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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Hardshot (Rhodes) HDS-0T [BASE]
Designer:           Kirbanzo
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere (Mixed)
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            100
Configuration:      QuadVee OmniMech
Era/Year:           Dark Age / 3150
Rules (Current):    Advanced
Rules (Era):        Advanced
Rules (Year):       Advanced
Total Cost:         25,935,000 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,417

Chassis:              Arc Royal QV14x Endo-Composite
Power Plant:          Magna 300 
Walking Speed:        32.4 kph  
Maximum Speed:        54 kph    
Jump Jets:            None
    Jump Capacity:    None
Cruising Speed:       32.4 kph  
Flanking Speed:       54 kph    
Armor:                Compound H17 Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:             
    28 tons of pod space available
Manufacturer:         TharHes Industries, TharHes Industries R&D Annex
    Primary Factory:  Tharkad (THI), Gibbs (THIRDA)
Communications:       TharHes HM-28
Targeting & Tracking: TharHes Ares -9vx

================================================================================================
Overview:
    Designed to be a superheavy tank that can switch between tracks and legs as needed, the
    experimental mixed-tech Hardshot is the Lyran Commonwealth's first QuadVee based on captured
    Golden Ordun units. Codenamed "Rhodes" during development (after House Rhodes of the Lyran
    Commonwealth, who provided a good chunk of the funding), the 100-ton 'Mech was designed to
    be as intimidating presence on any battlefield due to its sheer size. Originally an oversize
    design was considered for sheer presence alone, however a more narrow chassis was chosen so
    that the tank/'Mech hybrid would still be usable in more difficult terrain.
    
    The design was originally meant to be deployed in 3147, however the Jade Falcon capture of
    Arc Royal prevented the all-important chassis from being shipped to TharHes's R7D facilities
    in Gibson for final assembly. A covert operation on Arc Royal was authorized in February
    3147 instead to recover the chassis and its schematics, while subsequently denying the Jade
    Falcons the ability to produce it themselves. The operation was mostly a success, with only
    two Hardshot chassis units being unable to be recovered. As such, production could continue,
    though rollout would be delayed to 3150.

Capabilities:
    The massive machine's internal structure is provided by Arc-Royal MechWorks using knowledge
    both gained from captured QuadVees and from the era of cooperation with Clan Wolf-in-Exile.
    The end result was the Arc Royal QV14x chassis, which was so vital to the project's success
    that the Lyrans risked the wrath of the Falcons just to reclaim it. The Conversion Gears,
    meanwhile, were reverse-engineered a TharHes Industries' R&D facility on Gibbs, allowing
    them to be produced in-house instead of relying on cannibalizing them from captured Hell's
    Horses QuadVees. 17 tons of Clan-grade Compound H17 Ferro-Fibrous protect the Hardshot,
    weighing more than some 'Mechs alone. For mobility in combat vehicle mode, tracks are
    installed for good traction in most terrain; these had to be Clantech to interface properly
    with the conversion gear, and were reverse-engineered from captured combat vehicles from the
    Clan Invasion and beyond.
    
    Correcting what the designers believed a critical flaw of the QuadVee, the Hardshot installs
    a Full-Head Ejection System to allow its two-man crew to evacuate. In practice, this creates
    a forwards-ejecting pod on the front of the 'Mech that can be easily damaged by whatever it
    flies into - not to mention that the delay for the other operator to reach the head may
    spell the difference between life and death. An advanced targeting system is also installed
    to increase its weapons' effectiveness, no matter what they may be. However, many custom-fit
    parts had to be installed, making it be known as a lengthy repair job for Lyran technicians
    - if one worth it to the Commonwealth's military in the end.
    
    DESIGN QUIRKS: Command 'Mech, Distracting, Variable-range Targeting, Narrow/Low Profile,
    Non-Standard Parts, Difficult Ejection, Difficult to Maintain

Deployment:
    The Hardshot would see its first combat deployment in 3151 against rebellions in the
    Hinterlands, developing a fearsome reputation for its Prime configuration's ability to
    destroy a 'Mech in one shot with good luck.

Variants:
    Rhodes IIC: A Clan version of the Hardshot developed by Clan Jade Falcon using the chassis
    units still on Arc-Royal. It is an ordinary quadleg 'Mech due to the lack of conversion gear
    units to reverse-engineer. Due to having been branched off before the Hardshot's name was
    finalized, the Falcons used the Rhodes codename as the name of their 'Mech.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                       Endo-Composite               7.50                     
QuadVee Conversion Eqpt:                                              10.00                     
Engine:                                     300 Fusion                19.00                     
    Walking MP:                                 3                                               
    Running MP:                                 5                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 0                                               
    Tracked Cruise MP:                          3                                               
    Tracked Flank MP:                           5                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                       10 [20] (C)                 0.00                     
Gyro:                                        Compact                   4.50                     
Cockpit:                                   QuadVee (C)                 4.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  323                    17.00                     
    Type:                               Ferro-Fibrous (C)                                       

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      31             50       
    Center Torso (rear):                              12       
    R/L Torso:                         21             34       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  8       
    R/L Front Leg:                     21             42       
    R/L Rear Leg:                      21             42       

================================================================================================
Location                                     Fixed                            Spaces Remaining  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head                                          None                                   0          
Center Torso                          2 Ferro-Fibrous (C)                            0          
                                        2 Endo-Composite                                        
Right Torso                                   None                                   12         
Left Torso                            5 Ferro-Fibrous (C)                            2          
                                        5 Endo-Composite                                        
Right Front Leg                      1 Conversion Gear (C)                           0          
                                          1 Tracks (C)                                          
Left Front Leg                       1 Conversion Gear (C)                           0          
                                          1 Tracks (C)                                          
Right Rear Leg                       1 Conversion Gear (C)                           0          
                                          1 Tracks (C)                                          
Left Rear Leg                        1 Conversion Gear (C)                           0          
                                          1 Tracks (C)                                          

================================================================================================
Fixed Equipment                                        Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tracks (C)                                                *                 4         10.00             

* Tracks occupy 1 critical slot in each leg

Note: Equipped with Full-Head Ejection System

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 36
TP: BM,  SZ: 4,  TMM: 1,  MV: 6"qt
Damage: (S) 0 / (M) 0 / (L) 0,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 11,  Structure (S): 8
Specials: ENE, OMNI, QV
 
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Code Release 2.24.13.1 (2024-09-02T12:52:21-04:00)