Cadmus CDS-O-1 - An 85 ton Omni-Stalker for the Free Worlds League

[Getz]

I noticed recently that according to the MUL, the FWL doesn't operate any assault weight Inner Sphere omni-mechs, much less an indigenous design.  That revelation inspired me to whip this up to fill (and explain away) the gap.

After the disappointing commercial reception of the Perseus, Kali-Yama Weaponry resolved to make a second attempt at cracking the Omni-mech market in the mid 3060s.  Observing that the Sunder and Templar were both powered by large, expensive XL engines, and unwilling to compete directly with Defiance Industry’s Hauptman in the 95-100 ton weight class, they identified that there was a vacant and potentially lucrative niche for an mid-priced assault omni-mech in the 80-85 ton range.

Drawing from their experience with the Perseus, Kali-Yama again decided to base their new mech on an established and successful design - in this case Irian Technology’s venerable Stalker.  Unfortunately, the inevitable corporate wrangling over rights and licenses between the two companies delayed the project by several years and work did not begin in earnest until 3065.

In an attempt to balance war load with survivability, the Cadmus was equipped with one of the then brand-new Light engines - it was hoped that this would release the desired load capacity without limiting the space for heavy weapons the way the Perseus’ XL engine had.  Endo-steel was used again, but this time more care was taken in placing it within the chassis so as not to compromise the size of the main weapons bays.  Defensively the Cadmus was given a heavy carapace of standard armour, but unfortunately the structural design had been drawn up before pod-mounted CASE systems became commonplace.  Instead fixed CASE was installed in both the left and right torsos, consuming the space saved by fitting a light engine.  On the other hand, most of the Cadmus’ configurations sought to exploit it’s hefty 47 tons of pod space by mounting heavy ballistic and missile weapon sets, so the CASE would have been a necessary addition anyway.

Ultimately, however, the Cadmus ran out of time.  The extended negotiations with Irian coupled with an unexpected scarcity of 255 rated light engines meant that only handful of prototypes and half a dozen Series 1 pre-production machines had been built for testing by 3068, at which point the project collapsed along with, ultimately, the Free Worlds League and the prototypes appear to have been destroyed to prevent them falling into the hands of the Word of Blake.  This was unfortunate, as the Cadmus was a promising design and the reformed FWLM lacks an indigenous assault omni-mech to this day.  Although it repeated some of the Perseus’ mistakes with limited bay sizes, it was economical, durable and could actually carry a greater mass of weaponry than the Hauptman despite being ten tons lighter.  Schematics of the design have been attached below including comments on the tentative proposals for standard configurations put forward by Kali-Yama.

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Cadmus CDS-O-1

Production Year: 3067
Extinct By: 3070
Chassis: Endo-Steel
Power Plant: GM 255 Light Fusion Engine
Cruising Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: --
     Jump Capacity: --
Armor: Valiant Lamellor Armor w/ CASE
Armament: 47.00 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Kali-Yama Weaponry
     Primary Factory: Kalidasa
Communications System: Irian Orator-5K
Targeting and Tracking System: Wasat Aggressor Type 5 w/OmniLink

Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Mass: 85.00 tons
Chassis Config: Biped

Cost: 14,713,281 C-Bills

Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel 4.50
Internal Locations: 1 HD, 1 CT, 2 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Engine: 255 Light Fusion Engine 10.00

Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0

Heat Sinks: 10 (20) - Double (10 in engine) 0.00
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor: 263 points 16.50
CASE Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT 1.00

Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 27 44
Center Torso (rear): 10
R/L Torso: 18 28
R/L Torso (rear): 8
R/L Arm: 14 28
R/L Leg: 18 36


Prime Configuration:
A clear homage to the Cadmus’ origins, the Prime mounts a combination of missiles and lasers that will be familiar to any Stalker pilot.  This loadout somewhat highlights the problems of fitting a heavy energy battery into the Cadmus so the decision to make this the prime configuration was odd unless Kali-Yama were planning on heavily pushing the Omni-Stalker angle in their marketing materials.

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Prime Configuration
Cost: 17,266,281 C-Bills
BV2: 1,838

Weapons and Ammo Location Heat Criticals Tonnage
LRM-15 RA 5 3 7.00
Medium Pulse Laser RA 4 1 2.00
LRM-15 LA 5 3 7.00
Medium Pulse Laser LA 4 1 2.00
Large Pulse Laser RT 10 2 7.00
Streak SRM-4 RT 3 1 3.00
Large Pulse Laser LT 10 2 7.00
Streak SRM-4 LT 3 1 3.00
Small Pulse Laser CT 2 1 1.00
@LRM-15 (8) RA -- 1 1.00
@LRM-15 (8) LA -- 1 1.00
@LRM-15 (8) RT -- 1 1.00
@Streak SRM-4 (25) LT -- 1 1.00

Equipment Mass
Actuators: L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Heat Sinks: 14 (28) 4.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA


A Configuration:
Sometimes it feels as if one could hardly swing a cat back in the 3060s without hitting yet another dual Gauss rifle toting assault mech.  Here is Kali-Yama’s contribution to the oeuvre.  It’s certainly potent and would probably have been the most popular configuration had the Cadmus seen service.

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Configuration A
Cost: 17,192,281 C-Bills
BV2: 2,203

Weapons and Ammo Location Heat Criticals Tonnage
Gauss Rifle RA 1 7 15.00
Gauss Rifle LA 1 7 15.00
ER Large Laser RT 12 2 5.00
SRM-6 LT 4 2 3.00
Artemis IV FCS LT -- 1 1.00
ER Medium Laser CT 5 1 1.00
@Gauss Rifle (8) RA -- 1 1.00
@Gauss Rifle (8) LA -- 1 1.00
@Gauss Rifle (16) RT -- 2 2.00
@SRM-6 (Artemis) (15) LT -- 1 1.00

Equipment Mass
Actuators: L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Heat Sinks: 12 (24) 2.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT


B Configuration:
This configuration was an obvious attempt to appeal to the FWLMs procurement preferences in the 3060s.  By doubling down on their latest toy, the Cadmus B commits entirely to extreme range combat.  On the other hand, an omni-mech configuration is probably right place to be fielding niche loadouts like this.

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Configuration B
Cost: 17,892,969 C-Bills
BV2: 1,867

Weapons and Ammo Location Heat Criticals Tonnage
Light Gauss Rifle RA 1 5 12.00
ER PPC LA 15 3 7.00
Light Gauss Rifle RT 1 5 12.00
Light Gauss Rifle LT 1 5 12.00
C3 Computer (Slave) CT 0 1 1.00
@Light Gauss Rifle (16) RA -- 1 1.00
@Light Gauss Rifle (16) RT -- 1 1.00
@Light Gauss Rifle (16) LT -- 1 1.00

Equipment Mass
Actuators: L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Heat Sinks: 10 (20) 0.00


C Configuration:
Another attempt to impress the FLWM brass, this configuration is clearly intended to showcase the Cadmus as an alternative to the Longbow.  Along with the Prime, this configuration would enable the Cadmus to replace two out of the three most common slow assault mechs in the FWLM.  Interestingly, no configuration even attempts to copy the Awesome - one of Irian's best selling battlemechs.  Presumably the price of co-operation.

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Configuration C
Cost: 17,927,656 C-Bills
BV2: 1,975

Weapons and Ammo Location Heat Criticals Tonnage
LRM-15 RA 5 3 7.00
Artemis IV FCS RA -- 1 1.00
2 Medium Pulse Lasers RA 8 2 4.00
LRM-15 LA 5 3 7.00
Artemis IV FCS LA -- 1 1.00
2 Medium Pulse Lasers LA 8 2 4.00
LRM-15 RT 5 3 7.00
Artemis IV FCS RT -- 1 1.00
LRM-15 LT 5 3 7.00
Artemis IV FCS LT -- 1 1.00
TAG CT 0 1 1.00
@LRM-15 (Artemis) (24) RT -- 3 3.00
@LRM-15 (Artemis) (24) LT -- 3 3.00

Equipment Mass
Actuators: L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Heat Sinks: 10 (20) 0.00


D Configuration:
A jump capable configuration armed with a versatile mix of autocannons, short ranged missiles and energy weapons, the Cadmus D seems to have been inspired by Kali-Yama’s own Hercules battlemech.  It’s only a pity they couldn’t find a way to shoehorn a bit more ammunition into the chassis.

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Configuration D
Cost: 18,272,219 C-Bills
BV2: 2,057

Weapons and Ammo Location Heat Criticals Tonnage
LB 10-X AC RA 2 6 11.00
SRM-6 RA 4 2 3.00
LB 10-X AC LA 2 6 11.00
SRM-6 LA 4 2 3.00
Medium Pulse Laser RT 4 1 2.00
ER PPC RT 15 3 7.00
Medium Pulse Laser LT 4 1 2.00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (10) RT -- 1 1.00
@SRM-6 (15) RT -- 1 1.00
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (10) LT -- 1 1.00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (10) LT -- 1 1.00

Equipment Mass
Actuators: L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Heat Sinks: 11 (22) 1.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT
Jumping MP: 3 Standard
Jump Jet Locations: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT 3.00


[fallen]

Very cool!  Even though it can run hot, I really like that "D" configuration.  That looks like one nasty urban combat variant!

[Sabelkatten]

On the "D" config; if you swap the SRM6s for SSRM4s you don't really need the extra DHS. That lets you get that 4th ton of AC ammo.

Otherwise, decent design. I wouldn't have placed the ES crits like that but YMMV. :)

[Getz]

Very cool!  Even though it can run hot, I really like that "D" configuration.  That looks like one nasty urban combat variant!

I'm glad you like it. Most of the configurations (the prime, B and C in particular) were strongly background inspired. The D, however, is very much a personal take on my "perfect" assault mech. Although I made a link to the Hercules in the fluff, it's actually inspired by the Crockett.

On the "D" config; if you swap the SRM6s for SSRM4s you don't really need the extra DHS. That lets you get that 4th ton of AC ammo.

Otherwise, decent design. I wouldn't have placed the ES crits like that but YMMV. :)

Actually, I would have liked the extra ton of ammo so I could carry alternative ammunition for the SRMs - I can live with 15 rounds per gun for the autocannons.  I suppose I could drop the extra heat sink anyway, but it bracket fires just about perfectly as it is.

The ES distribution is not ideal, but what can you do - if you go for maximum space in the arms you get a paltry five crits in the side torsos.  I suppose you could shift two of the Endo crits from the torsos into the arms and it wouldn't invalidate any of the configurations.  I'm genuinely curious as to what your preferred layout is (bearing in mind the fixed CASE is a deliberately sub-optimal decision inspired by the background).

[Sabelkatten]

I've found the optimal ES placement on omnis is one arm and the opposite side torso, then legs, head, CT in that order.

-You get one arm free for a 10-crit gun (e.g. AC/20).

-You get one side torso free for an 11-crit gun + CASE (e.g. HGR).

(EDIT: This of course assumes standard/compact engine. But it still holds true for fitting other large systems).

-Legs are nice to put secondary stuff like EW in to soak crits.

-Head and CT you very much want extra crit soaks since everything else is vital.

[Getz]

 I see what you mean. In this case I deliberately shied away from an asymetrical bay setup as it would have compromised the "omni-stalker" vibe.  Normally I'm more inclined to sacrifice most of a side torso inorder to give myself three big bays.