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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Hunchback ("Curveball") HBK-5HGS
Designer:           ackbar5
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            50
Role:               Ambusher
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Civil War / 3065
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Experimental
Rules (Year):       Experimental
Total Cost:         9,712,000 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,570

Chassis:              Prototype Composite Hunchback Chassis Composite
Power Plant:          Nissan 200 XL 200 XL
Walking Speed:        43.2 kph  
Maximum Speed:        64.8 kph  
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Armor:                Ceres Heavy Stealth Stealth
Armament:             
    1 Defiance Hammerfist Heavy Gauss Rifle
    2 Magna Mk VI ER Medium Lasers
Manufacturer:         North Star Experimental Weapon Fabrication
    Primary Factory:  Duluth
Communications:       Omicron 4002 Networking Channel with Angel ECM Suite
Targeting & Tracking: TRSS Eagle Eye

================================================================================================
Overview:
    BattleMech Intelligence Dossier: HBK-5HGS Hunchback
    Author: Adept Mu Conrad Eisner
    
    First observed in the field in December of 3065 during an engagement between elements of the
    2nd North Star Free Company and the 32nd Lyran Guards RCT on New Kyoto, what is now known as
    the HBK-5HGS, callsign "Curveball," appears to be a one-off derivative of the Hunchback.
    While my subordinates were unable to infiltrate the mercenary's technician cadre, we were
    able to ascertain the following details from analysis of several engagements where our
    forces were present in pursuit of other objectives.  While all available information
    indicates that final assembly was handled by the North Star Experimental Weapons Fabrication
    facility on Duluth, the multitude of advanced technologies contained within this BattleMech
    strongly suggests that they had extensive outside assistance in putting this design
    together.

Capabilities:
    The HBK-5HGS Hunchback is a Stealth Armored Heavy Gauss Rifle platform.  Monitoring its
    movements was understandably a difficult affair given its sensor disrupting capabilities,
    but visual observation suggests that the unit is no faster than a standard Hunchback.  The
    weight of the equipment that would be necessary to manage its observed characteristics all
    but confirms the use of an XL engine, most likely a Nissan 200XL given the North Star
    Experimental Weaposn Fabrication facility's preferences for Free Worlds League Manufacturers
    for its components where possible.
    
    Ascertaining the exact model of Heavy Gauss Rifle mounted in the Right Torso proved to be
    difficult given the BattleMech's ECM capabilities.  Analysis of the EM spectrum from the one
    time it fired its main gun while the ECM suite was malfunctioning suggests that it's either
    a Defiance Hammersmith Heavy Gauss Rifle, or a pre-production prototype of the Blackwell
    Arms Thunderfist, with the assessment leaning towards the former explanation.  The weapon
    was observed to have been fired 14 times during a protracted engagement, some of which were
    against LAAF Light BattleMechs.  This suggests that it has 4 tons of Heavy Gauss Rifle
    ammunition, most likely in the Left Torso, and that the mercenary units ammo supply is
    probably secure enough that they can afford to waste gauss slugs on Light Battlemechs.  This
    means that they either have contacts who can siphon off resources from the Lyran Alliance,
    or they have contacts who can manufacture the heavy gauss slugs themselves.
    
    As for the secondary weapons, it appears to be a pair of two ER Medium Lasers, one in each
    arm.  Assessing the models of the lasers was significantly easier.  A simple spectral
    analysis of light diffracted from the laser beams confirms that they're most likely Magna
    Mark VI ER Medium Lasers, and are definitely of Inner Sphere origin.
    
    The ECM suite, on the other hand, is a more interesting affair.  A Lyran FS9-S1 attempted to
    use its Guardian ECM to expose the Hunchback to missile fire from an LRM Carrier.  The
    missiles showed no improvement in performance, and the Lyran Mechwarrior was rewarded for
    his valor with a direct hit to his BattleMech's Center Torso, destroying his undamaged
    BattleMech in a single hit.  This incident, combined with what limited spectral analysis was
    able to be performed by our field assets indicates that the BattleMech's ECM suite is an
    Angel ECM rather than a Guardian ECM.
    
    Observations of the BattleMech firing its ER Medium Lasers while having its Stealth Armor's
    signature reduction features activated and showing no adverse effects on performance
    suggests that the BattleMech's cooling systems are upgraded to Double Heat Sink standards.
    They probably reduced the number of heat sinks to 10 over the 13 Single Heat Sinks used by
    the standard models.
    
    Given the immense spatial constraints imposed on the interior it is all but certain that the
    Heavy Gauss Rifle is partially mounted in the Center Torso, with a Compact Gyro being used
    to free up the necessary interior space.  Analysis of material fragments left behind after
    it sustained internal damage confirms that its internal structure is a composite structure
    as opposed to Endo-Steel or a standard internal construction.  Mathematical analysis of the
    tonnage suggests that they increased the armor to 11 tons over the standard 10 tons of armor
    on a Hunchback HBK-4G.
    
    In conclusion, a lot of advanced technology was pulled in to fit an exceptionally powerful
    weapon into a Medium BattleMech, with outside technology being brought in from the Lyran
    Alliance (possibly), the Federated Commonwealth, the Capellan Confederation, and either the
    Draconis Combine or the apostates who call themselves ComStar.  This is an extensive supply
    chain for an outfit of lesser renown, even given their state backing. It would be surprising
    for them to have more than a single unit and a supply of replacement parts given the
    manufacturer typically retrofits existing BattleMechs for special purpose roles rather than
    manufacturing new machines outright.

Deployment:
    The HBK-5HGS Hunchback "Curveball" is fielded by the 2nd North Star Free Company, 3rd Lance,
    and thus far has only been observed .
    
    The North Star Free Companies blur the line between a state military force and a mercenary
    outfit due to their ward's long standing practice of hiring out its military to other
    parties, so long as the contracts are not directly counter to their interests or the wider
    interests of the Free Worlds League.  While they are technically mercenaries since the
    Military Reorganization Act of 3046, all members hold FWLM ranks prior to their induction to
    the Free Companies.  The tumultuous nature of the League's internal politics mean that the
    HBK-5HGS will almost certainly be used against other minor states within the League, and
    possibly major ones.
    
    The current pilot has been identified as Julian Whitfield, a MechWarrior transferred to the
    2nd Free Company from the 1st North Star Federal Regiment in June 3065.  His FWLM file notes
    that he is a particularly cautious MechWarrior.  Ordinarily, aggression is preferred in
    Hunchback pilots, but the improved range of the Heavy Gauss Rifle in comparison to an AC/20,
    its fragility once the armor has been breached, and its stealth capabilities all call for a
    MechWarrior different from the typical Hunchback driver.

Variants:
    This design is all but certain to be a one-off, so there shouldn't be any variants until
    they manage to acquire yet another advanced Gauss Rifle derivative that would otherwise be
    out of reach for a mercenary force.  However, it is highly probable that any Great House
    military save for the Lyran Alliance having requested the schematics as a condition for
    their materiel sold to the North Stars given the sheer diversity of the technology involved
    in the creation of this BattleMech.

Notable MechWarriors:
    MechWarrior Julian Whitfield.  2nd North Star Free Company, FWLM.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Composite                  2.50                     
Engine:                                       200 XL                   4.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 4                                               
    Running MP:                                 6                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                         10 [20]                   0.00                     
Gyro:                                        Compact                   3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  169                    11.00                     
    Type:                                    Stealth                                            

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      16             26       
    Center Torso (rear):                               6       
    R/L Torso:                         12             20       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  4       
    R/L Arm:                            8             16       
    R/L Leg:                           12             24       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heavy Gauss Rifle                                       CT/RT               11        18.00             
Angel ECM Suite                                           LT                2          2.00             
Heavy Gauss Rifle (Ammo 16)                               LT                4          4.00             
ER Medium Laser                                           RA                1          1.00             
ER Medium Laser                                           LA                1          1.00             

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 31
TP: BM,  SZ: 2,  TMM: 1,  MV: 8"
Damage: (S) 3 / (M) 3 / (L) 1,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 6,  Structure (S): 1
Specials: AECM, STL
 
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Code Release 2.25.3 (2025-10-25T10:55:51-04:00)