[For the Grasshopper design thread...]
BergStorm's BattleSalvage developed the original
Bouncer, designated the GHR-5NXbb, for a Solaris VII stable in the 3050s. Adapted from an ancient GHR-5N
Grasshopper field upgrade, the supercharger-enhanced mobility, pulse accuracy, and TSM-enhanced physicality of the original
Bouncer in the arenas impressed other Solaran stablemasters, visiting mercenary commanders, and the Lyran and Marik militaries alike. Orders for more [iBouncer[/i] upgrades to aging
Grasshoppers ensued, and BergStorm's BattleSalvage established a dedicated shop modification line for the Bouncer on Solaris VII. Eventually, BergStorm's BattleSalvage learned how to upgrade all GHR-5x Grasshoppers to the
Bouncer standard, which, despite the lack of weight-saving endo-steel used in all modern GHR-6x and -7x factory upgrades, were generally preferred to those new Grasshoppers. By adding lightweight engine and gyro technology, new particle beam weaponry, and advances in pulse lasers and targeting systems, BergStorm's BattleSalvage has kept the
Bouncer competitive in its current incarnation, the GHR-8N
Bouncer.
The
Bouncer retains the GHR-5x series' robust Mingh frame, thick Durallex armor, and Leviathan jump jets, but guts and replaces nearly every other system and component. The key to the Bouncer's high mobility and dangerous physical attacks are its supercharged 280-rated light fusion engine and extralight gyro lashed to a triple-strength myomer system. Capable of keeping pace with a cruising
Fire Moth for short periods of time, the
Bouncer can rapidly close with an opponent and deliver punches that will destroy most battlemech cockpits in a single swing and kicks than will penetrate the leg armor on all but upper-end heavy and assault battlemechs. All weapons are mounted in the torso and cockpit to leave the
Bouncer's battlefists free for melee combat.
But with a large and accurate battery of energy weapons, the
Bouncer does not have to close to melee range to take down an opponent. A snub-nosed particle cannon tied into a capacitor and an advanced targeting computer can consistently punch holes with damage equivalent to a Clan-grade ER PPC while dancing at ranges out to 270 meters. Also starting at 270 meters, the
Bouncer can bring an array of five x-pulse medium lasers to bear. Although accurate in its own right, this x-pulse array is tied into the same advanced targeting computer as the snub-nosed particle cannon, allowing the
Bouncer's mechwarrior to ignore the effect of the
Bouncer's movement on laser accuracy, even when jumping.
With 16 freezers, the
Bouncer can alpha strike, firing its snub-nosed particle cannon, all five x-pulse lasers, and small laser to activate its triple-strength myomer from a standing start. When the
Bouncer is cruising or flanking, the particle cannon capacitor substitutes for one x-pulse laser and/or the small laser.
Since Solaris VII was lost to the Wolf Empire, new
Bouncers are no longer available to House and mercenary militaries. But BergStorm's BattleSalvage is reportedly now producing a Clantech upgrade of the Bouncer from -5x
Grasshoppers and -8N
Bouncers for the Wolf Empire. It is speculated that the incorporation of triple-strength myomer in the Empire's advanced Skinwalker prototype was inspired by or aided by BergStorm's
Bouncers.
Bouncer (Grasshopper) GHR-8N
Mass: 70 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Chassis: Mingh z33/9
Power Plant: VOX 280 Light Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 43 km/h (54 km/h)
Maximum Speed: 65 km/h (108 km/h)
Jump Jets: Leviathan Lifters
Jump Capacity: 120 meters
Armor: Durallex Heavy Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Hound's Tooth Snub-Nosed PPC w/ Capacitor
5 Defiance X5M X-Pulse Lasers
1 Defiance A5L Small Laser
Manufacturer: BergStorm's BattleSalvage (LexaTech Industries)
Primary Factory: Solaris VII (Hun Ho)
Communications System: Allet-C308
Targeting and Tracking System: Allet-T11 w/ Adv Targ Comp
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 107 points 7.00
Internal Locations: None
Engine: Light Fusion Engine 280 12.00
Walking MP: 4 (5)
Running MP: 6 (10)
Jumping MP: 4 Standard
Jump Jet Locations: 1RT, 1LT, 1RL, 1LL 4.00
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 16(32) 6.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 RT, 2RA, 2LA
Gyro: Extralight 1.50
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA R: SH+UA+LA
TSM Locations: 2 RA, 2 LA, 1 RL, 1 LL
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 200 12.50
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 22 30
Center Torso (rear) 7
L/R Torso 15 20
L/R Torso (rear) 7
L/R Arm 11 20
L/R Leg 15 30
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SN-PPC RT 10 2 6.00
PPC Capacitor RT 5 1 1.00
X-Pulse Medium Laser RT 6 1 2.00
X-Pulse Medium Laser RT 6 1 2.00
X-Pulse Medium Laser LT 6 1 2.00
X-Pulse Medium Laser LT 6 1 2.00
X-Pulse Medium Laser H 6 1 2.00
Small Laser LT 10 2 3.00
Targeting Computer LT - 5 5.00
Supercharger LT - 1 1.50
Free Critical Slots: 1
