Tao 'Mechworks

Tao 'Mechworks is a BattleMech manufacturer on the Capellan Confederation world of Styk.

Overview
Located on the second largest trading and industrial center in the Confederation, the Tao 'Mechworks was the third largest 'Mech manufacturer in Liao space, and its capture was a prime target during the Fourth Succession War. When it became apparent that Styk would fall to the AFFS, the retreating Capellan forces destroyed as much of the facility as possible, effectively forcing the Federated Commonwealth to rebuild the factory from scratch.

One benefit of this was the ability to design the production line to produce any 'Mech of their choosing, configuring it to manufacture the advanced-tech VTR-9D Victor, to replace in part the lost output of the FedCom signature design from Independence Weaponry, itself captured by the Draconis Combine in the War of 3039.

The facility came under the control of the Styk Commonality after the Marik-Liao invasion of the Sarna March in 3057. After Sun Tzu Liao became the First Lord of the Star League, he used the political weight of the Office to gain effective control of all Chaos March factories to supply the forces participating in Operation Bulldog and Task Force Serpent. From that point on, Tao 'MechWorks was garrisoned by "Observation Troops" friendly to the Capellan Confederation and used the plant's output to equip the SLDF and CCAF. This status quo remained even after the need to supply the SLDF had passed and for all intents and purposes the facility is now under the control of the Capellan Confederation.

The CCAF has since reconfigured the site to produce the Stealth Armor equipped VTR-10L Victor and CRD-7L Crusader.

There is some evidence to suggest that during the Jihad Tao 'MechWorks sponsored some corporate sabotage efforts against the Earthwerks Incorporated plant on Grand Base. As a result, the Capellan government nationalized the Tao 'Mechworks plant on Styx on the 1st of September 3080 as a punishment for industrial espionage during wartime. The CEO of Tao 'Mechworks at the time, Robert "Bubba" Larson initially claimed that the covert operations were conducted as a ploy by the Word of Blake, but agents from the Maskirovka uncovered information implicating Larson directly in the strikes against the Earthwerks factory sites, which had resulted in the destruction of a plant constructing fusion engines. Sang-jiang-jun Talon Zahn justified the nationalization of Tao 'Mechworks by stating that the act of espionage, intended to secure a greater market share for Tao 'Mechworks, had undermined the security of the Confederation as a whole. The first stage of the nationalization of the Styk plant involved the removal of all senior executives at the factory, along with the majority of the middle management.

During the Capellan conflict with The Republic of the Sphere the Styk plant was totally destroyed. The employees of the Styk plant were able to remove the tools, dies, and other equipment before the plant was destroyed in the fighting. These were relocated to Sarmaxa where another factory was constructed.

In the years during Republic of the Sphere occupation, the Styk factory was rebuilt. It was completely functional by 3135.

Manufacturing
Tao 'Mechworks has manufacturing centers on the following planets:

Styk
Note: Since the start of the Jihad, the facility on Styk suffered capital and personal losses of 63%, with the operating capacity of the factory is reduced to 63% of their main production volume in 3079. As at April 3081 the Styk plant is in a perilous position; damaged by raiders employed by EarthWerks Incorporated in retaliation for the earlier Tao 'MechWorks raid, the plant was then damaged by the Word of Blake in 3076  and again in 3080. The extent of the damage inflicted on the plant is such that another raid may well result in it being completely destroyed. It was also suspected that in the immediate wake of the Jihad the CO of Ambermarle's Highlanders has resorted to pilfering from the Tao 'MechWorks shipments intended for supply to Marshigama's Legionnaires to make up for the Highlanders' low priority for supplies within the Capellan military.

This plant was destroyed in the fighting between the Republic of the Sphere and Warrior House Dai Da Chi and Warrior House Tsang Xiao. All the tools and manufacturing components that could be removed were relocated to the Sarmaxa plant before the plant was destroyed.

By 3135, the Tao 'Mechworks facility had been repaired and currently producing at least the VTR-9K Victor, CRD-7L Crusader and BLR-4L BattleMaster.