Flea

Description
Focused on speed and firepower, the lightly armored Flea was an extremely rare sight until the arrival of the Wolf's Dragoons mercenary unit, with the design experiencing a revival as an inexpensive recon and anti-personnel militia 'Mech.

Initially called the Trooper when it was introduced as the Free Worlds League's first light scout BattleMech in Introduction Year::2475, the design was so heavily flawed that it took twenty-five years before all the issues were corrected, with a new name selected to escape the bad press. The early prototype was designed by Colonel J. Marcus Llewelyn-Jaymes and his hand-picked team at Toddlette Industries in a bid to create a dedicated reconnaissance BattleMech for the FWLM. The design was considered highly maneuverable and lightweight at the time. It utilized a basic chassis similar to their larger WorkMechs and appeared straightforward with a powerplant, gyroscope, cockpit, and other critical systems housed in an "armored-box" mounted on reinforced, armored "bird-walker" legs. Only with the help of Llewelyn-Jaymes contacts in the military and government circles (and according to rumors, possible bribery of politicians and decision makers), the FWLM ultimately accepted delivery of the Trooper. While it was considered easy to maintain by technicians and logisticians, it wasn't long before it gained a poor reputation among those that piloted it. Since the design was based off their WorkMechs, the design completely lacked any dedicated ejection mechanism; forcing pilots to manually exit should they become disabled. Additionally, the legs proved to be unable to cope with heavy combat, which became apparent in various failed trials before the FWLM's Minister of Defense. Despite these shortcomings, the League's Chief Armorer and Quartermaster General continued purchasing the prototype year after year. This ultimately led to the Trooper being selected as the very first FWLM 'Mech to be upgraded with "modern" technology in 2501 and rechristened as the FLE-4 Flea.

While produced on and off until the early Succession Wars, excessive losses of the lightly armored design led Earthwerks to switch its production line to manufacturing heavier designs. This changed with the arrival of the Wolf's Dragoons, who brought with them a large number of Fleas and reached an exclusive production arrangement with Earthwerks that resulted in the company opening new lines to replenish the Dragoons' losses in the Fourth Succession War. With multiple lines on Asuncion, Bernardo and Victoria, after letting the Dragoons' exclusivity clause lapse, Earthwerks started selling the easy to manufacture, easy to maintain 'Mech by the DropShip load across the Inner Sphere.

Originally produced exclusively for the Dragoons until the Capellan Confederation acquired the design's blueprints via a Maskirovka raid during the 3040s, the post-Helm Memory Core FLE-17 variant is based on the older FLE-15 model. Since the Dragoons used the Flea in a recon role more than an antipersonnel 'Mech, Earthwerks conceived a new design by incorporating recovered technology. Retaining the design's maximum speed of 97.2 km/h, the addition of an Endo Steel chassis frees up weight for a MASC system that allows the 'Mech's speed to be pushed up to 129.6 km/h in short bursts. The increase of speed is required to ensure survival on the modern battlefield, as the FLE-17 is only clad in a pitiful three tons of Livingston Ceramics armor plating.

Once the FLE-17 plan's were captured and the Dragoons' contract clause lapsed, Earthwerks began producing the new design almost exclusively for the Confederation until 3053, which saw use within their numerous militias. It was rarely seen among any of the other Great Houses' military. Some sightings however did appear after on the mercenary market with Dragoon serial numbers, which gave some credibility to reports of Wannamaker's Widowmakers operating an extensive salvage operation on Outreach. With the Confederation's later advances in stealth technology and light weaponry, the Flea became a logical test platform for new prototypes. These performed well, which encouraged Earthwerks to refit several older models.

Weapons and Equipment
The FLE-17's primary weapons are two Martell Medium Pulse Lasers, replacing the FLE-15's more mundane standard lasers. These are backed up by an Olympian Flamer which works well for anti-personnel use. The Flea also has two rear-mounted Martell Small Lasers for point defense.

Variants

 * TP-1R : The predecessor to the original Flea FLE-4 model, the Trooper TP-1R prototype was built in 2475, by Toddlette Industries, on a primitive chassis and maintained ground speeds of nearly 100 kph. Its weaponry mounted in fully articulated turret-style pods, only consisted of two Small Lasers in the left arm, a Machine Gun in the right fed by only a half ton of ammo, and a chin-mounted Flamer. It was protected by only 2 tons of Primitive Armor., BV (2.0) = 236
 * FLE-4 : An original Flea model, the FLE-4 is built on a standard chassis and has a maximum speed of 97.2 km/h. The 'Mech was armed with a Martell Large Laser, allowing it to attempt to keep any heavier 'Mechs at a stand-off range if they attempt to engage. The 'Mech carries two Martell Small Lasers for close in work as well as a Olympian Flamer for anti-infantry purposes. The cost of its relatively heavy weaponry and high speed is its two tons of armor, half that of even the venerable Locust and the reason why the 'Mech was discontinued. BV (1.0) = 360, BV (2.0) = 427


 * FLE-14 : Entering production in 2519 the FLE-14 Flea was an attempt to create an ultra-light BattleMech. Weighing a mere fifteen tons, it could arguably be regarded as a different 'Mech design. It was capable of a maximum ground speed of nearly 150km/h, with an average cruising speed near 90km/h. This variant also had a 120 meter jump capability. Its weapons and armor however were very light: Only one ton of armor protected the unit, and the single Medium Laser mounted in the right arm was barely enough to make it a viable battlefield unit. Intended to replace the Wasp or Stinger scout 'Mechs, the FLE-14 was definitely quicker but the low armor protection and limited jump range made it vulnerable. In fact, a Small Laser could inflict heavy damage on the unit. As a result, it saw only one production run and was phased out once its shortcomings were revealed. BV (2.0)=270


 * FLE-15 : Another early variant, the FLE-15 features a more common light 'Mech offensive payload with two Martell Medium Lasers as its primary weapons. For close combat and anti-infantry work, it mounts two Martell Small Lasers, two Sperry Browning Machine Guns and a Olympian Flamer. Lighter weapons allows it to carry an extra ton of armor over the FLE-4. BV (1.0) = 352, BV (2.0) = 430


 * FLE-16 : Built as part of the Wolf's Dragoons exclusive contract with Earthwerks Incorporated to replenish the Dragoon's losses at the end of the Fourth Succession War, alongside renewed production of original Fleas, the FLE-16 was the first new production model of the extremely rare 'Mech in centuries. The variant remedied the earlier FLE-14's weaknesses by combining incredible speed with additional armor and weaponry on a 20 ton chassis. The engine was upgraded to a GM 180 in order to reach a similar maximum ground speed of nearly 150 km/h. It mounts two Martell Medium Lasers and an Olympian Flamer while retaining an armor profile like the earlier FLE-15. Even though the FLE-16 carries more weaponry than its ultra-light predecessor, the armor is still too low to endure direct combat. BV (2.0) = 506


 * FLE-19 : This dedicated anti-infantry variant is designed for urban defense, and is not for use against other 'Mechs. Each arm has four Light Machine Guns and a Machine Gun Array. It also utilizes a Flamer that can threaten combat vehicles as well as infantry. A single Rocket Launcher 10 provides a one-shot damage potential against armored targets. The 19 has proven popular with Periphery nations and mercenary units. BV (2.0) = 381


 * FLE-20 : A Capellan infantry support variant, the 20 strips a half ton of armor to mount two ER Medium Lasers and a Light PPC. The loss of armor is not seen as a risk, since it is replaced with Stealth Armor, along with the required Guardian ECM Suite. BV (2.0) = 791


 * "Fire Ant" : A vicious anti-infantry variant, the origin of the Flea "Fire Ant" is a mystery, with Earthwerks denying the design. It was first seen in the Chaos March, most notably in urban fighting on Carver V, in 3063 and none were spotted after 3068. Possibly the predecessor to the 19 and 20, the exact configuration is not known (if one even exists, as it seems to be a refit variant of sorts). The typical Fire Ant refit removed half a ton of armor in favor of six Machine Guns and three Flamers. It was thought to be a designated pacification unit, in the sense of a SecurityMech, as opposed to a frontline BattleMech design. BV (2.0) = 332

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

From MechWarrior Online:
 * FLE-R5K Romeo 5000 : PGI's Flea Hero 'Mech, the Romeo 5000 is built upon a 120-rated Light Fusion Engine and Endo Steel frame, saving weight to carry a center torso mounted Medium Pulse Laser, an SRM-2 in each side torso and twin ER Small Lasers in each arm. Clad in three tons of armor, Romeo 5000 carries two tons of SRM reloads and is fitted with ten double heat sinks.

Design Quirks
The Flea has the following Design Quirks:
 * Easy to Maintain
 * Hard to Pilot
 * No/Minimal Arms

The FLE-14 Flea variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * Easy to Maintain
 * Hard to Pilot
 * Narrow/Low Profile
 * No/Minimal Arms

The TP-1R Trooper variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * Bad Reputation
 * Easy to Maintain
 * Exposed Actuators
 * Improved Life Support
 * Modular Weapons
 * No/Minimal Arms
 * No Ejection Mechanism
 * Obsolete (2405)
 * Weak Legs

Notable Pilots

 * Ulzanna Whitehead, one of the Wolf's Dragoons most well known Flea pilots and survivor of the Battle of Misery. She was later assigned the very first, exclusively built FLE-16 model after transitioning to the Dragoons' Home Guard stationed on Outreach, after the world was 'gifted' to the Dragoons following the Fourth Succession War.
 * Phoenix Marik-Steiner, alleged to be the progeny of Janos Marik and Katrina Steiner, was considered a halfway decent scout and known for his large as life, epic tales while piloting for the Second Marik Militia.