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Three Common Meks (30/07/99 )
Laser Mek
Classification: Heavy Assault
Armament:
6 medium grade high-explosive missile launchers, with single reloads in anti-blast magazines
1 medium variable-mode photon cannon
Speed: Slow
Armor: Heavy
Description: The Laser (a misnomer; prototype designs of the Mek carried a distinctive heavy laser cannon instead of a photon blaster, and the name stuck even when photon tech became more feasible) tends to be a high-profile target. Its bulky, heavily armored torso houses four missile launchers at the corners, and two more launchers are in pods atop the shoulders. The left arm ends at the wrist with the nozzle of the photon cannon, and the right arm has a manipulator hand/battle fist installed.
Claw Mek
Classification: Stock Fighter
Armament:
1 medium grade high-explosive missile launcher, with one reload; can be front-loaded
1 medium variable-mode photon cannon
2 sets of monofilament claws, electric discharge-equipped
Speed: Moderate
Armor: Medium
Description: The Claw Mek has a trapezoidal headless body tapering toward the legs, with two sturdy arms underneath the overhanging portions. The arms have wide circular apertures at the ends, one housing the missile launcher, the other housing the photon blaster. Each is ringed by a set of grasping fingers (the circle is too wide for a proper manipulator hand to be set up this way), with retractable blades on them. These blades are sharpened to single-molecule edges so they can tear through armor; once they penetrate, they can deliver a shock that disrupts electrical systems.
Ninja Mek
Classification: Scout / Skirmisher
Armament (typical configuration):
1 hand-held monofilament sword
1 hand-held “crossbow” shaped-charge launcher
Speed: Fast; can accelerate ground maneuvers to extreme speed
Armor: Medium
Description: A specialized design, the Ninja was made for maximum speed, making it an essential rapid-reconnaissance unit that can engage enemy units and avoid return fire easily. In order to give the unit unprecedented battlefield endurance for a scout, Mek designers gave it no integral weaponry, but were able to give it a standard layer of armor. The Mek instead carries weapons in its manipulator hands when necessary. Melee weapons are popular, since the Ninja can close quickly to use them and just as quickly escape. Another oft-used item is the “crossbow,” which fires explosives that do not detonate at impact, but attach to the target and deliver a focused blast, dealing effectively the damage of a medium-grade missile in the package of a light.
One variant design equips the Ninja's thin humanoid frame with wings that add to the Mek's atmospheric flight maneuverability, making it an equally difficult target on air and land.
| Three Common Meks (SabreCat) - 30/07/99 |
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