Orion IIC

Orion IIC
Orion IIC
Production information
Manufacturer Wolf Clan Auxiliary Site #2
Production Year 2841[1]
Class Heavy
Cost 8,267,000 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type Clan BattleMech
Mass 75 tons
Chassis Type W2 Endo Steel
Armor Composite A-4 Ferro-Fibrous
Engine Heavy Force 300 (standard)
Communications System Khan series (Type 1)
Targeting Tracking System Series III OPT
Heat Sinks 12 double
Speed 65 km/h
Armament
BV (1.0) 1,923[2][3]
BV (2.0) 2,392[4][5]


Description[edit]

Verging on a Totem 'Mech for Clan Wolf, the Orion IIC honors General Aleksandr Kerensky.

Since it was the chosen BattleMech of the "Great Father", the venerable Orion has always held a special place in the mystique of the Clans. Out of respect for General Kerensky's legacy, all the Clans maintained the design for several decades even as the development of newer and more advanced technologies increasingly left it less effective on the battlefield. Behind the scenes however, only Clan Wolf dared to think about designing an upgraded version, convinced that neither Aleksandr nor Nicholas Kerensky would have approved of blindly following tradition at the expense of military progress. Debuting early during the Golden Century, the Orion IIC was quickly overshadowed as the OmniMech fast became the standard front-line 'Mechs of all the Clans. Despite this the Wolves jealously guarded their rights to the design, refusing all trade offers and successfully defeating any Trials of Possession attempting to acquire it as they would for the Kerensky Bloodrights, seeing the Orion IIC as tied to their honor as the guardians of Kerensky's legacy.[4]

Still produced in limited numbers during the Clan Invasion era, by this time the Wolves most notably used the Orion IIC as a visible reward for officers in second-line Galaxies who were expected to soon advance to front-line units. Each Orion IIC is sent to its recipients "with the compliments of" the Wolf Khan or saKhan; no warrior has ever refused such a gift - even if it means downgrading from an assault 'Mech - and no other Wolf warrior would ever dare to challenge such a recipient for right to pilot an Orion IIC. While a number of the design existed in Clan Wolf-in-Exile's own second-line forces, almost as a gesture of reconciliation to their Crusader Brothers the Exiled Wolves made no plans to manufacture the Orion IIC.[4]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

Not a radical reworking of the design, as some Clan upgrades are, the Orion IIC replaces much of the innards and weapons of the original, while preserving its mass and aesthetics. This IIC upgrade utilizes an endo steel chassis and twelve tons of ferro-fibrous armor, while also making use of twelve double heat sinks, freeing up weight for a heavier weapons loadout. The only weapon that is preserved from the original Orion is the SRM-4, though that is upgraded to a lighter Offset Pattern K4 model. The autocannon and long-range missile launcher were upgraded to an Omega 12-Coil Gauss rifle and a Type XX "Great Bow" LRM-20, respectively. The arm-mounted lasers were replaced with a pair of ER large lasers, one an older Series 6W and the other a newer Series 7W, the mismatched lasers stemming from a late design change with the 7W replacing a pulse laser. Carrying two tons of Gauss reloads, three of LRM missiles and a single ton of SRM reloads, these upgrades have transformed the Orion from a close-range brawler to a fire support 'Mech.[4]

Variants[edit]

There are no known variants of the Orion IIC.

Custom Variants[edit]

Apocryphal Variants[edit]

Apocryphal Content Starts

The information after this notice comes from apocryphal sources; the canonicity of such information is uncertain.
Please view the reference page for information regarding their canonicity.

From MechWarrior Online:

  • ON1-IIC-A 
    The Orion IIC A retains the arm mounted ER large lasers, but mounts a pair of SRM-4 racks in the left torso, two LRM-15 launchers in the left arm, and downgrades the Gauss rifle to an Ultra AC/5. Four tons of LRM missiles and two each of SRM and Ultra autocannon reloads allow it to sustain a lengthy barrage.[7]
  • ON1-IIC-B 
    Like the original Orion IIC the B retains the right torso Gauss rifle and left torso SRM-4 rack, but swaps the LRM-20 rack for an SRM-6 launcher and mounts a pair of ER large lasers in each arm. Mounting seventeen double heat sinks to deal with such high-heat weapons, made possible by the use of a 300-rated XL engine, the Orion IIC carries four tons of SRM reloads and two of Gauss rounds.[7]
  • ON1-IIC-C 
    Similar to the previous variants, the Orion IIC C retains the SRM-4 and ER large lasers of the standard Orion IIC while downgrading the LRM rack to an LRM-15 and swapping the Gauss rifle for a pair of Ultra autocannon/10s. Built around an XL engine, the C variant mounts three extra double heat sinks and carries three tons of Ultra autocannon rounds, two of LRM missiles and a single ton of SRM reloads.[7]
  • ON1-IIC-SK Sköll 
    Reportedly piloted by Star Colonel Jaela Ward, the Orion IIC Hero 'Mech retains the right torso–mounted Gauss Rifle unchanged but swaps the LRM rack for an ER PPC, upgrades the SRM-4 rack with Artemis IV FCS and downgrades the arm lasers to ER medium lasers. Carrying three tons of Gauss rounds and two of SRM reloads, the weight saved allows the mounting of two extra double heat sinks and MASC.[8]

Apocryphal Content Ends

Design Quirks[edit]

The Orion IIC and variants, unless specified otherwise, are subject to the following Design Quirks:[9]

Notable Pilots[edit]

Related Designs[edit]

Orion - Because the Orion was revered by the Clans due to its status of being the personal 'Mech of Alexander Kerensky, Clan Wolf was the only Clan who sought to upgrade the venerable 'Mech with Clan technology, creating the Orion IIC.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Orion IIC
  2. Combat Operations, p. 119
  3. Record Sheets: 3060, p. 192
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Technical Readout: 3060, pp. 176–177: "Orion IIC 'Mech Profile"
  5. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 268
  6. Operational Turning Points: Capellan Crusades, p. 33: "Orion IIC Burton"
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 MechWarrior Online Origin Sale Page
  8. MechWarrior Online Clan IIC Heroes Sale Page
  9. BattleMech Manual, p. 93: Design Quirk Table - Orion IIC Entry
  10. Wolf Hunters, p. 56

Bibliography[edit]