Orca (BattleMech)
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- This article is about the 200-ton BattleMech. For the DropShip, see Orca (Individual Intruder-class DropShip).
| |
| Orca | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Skobel MechWorks |
| Production Year | 3091 |
| Model | OC-1X |
| Class | Superheavy |
| Cost | N/A |
| Technical specifications | |
| 'Mech type | Inner Sphere BattleMech |
| Mass | 200 tons |
| Chassis | Skobel Endo Steel |
| Armor | Standard armor w/ CASE II |
| Engine | 400 XL |
| Communications System | "GarbleTalker X" with Guardian ECM Suite |
| Targeting Tracking System | Unspecified |
| Heat Sinks | 19 double |
| Speed | 32.4 km/h |
| Armament |
|
| BV (2.0) | 3,357 |
Originally a noncanonical April Fools publication as "Project Omega" (see below), the Orca as such has since been canonized as a prototype project, even referencing the tongue-in-cheek Clan Wolverine references from the Project Omega publication.
Contents
Description[edit]
The Orca was constructed as a secret project in or shortly before 3091. Its development occurred under such total secrecy that even "an unfortunate delivery driver who slipped through security due to a lapse [and] was caught filming a live-fire test with his personal device" was only released from custody five years later.
The prototype was created haphazardly, and thus includes some intrinsic flaws like the very difficult control. With suboptimal production standards, it was decided to mothball all prototypes in still-classified locations. While considered a failure, the multiple lessons learned from the Orca's development ultimately resulted in the successful creation of the Poseidon, the Republic's first production superheavy BattleMech, decades later.[1][2]
Weapons and Equipment[edit]
Variants[edit]
No variants are currently known.
Design Quirks[edit]
The Orca has the following Design Quirks:
Project Omega[edit]
The "Project Omega" document was an April Fools joke by Dave McCulloch and Warner Doles that was uploaded to the official classicbattletech.com website. Purporting to be an official Technical Readout-style document within the BattleTech universe (a report within Word of Blake), it described the superheavy Orca BattleMech, allegedly built and deployed by the not-named Clan, complete with combat history and variants.
Although clearly marked as noncanonical, the design gained notoriety among fans similar to Gausszilla (which was also canonized eventually). Within the document the Orca was classified as a "Dreadnought"; 'Mechs massing above 100 tons are now known as Superheavy 'Mechs.
| |
| Orca ("Project Omega" version) | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Minnesota MechWorks |
| Class | Superheavy |
| Technical specifications | |
| 'Mech type | Inner Sphere BattleMech |
| Mass | 200 tons |
| Chassis | Wolverine Dreadnought Type XX |
| Armor | Bioforge Delta Zulu |
| Engine | 400 |
| Speed | 32.4 km/h |
| Armament |
|
Variants[edit]
The April Fools Orca as presented does not appear to be an Omni design.
- The anti-personnel laser does not exist under BattleTech rules, though a small pulse laser or micro pulse laser could easily serve the implied function.
- One variant mentioned exchanges the artillery piece for a quartet of "rotary gauss guns," which are described as "deadly against light vehicles" (but do not exist as a weapon system under BattleTech rules).
- The other variant exchanges the artillery piece for two more ER PPCs plus heat sinks.
Miniatures[edit]
The Orca OC-1X is available from Iron Winds Metals as Item BT-400