KelTec Weapons and Designs

KelTec Weapons and Designs is old blood, dating from the late 20^th century Terra. Originally a firearms manufacturer, they expanded during the early Space Age and Age of War. From their homebase in Lyran space, they kept releasing new personal defense weapons until they began an association with a conglomerate of “like-minded individuals”. Quikscell Company, which is what this company became known as, provided weapons and military solutions to the discerning customer. KelTec’s speciality for large military equipment was generally the improvement and refining of existing designs.

History

Star League Era

During the Star League era, KelTec specialized in “private security”, selling personal weapons to anyone who needed them. The “scale” of personal weapons, however, kept increasing. By the mid-27^th century, KelTec was providing custom BattleMech refits using some of the most advanced technology of the times. They also provided counseling to all other Quikscell organizations, which was still developing and releasing “high-end” vehicles to discerning customers. Read, broke as fuck idiots in the boonies.

It became a running gag within the SLDF that having a KelTec-upgraded BattleMech was like getting something made by a mad scientist. Warhammers equipped with LRMs in the arms? Sure. A Marauder where the back cannon is replaced with a digging apparatus? They did that. A Hermes with an AC/20 rather than a flamer? They managed to make that happen. Things did not always work as they should, or were overdesigned, or were simply too insane for mass production for the military. But KelTec did not care from where the money flowed. Their engineers were also allowed to do whatever struck their fancy.

Succession War

Things went sideways during the Succession Wars as technological collapse led KelTec to refocus on more sensible, less high-tech design. They did manage to keep “some” odd knowledge of Star League era technology, allowing them to repair (not manufacture) many of the higher end equipment. They even kept producing various medium pulse lasers past the “extinction” date of the design in the Inner Sphere through an odd agreement with ComStar.

KelTec still provided personal security options to their customers, with their copies of old SLDF firearms and laser weapons remaining popular. Detachable vibroblade bayonets were replaced with integrated “chainsaw breacher tools”, pulse laser modules were replaced with high accuracy focus ones, magazine-fed guns upgraded to clip-rotary belt feed. No military outfits would be caught dead using KelTec equipment, but mercenaries were happy to get them, same with less reputable organizations.

Renaissance and Clan Invasion

The recovery of the Helm Memory Core led KelTec to begin manufacturing new “advanced weapons” quicker than many as they already had the equipment for it. They acquired a copy from a free-trader merchant in 3032, giving them an edge in production. KelTec provided NAIS with basic designs of their products which were examined and replicated by the likes of Doc Banzai.

During the Clan Invasion, KelTec made bank by selling more “personal security” equipment to people afraid of the Clan boogeyman. Copies of Clan equipment became available to KelTec, who happily sold them to whoever had the money. They were known for introducing “Extended Range” lasers prior to the official street date to discerning customers. KelTec also experimented in trying to copy Clan technology wholesale, with very minimal success.

Civil War and Jihad

KelTec did not take sides during the FedCom Civil War, mostly as their company was not a military supplier but a personal one. A few different mercenary clients were well-equipped by KelTec (in a way). KelTec kept a facility both in the Lyran Alliance and Federated Suns after the Civil War ended, selling to civilians on all sides.

The Jihad was not kind to KelTec, however. Both the Word of Blake and ComGuards decided to order large amounts of weapons from them, making their facilities a primary target for both sides. Thankfully, Quikscell allowed KelTec to relocate some of their manufacturing to their temporary locations, leading to a loss of personnel and equipment by KelTec, but not knowledge.

Recent development

With the creation of Quikscell Speciality Manufacturing, KelTec began building pod systems for the new “OmniMech” built by the company. New kits for things like the Scorpion and various Carrier vehicles have been put forward as well. A deal made with Bergan has opened up KelTec to build “OmniCarrier” vehicles, which should start production on Carlysle in 3152. Some of the “crazier” KelTec designs have been looked at by the New Star League for use as support units in Solahma and provisional units.