Maneki-neko Mn-01

Faction Availability

Maneki-neko Mn-01

                                                 

Rules Level:	Tournament Legal
Technology Base:	Inner Sphere
Chassis Config:	Biped
Production Year:	3065
Extinct By:	Never

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Chassis:	Mn-01 Cat Standard
Power Plant:	Piker 180 Fusion Engine
Cruising Speed:	64.5 km/h
Maximum Speed:	96.75 km/h
Jump Jets:	Lexington Ltd. Lifters
Jump Capacity:	120 meters
Armor:	Maximilian 42 Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited/Tronel XII Medium Pulse Laser
4 Death Blossom Rocket Launcher 15s
Manufacturer:	Firefox Ltd.
Primary Factory:	Brundage
Communications System:	Sipher CommCon SCU-5
Targeting and Tracking System:	Cat's Eyes 5.1

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Overview
Date: 01/12/3066
From: Precentor Mu/Mu V Clive Reordan
To: Precentor ROM Alexander Kernoff
Topic: New alliance emerging?

Precentor ROM,

You will find enclosed below several elements coming from the Draconis Combine.
As you know, the Draconis Combine has yet to recover from the Combine-Ghost Bear War and the Draconis March invasion.
Its production facilities are used at their maximum capacity and they cannot fill all the requests coming from Gunji-no-Kanrei Minamoto office.
Due to the natural tendency of House Kurita to rely on its own forces (as illustrated by the famous Words of Blake, blessed be His Name, “the Dragon lives in an insular society in which everything foreign is tainted. This is their strength but will also prove their doom when finally the day of the Believers will come as they will be unable to change and adapt.”), the Clan invasion and the Draconis March/FedCom Civil War, it came to a surprise to us that the DCMS was eager to give the contract for their new Light 'Mech, the potential successor of the well-known Panther and Jenner models, to a foreign company, known to come from Clan space and to have strong links with the Federated Commonwealth.
One can only wonder if this is not a part of a bigger plan.
With your permission, I would like to investigate this a little further as Blake, blessed be His Name, once said “it is your sacred duty to uncover the hidden plans of your opponents. Only knowledge will grant you an absolute victory over them.”

May the Peace of Blake be with you,

Precentor Mu/Mu V Clive Reordan

Attached files: 3/3

Noble Citizens of the mighty Draconis Combine, you are being fooled once more.
Your Coordinator is betraying you again: after refusing to follow the ideal of the Bushido for a so-called reformed Bushido, he is selling our very sword and pride to foreign interests.
Yes, the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery is forced to drop its Panthers and Jenners, the traditional spearheads of our might for a new design, the brainchild of associated exiled Clanners sent on a spying mission in the Inner Sphere and of the Federated Suns.
Both are our enemies and you can be sure that this is a trap for robbing us of what is rightly ours.
They even go as far as giving it a Japanese name associated with good luck: Maneki-neko.
Sign the petition against the use of such a 'Mech in our glorious forces.

Unable to defeat the mighty Dragon in a fight,
The mice tried to poison him
But his eggs warned him and saved the mighty Dragon from his doom.

From an anonymous pamphlet taken in Luthien in December 3065

• I don't think the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery fully understand what is going on. My men managed to get their hands on this pamphlet and several of its brothers but there are more in the streets.
• I can ensure you that word has been sent to the Gunji-no-Kanrei and that he heard it.
• But then what are we waiting for? We should react and show to the people how wise the Dragon really is by allowing a potential opponent to use some of its much needed manufacturing capacity for a small design while we keep our own for bigger and more advanced BattleMechs.
• It seems Minamoto and thus the Coordinator don't agree with your idea: this design seems to interest them and they are planning to use it efficiently against anyone foolish enough to threaten the Dragon.
• You must be kidding?

From a conversation between two unidentified ISF officers intercepted by ROM in December 3065

Date: 12/23/3065
From: Gunji-no-Kanrei Minamoto office
To: Firefox Ltd.
Topic: Maneki-neko

The results of the final tests just came in.
You are allowed to produce the first batch of Maneki-neko for the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.
These 'Mechs should be sent to the Benjamin District to be delivered to the 7th Amphigean Light Assault Group when it will be deployed here.

From a communication intercepted by ROM in December 3065

Capabilities
Date: 10/06/3065
From: Lead Engineer, Team Alpha
To: Sales Team, Team Alpha
Topic: Maneki-neko

James,

I can't believe they have decided to go ahead with this Maneki-neko project.
So far, we only had some simulations running showing that the concept is viable but we never designed it as a viable prototype.

I am sure your guys and their mysterious salesmen are linked to this and should be held responsible for this total nonsense.

By the way, do you know who came up with this stupid name? According to some research I did, it is the name of a kind of Money Cat in the traditional Japanese folklore.
I tried to see if our simulations looked a little like a cat or something but failed to see it.

Yours,

Sean

Date: 10/06/3065
From: Sales Team, Team Alpha
To: Lead Engineer, Team Alpha
Topic: Re: Maneki-neko

Sean,

You should learn to relax sometimes.
How many times did I told you this?

Regarding the contract, see this with the Council, my team only worked on the initial and final negotiations, the rest was managed directly by them.

For the name, I think it came up during one of the simulations when one of these DCMS guy (I don't remember which one) was falling on his back and pulled the trigger of the left arm Medium Pulse Laser, destroying its heavier opponent with a lucky shot in the head.
When he managed to put his 'Mech back on its feet, the left arm was blocked like an upright paw.
I think the connexion should be obvious by now.

And stop complaining about my team, we just brought you a nice supply contract for brand new Tronel XII Medium Pulse Lasers and Death Blossom Rocket Launchers.
Now, you can build the prototype of the Lucky Cat.

By the way, did I send you the latest pamphlet I found in Luthien? You should be proud they are talking about your Welcoming Cat.

Here it is:
Noble Citizens of the mighty Draconis Combine, don't let the evil Kistune-bi lead you upon the wrong paths.
Thanks to some loyal Sons of the Dragon, we were able to see the plans for the so-called new wonder 'Mech that will be giving soon full access to the light units of the mighty Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

It is lighter than the Panther and the Jenner by 5 tons, making it unable to compete with them in honourable way.
It is also slower than the Jenner and cannot exceed the jumping capacity of the Panther.
I know what you are thinking wise citizens, perhaps it has more firepower than our noble designs?
The answer is devastating and simple: no. Its main gun is too short ranged to be of any use on the modern battlefield and the support weapons are inferior foreign one-shot missiles that are known to miss their target each time they are fired.

No one in his right mind would order such a 'Mech.
[…]

I cut it there since after that it became a classical pamphlet against the Coordinator policy with a call for a redemption and a return to the good old ways (both being political items proper to the Draconis Combine, which you usually don't care about).

Yours,

James

PS: By the way, I will call you next time I am at your site as I have managed to find a treasure for your collection: one lost song of the famous (or infamous for me but you are the expert) Star League band: Dead Zombies Can Make Noise Too.

Date: 10/06/3065
From: Lead Engineer, Team Alpha
To: Sales Team, Team Alpha
Topic: Re:Re:Maneki-neko

James,

Both you and those Kuritan people offended me today.
You with your cultural illiteracy: how can you be hermetic to the beauty of songs coming from the Star League?
And those “Noble Citizens” with their misunderstanding of what is a BattleMech and how to use it.


Let me summarize for you one last time, what the customer wanted (and you know the customer is always right, don't you?): a Light 'Mech able to replace the Jenner and the Panther while giving heavier BattleMechs a run for their money and it had to be cheap enough to give the Draconis Combine the opportunity to equip even their militia units with this design.


I think we managed to do as requested (for the cost part, we will have to wait for our first production batch).
With a top speed of 97 kilometres per hour, this 'Mech can outrun the Panther, being 50% quicker and the Jenner is only 16.67% quicker, which is not a really big deal.
Regarding the jumping capacity, it is in par with the Panther with a capacity of 120 meters.
I think this answered the mobility part of your pamphlet.


As for firepower, it has a Medium Pulse Laser, the most precise weapon available without a costly and shiny Targeting Computer.
The advantage of the Pulse Lasers is that they are also efficient against infantry, vehicles, Elementals and other Battle Armours, making it a perfect close ranged weapon (and a really powerful one as this is also the range where those “small” threads to the mighty BattleMechs are the most efficient).
And to make sure that in spite of any damage suffered in the Left Arm, we have implemented an independent link to the Fusion Engine, through a kind of “belt-fed” link.

And I think they should ask the units based on their Periphery border what they think of the overall firepower provided by these “inferior” foreign Missile Launchers, so 4 of them are quite frightening.
I know they are one-shot weapons and that once they have been fired, you need to disengage to reload them but Light 'Mechs should not try to get into long fights, they are missing the endurance needed to do that.
The idea behind the Maneki-neko is for it to engage quickly its opponents, fire and use the confusion to withdraw and do it again and again.

And I am not surprised they did not speak of the impressive protection given by the 7 tons of armour, making it the equivalent in terms of protection of the Panther, which was already the double of the one of Jenner.

With all this taken into account, I don't see why those people are complaining.

Yours,

Sean

PS: With good news like that, you can call me any time.

Battle History
Date: 06/20/3068
From: Tai-i Kumawani
To: Gunji-no-Kanrei Minamoto
Topic: Dieron

Honored Kanrei,

I know you are interested in what happened on Dieron.
We just received video footage from the 10th Ghosts and thus I am sending it to you for reviewing.
It pictures the last raid conducted in the rearguard of Blurr's Black Cobras and follows the whereabouts of a lance of Maneki-neko.
It seems those 'MechWarriors managed to find the proper way to use these new 'Mechs.

Your servant,

Tai-i Kumawani

Play attached file

The desert, sand blowing in the wind...
A city can be seen in the background and as the camera zooms in, a loud bang is heard and steel doors can be seen blowing in the air.
Apart for that noise, nothing is heard when lines of light grey with dark grey striping 'Mechs come out of this hidden entrance and other similar around it and silently begin to move towards the horizon.

[The picture goes black and then something is seen on the screen again]

A typical rearguard camp with 'Mechs being repaired and resupplied away from the fight and where pilots can get a rest.
Several units painted in black with yellow trim can be seen powered down while others are just patrolling around, their striking cobra logo shining in the morning sun.

All is quiet when suddenly explosions can be heard all over the camp with people beginning to move to find the origin of these explosions or trying to run away.

[The picture goes black and then something is seen on the screen again]

A full lance of black 'Mechs is running in an alley like wolves hunting down their prey.
Upon coming on a main place, they slow down and begin to deploy in a line as if trying to surround someone.
Then a trio of Light 'Mechs painted in light grey jumps out of nowhere and fires several missiles in the back of the bigger 'Mechs, taking one down by cutting its legs and damaging the others.
As quickly, the lighter 'Mechs jump back behind several buildings, hiding there.
The heavier 'Mechs are quick to try to follow them, only to expose their back to concentrated PPC fire, forcing them to slow down and face their new opponent that remains hidden in the shadows of a small alley.

[The picture goes black and then something is seen on the screen again]

The same black 'Mechs can be seen on screen again, with the hits taken previously still showing.
The same scenario is played again as a duo of Light 'Mechs jump out of nowhere to fire and withdraw.

[An explosion is seen on the screen and the picture goes snowy]

Deployment
>>>>Did anyone check the latest reports of the Draconis Combine Port Authority?<<<<
avatar, 23:03:34, 10/04/3066
>>>>Why? You managed to find some interesting stuff in all this paperwork?<<<<
dragongirl, 23:05:45, 10/04/3066
>>>>You mean the public records, don't you? You know that stealing data from the Draconis Combine is a crime?<<<<
loyalson, 23:06:00, 10/04/3066
>>>Crime? Who is this guy? He looks suspicious. Some admin should banish him.<<<<
curious, 23:06:20, 10/04/3066
>>>>Done.<<<
God, 23:06:21, 10/04/3066
>>>>Thanks God. I downloaded them and quickly scanned them looking for interesting stuff. Lots of activity between Brundage and the Benjamin District.<<<<
curiousman, 23:07:32, 10/04/3066
>>>>According to my sources, the 7th Amphigean Light Assault Group just moved there. We all know they have to go through a R&R period to bring them to full strength again.<<<<
allmilitarythings, 23:08:23, 10/04/3066
>>>Aren't you too quick to draw conclusions?<<<<
dragongirl, 23:09:12, 10/04/3066
>>>>Perhaps but according to what Raven told us about the new 'Mech in production at Firefox Ltd., it has to be used in packs to be efficient, which suits perfectly the mentality and the tactics of the 7th Amphigean Light Assault Group.<<<<
allmilitarythings, 23:10:26, 10/04/3066
>>>>So you think that the 7th will test the new design and if it receives the final agreement, it will be sent to the other units?<<<<
avatar, 23:11:23, 10/04/3066
>>>>Now that would be a clever move from the Dragon.<<<<
underestimateme:P, 23:13:56, 10/04/3066

- From a private chat room, location unknown.

Known Variants
Date: 05/05/3066
From: Lead Engineer, Team Alpha
To: Sales Team, Team Alpha
Topic: Requests from the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery

James,

I have received your list of requests from the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.
To me they seem perfectly reasonable (for once) and you can tell your “mysterious” salesmen to make a deal.
We will quickly put into production the Mn-011, which will lose a little of armour and a Rocket Launcher for a Guardian ECM, allowing it to shield its lance mates from any electronical thread.
The Mn-02 will take a little longer to produce as we need to make some changes to the production chain but with an Endo-Steel internal structure, a little less armour and Double Heat Sinks, we should be able to give it full jumping capacity and a Lord's Light 2 ER PPC, making it the perfect fire-support companion to a lance of Mn-01 and Mn-011.

I know I am not an expert in BattleMech warfare but I think the best option would be to create lances made of 2 Mn-01, 1 Mn-011 and 1 Mn-02.
This should turn any lance into a flexible unit able to perform well against any opposing unit.

Yours,

Sean

Notable 'Mechs and Mechwarriors
Date: 02/23/3067
To: Tai-sa Hajii Mara
From: Sho-ko Mitsugoro
Topic: Behaviour of the 2nd Company/3rd Battalion

Honoured Tai-sa,

I must report the improper behaviour of the 2nd Company/3rd Battalion.
As you know, we assign them the new and improper Maneki-neko as a way to keep our best 'Mechs for soldiers following the Bushido but they didn't seem to mind and have become quite adept at harassing in groups their opponents only to flee quickly and return later.
Such tactics are improper of a loyal Kuritan Samurai and reminds me of those used by the Amphigean Light Assault Groups, a parody of everything we held dear.

To further insult us, they also painted their 'Mechs in different non-regimental colours.
So far, I saw 7 different paintings: tricolour (white with black and red spots), white, black, red, gold, rose and green.
When asked about it, they pointed out to the traditional colours of the Maneki-neko, which are said to bring luck.

I know we are the keepers of the noble Kuritan traditions but we are Samurai, we follow the Bushido and we don't believe in superstitions.

I humbly ask you to take some measures about this unit.

Your servant,

Sho-ko Mitsugoro


Date: 02/24/3067
To: Sho-ko Mitsugoro
From: Tai-sa Hajii Mara
Topic: Re: Behaviour of the 2nd Company/3rd Battalion

Sho-ko,

I understand your concerns and under normal circumstances, I would accept your request but I just received deployment orders as the Dragon is requesting everyone to do his duty.
I can only hope that this unit will find either redemption or death on the battlefield.
Otherwise, we will have to show them what is the expected behaviour for a Samurai of Lord Kurita.

Tai-sa Hajii Mara

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Technology Base:	Inner Sphere		30,00 tons
Chassis Config:	Biped	Cost:	2 239 640 C-Bills
BV2:	759	Tech Rating/Era Availability:	E/X-X-D
Equipment			Mass
Internal Structure:	Standard		3,00
Engine:	180	Fusion Engine	7,00
Walking MP:	6
Running MP:	9
Jumping MP:	4 Standard
Jump Jet Locations: 2 LL, 2 RL			2,00
Heat Sinks:	10 - Single (7 in engine)		0,00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 HD, 1 LT, 1 RT
Gyro:	Standard		2,00
Cockpit:	Standard		3,00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor:	105 points - Standard Armor		7,00
		Internal	Armor
		Structure	Factor
Head:		3	9
Center Torso:		10	15
Center Torso (rear):			5
R/L Torso:		7	11
R/L Torso (rear):			3
R/L Arm:		5	10
R/L Leg:		7	14

 

                             

Weapons and Ammo	Location	Heat	Criticals	Tonnage
2 Rocket Launcher 15s	RT	8	4	2,00
2 Rocket Launcher 15s	LT	8	4	2,00
Medium Pulse Laser	LA	4	1	2,00

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BattleForce Statistics
MV	S (+0)	M (+2)	L (+4)	E (+6)	Wt.	OV	Armor: 4	Points: 8
6/3j	2	2	0	0	1	0	Structure: 3
Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SOA

 

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