compiled overview of the 80
ton O-Bakemono 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
The
O-Bakemono, "Great Goblin" in
Japanese, is an early result of
Luthien Armor Works' program to
reverse engineer captured
Clan OmniMechs. Though it has yet to go beyond the
prototype stage, this
'Mech appears to have a promising future ahead of it.
The
O-Bakemono's design is based on the
Naga OmniMech used by
Clan forces, and shares many of that
'Mech's characteristics. Its relatively lightweight XL
engine allows the
O-Bakemono, like its parent
OmniMech, to carry heavy weapons and considerable
armor. However, the
O-Bakemono's engine is less powerful than the Naga's, and so the
O-Bakemono has a somewhat slower top speed. With this new design, the designers at
Luthien Armor Works have largely overcome the
Naga's lack of intermediate-ranged firepower by replacing two of the
Naga's three small
lasers with
Diverse Optics Type 20 Medium Lasers. The
O-Bakemono still carries two
Arrow IV missile systems and 30 tons of ammunition, giving it the same devastating long-range firepower as the
Naga.
Though the
O-Bakemono's weapons are not truly modular, this
'Mech's equipment is much easier to repair or replace in the field than the standard
Inner Sphere BattleMech. The
Arrow IV systems can be disengaged from the main body of the
'Mech by activating five quick release levers , and the lasers can be removed and replaced in a similar manner. Engine repairs can be made in an hour rather than the standard five hours for a conventional
Inner Sphere 'Mech.
The missiles come in pre-loaded canisters that double as shipping containers, which are simply slipped into the
'Mech like a rifle
magazine rather than loaded one by one into an internal ammo bay. The
O-Bakemono represents an important breakthrough in the
Inner Sphere's ongoing attempts to develop
OmniMech technology.
The
O-Bakemono has yet to be officially deployed. According to
rumors, however, the
prototype received its first
trial by fire with the
mercenary unit
Camacho's Caballeros, in the employ of Coordinator
Theodore Kurita's cousin
Chandrasekhar Kurita. Reportedly, the prototype distinguished itself in successful actions directed against rebellious Confederation units on the planet
Towne in the so-called
Chaos March. These reports remain unconfirmed, however.
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