’Mech of the Week: BLF-** Blue Flame
Blue Flame. On the scale of heat, I am not sure whether blue or white flames are hotter. Based on stars, I do recall that blue-white ones are said to be the hottest. Though if they don’t cool to blue or white, they quickly run out of fuel in spectacular fashion. As in supernova with gamma ray burst.
Whatever the case, the
Blue Flame is also the name of a 45-ton quadriped BattleMech, one of two quads produced by the Word of Blake at the Mitchell Vehicles plant on Terra. In its short service life, the design proved itself rugged and effective. Perhaps too much so.
Entering service in 3062, the BLF-21 is built around an endo-steel skeleton and uses a VOX 225-rated light engine, giving the design speed equivalent to the same-weight
Cobra. The engine choice was to maximize space for weapons and equipment. Eleven tons of standard plate provides maximum protection in a 9, 21/7, 15/7, 22 pattern (head, center front/rear, side front/rear, legs). Armament consists of twin extended-model large lasers, one in each side torso, and three 2-pack SRM Streak launchers, one in each side torso and the third in the head. One ton of ammunition feeds the launchers. Finally, an improved C3 unit is mounted in the center torso. Ten double heat sinks struggle with the heat load.
This model was sent to all known Word of Blake divisions in small numbers. However, as the TRO states, a large number were disappearing. ComStar analysts speculated there could be at least one secret division in the shadows receiving them…
Unfortunatly for everyone, they were right. Just not in the amount of shadow divisions. With the Manei Domini and the VDNI system, quads become even more dangerous weapons. And not content to just sit back and let one size fit all, in 3073, a newer model arrived, the BLF-40.
This model removed the weapons-load and one point of armor (center front) to slap a Light-class particle cannon in each torso and a rear-mounted medium-class variable speed pulse in the right tied to a targeting computer. A small cockpit was utilized to open space to shift the C3 unit into the head.
These are the only two variants known at this time. Quite possibly the only two variants for all time. As a Word of Blake machine, the numbers remaining should be few, and whether or not the plant still stands, they probably are not making any more.
Using one begins and ends with force composition. As in, this is not meant to be a lone ranger type. As with all machines given C3, especially the improved version, bring friends. First, friends help you to put holes in the opposition. Second, friends help with getting annoying back-biters off you. This is doubly true when talking about a quad, which cannot torso twist. And in the case of the BLF-21, has no rear weaponry. Now, as much as you will be tempted to fire both large lasers with the -21 model, do not do so overmuch. Twenty heat dissipation versus twenty-four heat from the lasers alone… equals not very comfortable driving. Especially as you would be considered “slow” on the battlefield. As you also lack jump jets, maneuverability is a bit patchy, too. Which is why you should pick your friends nicely.
White Flames are a given based on the write-up, but a
Vanquisher or
Toyama sitting back there also helps. And God help the poor fool who doesn’t notice the -001
King Crab with the Manei pilot with self-C3. (Gauss says Hi!)
Fighting one begins with noting his friends. After that, bring speed and/or pain. The
Bishammon, for example is faster than the
Blue Flame, and may bring his own friends to the party. Or if you are the rough-and-tumble sort, a
Ti Ts’ang, which is faster, jumps, and brings a lot of pain (and that’s before the melee weapon). Getting behind him is helpful, though you have to remember his C3 still treats you as how close you are. The
Scarabus might work in that role, as you are faster, carry an axe, and mount an ECM system to cut him off. Isolate and remove.
The
Blue Flame served well for its time. Unfortunately, unless the WoBbles show up again, or someone finds the plans and decides to forget the origins, this design is likely not to be used much in the future.
