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Design Overview
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                 BattleMech Technical Readout

Name/Model:         Caracal CAR-9A2
Designer:           Loki1789
Source(s):          Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology:         Inner Sphere (Mixed)
Technology Rating:  F
Tonnage:            55
Role:               Brawler
Configuration:      Biped BattleMech
Era/Year:           Dark Age / 3150
Rules (Current):    Standard
Rules (Era):        Standard
Rules (Year):       Standard
Total Cost:         8,124,532 C-Bills
Battle Value:       1,967

Chassis:              Caracal Endo Steel
Power Plant:          CoreTek 275 
Walking Speed:        54 kph    
Maximum Speed:        86.4 kph  
Jump Jets:            Luxor 2/Q 
    Jump Capacity:    150 meters
Armor:                Kallon Light Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:             
    1 Magna Hellstar PPC
    3 Defiance C9M ER Medium Lasers (C)
    1 Zippo Flamer
Manufacturer:         Arc-Royal MechWorks
    Primary Factory:  Arc-Royal
Communications:       O/P Com-22/H47
Targeting & Tracking: Type IV Bloodhound with Advanced Targeting Computer

================================================================================================
Overview:
    "Something's wrong with the CAR-9WT's?" Captain David Allen Scheer asked.
    
    Saffi nodded. She had just finished detailing a proposal from Arc-Royal MeckWorks to
    construct a variant of their Caracal CAR-9S -- a variant so substantially different from the
    original as to be almost a full redesign. He was proud of his design work, but had taken the
    arguments to change his work well when she explained them. Now, though, she was going to
    have to poke holes in his special brainchild design -- or rather, point out the holes that
    testing had poked.
    
    "The weapons systems are not acceptable for battlefield use," she asserted. "Each 'Mech in
    testing experienced unreliable function or full loss of use of between one and six lasers
    due to poor fitment. They were jostling loose in the field."
    
    "Poor fitment?" David sounded baffled. "But you oversaw those refits yourself. How could
    they have been improperly fitted?"
    
    Saffi felt a surge of gratitude at his faith in her work, but she shook her head.
    
    "You misunderstand. They were installed correctly. However, they had to be modified by hand
    in order to do so, and the modifications required were both inefficient for my technicians
    and, it seems, imperfectly executed in any case. It would seem that the dezgra Sea Fox who
    sold you them was not, in fact, entirely honest with you about their fittings and
    dimensions." As I could have -- should have -- predicted in the first place, she
    thought.
    
    "Ah," David replied, looking down and swirling the cocktail in his hand. His tone had
    suddenly become cold. "I see. That's another matter entirely." There was a pause. Then he
    looked up again.
    
    "Can we do anything to improve and standardize the fitment?" he asked. His expression showed
    that he already guessed that the answer was no.
    
    "I could," she answered immediately, "but that would increase the time and effort required
    for future refits, and every time we have to replace affected parts in service."
    
    "Which would increase the logistical burden," David finished glumly for her. "Not a good
    outcome, especially when we're logistically out of spec with the new Arc-Royal Liberty
    Coalition production anyway."
    
    "That is not all," she continued. "I have concerns about future integration of equipment
    provided by Sea Fox into our systems."
    
    "Technical or political?" he shot back, smiling now.
    
    "Both," she answered, glaring at him with a severity that was mostly feigned. His quick wit
    was one reason she loved him, after all, even if he did point it at her every now and
    again.
    
    "Explain," he said, flashing another grin before returning to a suitably serious tone.
    
    "We are affiliated with the ARLC, and intend to remain so, correct?" Not waiting for a
    response, she forged ahead. "That makes us dependent on Arc-Royal for supplies of food and
    the like. If we continue to use the WT refits, we will also remain dependent on access to
    Defiance Industries in the Lyran Commonwealth for Caracal parts, and on Sea Fox traders for
    Caracal armaments."
    
    "Clan Sea Fox is neutral as regards the ARLC and Steiners," David objected.
    
    "Not quite," Saffi countered. "They currently back Alaric Ward in his madness."
    
    "Alaric Ward, who has already laid claim to the Lyran Commonwealth in two different ways,
    and everything else besides," David agreed, beginning to nod. "You're right, that's a
    dangerous complication." He took a deep breath. "Alright, what do you propose we do?"
    
    "This," she said, stepping up to the table and displaying a new set of blueprints. "I call
    it the CAR-9A2."
    
    "Not much of a change from the -9A," David agreed. "Layout is identical. What do you want to
    change?"
    
    "Just these," she said, pointing to the specifications for the medium lasers. "We can use
    Defiance C9M's in our own, so long as you can keep buying them."
    
    "That's... a little better," he said after a moment's thought. "Not much of an upgrade,
    though, is it? Only barely more effect on target than what the -9S's can manage."
    
    "Neg," she disagreed. "This we can maintain indefinitely, which makes it much better than
    the -9WT if a new Reunification War starts tomorrow. The chassis even has room to
    accommodate lower-grade double heat sinks if we're cut off from the supply here."
    
    "I suppose logistics was the whole point in the first place, wasn't it?" David Scheer
    sighed. Then he squared his shoulders. "Very well, let's do it. I'll find a window to access
    the HPG network and order some C9M's for new refits, and you make sure Arc-Royal MechWorks
    has the information they need to get their production line started. I'd like to hold onto
    the -9WT's until after this garrison contract, but if you can line up a safe buyer before
    then, do it. We'll just keep restoring those ancient Griffins instead, if we have to."
    
    "Aye, aye, Captain," Saffi agreed, smiling. He smiled back and raised his glass in a toast.
    
    "To not loosing the forest for the trees, eh? Well done. Just don't stay up all night again
    working on refits and repairs, alright? The stateroom has gotten lonely at night since we
    started this project."
    
    She laughed and returned the toast, downing the drink.
    
    "Scoundrel," she said affectionately. "All right. Since you were so humble and reasonable to
    take advice, I will also be reasonable and get some sleep tonight. See you in an hour or
    two."

Capabilities:
    The Caracal CAR-9A, while a cheaper design and one that can be produced by Arc-Royal
    MechWorks, is notably less favorable for a 9WT-style upgrade than the CAR-9S. Therefore, the
    variant fielded by the Wraiths of Twycross offers a less radical increase in firepower. The
    upgrade to Clan-spec ER Medium Lasers is the only change from base, though this does
    represent a significant improvement at short range and a moderate improvement at medium
    range. It also improves the overlap of range bands between the Caracal's primary and
    secondary weapon systems, making for optimal firing conditions at a greater spread of
    engagement ranges, and has the benefit of fully integrating a targeting computer.

Deployment:
    Due to using components that are manufactured by Inner Sphere powers currently at peace,
    there is potential for broader manufacture of the CAR-9A2 assuming that the necessary trade
    networks are not disrupted by war. A simple and affordable upgrade, this design has
    potential to see widespread use if peace persists or if peaceful reunification of old Lyran
    Commonwealth territory occurs.

================================================================================================
Equipment                                                             Mass                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure:                         Endo Steel                 3.00                     
Engine:                                     275 Fusion                15.50                     
    Walking MP:                                 5                                               
    Running MP:                                 8                                               
    Jumping MP:                                 5                                               
Heat Sinks (Double):                       14 [28] (C)                 4.00                     
Gyro:                                        Standard                  3.00                     
Cockpit:                                     Standard                  3.00                     
Armor Factor:                                  168                    10.00                     
    Type:                              Light Ferro-Fibrous                                      

                                    Internal         Armor     
                                    Structure        Value     
    Head:                               3              9       
    Center Torso:                      18             23       
    Center Torso (rear):                               6       
    R/L Torso:                         13             20       
    R/L Torso (rear):                                  5       
    R/L Arm:                            9             18       
    R/L Leg:                           13             22       

================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo                                       Location          Critical     Tonnage   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flamer                                                    H                 1          1.00             
2 ER Medium Lasers (C)                                    CT                2          2.00             
3 Jump Jets                                               RT                3          1.50             
2 Jump Jets                                               LT                2          1.00             
Targeting Computer                                        LT                3          3.00             
PPC                                                       RA                3          7.00             
ER Medium Laser (C)                                       LA                1          1.00             

Note: Equipped with Full-Head Ejection System

================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 41
TP: BM,  SZ: 2,  TMM: 2,  MV: 10"j
Damage: (S) 4 / (M) 4 / (L) 2,  OV: 0
Armor (A): 6,  Structure (S): 5
Specials: ENE
 
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Code Release 2.24.13 (2024-05-02T16:46:03-04:00)