Nightstar

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Nightstar
Nightstar
Production information
Manufacturer General Motors[1]
Norse-Storm Technologies Inc.[2]
Production Year 2767[3]
Model NSR-9J
Class Assault
Cost 20,159,979 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 95 tons
Chassis Norse-GM HeavyTRQ
Armor Kallon Royalstar Heavy Type K
Engine Pitban 285 XL
Communications System Tek BattleCom
Targeting Tracking System DLK Type Phased Array Sensors
Heat Sinks 14 Double heat sinks
Speed 54.0 km/h
Armament
BV (1.0) 2,135[4][5]
BV (2.0) 2,399[6]


Description

The genesis of the Nightstar lies in the Amaris Civil War, when it was noticed that unit commanders, most of whom were piloting Marauder BattleMechs, were being targeted by troops loyal to Stefan Amaris. The 'Mech itself was only produced until the first year of the First Succession War, 2786, when both of the factories and engineers capable of producing the Nightstar were destroyed or killed - the Norse-Storm factory was savaged in a Marik raid, while the General Motors engineers on Kathil died in a freak accident. About two hundred and fifty years later, the Nightstar began production in both halves of the Federated Commonwealth and, since then, has become a popular 'Mech in both the AFFS and the LAAF.[7][2]

Weapons and Equipment

The Nightstar has a top speed of 54 km/h that is provided by a powerful Pitban 285 XL Engine. The Nightstar has a respectable amount of armor for its weight, at eighteen and a half tons, rivaling that of most other assault 'Mechs. To dissipate the waste heat from the 'Mechs impressive arsenal, the Nightstar has fourteen double heat sinks.

The Nightstar is armed to keep an enemy at standoff ranges. To keep an enemy at as long of a range as possible, the primary weapons carried are a pair of Norse-Storm Model 7D Gauss Rifles, each of which can strip almost a ton of armor off an enemy unit. These are backed up by a Defiance 1001 ER PPC that is capable of hitting a target at six hundred and ninety meters. For defense at short ranges, the 'Mech has two Defiance P5M Medium Pulse Lasers and an Exostar Small Laser.

Variants

  • NSR-9FC 
    Reconfigured for greater speed, the 9FC variant of the Nightstar replaces the two Gauss Rifles with a pair of LB-X Autocannon/10s that are not as destructive as the weapons they replace, but can use both standard and cluster ammunition, making them effective in a variety of roles. The Small Laser has also been upgraded and the Medium Pulse Lasers downgraded, giving the Nightstar a total of three Medium Lasers. To make the 'Mech fit better into the mobile warfare doctrine of the Federated Suns and Federated Commonwealth, the 9FC model has used the saved weight to upgrade its engine, giving it a top speed of 64.8 km/h. BV (1.0) = 1,600[8][9], BV (2.0) = 1,929[10]
  • NSR-9SS 
    Originally developed for use in the arenas of Solaris VII, the 9SS is produced by Norse-Storm. The long-range weaponry of the 9J is removed and replaced with an Ultra Autocannon/20 and an LB-X Autocannon/20. The two guns are each incredibly powerful at short range, enabling the 9SS to obliterate enemies incredibly quickly. Three tons of ammunition for each ensure that this variant of the Nightstar has some staying power. A half of a ton of armor is removed to make way for three jump jets, enabling the 9SS to vault up to ninety meters at a time so that it can more effectively bring its autocannons to bear. Three Medium Pulse Lasers back up the autocannons and provide the only firepower should they run out of ammunition. Also of note is the loss of both lower arm and hand actuators to make space for the weapons and equipment fielded. BV (1.0) = 1,763[11], BV (2.0) = 2,149[12]

Custom Variants

  • NSR-9J Nightstar Brubaker 
    The personal machine of Shelly Brubaker, this Nightstar variant replaced the standard weapons with Clan-spec weapons: Two Gauss Rifles, three Large Pulse Lasers, and an ER Small Laser. BV (2.0) = 2,838[13]

Notable Pilots

References

  1. Handbook House Davion p.187
  2. 2.0 2.1 Technical Readout 3058 Upgrade p.226
  3. MUL online date for the Nightstar
  4. Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 227
  5. Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 339
  6. Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 267
  7. Technical Readout: 3058, p. 144
  8. Combat Operations, p. 132
  9. Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 338
  10. Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 268
  11. Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 340
  12. Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 269
  13. Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion, p. 32
  14. Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion, p. 9

Bibliography