Men Shen

Description
Named for the door guards who serve to ward off evil spirits from a home, the Men Shen is the first OmniMech to come from the Capellan Confederation, it borrows heavily from the Raven BattleMech for its basic design concept. The 'Mech is built on a lightweight Endo Steel chassis and is powered by a vulnerable but light VOX 330 XL Engine that gives it a top speed of 97.2 km/h that is augmented by MASC system allowing the 'Mech to be pushed up to 129.6 km/h in short bursts. The Men Shen comes with eleven tons of armor, giving it a respectable amount of protection. The Men Shen carries on its base chassis a Beagle Active Probe allowing it to serve in a recon role regardless of its configuration. For weapons and equipment the Men Shen has seventeen tons of free pod space.

Weapons and Equipment
In its primary configuration the Men Shen is a powerful close combat 'Mech and is capable of providing indirect fire support to friendly units. For close-range combat, the primary configuration has four highly accurate Medium Pulse Lasers. To provide both direct and indirect long range fire support, the primary configuration of the Men Shen has an LRM-15 launcher with an Artemis IV fire control system for increased missile accuracy.

Alternate Configurations

 * Alt. Config. A : A versatile configuration, the A configuration has an LB-X Autocannon/10 that allows it to fire both standard and cluster ammunition. For close combat, the A configuration has three ER Medium Lasers and a TAG laser designator allowing the 'Mech to call in friendly artillery fire on a target. BV (1.0) = 1,232, BV (2.0) = 1,529


 * Alt. Config. B : Intended to act as a long range sniper, the B configuration of the Men Shen carries as its primary weapons a pair of LB-X Autocannon/2s that allow it to fire either standard and cluster ammunition as well as act as a anti-aircraft 'Mech. For close combat, the B configuration has four ER Medium Lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,128, BV (2.0) = 1,484


 * Alt. Config. C : A close combat machine, the C configuration carries two highly accurate Large Pulse Lasers as its primary weapons. These are backed up by an ER Small Laser. To handle the 'Mech's heat load, the C configuration has an additional double heat sink. The C configuration also has an ECM Suite to protect against enemy electronic warfare equipment. BV (1.0) = 1,151, BV (2.0) = 1,435


 * Alt. Config. D : Intended for both long range and close combat, the D configuration of the Men Shen has an ER PPC to provide long range firepower. When it closes with an enemy, it can bring its two SRM-4 launchers and two Medium Pulse Lasers to bear. For added heat dissipation, the D configuration has an additional double heat sink. BV (1.0) = 1,157, BV (2.0) = 1,581


 * Alt. Config. E : Developed during the Jihad, this configuration was developed for anti-infantry missions. For its anti-infantry role, the Men Shen was equipped with a Light Machine Gun Array in each arm. The arrays were given four Light Machine Guns with a ton of ammunition to share. For its heavier weapons, it been given a Plasma Rifle with 2 tons of ammunition and two Medium Lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,625


 * Alt. Config. F : The second configuration conceived during the Jihad, this in role of a brawler. The 'Mech receives a Snub-Nose PPC in each arm linked to a Targeting Computer; the 'Mech equipment also includes TAG. BV (2.0) = 1,648


 * Alt. Config. G : This Dark Age configuration carries a TSEMP Cannon, two Streak SRM-4s, and two Medium X-Pulse Lasers. BV (2.0) = 2,267


 * Alt. Config. U : This configuration carries a Snub Nose PPC, ER Medium Laser, and a pair of SRT-4s. It keeps the TAG of the other version. To allow it to move quickly underwater it carries six UMUs. BV (2.0) = 1,725

Custom Variants/Configurations

 * Men Shen Li : Used by Li Hark of Youling Zanshi, this is a standard Men Shen that has Improved Communications and Improved Sensors. Unfortunately it also has Exposed Actuators and is Hard to Pilot. BV (2.0) = 1,550

Notable pilots

 * Samuel Peterson: A lieutenant in a lance of pro-Davion defenders on New Syrtis, Peterson piloted a Men Shen captured from Capellan troops. He was killed at the controls of this 'Mech in the initial stages of a Loyalist assault on New Syrtis during the FedCom Civil War..

Related BattleMechs

 * Raven - The Men Shen, the first Capellan-constructed OmniMech, was based on the cutting edge Raven BattleMech.