OmniMech

An OmniMech is a highly configurable (sub-)type of BattleMech developed by Clan Coyote during the Golden Century. OmniMechs mount some (or all) of their loadout in modular OmniMech-compatible OmniPods. This gives Omnis the ability to replace damaged components and change battlefield role to fulfill mission requirements. OmniPods can contain a wide range of weapon systems and a limited selection of structural components and equipment. An OmniMech's capabilities are mostly limited by the amount of Pod Space it possesses (both in mass and bulk) and durability, though OmniMech logistics, like available Pod-mounted components, facilities, and even short reconfiguration times, can also affect performance.

History
Based on the modular replacement system of the Mercury BattleMech, OmniMech technology was developed by a team of Clan Coyote scientists led by Scientist Richard (Remer) with the assistance of Clan Sea Fox. In 2854, their collaboration resulted in Clan Coyote's Coyotl, the first true OmniMech. The Coyotl's OmniMech technology provided far more flexibility than the famous ease of replacement of the Mercury's semi-modular Hessen IX Small Lasers. Clan Coyote and Sea Fox had evolved the technology to allow complete quick reconfiguration of the weapon systems and certain structural components. OmniMech customization and repair required as little as 30 minutes for all of the Pod-mounted components in an entire location, a very small fraction of the time required for an equivalent modification or repair for conventional BattleMechs.

Prototype OmniMech design was hampered by several major problems in stability, targeting, logistics, and construction. The OmniMech gyro had to adapt to large structural changes in the center of mass of the 'Mech. Without specialized software and extreme increases to physical tolerance, the OmniMech would not be as stable as a conventional BattleMech. Changing loadouts quickly also required the OmniMech battle computer to accept "snap and go" software for its targeting and tracking system. Combat effectiveness was still paramount, so the frame of the OmniMech could not waste space and mass for the physical interfaces of interchangeable equipment. Only standardized, specially constructed OmniMech components could be utilized on the OmniMech's frame. Richard (Remer) and his team worked for six full years to solve most these complications before prototype OmniMechs began combat trials, and another 1.5 years before the Coyotl entered full service. Even with deployment of the Coyotl, modular OmniTechnology required years of further refinement to ease compatibility between XL fusion engines and Endo-steel internal structure on an OmniMech chassis, and researchers never improved (or never attempted to improve) arm OmniPod attachment points in order to make large-bore weapon systems compatible with certain arm actuators.

The OmniMech's adaptability resulted in revolutionary changes on the battlefield. An OmniMech was more tactically and strategically flexible than any BattleMech before, allowing Clan Coyote (and to a lesser extent, the demurring Sea Foxes) to choose the capabilities of a machine depending upon the requirements of a particular mission. The major limitation to this flexibility was the mass the chassis could support. Size constrained the speed, armor and Pod Space of the Coyotl. This was quickly addressed with the introduction of at least three more first-generation OmniMechs, each a different drop weight.

The first-generation OmniMechs were overlooked for only a few years. Clan Coyote's OmniMechs soon became dominant on the Clan battlefield, and Clan Coyote began to expand within the Kerensky Cluster. By 2858, Coyote successes on the battlefield prompted Clan Jade Falcon and three of its allies to approach the Clan Council and demand OmniMech technology be shared. Their demands were met with hostility from Clan Coyote and its allies, most notably Clan Wolf. The Clan Council negotiated for a full week, and compromised between the two camps. Every Clan was allowed a single, yearly opportunity to acquire OmniMech technology honorably through martial prowess. Due to his neutrality during the discussions, Clan Burrock Khan Zenos Danforth was elected ilKhan and tasked with adjudicating the results of the Trials for OmniMech Technology. Just a year later, Clan Coyote equipped nearly all of its Alpha Galaxy with OmniMechs, and accelerated its expansion despite the trials. By the time Clan Jade Falcon won the prized technology in 2863, Clan Coyote's OmniMechs had been nearly unstoppable on the battlefields of the Clan Homeworlds for almost a decade.

Once Clan Jade Falcon won OmniMech technology from Clan Coyote, its spread throughout the Kerensky Cluster was inexorable. By the end of the next calender year, six more Clans possessed the technology. The final Clan to acquire OmniMech technology was Clan Ghost Bear, who took the technology from Clan Hell's Horses in 2873. Despite Omni technology's spread, rival Clans still required years to incorporate OmniMech technology and introduce their own novel OmniMechs, as Clan Coyote and its allies introduced even more OmniMechs. This gave Clan Coyote and their allies a sustained edge.

An unexpected advantage of their advanced gyros, OmniMechs could also be used extensively as infantry transports. In 2867, Clan Wolf began development of Battle Armored Infantry, based on underwater environmental suits used by Clan Goliath Scorpion in the seas of Dagda and Star League Power Armor (Light). The classic Elemental battle armor, a blend of speed, anti-Mech capability, protection, and firepower, prevailed. The Elemental debuted in 2868 in combat against Clan Nova Cat, and soundly won. Clan Wolf's battle armor concept revolutionized offensive ground infantry combat in 29th Century Clan warfare, and accelerated the propagation of the new "Elemental" warrior phenotype developed by Clan Hell's Horses. However, Elementals have limited mobility; they are only capable of a single 90-meter leap every 10 seconds and are nearly one ton in mass. Without Combat Vehicles dedicated to moving soldiers or longer-ranged battle armor weaponry, Elementals could only be used effectively on land as fixed defenders against experienced adversaries. Rather than rely entirely on combat vehicles to transport infantry, Clan Hell's Horses OmniMech designers realized the specialized gyros of OmniMechs could allow the mass of a point of Elementals to mount and dismount under fire. In 2870 they debuted their first OmniMech, the Nova, which mounted handholds, power outlets, and communication ports for battle armor. The Nova's mechanized infantry modifications were very successful and universally copied. Within six years of the initial Wolf-Nova Cat trial and just four years after the debut of the Nova, the concept of OmniMechs as infantry transports was taken to its logical conclusion, when Clan Ghost Bear began production of the Cloud Cobra-prototype Fire Moth infantry support OmniMech.

The OmniMech's ease of repair, rearmament, and weapons loadout modification allowed Clan MechWarriors to quickly return to the battlefield, and kept the Clans moving at an amazing pace during the Clans' invasion of the Inner Sphere. But the Clans' obvious technological advantage resulted in a rapid response from Inner Sphere weapons manufacturers. While not able to replicate the advanced construction materials of the invaders, the Inner Sphere was able to reverse engineer OmniMech technology from captured or crippled machines. Thanks to the pristine examples gained from the Battle of Wolcott and several galaxies worth of salvage in the aftermath of the OPERATION DRAGONSLAYER, the Draconis Combine led Inner Sphere OmniMech development. Just five months after DRAGONSLAYER, as the Com Guards fought the Clans on Tukayyid, the Draconis Combine introduced the first Inner Sphere OmniMech, the Raptor, in May 3052. By 3058 the Combine had eight separate OmniMechs in production with licensed versions being built in the Lyran Alliance and the Free Worlds League. By 3067 every Successor State had their own OmniMechs in production.

Advantages
The OmniMech's flexibility has many advantages. The modular construction allows MechWarriors to customize their machine's weapon loadout to suit their own skills and preference, and to suit specific tactical or environmental needs as required. Where a BattleMech of comparable weight is often designed and built for a specific role, an OmniMech can serve as a direct-fire combatant one day, and a missile boat the next. A single 'Mech capable of performing the role of four frees up significant logistical space and mass during a campaign, assuming the OmniMech is repairable after each mission.

Though not solely created for modular weapon loadouts, the OmniMech design greatly aids repair and construction. If a weapon Pod is damaged, it can be quickly detached and replaced with another while the original is repaired. If certain weapons or ammunition are unavailable, alternates can be easily substituted. Once their modular weaponry and equipment is removed, the empty bays provide better access to repair the chassis. Damaged components such as arms and legs can be easily repaired in half the time it takes for common BattleMechs, and often with less experienced technicians able perform such tasks. OmniMech technology also greatly aids salvage. Even if an enemy OmniMech is virtually destroyed, an intact OmniPod can be detached and reattached to a functional Omni just as quickly and easily as if it was factory fresh, satisfying the Clans' overriding desire to avoid waste.

OmniTechnology has also been used to bridge the technological gap between the Clans and the Inner Sphere. While Inner Sphere and Clan components are generally mutually incompatible, the Inner Sphere developed the technology by reverse-engineering Clan OmniTechnology after the Battle of Luthien, resulting in systems that used the same OmniPod interface. Inner Sphere and Clan Omnis can thus mount either Inner Sphere or Clan OmniPods, or both interchangeably.

Disadvantages
Despite their benefits in flexibility and maintenance, OmniMechs have distinct limitations in regard to cost and logistics. OmniMechs are not fully modular. An OmniMech's structural components (its engine, internal structure, armor and any equipment installed on the base chassis of that OmniMech) are "hard-wired" and cannot be modified outside of a total redesign of the 'Mech. While customization of these components is theoretically possible in the field, it is avoided as it hard-wires all the 'Mech's components and effectively transforms the OmniMech into a standard BattleMech. While they can be considered structural components, the lower-arm and hand actuators are themselves Pod-mounted and easily removed to provide additional Pod Space in the arms. However, the mounting points for them in the arms are also utilized by larger bore weaponry such as Gauss Rifles, Autocannons, and PPCs, so the lower-arm and hand must be removed to carry these weapon types on OmniMech arms, hampering the close-combat abilities of these configurations.

With further regard to costs, even OmniMechs constructed from standard materials are more expensive than comparable BattleMechs of similar weight to both construct and field. While the initial invasion gave the impression that Clan toumans consisted solely of OmniMechs, even they can only afford to outfit their front-line units with them, with their so-called second-line forces generally fielding more cost effective standard BattleMechs, albeit utilizing superior Clan technology or old Star League designs.

The modular attachment points to mount OmniMech weaponry and equipment (equipment constructed in an OmniMech Pod) renders such equipment incompatible with standard BattleMechs. Even for identical classes and brands of equipment, only the ammunition can be used interchangeably. Adding or removing the Pod connections is possible but adds additional time to repairs. If weaponry and equipment are mounted on an OmniMech without an OmniPod, this equipment is fixed. For mixed units of BattleMechs and OmniMechs this adds an artificial separation and duplication in supply chains and logistics for spare parts.