American Mecha Bushido

cults3d

Originally published in Battletechnology Magazine issue 18, this Mech was designed and conceived by R. Kent Schmidt. It had a full write up, but no art work. This is my attempt at bringing this Mech to life. I used a Hatamoto-Chi as the base for it, which seemed appropriate. Perhaps the Hatamoto-Chi was developed from this earlier Mech. Here is the overview of the Mech from the magazine article. Bushido BSD-7K Overview: The BSD-7K was initially designed as the Kuritan answer to the Hatcheman, but over the seven years of pre-design work, it was redesigned into a much larger, deadlier Mech. The Mech was created by Dr. Batu Ibinbachi of the hightly respected Sun Zhang Military Academy research facility to be a close combat machine. Designed with the maximum amount of leg armor and heavy-duty leg actuators - as well as jump jets - the Bushido was created to execute both regular kicking attacks and the famed "Death From Above". The unusual combination of jump jets with an extra-heavy heavy Mech frame began as an innovative answer to the toe-to toe combat which was appearing more and more in the later years of the Succession Wars. Bushido BSD-7K Mass: 70 tons Tech Base: Inner Sphere Chassis Config: Biped Rules Level: Tournament Legal Era: Clan Invasion Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-X-D-D Production Year: 3029 Dry Cost: 6,209,023 C-Bills Total Cost: 6,209,023 C-Bills Battle Value: 1,482 Chassis: RKS Masterframe BSD Standard Power Plant: Vlar 300 280 Fusion Engine Walking Speed: 43.2 km/h Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h Jump Jets: Spacely Corp Pondhopper-4000s Jump Capacity: 120 meters Armor: Durachrome 232C Standard Armor Armament: 1 Magna-Hellstar PPC 1 Sunglow Type 2 Large Laser 2 Hyperdyne Model 351 Medium Lasers 1 Sword 2 Diverse Optics Type 10 Small Lasers Manufacturer: Luthien Armor Works Primary Factory: Luthien Communications System: AT&T CombatCom 21L Targeting and Tracking System: Sightsys Arclight 4T Overview: The BSD-7K was initially designed as the Kuritan answer to the Hatcheman, but over the seven years of pre-design work, it was redesigned into a much larger, deadlier Mech. The Mech was created by Dr. Batu Ibinbachi of the highly respected Sun Zhang Military Academy research facility to be a close combat machine. Designed with the maximum amount of leg armor and heavy-duty leg actuators - as well as jump jets - the Bushido was created to execute both regular kicking attacks and the famed 'Death From Above'. The unusual combination of jump jets with an extra-heavy heavy Mech frame began as an innovative answer to the toe-to toe combat which was appearing more and more in the later years of the Succession Wars. Capabilities: The Bushido is a very competent 'Mech design when used for its primary purpose, is, to kill other 'Mechs in hand-to-hand combat. Using its large laser, two medium lasers, and PPC to 'soften up' an oncoming enemy, the Bushido will then attempt either to close to hand-to-hand range, or to execute a 'Death From Above' attack. The large blade, similar to the Hatchetman's axe, can literally cleave an enemy 'Mech in two! The Bushido has only energy weapons for two reasons: there can be no ammo explosions, and there is no need for resupply. The Bushido can operate for a much longer period of time in battle because it is not restricted by ammo amounts. The Bushido has ample heat sinks to deal with firing both of its heavy weapons, but only if it is not jumping. The Spacely Corporation's 'Pondhoppers' prove more than equal to the task of lofting this 75-ton killing machine through the air with a minimum of clogging or malfunctions. The Magna-Hellstar PPC in the Bushido's right torso has a proven background in the Marauder, and has received only praise. The Sunglow Type 2 Laser utilized in the left torso also has a proven record of dependability. The two Hyperdyne Model 351 Medium Laser are very durable, but still are occasionally damaged in hand-to-hand combat. The sensitive lenses and frame alignments can be disturbed by the impacts common in 'Mech fighting. The two rear-facing small lasers provide some small rearward defensive capability. The Ginsu Corporation Katana is the amazing result of metallurgical technology only recently discovered in a Star League research facility found deep within the Draconis Combine. It was also found to be present on the memory core recovered by the Grey Death Legion. The metal that the blade is formed of is a mixture of irigium, titanium, and diburnium. The resulting alloy is 'folded' to produce multiple layers, much as the katanas of old Japan on Terra. This produces not only an exceedingly strong blade, but also a razor-sharp cutting edge that is very resistant to chipping or dulling. Battle History: As the Bushido is a fairly new 'Mech design, it has seen little use outside of the Luthien proving grounds. There are only 24 of these 'Mechs in existence at this time, but the number is due to become much greater as the RKS Battlesystems Plant on Pesht retools its facility to produce the Bushido. Four of these new BattleMechs have seen use. In June of 3029, two Bushidos that were being tested on Waldheim III's rough terrain were committed on the fight for the planet. Both units were destroyed, but in that destruction they accounted for a lance of Davion heavy 'Mechs. Adter the Fourth Succession War, the Bushido was put through a decade of further testing and modification: prototypes were then sent to the Periphery border for testing against Bandit raids. In city fighting on Schuyler, the Bushido held its own in hand-to-hand fighting against the Ghost Bears; two Bushidos each took out a Vulture, and did significant damage to a Koshi before being destroyed themselves. ================================================================================ Equipment Type Rating Mass Internal Structure: Standard 107 points 7.00 Engine: Fusion Engine 280 16.00 Walking MP: 4 Running MP: 6 Jumping MP: 4 Standard Jump Jet Locations: 2 LL, 2 RL 4.00 Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 15 5.00 Heat Sink Locations: 1 HD, 2 CT, 1 RT Gyro: Standard 3.00 Cockpit: Standard 3.00 Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H Armor: Standard Armor AV - 216 13.50 Internal Armor Structure Factor Head 3 9 Center Torso 22 34 Center Torso (rear) 9 L/R Torso 15 22 L/R Torso (rear) 8 L/R Arm 11 22 L/R Leg 15 30 ================================================================================ Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass Medium Laser RA 3 1 1.00 Sword RA - 5 3.50 Medium Laser LA 3 1 1.00 Large Laser RT 8 2 5.00 Small Laser RT 1 1 0.50 PPC LT 10 3 7.00 Small Laser LT 1 1 0.50 Free Critical Slots: 25 BattleForce Statistics MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 7 Points: 15 4j 2 2 1 0 3 1 Structure: 6 Special Abilities: MEL, ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA