WarCher Mark I WCH-1A
Mass: 70 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Production Year: 3136
Dry Cost: 11,385,240 C-Bills
Total Cost: 11,475,240 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,895
Chassis: StarCorps Custom Standard
Power Plant: Vox 280 Light Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Armor: Durallex Ballistic-Reinf. Armor
Armament:
Holly SRM-6s double shoulder mounts
2 Martell Medium Lasers
2 Magna Small Pulse Lasers
Manufacturer: EarthWerks Incorporated
Primary Factory: Calloway / Crofton / St. Yves
Communications System: Neil 9000
Targeting and Tracking System: RCA InstaTrac Mark XII
MTF files (once available)
Overview:
The WarCher began its life as a single FrankenMech piloted by a rather interesting individual, Margraves Stevenson, originally from the Rasalhague Republic. As life would have it, the design was found by EarthWerks and StarCorps, who both sent the creator a Cease and Desist. Rather than complying, the creator turned around and marketed his design to both companies, who in turn bought it and ‘made it their own’.
An odd duck, the WarCher is made for close quarter fighting as opposed to both its predecessor. Most parts are either cannibalized off the Archer or Warhammer, wired together best the engineers could get it to work but also simplified for easy access and repair. While the design is not incredibly popular, it has started showing up in the FWLM and AFFS in some number, both as the EarthWerks and StarCorps variant. Ceres has recently also acquired the rights to the WarCher, making their own design.
Capabilities:
The Mark I WarCher is the closest one to the original FrankenMech design, even though some parts are a little more advanced than the original. At the heart of the machine is a Vox 280 Light engine, saving on some weight while making the machine a bit more fragile. It still allows the WarCher to go the same speed as its predecessors, at 64kmph. The Mark I, built by House Marik’s factories, is equipped with 18 tons of Ballistic-Reinforces Armor to protect against missiles and autocannons, both which are common enough in the Wolf Empire and Marian Hegemony.
WarCher Mark I
For weapons, the Mark I is armed with an Imperator RAC/5 with 3 tons of reload in CASE II bins in discardable ‘gun-mount’. Each shoulder mounts a basic Holly 6-tubes SRM with a ton of ammo, while the belly mounts has a regular Medium Laser and Small Pulse Laser for anti-infantry work. The whole design is fairly cheap, easy to repair and features basic electronics which can be refit quickly.
Deployment:
The WarCher has been deployed extensively since the Battle of Terra, with it facing Clan Wolf on the Marik front, in numerous skirmishes between House Davion and House Kurita and finally, in the Capellan – Star League War. Mercenaries have started buying them up as well to bolster their ranks with a rather easy to repair design which can double as a command ‘mech. The New Star League has expressed a desire to have their own version of the design as well to bolster their second-line units, leading to a potential Mark IV design.
Variants:
WarCher Mark II
The WarCher Mark II, from StarCorps, was built for House Davion and the AFFS. For their continuous war with the Dragon, StarCorps went with a similar base design, but used 13 and a half tons Laser Reflective armor instead. The saved weight mainly goes to double heat sinks, as the main gun is replaced with a Heavy PPC. The rest of the weapon systems remain the same, but with the saved weight, an Angel ECM is mounted in the center torso as well, while the ‘gun mount’ shoulder is reinforced against impacts.
WarCher Mark III
House Liao further bought the design and deployed it in their war against the New Star League with the Mark III, which is quite different. Using standard plates of armor, this model still has 14 tons of armor. The shoulder launchers are replaced with larger 7-tubes MML with LRM and SRM loaded, while the gun mounts a Plasma rifle with 2 tons of ammo. The center torso has 2 Small Pulse Lasers, while the left torso has 2 Medium Pulse Lasers.
The OG WarCher
Margraves’ original WarCher was built from the remains of the two machines after the War of 3039, buying some of the newest technology of the time, namely CASE and ferro-fibrous armor. Still a simple machine, it featured a ‘main gun’ LB-10X Autocannon with 4 tons of ammo. The shoulders both fit the large anti-tank missile launchers, while the torsos had a pair of machine guns.
Three medium lasers rested on the arm opposite the main gun. Stevenson rebuild multiple machines to this standard over the years, passing them on to his children.
Mark 4, Semi-Omni / Handheld design, code name Margraves
The WarCher Mark 4 is the newest machine in the line and follows in the step of machines like the Zaku II and Leo, combining omnimech pod equipment with handheld weaponry. The design is being built directly by Margraves Heavy Weaponry for Clan Nova Cat and the Ghost Bear touman.
Notable ‘Mechs & MechWarriors:
Hedvan Stevenson
One of Margraves grand-children, Hedvan has been using a Mark I WarCher in service of the Free Worlds League Military in their strikes against Clan Wolf, and then against the Marian Hegemony. Unlike the rest of his unit, the machine is painted in traditional Rasalhague colors.
Margraves Stevenson
This young Rasalhaguian noble built the first WarCher out of spare parts acquired during the Ronin War and the War of 3039. “Amazingly advanced” for a mere “mercenary ‘Mech”, it served as the command ‘mech for various formations over the years, with Stevenson fighting Kurita and Davion forces in the name of the Rasalhague Republican. During the Clan Invasion, Margraves relocated his headquarters and production facilities to the Free Worlds League, but still proudly wore Rasalhague colors.
Quirks:
* Easy to maintain
* Command Battlemech
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
——————————————————————————–
Internal Structure: Standard 107 points 7.00
Engine: Light Fusion Engine 280 12.00
Walking MP: 4
Running MP: 6
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 11(22) 1.00
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Ballistic-Reinforced Armor AV – 216 18.00
Armor Locations: 1 HD, 4 LT, 2 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
CASE II Locations: 1 RT 1.00
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 22 34
Center Torso (rear) 9
Torsos L/R 15 22
L/R Torsos (rear) 8
Arms L/R 11 22
Legs L/R 15 30
===================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
——————————————————————————–
SRM-6 RT 4 2 3.00
Medium Laser RT 3 1 1.00
Small Pulse Laser RT 2 1 1.00
SRM-6 LT 4 2 3.00
Medium Laser LT 3 1 1.00
Small Pulse Laser LT 2 1 1.00
Rotary AC/5 RA 1 6 10.00
@SRM-6 (30) RT – 2 2.00
@Rotary AC/5 (60) RT – 3 3.00
Free Critical Slots: 13
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 7 Points: 19
4 6 5 0 0 3 0 Structure: 4
Special Abilities: CASEII, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, SRM 2/2/0
