The Collected Works of Fergus O'Cleary, Roaming Mech Engineer

[Liam's Ghost]

Described as "a genius", "eccentric", and "aggressively Irish", Fergus O'Cleary has managed to make quite a name for himself over the last twenty years as some sort of roaming mech engineer, having worked for smaller Mech Design firms across the Inner Sphere while deliberately avoiding any ties with major manufacturers no matter how much money they offer him. A prolific engineer, he has four designs to his credit that have reached production and service, an impressive feat given the smaller companies he makes a habit of working for and his general disdain for working with assistants.

There may be much more, however, to Fergus O'Cleary than a glance tells us. In addition to releasing his designs on the open market, each of the four companies to produce one of O'Cleary's designs has also sold a number of those machines to an unknown party. In fact, his employment and the production of his designs might have been predicated on the promise of those off the books orders, given the inherent financial risk marketing his somewhat experimental designs represented. At present, the buyer (or buyers) of these machines is unknown. Conspiracy theorists point to O'Cleary's devotion to the Cult of the Saints Cameron, suggesting that the shadowy cult or its long missing Knights are planning some sort of military resurgence, either in the face of the blackout or against some other unspecified threat to the Inner Sphere. A more rational suggestion is that these buyers were one or more of the Great Houses quietly stockpiling war materials for coming conflicts. The fact that each design was originally made available on the open market would serve as a useful cover for the appearance of such illicit machinery.

The designs themselves are arguably quirky, but capable. The majority are generalist designs, but each has its own quirks that emphasizes a unique capability of the machine, often to the detriment of other battlefield capabilities. There is little unity of concept among the four designs. As generalists, they should work reasonably well together, however none of the designs particularly complement any of the others, thus it is unlikely that they were built specifically to function as a unified force. Though in truth, barring some sudden revelation it is not likely we will learn what these mechs were really for until their unknown buyer(s) unleashes them on the Inner Sphere.

designs to follow

[Liam's Ghost]

Caladbolg
Manufacturer: Sabercat Arms (Galatea), Blue Shot Weapons (Solaris VII)

The light offering from O'Cleary is nominally a scout unit, light, equipped with advanced electronics, and with just enough zip to get by. Beyond that, however, the machine is undeniably a close assault mech built around a gigantic vibroblade taking up nearly a quarter of its mass. Despite the unwieldy appearance of the melee weapon, the Caladbolg is able to wield it with intimidating grace thanks to enhanced actuators built into the right arm. A trio of medium lasers are added to the design, though whether they or the vibroblade are the secondary weapons is really a matter of pilot preference.

The Caladbolg can be found in service among mercenaries as well as the forces of the Free Worlds League, Lyran Commonwealth, and the Draconis Combine (featuring cosmetic armor modifications and operating under the name Kumokishi). The Caladbolg has also been a perenial favorite among Solaris duelists, spawning the sole standardized variant, a mech that trades the bloodhound probe and lasers for a pair of advanced pulse lasers and a sheath of impact resistant armor. A handful of these variants (identifiable for the distinctive scale pattern of the armor) have also been seen among second line forces of the Wolf Empire.

Design Quirks: Distracting, Easy to Pilot

Caladbolg CLD-B2
IS experimental
30 tons  
BV: 912
Cost: 6,354,140 C-bills

Movement: 7/11
Engine: 210 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: XL Gyro

Internal: 51 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 104/105
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               10       15
Center Torso (rear)                  4
Right Torso                 7       10
Right Torso (rear)                   4
Left Torso                  7       10
Left Torso (rear)                    4
Right Arm                   5       10
Left Arm                    5       10
Right Leg                   7       14
Left Leg                    7       14

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser                 LA     5
ER Medium Laser                 LA     5
ER Medium Laser                 LA     5

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Standard                       None
Large Vibroblade                RA
AES                             RA
Bloodhound Active Probe         LT



Caladbolg CLD-B2B
IS experimental
30 tons  
BV: 803
Cost: 5,788,640 C-bills

Movement: 7/11
Engine: 210 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: XL Gyro

Internal: 51 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 105/105 (Impact-Resistant)
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               10       15
Center Torso (rear)                  5
Right Torso                 7       10
Right Torso (rear)                   4
Left Torso                  7       10
Left Torso (rear)                    4
Right Arm                   5       10
Left Arm                    5       10
Right Leg                   7       14
Left Leg                    7       14

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
Medium X-Pulse Laser            LA     6
Medium X-Pulse Laser            LA     6

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Large Vibroblade                RA
AES                             RA

[Liam's Ghost]

Balor
Manufacturer: Shanesse Weapons (Ashburton)

The Balor was Fergus O'Cleary's first mech design (or at least the first to reach production), as well as the impetus for the investigation that revealed the shady dealings of those companies he has worked for.

Billed as a medium trooper, the Balor isn't particularly mobile or heavily armed compared to other options in its weight class. It is, however, unbelievably durable, protected by a massive amount of hardened armor that gives it better protection than most assault mechs, as well as a centrally mounted cockpit that allows it to leave the field under its own power even in the case of decapitation. The handling problems normally experienced by units so equipped (such as the Stalker II), are mitigated by the use of advanced actuators in the legs, allowing the Balor to keep its feet as it wades through fire other mechs would crumble under.

The massive protection may actually be a weakness in a way, as inexperienced pilots have been known to put too much faith in all that armor. With the cockpit located in the mech's center mass and lacking an ejection system, far too often when the armor finally does fail, the result is a dead pilot. Commanders would do well to make sure they explain the difference between "durable" and "invincible" to potential pilots.

Shanesse did business primarily within the shattered realms of the Free Worlds League, and as a consequence the majority of Balors can be found there. Following their homeworld of Ashburton's joining of the reborn League, all future production was reserved exclusively for the FWLM. This restriction was further reinforced when League officials, after discovering that Shanesse had sold Balors under the table to unknown parties, forcibly nationalized the company.

Following the nationalization of Shanesse Industries, League officials requested an extensive variant better suited for the needs of the FWLM. Stripping off the hardened armor made room for a significant boost in firepower and a more affordable engine type (while also creating a much leaner silhouette).

Design Quirks: Battlefists, Protected Actuators

Balor BL-4R
IS experimental
55 tons  
BV: 1,859
Cost: 9,624,286 C-bills

Movement: 4/5
Engine: 220 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Cockpit: Torso-Mounted Cockpit
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 91 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 185/185 (Hardened)
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               18       27
Center Torso (rear)                  9
Right Torso                13       20
Right Torso (rear)                   6
Left Torso                 13       20
Left Torso (rear)                    6
Right Arm                   9       18
Left Arm                    9       18
Right Leg                  13       26
Left Leg                   13       26

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser                 LT     5
ER Medium Laser                 RT     5
ER Small Laser                  RT     2
Heavy PPC                       HD    15

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Hardened                       None
AES                             LL
AES                             RL



Balor BL-4M
IS experimental
55 tons  
BV: 1,444
Cost: 8,409,990 C-bills

Movement: 4/6
Engine: 220 Light
Heat Sinks: 12 [24]
Cockpit: Torso-Mounted Cockpit
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 91 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 184/185
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso               18       26
Center Torso (rear)                  9
Right Torso                13       20
Right Torso (rear)                   6
Left Torso                 13       20
Left Torso (rear)                    6
Right Arm                   9       18
Left Arm                    9       18
Right Leg                  13       26
Left Leg                   13       26

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
Light PPC                       LA     5
Light PPC                       RA     5
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              RT     4
Heavy PPC                       HD    15

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
Standard                       None
AES                             LL
AES                             RL

[Liam's Ghost]

Lugh
Manufacturer: Legacy Militech (Adherlwin), Vandenburg Mechanized Industries (New Vandenburg)

O'Cleary's heavy offering might be his most conventional, for the most part a heavy trooper built around the solid combination of a single gauss rifle and a battery of pulse lasers. It's on the defensive that the classic O'Cleary charm can be found, with a sheath of reflective armor combined with a pair of anti-missile guns. O'Cleary describes this as an alternative approach to the same survivability problem that spawned the lighter Balor. With missiles and energy weapons being such a popular choice on the battlefield, these design choices greatly improve the machine's overall survivability without the enormous mass investment required by hardened armor. It's not a perfect plan, however. These defensive systems offer no special protection against ballistic weapons, and accounts from a clash on Hyalite describes a Taurian Lugh "shattering like glass" under the fire from a defending Destrier. Even so, the battlemech is a capable design generally welcome in any army it finds itself.

The Lugh is probably the most scarce of the O'Cleary designs. Its initial manufacturer Legacy Militech has long struggled to meet production goals due to the restrictions on essential technologies imposed on them by their parent government on Canopus. Two years ago, with the sponsorship of both the Magistracy and the Capellan Confederation, Legacy licensed the design to Vandenburg Mechanized Industries under very generous terms. Though there is still considerable bad blood between the Concordat and their former Trinity Alliance partners over the breakdown of their alliance, the Capellans still consider the Concordat a valuable thorn in the side of their ancient enemies in the Federated Suns, and the Concordat is in no real position to refuse whatever aid is offered. New production from the Taurian plant has gradually boosted the availability of the Lugh on the open market, though the majority of new machines are being routed to the TDF.

Design Quirks: Extended Torso Twist

Lugh LGH-3S
IS experimental
65 tons  
BV: 2,008
Cost: 10,903,530 C-bills

Movement: 4/6
Engine: 260 Light
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 104 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 208/211 (Reflective)
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Head                        3        9
Center Torso               21       31
Center Torso (rear)                 10
Right Torso                15       23
Right Torso (rear)                   7
Left Torso                 15       23
Left Torso (rear)                    7
Right Arm                  10       20
Left Arm                   10       20
Right Leg                  15       29
Left Leg                   15       29

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Medium Pulse Laser              LT     4
Gauss Rifle                     RA     1
AMS                             RT     1
AMS                             LT     1

Ammo                           Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
AMS Ammo                        RT    12
AMS Ammo                        LT    12
Gauss Ammo                      RT     8
Gauss Ammo                      RT     8

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
CASE II                         RT
CASE II                         LT

[Iceweb]

The Lugh reminds me of a grown up Komodo, or at least the version with the large laser. 

I like it. 

What is the reasoning for the extended torso twist? 

I do wonder if a repaired model where one of the AMS had to be scrapped and replaced with Chaff pods would be a flavorful version. 
Chaff pods kinda seem to match the quirky O'Cleary motif.

[Liam's Ghost]

Nuada
Manufacturer: Graceworks (Farnsworth)

O'Cleary's largest offering, the assault class Nuada is a dedicated generalist, in the sense that it's rather difficult to pin down a specific role for the machine, or entirely grasp the design choices that went into it. The Nuada is a reasonably tough design, with a thick shell of reactive armor that gives it additional protection against missile and artillery weapons, though with a degree of instability that tends to make some pilots nervous. The armament and cooling system seems to be configured around the idea of bracketing fire, with pulse lasers for close work and a PPC for long range fire, and an artemis linked MML for providing additional fire at any range band. The result is serviceable, but hardly inspiring, and the addition of a vibroblade (of the same make as that used by the Caladbolg, complete with enhanced actuators) seems to be completely extraneous. Certainly keeping the weapon active would disrupt the otherwise elegant heat balance of the other weapon systems. On the whole, the Nuada appears to be more of a testbed than a finished machine.

Even so, the Graceworks of Farnsworth continues to fill regular orders for the machine from both mercenary buyers as well as the AFFS. The demand from the Federated Suns in particular has begun taxing the Graceworks' humble manufacturing plant to its limits, a problem exacerbated by raiders striking Farnsworth from the Raven Alliance, attacks by pirates operating out of the independent world of Hivannee, and the occasional deep strike by Combine forces in the Palmyra salient. Currently Starcorps is in talks with the Graceworks over moving production to a new plant to be built on Crofton, though a considerable streak of loyalty to their homeworld among Gracework's board of directors is causing no small amount of resistance to the offer.

Nuada NUD-6K 
IS experimental
80 tons  
BV: 2,035
Cost: 17,466,120 C-bills

Movement: 4/6
Engine: 320 Light
Heat Sinks: 12 [24]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 122 (Endo-Composite)
Armor: 247/247 (Reactive)
                     Internal    Armor
--------------------------------------
Head                        3        9
Center Torso               25       38
Center Torso (rear)                 12
Right Torso                17       26
Right Torso (rear)                   8
Left Torso                 17       26
Left Torso (rear)                    8
Right Arm                  13       26
Left Arm                   13       26
Right Leg                  17       34
Left Leg                   17       34

Weapon                         Loc  Heat
----------------------------------------
ER PPC                          LA    15
Medium X-Pulse Laser            LA     6
Medium X-Pulse Laser            LA     6
Medium X-Pulse Laser            LA     6
MML 9                           LT     5

Ammo                           Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
MML 9 LRM Artemis-capable Ammo  LT    13
MML 9 SRM Artemis-capable Ammo  LT    11

Equipment                      Loc
----------------------------------
AES                             RA
Large Vibroblade                RA
Artemis IV FCS                  LT
CASE II                         LT

[Liam's Ghost]

The Lugh reminds me of a grown up Komodo, or at least the version with the large laser. 

I like it. 

What is the reasoning for the extended torso twist? 

I do wonder if a repaired model where one of the AMS had to be scrapped and replaced with Chaff pods would be a flavorful version. 
Chaff pods kinda seem to match the quirky O'Cleary motif.

The extended torso twist is mostly to mitigate the torso mounting of the pulse lasers, while still giving them the relative extra protection of not being in the arm.

A repaired version using Chaff pods does seem like a neat idea.