Firestarter (BattleMech)

This article is about the 35-ton BattleMech. For other uses, see Firestarter.
Firestarter
Firestarter cover
Production Information
Manufacturer(s)Argile Technologies[1]

Coventry Metal Works[1]

Defiance Industries[2]

Diplass BattleMechs[3]
Production Year2550[4][5][6]
ModelFS9-H[1]
ClassLight
Cost3,046,950 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech typeInner Sphere BattleMech
Mass35 tons
ChassisArgile H/09
ArmorLivingston Ceramics
EngineOmni 210
CommsCyclops 14
TTSTansech C30-97
Heat Sinks10 single
Speed97 km/h
Jump JetsLuxor Load Lifters
Armament
B.V. (1.0)500
B.V. (2.0)692[1] or 694[7]


Description[edit]

The Firestarter was designed by Argile Technologies of Skye in 2550 to perform as an incendiary 'Mech. The most popular and widely-used version of the Firestarter, the FS9-H, would debut in 2703 and become the standard to which all other incendiary 'Mechs were compared. The FS9-H was produced almost exclusively from its introduction up to the beginning of the Amaris Civil War in early 2776, with nearly 3,000 Firestarters in total seeing active duty.[4] Because of the 'Mech's popularity with all of the Great Houses, Argile Industries continued to produce spare parts and new 'Mechs prior to and during the Succession Wars, until their Argile plant and headquarters were destroyed in the Third Succession War. When the company indicated that they would not rebuild their plant, Coventry Metal Works eventually picked up production.[5]

Though most regiments contained a number of Firestarter 'Mechs, they were traditionally assigned at the company or regimental level rather than be attached to a lance, with the commander then deploying them to support an attack group or scout wooded areas. The reason for this was that the 'Mech had such a specialized role that it was deemed useless to assign it to lances. Though protected by five and a half tons of armor and capable of jumping distances of 180 meters with its six jump jets, the Firestarter could do little against medium or heavyweight opponents. Instead, a whole series of tactics were developed around its ability to start wildfires, with skillfully-placed blazes routing an enemy or covering a retreat and hampering any pursuit. Firestarter MechWarriors were fond of setting on fire a heavily wooded area as enemy 'Mechs advanced through it or any buildings within which the enemy were sheltering. Other uses for the 'Mech included performing scorched earth tactics, though this lessened in later years as it became more imperative to capture the dwindling number of valuable resources rather than destroy them, or lead units of Wasps and Stingers in deep penetration scouting and light raiding missions.[4][5]

This policy changed in the later Succession Wars as it was found that the Firestarter performed well as a scout, able to not only start fires to prevent an enemy from attempting to follow it, but also clear ambush areas for the advancement of friendly forces. In the wake of the Fourth Succession War Firestarters also found themselves being assigned to lances as replacements for the losses of other light and medium 'Mechs, forcing the 'Mech to perform in a frontline role.[4][5] This evolution would continue when the Federated Commonwealth unveiled a new version in 3049, the FS9-S, which featured a host of recovered lostech to enhance its scouting abilities. The chassis would see continued development with the introduction of newer and newer technologies after the Clan Invasion, most notably Luthien Armor Works' development of a OmniMech conversion of the Firestarter,[8] and both Coventry Metal Works and Defiance Industries would manufacture variants of the standard design through the Dark Age era.[2]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Firestarter carries four Purity L-Series flamers for incendiary work, one in each arm, one forward-facing in the center torso, and one rear-facing in the center torso. For additional anti-personnel work, the Firestarter has two Deprus RF machine guns mounted in either side of its torso which, combined with the flamers, can make short work of infantry units. The Firestarter carries one Magna Mk II medium laser in each arm for when it is forced to engage hard targets like vehicles and other BattleMechs. One ton of ammo located in its torso supplies the machine guns while 10 single heat sinks help keep it cool.[4][5]

Variants[edit]

  • FS9-A
    The original Firestarter, production of it ceased with the introduction of the FS9-H. It carried small lasers instead of machine guns and mounted an additional ton of armor.[1][5][9] BV (2.0) = 773[10]
  • FS9-B
    Following the capture of Coventry, the Word of Blake converted the Firestarter line to produce a new variant in 3070 that could be better integrated into their units. An additional ton of upgraded light ferro-fibrous armor is added, the chassis has been replaced with an endo steel model, and a light fusion engine provides power. Three flamers are devastating to conventional units, while an ER medium laser provides firepower against hardened targets. A C3i Computer allows it to share targeting data from other units. The use of single heat sinks is confusing in such a unit, and it means that the -B can build heat quickly. It uses eight improved jump jets to cover 240 meters in a jump. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 677[11]
  • FS9-C
    The FS9-C is an upgrade of the Firestarter manufactured by Coventry Metal Works for the Periphery starting in 3064. The armor has been upgraded to ferro-fibrous and the 'Mech carries two flamers, two medium lasers, two RL-15s, and four RL-10s, giving it an incredible one-shot kill capability against heavier 'Mechs. The already overwhelming number of Firestarters in the near Periphery led to the failure of this variant. BV (1.0) = 846, BV (2.0) = 940[12]
  • FS9-K
    The K variant began production at the same time as the original model and mounted two flamers, a large laser and two small lasers. While it was designed to be a companion model, the H variant proved more popular and dominated production after it was introduced.[1][5] BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 763[13]
  • FS9-M
    Nicknamed the Mirage, this variant of the Firestarter debuted in 2893 and converts it from an incendiary 'Mech to a frontline 'Mech by removing the flamers and adding in their place two small lasers and two tons of armor. The variant was in production for only one year before the catastrophic battle which transformed the Argile plant, and the capital of Skye, into a desert wasteland. The Skye Rangers maintained several Mirages, including a lance with one arm painted black in commemoration.[1][4][5] BV (1.0) = 671, BV (2.0) = 798[14]
  • FS9-M3
    The -M3 is a modification of the -M2 Firestarter introduced in 3104 that has been optimized for artillery spotting. The 'Mech has removed the three flamers mounted in the left arm, replacing them with a single ER small laser, added a TAG laser designator to the right torso, allowing it to spot for artillery, and MASC, which allows it to move at up to 129.6 km/h. The -M3 also dropped a single double heat sink but added another half ton of armor, giving it a total of seven and a half tons of standard armor.[18] BV (1.0) = 699,[19] BV (2.0) = 866.[18][20]
  • FS9-M4
    Another reworking of the -M2 variant debuting in 3109, the M4 strips out a double heat sink, the ER medium laser and the three flamers mounted in the left arm. The -M4 upgrades the engine to 210-rated XL engine and mounts a single RAC/2 in the left arm, supplied with one ton of ammunition stored in the left torso. The -M4 also adds another half ton of standard armor. BV (2.0) = 798.[21][22]
  • FS9-P
    Manufactured by the Circinus Federation in 3064, the -P is similar to the -S, but it uses 10 double heat sinks. It removes the defensive and scouting equipment, as well as a half-ton of armor to add an additional small Laser and a pair of SRM-2s. The missile launchers are commonly loaded with Inferno rounds. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 775[11]
  • FS9-N Mirage II
    A Defiance Industries of Kwangjong-ni refresh of the Firestarter based on their Jihad era experimental FS9-81X model, causing legal issues with Coventry Metal Works over infringement of the Mirage name it sees its intellectual property. Turning to Clan technology to overcome the issues that sunk the FS9-81X project, the Mirage II features classic styling over CWM's Dark Age era visual reworked models, built around a DI manufactured Clan-grade XL Engine and IS-grade endo-composite chassis and reflective armor. The Mirage II's centerpiece is a Clan Sea Fox-supplied plasma cannon with one ton of ammo, supplemented by two inhouse Clan-spec ER Medium Lasers in the arms and two similarly Clan-grade ER Small Lasers in the torsos. Each arm still feature a regular flamer, while another one covers the rear arc in the center torso. BV (1.0) = ???? BV (2.0) = 1660 [2]

Custom Variants[edit]

  • FS9-81X
    This is an experimental prototype of the Firestarter that was created by Defiance Industries of Kwangjong-ni by ex-StarCorps Industries designer James Feldner. Only three of these prototypes were produced as of 3074, and suffered from developmental problems with their components. Using the FS9-H as its base, the 'Mech is fitted with an XXL engine, a plasma rifle with 10 rounds as its main weapon, and a pair of medium X-Pulse lasers, both mounted in the right arm. The 'Mech retains the original base model's flamers and jump capabilities. BV (2.0) = 1,093[26]

Apocryphal Variants[edit]

Apocryphal Content
This box contains information derived from apocryphal sources, which may not be considered canonical for the BattleTech Universe.

From MechWarrior: Dark Age:

  • Firestarter Pyro Peterson
    Mostly likely an FS9-M2, this Firestarter appeared in MechWarrior: Dark Age/Age of Destruction board game as a variant piloted by William "Pyro" Peterson of Bannson's Raiders. Whether this 'Mech exists canonically is unknown.

From MechCommander:

  • FS9-J
    The FS9-J has the same armament as the FS9-A and four tons of armor. Its jump jets allow it to jump up to 100 meters.
  • FS9-W
    This variant has only four tons of armor, while boasting a larger armament. It is armed with one laser, two SR missile packs and a PPC.

From MechWarrior Online Legends:

  • FS9-E Ember
    The Firestarter Hero 'Mech piloted by Portia "Torrent" Ryan, the Ember mounts a pair of flamers in each arm supported by two machine guns in each side torso. Mounting only five jump jets, the Ember is powered by a 210-rated standard engine and built on an endo steel frame, the weight saved allowing it carry one ton of machine gun rounds in each CASE protected side torso, 11 double heat sinks and near 75% of the maximum armor its chassis can carry.[1]

From MechWarrior 5: Solaris Showdown Expansion Pack:

  • FS9-X1
    Introduced in 3031, the variant is designed for close quarters arena combat by featuring a 245-rated XL engine built on an endo steel frame to reach a top speed of 113.4 km/h. Its armament includes a Burst-Fire Light Rifle in the left torso, a Rapid-Fire AC/2 in the right torso, and six machine guns: two each in the arms and one in the left and right torsos. The remaining weight is allocated for a single ton of ammo for each ballistic weapon type and a single double heat sink.[28]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Firestarter has the following Design Quirks:[29]

The FS9-M2 Firestarter has the following additional Design Quirk:[15]

Related OmniMechs[edit]

Notable Pilots[edit]

See Category:Notable Firestarter Pilots

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Brandstifter. The model code was changed accordingly to BD9-R.
  • In French products, the unit's proper name was translated as Pyromane, which means pyromaniac. In early versions of the French Warrior Triology, the name was translated as Boutefeu, for the name of the people detonating explosives professionally.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Technical Readout: Succession Wars, pp. 34–35: "FS9-H Firestarter"
  2. ↑ a b c Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 28, p. 12: "Firestarter"
  3. ↑ Field Report 2765: Periphery, p. 11: "Infrastructural Integrity"
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Technical Readout: 3025, pp. 24–25
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h Technical Readout: 3039, pp. 110–111
  6. ↑ Era Digest: Age of War, p. 11
  7. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 81
  8. ↑ a b Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, pp. 24–25: "FS9-S Firestarter"
  9. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, Unabridged, p. 166
  10. ↑ MUL Profile for FS9-A includes BV2.
  11. ↑ a b Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 95
  12. ↑ a b Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 96
  13. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 82
  14. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 83
  15. ↑ a b c Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, pp. 26–27: "FS9-M2 Firestarter"
  16. ↑ Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I, p. 47
  17. ↑ Record Sheets: 3145 Unabridged, p. 294
  18. ↑ a b Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, p. 81: "FS9-M3 Firestarter"
  19. ↑ Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I, p. 48
  20. ↑ Record Sheets: 3145 Unabridged, p. 295
  21. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, p. 82: "FS9-M4 Firestarter"
  22. ↑ Record Sheets: 3145 Unabridged, p. 296
  23. ↑ a b Combat Operations, p. 131
  24. ↑ Record Sheets: 3050 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 47
  25. ↑ Record Sheets: 3050 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 48
  26. ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Corporations, p. 3
  27. ↑ MechWarrior Online Solaris-7 Sale Page
  28. ↑ MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, Solaris Showdown
  29. ↑ BattleMech Manual, p. 90: Design Quirk Table - Firestarter Entry
  30. ↑ Technical Readout: 3058, p. 86

Bibliography[edit]

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