Valkyrie

The Valkyrie was originally planned for use by the Star League Defense Force but production of the BattleMech did not begin until Introduction Year::2787, after the fall of the Star League and the start of the First Succession War. Because of this odd twist of fate, and because the only factory to produce the Valkyrie was located on New Avalon, the only nation to possess a large number of Valkyries was the Federated Suns. During the Succession Wars the Valkyrie became the standard light 'Mech of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, often replacing the lighter Wasp and Stinger 'Mechs in many units and given to experienced MechWarriors to pilot. While not as fast as either design, the Valkyrie has an almost comparable jumping distance, heavier armor, and longer-range weaponry. Capable of maintaining a high rate-of-fire while jumping as often as it liked, the Valkyrie gained a reputation for tenacity, and once on the attack "it stays with you until either you drop or it does."

Corean Enterprises was able to maintain a steady production rate of 130 Valkyries per year during the Succession Wars, reaching almost 200 per year during the desperation of the First Succession War, and with its location in the heart of the Davion realm that rate was rarely under threat, although the possibility of the automated factories breaking down for good remained a growing concern during the technological decline of the Third Succession War. Every regiment, and nearly every battalion, had at least one Valkyrie 'Mech under its command, with some recon companies equipped with entire lances of Valkyries. The Davions were also willing to sell the 'Mech to mercenary outfits contracted to serve them, while relatively few found their way into the hands of the other realms through battlefield salvage. One major setback in Valkyrie production did occur during the Fourth Succession War, when the Draconis Combine captured Marduk, site of Norse BattleMech Works and producers of the 'Mech's Norse Industries 3S jump jets. Production fell behind for the next few years as Corean tried several other jump jet models without success, until finally settling on HildCo Interplanetary's Model 12 line of jump jets.

Following the formation of the Federated Commonwealth, its nascent military force was faced with the problem of combining two entirely separate militaries into one unified whole. Part of the solution was commonality of equipment, and the Valkyrie was chosen to be the standard light 'Mech of the AFFC. Following the discovery of the Helm Memory Core, the New Avalon Institute of Science was able to restore the Valkyrie industrial complex to its full Star League era production rate, while Corean was able to utilize lostech components to construct the new VLK-QD model starting in 3049.

The FedCom Civil War took a particularly heavy toll on light 'Mechs, and the Commonwealth was in desperate need of replacements; unfortunately Valkyrie production had halted when the St. Ives Compact was conquered by the Capellan Confederation and Hildco was no longer willing to supply Corean with jump jets. At the time the company was in negotiations with Vicore Industries about reviving the Valkyrie design with two new variants, the VLK-QD1 and VLK-QD3, and Vicore just happened to have the solution to their problems. The company had secretly negotiated to build Hildco jump jets under the Vicore name, and was willing to sell these components to Corean in exchange for the right to build both variants. Corean agreed, and Valkyrie production restarted on New Avalon and Demeter, with new units reaching Davion forces by July 3067.

Weapons and Equipment
The Valkyrie has as its primary armament a Devastator Series-07 LRM-10 launcher with one ton of reloads mounted in the left torso. While an unusual weapon on a light 'Mech, and carrying only enough missiles for two minutes of continuous fire, it gives the Valkyrie a long reach and respectable damage, especially against other light 'Mech hunters. As a back-up weapon the Valkyrie carries a Sutel IX Medium Laser in its right arm. This mix of long and short-range weapons allows the Valkyrie to soften up other 'Mechs from long range then move in for a kill.

Eleven heat sinks allow the Valkyrie to fire its weapons and use its five jump jets, two each in the legs and the fifth in the rear torso, to jump up to 150 meters at a time without worrying about heat buildup. It also carries six tons of armor to absorb a decent amount of punishment. While only boasting a cruising speed of 54 km/h, it is capable of outmaneuvering and, when working as a team, taking down heavier opponents.

Variants

 * VLK-QF : The QF model of the Valkyrie was the only common variant of the 'Mech during the Succession Wars. First fielded in 2967, it trades in the medium laser for a Flamer. This allows the 'Mech to work in an incendiary role and also acts as an excellent deterrent to infantry attacks. BV (1.0) = 563, BV (2.0) =653


 * VLK-QD : The QD Valkyrie is a major overhaul of the design debuting in 3049. The chassis has been re-engineered to use Corean Model 101AA Endo Steel construction and the armor has been upgraded to Ferro-Fibrous with CASE.  This allowed the variant to update the laser to a Sutel Precision Line Medium Pulse Laser and add an Artemis IV fire control system to the Devastator LRM-10. BV (1.0) = 690, BV (2.0) = 807


 * VLK-QD1 : The QD1 is another major overhaul of the Valkyrie, developed in partnership with Vicore Industries and debuting in 3067. Powered by an Omni 150 XL engine and built using a Corean Model 101AA Endo Steel chassis, the QD1 is protected by six tons of StarGuard III Ferro-Fibrous armor and carries ten double heat sinks.  It is propelled through the air by five Vicore Thrust-Master Model L jump jets and carries a Defiance Model XII ER Medium Laser in the right arm and a Valiant Arbalest LRM-15 launcher with two tons of reloads in the left torso.  The LRM launcher is mated to an Artemis IV fire control system while a Targeting Computer is linked to the ER laser. A Full-Head Ejection System protects the pilot.  The variant still carries the Lynx-shur communications suite but replaces the older Targeting-Tracking System with a Sync Tracker (40-TC). BV (1.0) = 835, BV (2.0) = 878


 * VLK-QD2 : In the Blakist sieges of New Avalon during the Jihad, following the NAIS refit of the Longbow, Corean Enterprises retooled their QD1 production lines in 3072 to produce this version, stripping out the LRM-15, its attendant Artemis IV and missiles to fit a pair of Mydron Snipehunter Light AC/2s. Two ammo bins allow Davion MechWarriors to utilize any kind of ammo on hand, while the Defiance XII ER Medium Laser and Targeting Computer of the QD1 were retained, making this model a highly-accurate Mech able to provide direct fire-support or quickly shred enemy light Mechs. BV (2.0) = 638


 * VLK-QD3 : The QD3 is an upgrade of the QD variant introduced in 3069 as part of the Vicore deal. While it retains all other aspects of the QD1, the QD3 is instead powered by a GM 210 engine for a top speed of 115 km/h and carries two Extended Range Medium Lasers and a Holly LRM-5 launcher. BV (1.0) = 853, BV (2.0) = 882


 * VLK-QD4 : This 3085 variant is armed with an MML-7 and medium laser, carries Light Ferro-Fibrous armor and uses double heat sinks. Improved Jump Jets maximize battlefield mobility. A Full Head Ejection System protects Davion MechWarriors who pilot this variant. BV (2.0) = 657


 * VLK-QD8 : This version of the Valkyrie was introduced during the Dark Age. It also has the Full Head Ejection System, but like the QS5 it uses an Endo Steel chassis and Small Cockpit. The Valkyrie model carries a Light PPC and a single Extended LRM-10 missile launcher. This creates a 'Mech that excels at extremely long range combat. BV (2.0) = 787


 * VLK-QS5 : The QS5 variant of the Valkyrie, introduced in 3070, uses a Small Cockpit and Endo Steel chassis to save weight. These weight savings allow for a highly flexible MML-9 launcher linked to an Artemis IV fire control system for increased missile accuracy. For close combat, the QS5 has a medium laser. Like the QD series, it uses a Full Head Ejection System. BV (2.0) = 774


 * VLK-QT2 : This variant was developed in 3081 by the Taurian Concordat during the Jihad. It carries a Blankenburg Light PPC and a Guided Technologies Second Generation Streak SRM-6. An XL Engine increases the top speed to 111 km/h. Ten double heat sinks keep the 'Mech cool. BV (2.0) = 863


 * VLK-QW5 : Built by the Word of Blake starting in 3072, this Valkyrie variant carries an Artemis IV-enhanced MML-7 and medium laser. The 'Mech has a Light Fusion Engine, Endo Steel structure, and is protected by Light Ferro-Fibrous armor. The pilot benefits from a Full Head Ejection System. For coordinating with friendly units, it also carries an Improved C3 Computer. BV (2.0) = 689