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Design Overview
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                 Combat Vehicle Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Starlight MBT "Starlit Conclave" Engineering
Designer:           iostaa
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Clan
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            45
Configuration:      Combat Vehicle
Era/Year:           Dark Age / 3113
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         3,005,125 C-Bills
Battle Value:       366

Movement Type:        Tracked
Power Plant:          135 XL
Cruising Speed:       32.4 kph  
Maximum Speed:        54 kph    
Armor:                Standard
Armament:             
    1 Kessler M1L Light Machine Gun
Manufacturer:         Helena Collective Manufactory A1, Manufacturing Plant SFF-AL1, Starlit Conclave Arms
    Primary Factory:  Ingvolsand III (HCMA1), Alnabog (MPSFFAL), Apsalar II (SCA)
Communications:       Nebula Weave EC56
Targeting & Tracking: Northstar AP77

================================================================================================
Overview:
    Design Quirks: Easy to Maintain, Poor Targeting (Short)
    
    Clan Diamond Shark's first forays into the Chaine Cluster created a problem for the Clan,
    namely the uncooperative government of the Empire of the Stars. Instead of tying down
    expensive battlemech assets defending agianst the raids that the Empire conducted, they
    designed a tank that outmatched anything locally available. The Defense-MBT-LF1, later known
    as the Starlight MBT, was overengineered for its design role and saw very limited use. As it
    was pet project of Junior Technician Lyssa Kalasa, who wished to design a vehicle that could
    be used in any role, she faced severe ridicule over the failure and was relegated to
    maintaining the few surviving remains of her failure for the next decade.
    
    In the early 32nd century, the recently renamed Clan Sea Fox started expanding its interests
    in the Chainelane Isles. A new coalition of planets in the Isles, called the Starlit
    Conclave of Apsalara, proved both amenable and wealthy enough to attract the Sea Foxes
    patronage. With the rich germanium deposits of Syrstart providing funds, several enclaves of
    clan refugees from the Wars of Reaving providing expertise, and the Sea Foxes providing the
    resources, the Conclave was able to upgrade the Helenist factories to clan specifications.
    In order to serve the ground combat needs of the rapidly growing Conclave Guard Forces, the
    decision was made to maximize economies of scale and focus on a single multi-role vehicle
    with minimal variants. The Starlight MBT was selected for this role, vindicating the now
    Senior Technician Kalasa, who emigrated to Ingvolstand III to oversee production.

Capabilities:
    While on paper a simple engineering vehicle, this variant of the Starlight serves mostly as
    a ready reserve of chassis to replace combat losses. Often when a frontline Starlight was
    knocked out, most of its components are recoverable. These components can be fitted onto an
    engineering variant to turn it into a frontline variant. While this refit is extensive, and
    requires a maintenance facility, those facilities are easy to transport for such light
    vehicles.
    
    This Starlight carries a heavy external frame, on which a bridge-layer, backhoe, and
    bulldozer are affixed. A lift hoist is placed in the turret where the main gun used to be,
    and all weapons save the LMG are removed. While the engine is still an XL engine, it is
    downgraded to a 135-rating in a compromise between ease of refit and reduced cost. 6 tons of
    standard armor provide some protection, as the vehicle is expected to occasionally work
    under fire. Lastly, 10 tons of cargo space replaces the removed internal components.

Deployment:
    Despite its non-combat nature, the Starlight Engineering variant saw significant action
    throughout the Pioneer War. It served as rescue vehicle, ammunition transport, salvage
    escort, combat engineer, and occasionally last-ditch combat roles. Crews of this variant
    were actually more likely, proportionally speaking, to receive the Blood-Soaked Gem, the
    award given by the CGF for injury in the line of duty.

Variants:
    Four production variants exist. The first is the most common, the standard frontline model.
    The second is a cheaply-made engineering and logistics vehicle, which partly exists to be
    refitted into a frontline model with spares and salvage to replace combat losses. The third
    carries company-level support equipment like a field kitchen and MASH theater. The last and
    least common is an environmentally sealed design meant to defend the Syrstart germanium
    asteroids that are critical to the Conclave economy.
    
    Additionaly, several non-standard field refits have been seen. Most commonly the HAG is
    removed for whatever is available, and standard armor replaces damaged sections of the
    advanced Ferro-Lamellor.

Notable MechWarriors:
    The blurred lines between this variant and the frontline variant lead to many myths, with
    nearly every famous frontline Starlight having someone claim it started life as a humble
    engineering vehicle. While some pride is derived from these claims, most crews will point to
    a single incident when asked which makes them the most proud.
    
    Engineering Vehicle G3L4 was serving on the Rondane front as a salvage vehicle in 3225 when
    a lance of light hovercraft overran their position. EV-G3L4, Evangelina to her crew, placed
    herself in the path of the attackers. On two separate occasions, fire from her single light
    machine gun managed to puncture the hover-skirts of the attackers, and its desperate defense
    bought time for air support to see off the others. Sadly, in the last moments of the
    engagement, Evangelina suffered a hit that punctured the crew compartment, killing them
    instantly. Surviving her crew, EV-G3L4 still serves in an engineering role to this day.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                          Standard                  4.50                     
Engine:                                       135 XL                   4.00                     
    Cruising MP:                                3                                               
    Flanking MP:                                5                                               
Heat Sinks (Single):                            10                     0.00                     
Control Equipment:                                                     2.50                     
Lift Equipment:                                                        0.00                     
Power Amplifier:                                                       0.00                     
Turret:                                                                0.50                     
Armor Factor:                                   96                     6.00                     
    Type:                                    Standard                                           

                                              Armor                                             
                                              Value                                             
    Front:                                      26                                              
    R/L Side:                                   20                                              
    Rear:                                       14                                              
    Turret:                                     16                                              

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                            Location              Tonnage       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bridgelayer, Heavy                                            Front                6.00         
Bulldozer                                                     Front                2.00         
Cargo, Standard (10 tons)                                     Front                10.00        
Light Machine Gun                                             Front                0.25         
Lift Hoist                                                   Turret                3.00         
Backhoe                                                       Rear                 5.00         
Trailer Hitch                                                 Rear                 0.00         
Bay, Infantry (Foot) (3 troopers)                             Body                 0.50         
Light Machine Gun (Ammo 100)                                  Body                 0.50         
Paramedic Equipment                                           Body                 0.25         

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 12
TP: CV,  SZ: 2,  TMM: 1,  MV: 6"t
Damage: (S) 0* / (M) 0* / (L) 0
Armor (A): 3,  Structure (S): 3
Specials: BRID, CASE, CT10, ENG, HTC, IT0.5, MEL, SRCH
 
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Code Release 2.26.13 (2026-05-15T09:38:57-04:00)