:
Despite the radically different weapons loadout, pilots report a quick and pleasant
transition from the Gae Bolg to the Gaki. Indeed, seasoned Gae Bolg pilots have to be
frequently reminded that their 'Mech has jump capacity, so seamless is the transition (In
all fairness, it must be reported that Gaki pilots moving over to a Gae Bolg frequently halt
for a moment as they "try" to use their non-existent jump-jets). What does take getting used
to is the range of fire options available. The Gaki simply has too many energy weapons for
its heat-sinks, and an unwise pilot can easily overheat after only a few exchanges of fire.
Most pilots eventually get the idea to only use the ERPPC at ranges of 300m plus, and to use
the battery of lasers at ranges under 200m. The mid-zone - from 200m to 300m - is best
handled as circumstances permit; and most Gakis that have come to grief have done so by
being unable to close their range from this distance. This can happen due to inferior
tactics, or due to faster opponents - and most Gaki pilots agree that they would cheerfully
trade in one of their "big guns" for a larger light fusion engine, and more jumpjets.
However, JB's "Buy three, get one cheap" deal - any 3 Gae Bolgs or Gakis, and get 25% off
the price of the 4th - has seen strong sales, particularly as fighting between revisionist
old Davionist units and loyal LAAF regiments increases. Fire lances of 3 Gae Bolgs, plus one
Gaki, are being increasingly purchased under JB's special deal.
Finally, the name of the design - meaning "Hungry Ghost" in Japanese - appears to have
attracted attention from within the Draconis Combine, who are negotiating with JB
BattleMechs for rights to produce Gakis within the Combine.
Variants:
As indicated, users have petitioned for a version of the Gaki which drops the ER PPC, and
replaces it with a larger light fusion motor producing a top speed around 85 kph, and
additional jump capacity. While acclaimed as clearly superior by LAAF pilots, LAAF
quartermasters are still making the purchasing decisions, and prefer the existing
chassis-compatability with the Gae Bolg for logistical reasons.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 3.00
Engine: 240 Light Fusion 9.00
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 4
Heat Sinks (Double): 14 [28] 4.00
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 201 13.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 20 29
Center Torso (rear): 11
R/L Torso: 14 21
R/L Torso (rear): 7
R/L Arm: 10 20
R/L Leg: 14 28
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
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2 Jump Jets CT 2 2.00
ER PPC RT 3 7.00
Large Pulse Laser LT 2 7.00
2 Medium Lasers LT 2 2.00
Medium Pulse Laser LT 1 2.00
Medium Pulse Laser RA 1 2.00
Flamer LA 1 1.00
Jump Jet RL 1 1.00
Jump Jet LL 1 1.00
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 34
TP: BM, SZ: 3, TMM: 1, MV: 8"j
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 3 / (L) 1, OV: 2
Armor (A): 7, Structure (S): 3
Specials: ENE
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