#mechwarrior

[theurbanmechcomesforthee]

where's season's greasons

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

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[boinkingbattlemechs]

Phoenix Hawk IIC

Though in many ways it resembles the combat prowess of the Inner Sphere's Charger, the Phoenix Hawk IIC is a fixture of many second-line Clan Clusters and front-line Successor State regiments during the Word of Blake Jihad.

During the reign of the lackluster Khan Jacob Masters, Clan Steel Viper entered a period of stagnation in all areas, including technological development. In a rare fit of innovation at the time, though one many observers considered oddball at best, the Steel Viper Scientist Caste decided to base a new assault BattleMech on the venerable 45-ton Phoenix Hawk chassis. At 80-tons, the resulting design was almost twice as heavy as the original, though it is severely undergunned for an assault 'Mech due its incredible speed for a 'Mech its size. Following the introduction of the OmniMech by Clan Coyote just three years later however, the Phoenix Hawk IIC largely saw itself relegated to second-line status.

Built around the Type 79 400 XL engine mounted on an Endo Steel skeleton fitted with five Jump Jets, the Phoenix Hawk IIC features as close as possible ground speed and agility to the original Phoenix Hawk as can be reasonably achieved on an 80-ton assault 'Mech, making it an effective fast interdiction unit. Ten and half tons of ferro-fibrous armor provide eighty-one percent of the maximum possible protection at its weight class, while ten Double Heat Sinks are sufficient for the weapons array.

The main armament of the Phoenix Hawk IIC is the paired Ultra Autocannon/10s, each of which has a three-ton ammunition bin it can draw on. The cannons are mounted in twin pods on either side of torso to the rear, a feature allowing technicians easy access to the weapons and reducing maintenance time both at base or in the field. A pair of Machine Guns provide extra firepower that is most useful against unarmored infantry. Despite the Clans' disdain for it, the 'Mech's weaponless arms are almost ideal for physical combat.

The Phoenix Hawk IIC would gain a new vitality following Clan Jade Falcon's ejection of the Steel Vipers from the Inner Sphere in 3061. Seeking to rapidly rebuild their weakened touman, Khan Perigard Zalman approached Clan Diamond Shark offering captured Heavy Laser technology and the plans for the ancient design in return for the production of a new variant for the Steel Viper's second-line clusters. Initially observers were curious why the Sharks dealt so fairly with such a weakened "customer", but the rapid development of even more deadly variations not included in the deal agreed with the Vipers provided some explanation, with production of the visually reworked chassis initiated at both Auxiliary Production Site #5 on Babylon and the rebuilt Trellshire Heavy Industries of Twycross.

By 3078 six variations of the Phoenix Hawk IIC were walking off Trellshire's production lines for the garrison forces of Diamond Shark as well as for sale to both Clan and Inner Sphere buyers. While some among the Clans opposed such sales to Spheroids, the focus on designs like the Phoenix Hawk IIC that are considered mediocre by Clan warrior but are still outstanding by Inner Sphere standards appears to be a conscious choice by the Sharks. Many of the variants also utilize ammunition-hungry weapons, a decision Clan observers wryly note ensures Inner Sphere buyers either make steady munitions purchases or are forced to more frequently buy replacement parts from the accelerated wear caused by using inferior Spheroid ordnance, both ensuring frequent repeat business for the Diamond Sharks.

[tacticattails]

The Hunchback in my preferred discoback form.

[ross-hollander]

Now, if you keep going...

...down that beaten track, in the misty woods- that's past the hangar, you need to go further than that -you'll run into a training grounds. Old place, been in service for a while; lots of recruiting posters for jobs long since done and dusted on the walls, not a speck of the original paint un-peeled with age. There's an outfit that drills there, unusual folks; they call themselves the Four Horsemen, but then, so does every fifth mercenary unit, don't they?

There's Obsolescence, in her big sledgehammer of a 'mech. Nothing ever fixed on that baby, no, she just plasters over another quick-fix and keeps it moving. Substitutions, in-a-pinch replacements, sometimes just bolting a plate over it and hoping it doesn't make any weird noises. The silhouette of that thing is like a scrapyard heap come alive. She's always on about how they don't make them like they used to, and maybe she's right.

Then there's Isolation, with his skinny little skirmisher 'mech. It's the kind of 'mech you only notice the split second before it skirts around you and empties a warzone worth of firepower where your armor is weakest. He says it's never seen a shop- he's repaired it by hand, for a long, long time now, he says. He says you can only rely on yourself out there. Don't ask for help and don't give any, he'll say, with that gloomy scowl of his; none of us are in this together.

Can't forget Ruin, obviously, nobody can, not with his great, stomping artillery-battery of a 'mech. You'll hear it before you see it. He laments how he never gets to drill properly, to which the others say that if he "drilled properly" there wouldn't be a drill grounds left. He always says that if you're going to fight, you might as well make sure there ain't nothing left to go round two with. And hey, he likes to joke, there'll always be another habitable planet, what's a few nukes?

Fourth is Despair. She became a pilot after her family got painted across their living room by an autocannon shell, she says. Says that really, if you have the choice between being the one in the 'mech or the one running away from it...it's a no-brainer. (For that matter, she doesn't respect anyone much who isn't a pilot themselves.) She can run any 'mech like a dream, favorite being her personal sort of cruiserweight brawler, but in the off time she just kind of skulks. Life, to her, is what happens in the cockpit; nothing else counts.

They've been training there for as long as I know. It's just their stomping grounds, see. They're practicing for- I don't remember exactly the details, but they've got a big contract coming up, and they need to keep their routine nice and neat. Once I said I wished I could see them in actual combat. They said maybe. 'Someday.'

[outofcontrolswingingship]

The Binary of Clanners eagerly cornering the Sphereoid defender. They advance towards the front, and flank around the sides. Their yells are deafening over the coms. The Sphereoid however smiles.

For the Clanners are going to meet Major Tom. And Major Tom predicts a heavy rain today.

[zhjake]

exploring the concept of omninet streaming for the "By Star and Melody" Lancer supplement

[sapphic-design-is-my-passion]

Can't get over how one of the battletech factions is a cable company run by van wizards

[spectralidax]

Isometric Warhammer from Battletech

[eldoniousrex]

The clean version of my cover for the 2024 Battletech Pride anthology. Probably the best jungle illustration I’ve done to date. And like, THE SECOND, Longbow in a jungle I’ve drawn.

Prints will be available in the near future.

Get the anthology here:

[theurbanmechcomesforthee]

no, no that's perfect

put the engine to a much faster speed, maxed the armor, gave it 6 medium lasers and a targeting computer.

And it's (slightly) cheaper than a HBK-4P if i recall correctly! (and a whole lot faster dude holy shit)

What's the most sacrilegious/deranged thing i can put in a Hollander? MRM systems, HAGs, anything is on the table as long as it can fit.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

The newest version of "what does a K-F jump look like?"

(from MechWarrior 5: Clans)

[missallyblue]

My giant Lego King Crab mech has finally taken up residence on top of my PC.

[tacticattails]

More Honey, inside the cockpit. Cause i cant help myself i guess.

[bad-star]

 "I will kill you all, alone or in groups."