Falcon

Description
Originally developed as an anti-infantry and bug hunter 'Mech, the Falcon is a highly popular light recon and skirmisher 'Mech.

Initially created for the newly formed Star League Defense Force's use in the Reunification War, the popular design remained in production until the destruction of Stormvanger's Hesperus II Falcon line during the Third Battle of Hesperus II in Production Ceased::2789, becoming all but extinct until the arrival of Wolf's Dragoons in Reintroduction Year::3005. Well regarded by the mercenaries, the Dragoons upgraded their dwindling number of Falcons in the early 3050s before eventually commissioning Blackwell Industries to restart production of the design in early 3060 to produce advanced Clan-tech versions for their exclusive use, as well as more mundane and affordable versions for the general mercenary market.

While originally sporting a weapons array similar to the Locust, Stinger, and Wasp it was charged to defeat, the Falcon's six tons of StarGuard Type II armor provided it with vastly superior protection, allowing it to outlast them and remain combat effective longer. When it was originally developed, the 'Mech's top speed of 97.2 km/h and a jumping distance of 150 meters allowed it to keep up with other light recon 'Mechs. But by the 3060s, the Falcon was outclassed by newer and faster designs, only its use of a cheaper standard fusion engine rather than a more expensive and fragile light or XL engine kept buyers interested.

Weapons and Equipment
Originally developed as a field upgrade before becoming Blackwell's standard production model, the 4P Falcon carries a light arsenal that is primarily based around energy weapons. While the two Omnicron 1000 small lasers were retained, the original standard medium laser was swapped for a short-ranged but highly accurate Magna 400P medium pulse laser. Finally, for protection from missiles, the rear-facing machine guns were dropped for a forward-facing SureFire 444 anti-missile system and a single ton of ammunition.

Variants

 * FLC-4N : The original Falcon designed in Introduction Year::2582, the 4N model has a lighter arsenal more akin to 'Mechs 10 tons lighter. The primary weapon is a SunGlow Type 1 medium laser with two Omnicron 1000 Light Lasers as secondary weapons. To deter infantry attacks, the 'Mech carries two rear-mounted Reginald Mark VI Machine Guns with a shared single ton of ammo. The 4N was equipped with a Garret T20C communications system and a Dynatec 150A targeting and tracking system. Stormvanger's production line on Hesperus II was destroyed in 2789. BV (1.0) = 523, BV (2.0) = 610


 * FLC-4Nb : Built for the Royal SLDF Divisions at the captured Roe Weapon Systems plant on Apollo during the Amaris Civil War, the so-called Royal Falcon carried an experimental Parti-Kill snub-nose PPC backed up by two medium lasers. It was also equipped with double heat sinks, and was built on a Duralyte 300 endo steel chassis. All known examples and design specs were taken with the Exodus Fleet. BV (2.0) = 947


 * FLC-4Nb-PP : Used by various Pentagon World factions during the Exodus Civil War, the PP variant replaced the advanced snub-nose PPC of the Royal Falcon with a standard PPC. The increased weight, however, required the removal of the medium laser mounted in the right arm. BV (2.0) = 881


 * FLC-4Nb-PP2 : Another Exodus Civil War era modification of the Royal Falcon, the PP2 replaced the snub-nose PPC with an ER large laser. The saved weight allowed the left arm medium laser to be upgraded with pulse technology. BV (2.0) = 947


 * FLC-5P : A 3065 upgrade of the 4P, the 5P drops a ton of armor to add a MASC system that kicks the Falcon ' s speed up to 129 km/h in bursts. The small lasers are upgraded to ER medium lasers and a targeting computer guides all three. To make all of this possible, a light fusion engine is included and the anti-missile system was removed. BV (2.0) = 945


 * FLC-6C : This variant was used exclusively by Wolf's Dragoons as it features Clan-tech. It simply upgrades the armament of the 4P to Clan standards, including an ER large laser that replaced the medium pulse laser. Each arm carries an ER small laser, and a targeting computer aids in the accuracy of all three lasers. The ammunition bin of the anti-missile system was also upgraded to the Clan version, which carries twice as many rounds. BV (2.0) = 1,290

Custom Variants

 * FLC-4Nb Saho : Personally modified in the field by a MechWarrior from Clan Goliath Scorpion, the Falcon Saho replaced the right arm weapons of the Royal Falcon with a large pulse laser salvaged from a Royal Wyvern. BV (2.0) = 774

Design Quirks
The Falcon has the following Design Quirk:
 * Narrow/Low Profile

Related Designs

 * Drift Shag: Clan Ice Hellion's first BattleMech to use Clan tech exclusively was based on the Falcon. Starting production in 2827, thirty-ton Drift Shag used a 210 XL engine to reach speeds of 118 km/h. Protected by six tons of armor and capable of high speed and 180 meter jumps, the biggest weakness was the 11 double heat sinks which couldn't dissipate all the heat of the weapons. The Drift Shag carried an ER large laser in the right arm, a medium pulse laser in the right torso, but the main close in firepower was provided by a quartet of ER small lasers in the left arm. It has the following Design Quirks: Bad Reputation and Narrow/Low Profile. BV 2.0 = 1,512