Badger

Description
In 3007, the Badger Tracked Transport was one of the first three combat vehicles exclusively commissioned from Blackwell Industries by the Wolf's Dragoons mercenary unit. Furthermore, it holds the honor as the first OmniVehicle constructed in the Inner Sphere, though its role as an infantry carrier precluded it from taking full advantage of the technology.

Though mounting only five and a half tons of Protech 6 armor plating and a Fusion Engine, the relatively spacious 4 ton fixed infantry bay significantly limits the design's weapon load. With a mere five tons of pod space, the Badger is generally outfitted to provide fire support for the troops it carries. As was the case with many of the Dragoon's secrets, they took great pains to hide the vehicle's modular technology when it first appeared; most assumed it was merely the Dragoons' crack technicians working miracles when they appeared with alternate configurations.

In many ways the Badger's fortunes suffered when the Dragoons' origins were eventually revealed. Though they no longer had to hide the design's modular nature, their replacement of standard infantry with battle armored Elementals and increased dependence on OmniMechs left the Badger notably less relevant, at least to the Dragoons. Blackwell was finally allowed to offer the Badger for sale to the general mercenary market in the early 3050's. They were barely able to meet demand for the versatile vehicle, up until the Badger's Outreach-based factories were destroyed by Word of Blake in 3067.

Weapons and Equipment
The primary Badger configuration carries a trio of Blackwell Opal Medium Lasers in its turret, supported by a front-mounted Blackwell Pilum SRM-2 launcher supplied with a single ton of reloads.

Alternate Configurations

 * Alt. Config. A : A short-range missile boat, the Badger A carries four SRM-2 launchers, one mounted forward with the remaining three fitted in its turret, each drawing from the same ton of reloads. BV (1.0) = 222, BV (2.0) = 437


 * Alt. Config. B : A higher-powered version of the A variant, the B configuration is armed with a pair of SRM-4 launchers, one turret and one front-mounted, carrying a single ton of reloads between each launcher. BV (1.0) = 216, BV (2.0) = 431


 * Alt. Config. C : A ranged combat variant, the Badger C carries two LRM-5 launchers, again with one turret- and one front-mounted, both of which draw from a single shared ton of missile reloads. BV (1.0) = 235, BV (2.0) = 450


 * Alt. Config. D : A mixed range laser variant, the D configuration carries three Medium Lasers in its turret, supported by a pair of Small Lasers mounted forward. BV (1.0) = 325, BV (2.0) = 540


 * Alt. Config. E : Armed entirely with small lasers, the Badger E is intended to fend off attacks from all angles. With six mounted in its turret, a single laser is fitted to each side, forward and aft. BV (1.0) = 219, BV (2.0) = 434


 * 'Alt. Config. F : This version doubles the size of the infantry bay and carries a single ER Medium Laser in its turret. BV (1.0) = 210, BV (2.0) = 399


 * Alt. Config. G : This version carries a single Light PPC and SRM-2 in its turret. BV (2.0) = 474

Related Design
Originally the Badger was a Clan design now known as the Badger C. The Dragoons handed a downgraded but nearly identical version over to Blackwell for production. The Badger C is used by several Clans in several configurations. All these variants are equipped with CASE to protect against ammunition explosion and a five ton infantry bay.


 * Prime Confi. : The primary Badger C configuration and carries an ER Medium Laser and Streak SRM-4 launcher in the turret. BV (1.0) = 387, BV (2.0) = 602


 * Alt. Config. A : This variant carries three ER Small Lasers and six Machine Guns. BV (1.0) = 282, BV (2.0) = 492


 * Alt. Config. B : This variant carries a turret mounted Medium Pulse Laser and Streak SRM-2. BV (2.0) = 540


 * Alt. Config. C : A fire support vehicle, this version carries an LRM-10 with an ER Small Laser as a backup weapon. BV (2.0) = 537


 * Alt. Config. D : This version carries a single Streak SRM-6 launcher. BV (2.0) = 506


 * Alt. Config. E : A recent development, this version carries an ATM-3 launcher and ER Small Laser in the turret. BV (2.0) = 474


 * Alt. Config. F : Designed to destroy infantry, this variant carries four AP Gauss Rifles in the turret. BV (2.0) = 411


 * Alt. Config. H : This version carries a Heavy Medium Laser and Streak SRM-2 in the turret, while an advanced Targeting Computer improves accuracy. BV (2.0) = 516