compiled overview of the 30
ton Hitman 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
With the arrival of
the Clans, the formidable armies of both the
Draconis Combine and the
Federated Commonwealth more than met their match. As
regiment after regiment was lost, the leaders of the two realms saw the need to adopt new tactics to counter the technological advantages of
the Clans. Some of these tactics led to the creation of the HM-1
Hitman by the
Draconis Combine.
The
Hitman is an extremely agile and fast light
'Mech, capable of speeds up to 118.8 kph. The
'Mech also features the
MASC system, which allows bursts of speed well over 150 kph.
To ensure success of the
Hitman's primary purpose, which is to sneak up on enemy units undetected, a
Guardian ECM suite was installed. Because the Combine's ability to produce high-quality electronic gear is still somewhat limited,
House Kurita had to contract with a
Free Worlds League manufacturer to obtain this crucial component.
Once the
Hitman is within range of an enemy, the
'Mech's
Beagle Active Probe can help identify both the class and the equipment of an enemy
'Mech. The
Beagle Active Probe has also proven valuable in minimizing the
Hitman's vulnerability to
ambush.
If the
Hitman is intercepted, it can use its advatage of speed to escape, even from most Clan
'Mechs. With such a
'Mech,
the pilot is always free to get away and fight from a more advantageous position.
The
Hitman's most important role is accomplished with its
target-acquisition gear, which produces a rain of accurate and deadly fire against an enemy target. By transmitting coordinates directly to the fire control of
artillery pieces,
human error is considerably reduced.
Once the
Hitman locates a
target, it paints it with the
TAG system, allowing the incoming
Arrow VI missles to lock on for the kill. This method of attack is what earned the
'Mech its name. To ensure survival after contact with enemy units, the
'Mech also carries a trio of medium
lasers and an
LRM-5 system. The accuracy of the LRM is increased by the addition of an
Artemis IV fire control system.
Many have speculated that the
Hitman is really a modified copy of the
Capellan Raven, since both
'Mechs pack a wide array of high-tech electronics. However, the
Hitman's exterior and design more resemble the shapes of the
Draconis Combine's
Panther or the
Federated Commonwealth's
Wolfhound and
Valkyrie.
The
Hitman is still being tested on the
training grounds of the
Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy on
New Samarkand
.
Over a dozen
'Mechs of this class have been involved in large-scale military exercises conducted by the DCMS and Sun Zhang Academy pilots. As
battalion-sized units squared off in the ruins and
rural areas, these training exercises tested all possible uses of the new equipment. Both traditional tactics and newly developed tactics were pitted against those used by
the Clans.
Intelligence experts predict that the
Hitman will be deployed when
Arrow VI-equipped
'Mechs or vehicles become available in large quantitites. The units stationed on
Wolcott, deep within Clan-occupied territory, will surely be the first to receive the
Hitman and its "
guns".
Note: Information used here was the domain of FASA before they split the rights between Wizkids LLC and Microsoft (table-top gaming and video games respectively). Copyright of the fluff text is in limbo, but names of persons, places, & things are without any doubt the property of Wizkids LLC. Use of any terms here related to the BattleTech trademark are not meant as a challenge to Wizkids LLC's rights.