Talon C

Talon C

Mass: 35 tons
Chassis: Blackstone QTS Light
Power Plant: Romeo Alfa 280 XL
Cruising Speed: 86.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 172.8 kph
Armor: Kallon Light Shield A Ferro-Fibrous

Armament:
2 Narc
2 ER Medium Laser
1 ER Small Laser
1 TAG

Manufacturer: Refit / Various Clans
Primary Factory: Babylon
Communication System: Lockheed/CBM Comset 100
Targeting & Tracking System: Sturmfeur Highlight w/TC
Introduction Year: 3057
Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-E-D
Cost: 6,617,813 C-bills

Overview

The Talon had been an incredibly popular and common ‘Mech within the SLDF and even had seen some early clan configurations become available to it over the years. Unfortunately, most “common” Clan ‘mechs began supplanting it as its weapon profile did not match what was required at the time for trials and small scale operations. A large number of them were mothballed and stashed, while the few upgraded one were relegated to training duty until they broke down from constant use.

Clan Diamond Shark became interested in the remaining Talon inventory during the events of Operation ISLANDHOPPER, looking for a cheap way to deploy NARC missile beacons to the battlefield to support the massive units equipped with long range missiles the three Clans that were part of the operation were using at the time. With about fifty Talon in their inventory, the Diamond Sharks made a basic conversion kit to allow for the ER PPC to be replaced with the NARC Beacon launcher, but the Science Caste kept iterating on the design after initial deployments to improve on it.

By late 3057, the “official” refit kit for the Talon was unveiled to the ilKhan Council and the plans put up for sale by the Diamond Shark in order to replenish their war coffers after the costly operations in the Chainelane Islands. While Advanced Tactical Missiles were gaining in popularity, the simplicity of deploying NARC-capable missiles remained a huge plus and covered many commonly used machines like the Mad Dog and Timber Wolf, along with the missile capable configurations of other OmniMechs. This new version of the Talon became popular in niche formations and as most Clans had a handful of them in their inventory, the plans sold better than the Sharks originally expected.

Capabilities

The basis of the Talon C is built on the original design, using upgraded Ferro-Fibrous plates compared to the TLN-5W which makes it relatively tough for a 35 ton machine. The main protection of the design comes thanks to its speed, however, using a more refined version of the original’s 280 XL, allowing for a top speed around 130kmph. Added to this is a MASC, allowing the Talon C to burst into action to deploy the necessary missile beacons.

The targeting system on the Talon C is taken off an aerospace fighter system, allowing it to track up to 200 targets at a time. Combined with an advanced targeting computer, this would make the Talon C incredibly capable at engaging multiple targets, but the only reason this is setup is so the NARC pods can be delivered quickly on as many targets as possible. A pair of NARC beacon launchers are mounted in what used to be the ER PPC arm and serve as the primary “offensive” equipment on the Talon C. To complement this, a TAG Designator Laser is mounted underneath the pilot to allow for calling in artillery strikes from nearby Arrow IV batteries.

To actually defend itself, the Diamond Shark scientists replaced the paired Medium Lasers of the original Talon with Series 7a ER Medium Lasers, along with an ER Small Laser for point-blank defense. While minimal for a Clan machine, it was seen as sufficient when engaging Inner Sphere and Periphery threats.

Technical Readout

Type: Talon C
Technology Base: Clan (Standard)
Tonnage: 35
Battle Value: 1,504

Equipment Mass

Internal Structure 3.5
Engine 280 XL 8
Walking MP: 8
Running MP: 12(16) MASC:0(3+)
Jumping MP: 0
Double Heat Sink 10 [20] 0
Gyro 3
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor (Ferro) 115 6

                      Internal   Armor   
                      Structure  Value   
 Head                    3         9     
 Center Torso            11        17    
 Center Torso (rear)               5     
 R/L Torso               8         13    
 R/L Torso (rear)                  3     
 R/L Arm                 6         11    
 R/L Leg                 8         15

Right Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm
Left Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm

Weapons and Ammo

Location Critical Heat Tonnage
Targeting Computer CT 1 – 1.0
MASC CT 1 – 1.0
ER Small Laser LA 1 2 0.5
2 ER Medium Laser LA 2 5 2.0
TAG HD 1 0 1.0
2 Narc RA 2 0 4.0
CASE RA 0 – 0.0
Narc Pods (12) RA 2 – 2.0