BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Obsidian Idol [BASE]
Designer: Thunder
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Clan
Technology Rating: E
Tonnage: 100
Configuration: Biped OmniMech
Era/Year: Civil War / 3067
Rules (Current): Standard
Rules (Era): Standard
Rules (Year): Standard
Total Cost: 25,142,500 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,253
Chassis: Endo Steel
Power Plant: 300 XL
Walking Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Standard
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking: Unknown
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Overview:
In the wake of the Battle for Katyusha it became apparent that the Ebon Keshik
needed Battlemech support to insure the integrity of the Svoboda Zemyla and
Hall of Khans. Given that the Ebon Keshik is a special unit composed from all
clans yet owing allegiance only to the ilKhan and Grand Council (despite any
official statements to the contrary) it seemed appropriate to use a mech built
specially for the Ebon Keshik and used by no clan. Though no clan was to use
the new mech, input from all clans was solicited to create a mech of
unsurpassed lethality.
Capabilities:
At first glance the Obsidian Idol is a fairly typical assault mech.
Maneuverability is on par with almost every 100 ton mech ever made. Armor
coverage is actually lighter then average with only 18.5 tons of standard armor
covering the chassis. What truly makes this mech is the weapons capacity. 59
tons of available pod space allows the Obsidian Idol to carry an unmatched
bite.
The primary configuration comes out strong mounting twin Gauss Rifles and Twin
ERPPC's. An LB-10x autocannon rounds out the weapons mix offering a means to
exploit the holes created by the primary weapons. Configuration A is extremely
similar to the primary configuration. Instead of an LB-10x a third Gauss rifle
is added neglecting any finesse over more raw firepower. The B configuration
retains the arm mounted Gauss rifles and completes the configuration with a
trio of large pulse lasers enhanced with a targeting computer. The Continued
use of Gauss rifles actually prompted one of the few snafus in the Obsidian
Idol's design phase. A Wolf scientist suggested making these weapons fixed
since they were in every configuration to date, and making them fixed would
ease construction and maintance requirements. Fortunately for the Obsidian
Idol this idea was quickly snuffed out and the Wolf scientist was forced to
watch combat records of the now defunct Naga.
After the first three configurations of the Obsidian Idol comes the second
generation of configuration, produced after the Obsidian Idol entered service
with the Ebon Keshik. The C configuration is similar to the Prime in that it
uses weapons with highly concentrated damage to punch holes into a target and
follows up this damage with a Trio of LB-10x's firing cluster munitions to chew
up the vitals. The C configuration is also the first configuration to mount
significant secondary weapons and to overheat to any great degree. There is
one flaw in this configuration that makes few Mech Warriors choice it. With
only 3 tons of ammo for the LBx's its utility in heavy fighting is limited.
The next configuration, D, shares the C configurations Ammo deficiency, at its
maximum rate of fire it will deplete its ammo in less then two minutes.
Despite that, this configuration is quickly becoming one of the favored
configurations of the Obsidian Idol. A Trio of Ultra AC-10's with 6 tons of
ammo are tied into a Targeting computer. Backing up these weapons are five
Streak-4 Missile racks used with the idea of savaging any holes opened up by
the autocannon. The combination has proven devastating.
Configuration E was created at a warrior's request. She had a natural knack
for using Gauss rifles over any other weapon, and this configuration serves her
capabilities well. Backing up the quad of Gauss rifles are two pairs of Medium
lasers offering medium range firepower, and short range punch respectively.
Despite being designed for one Mechwarrior use of this configuration is not
singular. Others who choice to use this configuration often state that they
feel this configuration is more aesthetically pleasing then other
configurations, its simple weapon symmetry offering some indefinable quality
that improves their own performance.
The final official configuration attempts to address the issue of ammo
dependency, a fact of life for all the configurations. Multiple clusters of
Medium Pulse lasers backed by a targeting computer give this configuration a
dangerous edge in close combat. The nearly ubiquitous Gauss Rifles are found
once again in this configuration, but with three tons of ammo available to each
one the chance of running dry is remote. Refinement of this configuration
changed its mission profile from simple attrition based endurance to close
assault, including the introduction of heavy lifters and ECM. In a close
quarters environment the F configuration is not to be trifled with.
Deployment:
Battle History:
The Battle for Katyusha was the first strike in the Dark Caste war. During
this attack United Freemen entered the space of Strana Mechty using merchant
caste codes. With surprise on their side, their dropships descended upon
Katyusha, while their aerospace forces cleared the Orbits notably destroying
the McKenna's Pride. The ships descending upon the city, included several
ships making landfall within the Hall of Khans complex, the parks around the
Hall the Khans known as the Svoboda Zemyla, and even worse from most Clansmen's
point of view, the Master Genetic Repository itself was threatened by landings.
The multi-Clan police force responsible for Katyusha responded vigorously and
to great effect, but ultimately was unable to contest the landing. Within the
area of responsibility of the Ebon Keshik much the same story played out, but
the Ebon Keshik is not to be taken lightly. At great cost the Ebon Keshik
Battlearmor was able to regain control of the Hall of Khans Complex, or at
least the ruins of it. Shortly there after Battlemech forces were able to drop
into the parks around the Hall of Khans complex and pin the Dark Caste Bandits
against the anvil of the Ebon Keshik. At the Master Genetic Repository however
things were not going as well. The United Freemen were well dug in, and were
using the Clans absolute need to reclaim their most holy shrine to lure them in
and grind them up. The Clan forces within the city understood this, but Honor
is a strange thing and allowing their Master Repository to remain in Dark Caste
Hands was unthinkable. This stalemate was broken when the Ebon Keshik received
orders from the surviving members of the Grand Council to go on the offensive.
The use of underground tunnels and a massive cratering charge allowed the Ebon
Keshik to deploy behind enemy lines and quickly swarm over the dug in
defenders. The Clan forces were then able to drive a wedge into the defenders
lines and proceed to roll down their flank until finally the perimeter broke as
the United Freemen attempted to flee to their dropships. A number of the Dark
Caste Bandits escaped only to die in space when Ebon Keshik squads taken aboard
during the confusion of their rout destroyed the dropships from within.
The Clan victory for the Battle of Katyusha was pyrrhic. Though the attacking
Dark Caste forces were forced off planet, their kill ratio was decidedly in
their favor. For several Months the Dark Caste war was one sided with United
Freemen forces attacking with near impunity and the Clans only capable of
defending where they were weak. It was during this period that the Obsidian
Idol was commissioned. The Break for the Clans occurred when they finally
discovered a Dark Caste world beyond their periphery. Finally able to attack,
bidding between the clans commenced for the right to take the world. The Star
Adders won. Surprisingly a trial of possession bid was put forth by the new
Ebon Keshik commander with the blessings of the Grand Council and IlKhan to
replace a portion of the winning clans force with the Ebon Keshik. The Star
Adder Khan accepted the batchal bidding a single unaugmented warrior to defend
in a 5 meter wide circle of equals. The trial was simple and to the point with
the defending warrior stating, "The Honor is yours" and stepping out of the
ring. This pattern continued for the rest of the war with Ebon Keshik forces
participating in every major offense first as elite Battlearmor formations and
later in nova's as the Obsidian Idol entered the ranks of the Ebon Keshik.
Deployment:
Today, years after the Dark Caste war, The Ebon Keshik still uses the Obsidian
Idol to guard the new Hall of Khans. These mechs stand silent guard around the
Hall, and in small groups within the Svoboda Zemyla. The majority of the Ebon
Keshik's Battlemech force is of course housed in the great underground bunkers
beneath the Svoboda Zemyla awaiting the unlikely event of another attack on
Katyusha.
Variants:
Beyond any official configurations are personal tweaking done by individual
pilots. Changes caused by this tend to be extremely limited however since the
greatest advantage of the Obsidian Idol, the massive weapons tonnage available
is limited by the limited volume available, which explains the prolific use of
Gauss Rifles, a heavy weapon that does not take up to much space once heat
sinks and ammo is taken into account.
Beyond individual customization, research into additional configurations still
continues. The desire to incorporate ATM's into at least one configuration is
still being looked into. To date however no potential configuration
incorporating ATM's has reached a level of firepower that would do justice to
the Idea of this mech.
Notable MechWarriors:
Archivist notes:
The Obsidian Idol holds near mythic status to the brane displaced United Freemen refugees we
have taken in. It was present at nearly every defeat they suffered during their attempt to
liberate themselves from Clan oppression. As such it held a prominent place in their
tactical data. The above description is somewhat out of date. G H and I configurations
were seen well after the United Freemen were shattered and scattered the first time.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Endo Steel 5.00
Engine: 300 XL 9.50
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Double): 12 [24] 2.00
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 296 18.50
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 8
Center Torso: 31 45
Center Torso (rear): 15
R/L Torso: 21 32
R/L Torso (rear): 10
R/L Arm: 17 34
R/L Leg: 21 38
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Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
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Alpha Strike Statistics
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Point Value (PV): 30
TP: BM, SZ: 4, TMM: 1, MV: 6"
Damage: (S) 0 / (M) 0 / (L) 0, OV: 0
Armor (A): 10, Structure (S): 5
Specials: ENE, OMNI
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