compiled overview of the 35
ton Venom 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
During the
Clan invasion of
Draconis Combine space, large numbers of Combine
'Mechs were destroyed in the fighting, with no chance of any
salvage to support reconstruction. As a result Coordinator
Takashi Kurita orderd a massive production effort to replace fallen units.
Nimakachi Fusion Products Ltd., a small manufacturer which had only produced
Spiders, was eager to profit from the circumstances. The firm's owners decided that simple expansion of the
Spider production lines would not guarantee future orders when the fighting slowed down. With an eye to future expansion, Nimakachi was eager to incorporate as much new and recovered technology as was available. The
Venom was born. The Combine military was so pleased with this design that it immediately placed an order for production of the
Venom in large numbers.
The
Venom is a heavier version of the old
Spider produced on
Tematagi. It is 35 tons and uses
Kallon FWL special ferro-fibrous armor. The new design also has an extralight engine in order to keep the space available for increased firepower. The weapons featured by the design are four of the new
Tronel XII medium pulse lasers.
Like its predecessor, the
Venom is successful because of its maneuverability. The movement capabilities of the
Venom are identical to those of the original
Spider. Since the phenomenal distances covered and the amount of control a pilot has during a jump were paramount in the original design, changes would have been counterproductive.
There are two
drawbacks that could not be corrected. First, the
'Mechs armor is light. The
engineers are hoping that the maneuverability of this design is sufficient compensation. The Second problem, which is compounded by the first, is the extra-light design of the
fusion engine. Any reasonable
penetration into the left or right torso would more than likely penetrate the engine's
shielding
The first
Venom came off the production line in January 3050, and has seen limited
field testing so far.
Theodore Kurita has seen fit to have all new designs sent to areas near the
Periphery to protect against
bandits and for potential
punitive strikes. Several of the new
'Mech designs have also been spotted patrolling worlds in
Dieron, near the
Terran frontier.
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