BackgroundDeveloped and built in the late 2700’s for the SLDF (and probably for use with Royal Regiments) the Cestus as originally designed was to evolve into a different beast from the one we see now. Originally conceived as a direct fire support energy boat the Cestus prototype featured a blistering array of lasers and particle weapons.
Paired PPCs, Large Lasers and Medium Pulse Lasers on a 65 tonne chassis sounds great but the machine was plagued with cooling issues as its heat venting capacity was totally inadequate. It seems the original design despite its energy heavy weapons mix was fitted with single heatsinks and these could not even begin to deal with the heat generated by the energy based armament.
The machine then underwent a complete overhaul with a new prototype being built with an eye to not trying to replicate the core of a sun when it fired, which was good for the engineers working on it, as well as pilots who would have probably been reduced to dripping goo in the original prototype if they had accidentally fired an alpha strike.
The machine that would become the CTS-6Y Cestus was seen as a complete success by the SLDF Procurement Office (bribes may or may not have happened…it is the SLDF Procurement Office after all) and the machine was accepted and authorised for full production.
So that’s the background on this machine, what did the SLDF get for its money? They got themselves a 65 tonne slugger and brawler, one at home in line regiments or as part of a heavy or assault lance.
Built round a GM 260 XL engine the Cestus moves at a rather mediocre 65kph (4/6/0 in game terms) which is the average speed for many Inner Sphere heavy Mech’s but usually not one this light. Keeping to the original design requirement for a fire support machine the weight saved on the Cetus’ average speed was poured into its armament and protection. Oh nearly forgot, two tonnes of extra cooling was fitted and the re-design saw that the new Cestus was fitted with double heatsinks as standard, letting it vent 24 heat.
Save the XL engine no other weight saving materials are used, the Cestus is built on a standard structure and armoured with the redoubtable Durallex Special Heavy standard plate, a massive 13.5 tonnes of it, giving the Cestus the maximum possible protection in its weight class.
The thick hide of a Cestus takes a hammering to breach. The arms can take an AC-20 whilst the legs can take a pair of gauss slugs. The side torso’s can withstand an AC-20 blast and SRM-2 hit whilst the chest can withstand a pair of Gauss slugs and a single SRM-2 before being stripped of protection. The rear armour is not bad either, the side torso’s can take a large laser and the back of the chest can take a PPC blast, making the Cestus a very tough machine to disable.
VariantsCTS-6X – The prototype that failed its entrance exam the 6X was a heavily armed design with paired PPCs Large Lasers and Medium Pulse lasers with the PPC’s being torso mounted and the lasers hiding in the arms, but 14 standard heatsinks…what were they thinking!? (or not thinking to be honest). Because of its staggering heat woes the 6X was not accepted for service and a re-think was needed.
CTS-6Y – The one that we was introduced to and the one the SLDF accepted into service the 6Y packs a truly formidable punch. It starts with its right torso mounted Gauss Rifle which feeds from three tonnes of ammo spread between the right torso and chest. Acting in support of this heavy hitter is a pair of large lasers and standard medium lasers, mounted as a pair in the left and right arms. This is a NASTY amount of firepower and a full broadside will still have you at heat neutral as long as you don’t move! There’s a fair few heavy Mech’s and even some assaults who wish they had this firepower and the 6Y’s firepower still makes it a viable combatant in the modern era.
CTS-6Z – The prototype rides again! Produced later as a new machine rather than a refit, the 6Z finally adopts the double heatsinks the prototype needed. The Gauss rifle and its ammo are removed and a pair of PPC’s are fitted in its place, one in each arm. The laser armament is retained and four additional heatsinks are added. Whilst a full salvo will overheat you with its 42 generated heat you vent 32 of that. Whilst lacking the raw head capping power of the Gauss rifle the 6Z saves any ammo concerns and is surprisingly cheap in terms of its BV at 1519.
CTS-7A – New toys abound in this complete rebuild of the Cestus chassis. The main work is the complete stripping out of all the armament and a change in mission profile from long range support to close in brawler and city fighter. The centrepiece of this is a huge LB-20X autocannon that can draw from a 3 tonne ammo bin giving you a decent choice between slug and cluster ammo. A pair of SSRM-4’s are fitted with a tonne of ammo each whilst the energy armament is reduced to paired Medium Pulse Lasers and paired ER Mediums for some ‘ranged’ firepower. No additional heatsinks were added and a full broadside assuming both Streak’s hit puts you at 28 heat if you don’t move and you vent 24 of that.
General thoughts.The Cestus like most of the 3058 TRO Mech’s is a well thought out and designed machine and it serves its fire support role admirably with a heavy battery of weapons. Whilst it does go from the ‘norm’ of fire support, IE lots of LRM’s the big energy battery and the power punches of the Gauss are not to be ignored. From a campaigning point of view as well the commonly available laser battery would probably be easier to replace and repair as standard large and medium lasers are probably as common as muck.
This again applies to the 6Z, commonly available weapons easy to replace armour would probably make this Mech beloved by anyone in the Periphery who had to go on long patrols.
The 7A is a close in brawler and I’m…not sure about this one. Most close range fighters need speed on their side to be able to use their big punchy weapons. The Cestus lacks this and could be outrun in more open terrain and picked apart, but in close quarters such as woods or a city the 6Z would no doubt shine.
The Cestus could be used in a fair few roles, its armament and average speed say ‘trooper’ to me, you could have it in a heavy lance or as part of an assault lance although it’s not fast enough to keep up with Medium Mech’s.
Killing one it’s really a matter of having to pound them apart. The 6Y and 6Z have nothing explosive aboard save the Gauss rifle on the 6Y and that’s well protected. Their main vulnerability is the XL engine, to get all that firepower and protection they needed an achillies heel and the engine is it, ripping a torso off will kill this thing and whilst its weapons are dependable they are not the most long ranged so a clever opponent with ER Lasers/PPCs or LRMs could dance around at long range and slowly pick the Cestus apart.
Looks wise its a 3058 SLDF Mecha-egg and although a distant cousin of the Marauder with vaguely similar arm mounts for the lasers, the Cestus is a sleek if rather unremarkable machine to look at.
As always comments and criticism are most welcome.
