Probably Hanse Davion's greatest prize in the Fourth Succession War was the main Earthwerks BattleMech factory on Tikonov.   This had been far and away the largest 'Mech producer in the Capellan Confederation and had a major wing devoted to the Cataphract, House Liao's successful heavy 'Mech design.   An updated version of the Cataphract has the highest priority for the combined Federated Commonwealth armed forces, but the extensive nature of the changes, the size and integrated systems of the Cataphract assembly area, and the age of the Earthwerks factory have combined to set the project behind schedule.
         The new design will use the General Motors 280 Extralight engine and make the Cataphract able to jump, rubbing salt in the Capellans' wounds by using HildCo Model 12 Jump Jets manufactured in the St. Ives Compact.   The model CTF-3D will substitute an advanced Mydron Excel LB 10-X for the older autocannon and a General Motors Nova-5 Autocannon on the right arm instead of the heat-producing PPC.   Though the Federated Commonwealth will eventually be capable of greater production, the Capellan Confederation will be the first into the field with an improved version of the Cataphract.
         Earthwerks' smaller, but more modern factory on Grand Base is nearing completion of the retooling necessary to produce the CTF-3L.   It will differ from the Federated Commonwealth version in several important ways.   Instead of switching to an Ultra-5 autocannon, the Liao version will use a Ceres Arms Warrior Extended-Range Particle Projection Rifle, also mounting double heat sinks to dissipate the extra heat this weapon generates.   This model will also incorporate pulse technology by switching to four Ceres Arms Model W Medium Lasers.   Though it lacks the extra measure of safety provided by CASE and the mobility of jump jets, the CTF-3L will incorporate Myomer Accelerator Signal Circuitry to provide additional speed in an emergency.