Catapult CPLT-Jones

         Always a solid fire support design the Catapult’s recent variants have suffered from a great amount of over specialization.   The A1J variant stays truer to the original weapon loadout   while upgrading its mobility.   A design that is almost exclusive to the Blazing Aces it appears in other units due to Supplimental Type Certificate that the Aces created for the Catapult.   This certificate contains all required technical drawings and parts lists for others to field overhaul their Catapults.   This kit upgrades the Catapult to a heavy scout design with command in mind.   The minor drawback of this design is its lack of CASE and lighter armor compared to ‘Mechs of equal size.

         Using some of the latest equipment and squeezing every last ounce of weight the Catapult is an impressive scout design.   Utilizing a Hollis Mark VI-Alpha Endo Steel chassis and Durallex Heavy Special Light Ferro-Fibrous armor.   This combination with the very reliable VOX 325 class extra light engine free up massive amounts of weight despite taking up most of the ‘Mechs internal space.  
         The unusual part of this variant is that the changes in the design don’t include any weapons changes.   The A1J model retains all the original weapons.   Keeping the current weapons allows the ‘Mech to support its lighter lancemates from a distance while retain its ability to defend itself in a close combat situation. Also giving the pilot an edge since it looks exactly like the C1 model wit the exception of a cluster of antenae on the upper surface of the left torso.
           At the heart of the A1J design is the Kallon Sureshot C3 Master Unit.   With the master unit in a heavier design means that there is less of a chance the whole system will collapse with the lose of a single machine.   With its speed and relatively heavier armor than its expected opponents it can support its lighter lancemates with very accurate fire support due to the C3 network.
         The STC also includes the original conversion from Anderson 21 to the more reliable 25 model jumpjets.   Also included is the installation of a fifth jumpjet to complete the overhaul.
         Two minor design drawbacks manifest themselves during the redesign of the Catapult.   It lacks maximum armor and for a ‘Mech with an XL engine this could become a major flaw.   This is compensated for with increased speed and longer jumping distance.   The second and compounding the first fault is its lack of CASE for the LRM reloads.   While the Catapult has a good supply of ammunition to support it in longer battles, damage over time could cause the lose of the ‘Mech from an ammo explosion.   While the Catapult is not expected to fight much heavier opponents it can hold its own with the support of lancemates.   Commanders are warned about potential dangerous situations the Catapult can get into on recon assignments.   Despite these problems the Catapult has proved to be a very versitile ‘Mech for recon, but also in heavier fire support, C3 lances.    

           While most of the action that the A1J variant has seen is in heavy recon lances the most noteworth account is of a Catapult in a C3 heavy fire support unit operating near the Ghost Bear Dominion.   While fulfilling a contract for a heavy objective raid an undisclosed number of ‘Mechs from a unknown mercenary unit fought for posession of a small supply cache.   (The mercenary unit wished to remain anonymous so that the Ghost Bears would not try to retaliate.)   Guarding the cache was a trinary of second line ‘Mechs.   Supporting a reinforced company was a CPLT-A1J with a Viking an Archer and new Black Watch.   All ‘Mechs of the lance were C3 equipped with the Catapult as the command ‘Mech.   Ignoring Clan Zellbrigen the Black Watch closed with the heaviest Clan machine.   No sooner had the Black Watch attained effective range when 140 long-ranged missiles crashed down with deadly accuracy, completely gutting the Clan machine.   Though shocked the hardened Clan warriors quickly rushed the distant fire support ‘Mechs.   Ignoring the mounting damage the Clanners closed to short range with the embattled fire lance.   Using its speed and jumping ability to is fullest the Catapult avoided the majority of the assault.   the rest of the lance wasn’t so lucky.   The Viking’s lack of speed and support weapons spelled its doom about a minute into the engagement.   The Acher faired a little better, it managed to tear a Clan Hellhound to peices with its hands before being decapitated by a Galahad.   The Black Watch survived the battle but was little more than a walking scrap heap and was broken down for salvage afterwards.   The mercenary unit won the day in an odd fashion due to the Catapult.   Since it put such accurate fire on target and the Clanners charged to destroy the offending lance, this left nearly the entire mercenary unit on the Clan flank and the avenging mercenaries tore through the trinary with a vengance.   The mercenaries with drew with most of the supplies and little more than 2 lances of operable machines including the Catapult.   The Ghost Bears had a suriving Star of ‘Mechs.

Lieutenant Conan Davis III
         Descendent of a long line of Catapult pilots Conan’s machine is family owned.   They put up half the cost of the refit for the ‘Mech.   Conan’s Father took the family out of Capellan space after the fourth succesion war to Stiener space where he went mercenary.   Conan Davis III was in school to become a dropship pilot when his Father died in an engagement against Clan Jade Falcon.   He left school and tested out of his first two years of Battlemech academy and became a Mechwarrior in 3058.   Spending large amounts of money to refit the family Catapult “Storm Cloud” in 3060, with the help of his mercenary unit, he bought the STC and parts for the recon upgrade.   He feels the lose of his lance to the Ghost Bears personally, but this has only fueled his hatred of them to new heigths.   He fights like a man possessed, but always keeps his wits about him.   His mercenary unit is scheduled to recieve fast fire support ‘Mechs to fill out Conan’s lance in the next couple months.   He is determined not to let the destruction of his last lance bother him.

         Deployed in a surprisingly small number of units the CPLT-A1J has served with distiction in its few engagements.   One is stationed near the Ghost Bear Dominion, another is on Outreach and three are placed in the Arc Royal Defense Cordon as the Kell Hounds test the unit for possible production in their ‘Mech facilities.   The Capellan Confederation has puchased one for an incredible sum of 50 million C-Bills from a new mercenary unit they just contracted.   This ‘Mech is being stripped for analysis purposes to test the viability of the design for a field refit kit for the many Catapults in Liao space. It is also rumored that Chancellor Liao personelly presented the unit a Jinggau fresh from combat trials to replace the missing mercenary machine.