Locust

Description
The Locust was one of the most common BattleMechs in existence, having been in continuous production since the design was first introduced by Bergan Industries in Introduction Year::2499. One of the smallest 'Mechs ever built, the Locust was designed exclusively for reconnaissance and quick strike missions, using its then-phenomenal speed to outrun most enemies. In a situation where it was unable to outrun its enemies, the 'Mech did have a light array of weapons with which to defend itself, but the Locust lacked the firepower or staying power to be a true front-line combatant and as a result few MechWarriors enjoyed piloting Locusts. Within its weight-class though the Locust was considered an excellent 'Mech, overshadowed as a scout only by designs which mounted jump jets. Often when a Locust engaged in combat it was as a holding action until reinforcements could arrive, although when operating in groups of three they could swarm lone enemy 'Mechs that were separated from friendly support.

Bergan Industries built Locusts from eight different factories and supplied the Star League and its member states right through to the Amaris Civil War. During the Succession Wars the number of manufacturers increased and the design was being built in nearly a dozen factories, including ones in the Periphery. Besides Bergan's Ares facility versions of the Locust were built on Furillo (Defiance Industries), New Avalon (Achernar BattleMechs), Stewart (Corean Enterprises), Gibson (Free Worlds Defense Industries), Alpheratz (Alliance Defenders Limited), Canopus IV (Majesty Metals and Manufacturing), Taurus (Taurus Territorial Industries) and MacLeod's Land (Pinard Protectorates Limited). The wide variety of manufacturers meant costs for producing the 'Mech were low and parts were widely available, leading to everyone from lowly pirates to corporate defense forces buying Locusts in large numbers. It also led to many different variants of the Locust, although those in the Periphery were largely limited to building the original LCT-1V model.

As the Succession Wars wound down those manufacturers within the Successor States began to experiment with new and rediscovered technology to build updated versions of the Locust. The Capellan Confederation in particular modified the Ares facility to build the LCT-1L variant of the Locust with a version of the Triple-Strength Myomer which wouldn't catch on fire. Other updated variants, including the LCT-3D, LCT-3M and LCT-3S were introduced just in time to take part in the Clan Invasion. After the war the Word of Blake approached Corean Enterprises about creating a new Locust variant for their militia, agreeing to buy the entire first production run to assuage the company's misgivings. The various Periphery powers, still largely reliant on the Locust, also began fielding updated variants of their own, although none of the Great Houses were much interested in revitalizing the line. Even into the thirty-second century though the Locust continues to be produced and used out in the Periphery.

Weapons and Equipment
The main weapon of the Locust was a single Martell Medium Laser mounted in the center torso. Backing this up were two Sperry Browning Machine Guns, which effectively deterred infantry attacks against the Locust's vulnerable legs. These were located in either arm and fed by a one-ton ammo bin located in the center torso. Lacking hand actuators the Locust was vulnerable to other 'Mechs when engaging in close combat.

The primary asset of the Locust was its speed, using a 160-rate LTV fusion engine to attain a cruising speed of 86.4 km/h and top speed of 129.6 km/h. This speed is necessary for the 'Mech's survival, since four tons of armor means the Locust can be quickly crippled or destroyed by direct hits. The standard engine-mounted ten heat sinks are sufficient in most cases, although those variants which mount more energy weapons suffer more.

Variants

 * LCT-1E : Developed by Bergan in response to Capellan request for a Locust with greater punch with lower munition consumption as the First Succession War shifted to lower level raiding, the LCT-1E Locust was introduced in 2811. Among the least-produced variants, the "Energy" Locust carried an entirely laser-based weapons assortment, with two Martell Medium Lasers and two Magna Small Lasers mounted in the arm "turrets". This choice allowed Capellan MechWarriors to overcome the 'Mech's limited firing arc by flipping its weaponry between forward and rearward arcs at will. BV (1.0) = 484, BV (2.0) = 553


 * LCT-1L : The LCT-1L Locust was an attempt to allow the 'Mech to operate at even higher speeds by adding Triple Strength Myomer to the design. Introduced in 3030 the weapons are identical to those on the LCT-1V as it was a test-bed for the technology by Bergan Industries' Ares plant. BV (1.0) = 364, BV (2.0) = 474


 * LCT-1M : The LCT-1M was a long range version of the Locust built for the Federated Suns in 2571. This variant carried two LRM-5 launchers in place of the machine guns and one ton of reloads at the cost of three tons of armor protection. BV (1.0) = 382, BV (2.0) = 424


 * LCT-1S : The LCT-1S Locust built for the Lyran Commonwealth in 2567 also replaced the machine guns, this time with two SRM-2 racks with one ton of reloads for a heavier close range punch. This came at the cost of one ton of armor protection.  BV (1.0) = 376, BV (2.0) = 440


 * LCT-1Vb : The Royal Locust introduced in 2610 mounts a Small Pulse Laser and a Medium Pulse Laser in each arm, while keeping the torso-mounted medium laser. It also uses a XL Engine, Endo Steel chassis, and Ferro-Fibrous armor. The heat-sinks have also been upgraded to Double Heat Sinks. BV (2.0) = 642


 * LCT-1V2 : The 1V2 Locust was a Periphery upgrade of the design introduced in 3066 for the Marian Hegemony. While still carrying the center-mounted medium laser it mounted four Rocket Launcher 10s in place of the machine guns. BV (1.0) = 500, BV (2.0) = 568


 * LCT-3D : The 3D Locust introduced in 3049 used Star League technology to take the concept of the 1M further. Although it carried only two Magna Longbow-5 launchers, the engineers at Achernar BattleMechs on New Avalon upgraded the armor to Ferro-Fibrous and the structure to Endo Steel.  Completely lacking in close-range weaponry this variant was suitable for harassing the enemy at long range then fleeing before they could get too close. BV (1.0) = 377, BV (2.0) = 436


 * LCT-3M : The 3M Locust was built for the Free Worlds League in 3050, with production carried out at both Corean Enterprises on Stewart and Free Worlds Defense Industries on Gibson. It retained the Martell medium laser but replaced the machine guns with four Magna Small Lasers and added a Voelkers Parasol Anti-Missile System in the left arm for missile defense. The armor was upgraded to Kallon FWL Special Ferro-Fibrous with CASE in the left torso to protect the one ton of AMS ammo and utilized a Corean-II Delux Endo Steel chassis. The electronics were also updated to a Garrett T10 B communications system and a Corean CalcMaster targeting-tracking system. BV (1.0) = 464, BV (2.0) = 522


 * LCT-3S : The 3S Locust, constructed on Furillo by Defiance Industries in 3049, carried the 1S upgrade further. This time, as with the 3M, the structure used Endo Steel and the armor was upgraded with Ferro-Fibrous. The SRM-2s were upgraded to Coventry T4H Streak SRM-2s while the medium laser was kept. BV (1.0) = 431, BV (2.0) = 483


 * LCT-3V : This Locust variant introduced in 3004 was similar to the 1V except that it carried a set of two medium lasers in the center torso, while retaining the arm-mounted machine guns. The additional armament comes at the cost of half a ton of machine gun ammunition and half a ton of armor protection. BV (1.0) = 434, BV (2.0) = 490


 * LCT-5M : The 5M was a straightforward enhancement of the 3M model, upgrading all of the lasers to extended range models, giving it one Magna Mk VI ER Medium Laser and four Magna Mk IV ER Small Lasers. In addition, the use of a Hermes 240 XL Engine allowed engineers to upgrade the Locust's top speed to 194.4 km/h. Designed by the Word of Blake, each of their Level III units had at least one 5M Locust after its introduction in 3066. BV (1.0) = 516, BV (2.0) = 719


 * LCT-5M2 : This Dark Age version of the Locust has a top speed nearing 170km/h. It carries an ER medium laser in the center torso and a medium pulse laser in each arm. It's protected by Ferro-Fibrous armor. BV (2.0) = 693


 * LCT-5M3 : This Locust variant was also introduced during the Dark Age. It uses a smaller engine, which reduces the top speed to 140km/h. It adds a half ton of armor and carries an ER Medium Laser in each arm and an ER Large Laser in the center torso. BV (2.0) = 929


 * LCT-5T : This upgrade made the Locust into a devastating anti-infantry 'Mech. Built in 3070 it used an XL engine and Ferro-Fibrous armor to make enough space for three Light Machine Guns in each arm, each trio linked to a Machine Gun Array. A half-ton of CASE-protected ammunition was sufficient for sustained firing, while single heat sinks could handle even the load of the ER medium laser that was of use against hardened targets. BV (2.0) = 520


 * LCT-5V : The 5V Locust is similar to the 3V Locust, carrying a pair of ER medium lasers, two Rocket Launcher 10s and protected by Ferro-Fibrous armor. Built in 3068 its relatively low-tech design made it attractive to Periphery powers, namely the Magistracy of Canopus and Taurian Concordat. BV (1.0) = 537, BV (2.0) = 665 o


 * LCT-5W : Developed by the Word of Blake in 3076 this Locust uses MASC to top out at speeds of over 180km/h. It's equipped with a pair of ER Medium Lasers, TAG, and an Improved C3 Computer. Light Ferro-Fibrous armor protects the Endo Steel structure. BV (2.0) = 695


 * LCT-5W2 : Developed from a Word of Blake design in 3079, this Locust has a top speed of over 150 km/h, and used MASC to provide bursts of speed topping out at over 180 km/h. A pair of ER medium lasers provides firepower while a C3 Slave, Guardian ECM Suite, and TAG system provide electronic support. The chassis uses Endo-Steel and an XL Engine provides power. The Locust is protected by Light Ferro-Fibrous armor. Double Heat Sinks keep the heat from the weapons under control. BV (2.0) = 787


 * LCT-6M : Built in 3071, the 6M variant used a massive 280 Hermes XL engine to propel it to an astounding speed of 226.8 km/h and was capable of bursts of speed reaching 302.4 km/h through a MASC system. The 6M used a Small Cockpit to save weight with the side effect of making the 'Mech harder to pilot and utilized Ferro-Fibrous armor to get the most of the light armor the 'Mech carried. It was armed with two Magna Mk VI ER medium lasers, which were backed up by a single Magna Mk IV ER small laser. The 6M was produced by Corean Enterprises on Stewart. BV (2.0) = 956

Apocryphal Variants
These variants were introduced in various apocryphal sources, and thus far have not appeared in any canonical media.

From MechWarrior Online:
 * LCT-PB Pirates' Bane : Themed as a variant piloted by Lori Kalmar, despite the fact it utilizes technology that was not commonly available when she piloted a Locust, the MWO Hero 'Mech is built around an 190-rated XL Engine on an Endo Steel frame, freeing up weight for twin Small Lasers in each side torso supported by a pair of center-torso mounted Machine Guns. Additionally fitted with a Guardian ECM Suite, two tons of machine gun ammunition and ten double heat sinks support it in combat.

Related BattleMechs

 * Locust IIC - One of the 'Mechs carried on the Exodus with General Aleksandr Kerensky and the remnants of the SLDF, the Clans created their own upgraded IIC variant of the Locust using Clan technology. BV (1.0) = 975, BV (2.0) = 1,103


 * Koto - One of the most common 'Mech designs on Solaris VII, as with the Inner Sphere as a whole, the humble Locust was also a frequent basis for a number of refurbished custom designed 'Mechs, such as Omnitech Industries' Koto.

Notable Pilots

 * Veteran MechWarrior Savannah Johnson would become the namesake of the Savannah Master hovercraft when she piloted a Locust in a series of mock battles against the newly designed craft and was bested each and every time until she snapped and turned the mock battle into a live fire duel that she lost as well.
 * Lori Kalmar was a Locust pilot with a group of Oberon Confederation mercenaries/pirates that ambushed and destroyed Carlyle's Commandos on Trellwan in 3024. She was captured along with her damaged 'Mech by Grayson Carlyle, forming the nucleus of what would become the Gray Death Legion; she would go on to be Carlyle's XO in the unit and also his wife.