Blade

Blade
Blade
Production information
Manufacturer	New Hessen WorkMechs
Production Year	3087
Model	BLD-XL
Class	Light
Technical specifications
Mass	35 tons
Chassis	FITES-B7
Armor	StarGuard Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	GM 245 XL Engine
Speed	119 km/h
Armament	1 x Rotary AC/5 2 x ER Medium Lasers
BV (1.0)	1,088
BV (2.0)	1,314

Description

The Blade is a light-weight scouting and raiding 'Mech that uses its fearsome speed to strike larger 'Mechs, then escape often before their opponents can track them. Well suited for pack-hunter and swarm tactics, the Blade works well with other quick units such as the Locust and Dasher.

Originally commissioned as part of the Republic of the Sphere's first Commanding General Victor Steiner-Davion attempts to standardize and simplify the hodgepodge military hardware as Stone's Coalition became the Republic Armed Forces, the Blade was manufactured from the mid 3080s til around 3096, becoming the signature 'mechs for Principes Guards, Hastati Sentinels and elite Knights of the Sphere regiments.

Armament

An excellent close quarters 'Mech, the Blade is built around a Mydron Tornado Rotary Autocannon/5 supplied with three tons of reloads as its primary weapon, supported by a pair of Diverse Optics ER Medium Lasers, all three weapons located in the 'Mech's right arm. While critics pointed out the risk of locating all the 'Mechs weapon in a single location, the desicion was based on the manufactuer's attempts to achieve an OmniMech level ease of maintenance on a standard BattleMech. Save for the shoulder actuator, ammo and energy feeds, the entire arm is a self contained system, allowing technicans to quickly and easily detach and replace a damaged arm with a undamaged replacement with relative ease.

Variants

• BLR-XS - An attempt to further simplify maintenance, the XS mounts a Mydron Model B Autocannon/10 and standard Diverse Optics Medium Lasers in its weapons arm. While easier to support in the field, the heavier autocannon limits it ammo load to a single ton. BV (2.0) = 1,000

• BLR-XX - An anti-aircraft model based on the XS, the XX mounts a Mydron Excel LB 10-X Autocannon in place of the standard model. While carrying two tons of ammunition, the designers were not able to adapt the ammo feed to switch between ammo types, forcing the XX to carry either standard or cluster ammunition in battle. BV (2.0) = 1,064

Dark Age Variants

• BLDR-7R - This variant was armed with a Mydron model RC, supported by a Bright Bloom ER Medium and an Exostar Elite ER Small Laser.

• XX321-021 - This Blade replaces the Rotary Autocannon/5 with an Mydron Excel LB 10-X AC, which allows it to fire both solid and cluster rounds-giving the 'Mech a range advantage over the standard model.

• FS156-81C - This variant of the Blade incorporates a standard AC/10 in place of the Rotary Autocannon/5. The 'Mech also carries two ER Medium Lasers and removes the single ER Small Laser. This modification to the 'Mech allows it to use specialty ammunition with its autocannon, such as precision and armor piercing ammunition that the standard Blade cannot take advantage of. To make this modification work the 'Mech has had its top speed reduced to 97.2 km/h.

Notable Pilots

• Ezekiel Crow was once a Paladin in The Republic of the Sphere. Famous for piloting his Blade during his tenure as Paladin, Crow was actually Daniel Petersen, the Betrayer of Liao. Crow forged a new identity for himself, but his past was unearthed by agents in the employ of Jacob Bannson, who forced him to abandon the Northwind Highlanders. He again fled, taking on the identity of Michael Ritter, but his past caught up with him and he perished attempting to defend the Republic.

Bibliography

• By Temptations and By War (Novel)
• Technical Readout: 3085 Supplemental
• Republic of the Sphere - Ezekial Crow's Dossier
• Republic of the Sphere - Harsha Miskovitz's Dossier
• Swordworn - Jacob Senn's Dossier
• Spirit Cats - Sixo Nova Cat's Dossier
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge