Incubus (Vixen)

This article is about the Clan BattleMech designated "Vixen" by the Inner Sphere. For other uses of the latter name, see Vixen.

Incubus
Production information
Manufacturer	Tokasha MechWorks Alpha CSF Titanic Mobile Production Facility
Production Year	2954
Model	Vixen
Class	Light
Cost	5,314,790 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Clan BattleMech
Mass	30 tons
Chassis	Model MH-26 endo steel
Armor	Compound H17 Ferro-Fibrous with CASE
Engine	Light Force 270 XL engine
Communications System	Comset 1
Targeting Tracking System	Delta-Six Sensor Suite
Heat Sinks	10 double heat sinks
Speed	151 km/h
Armament	1x Large pulse laser 2x ER medium lasers 4x Machine guns
BV (1.0)	1,406
BV (2.0)	1,596

Description

Inner Sphere analysts were stumped trying to determine the purpose of the second-line BattleMech they assigned the code name Vixen after sighting it among the garrison forces of Clan Jade Falcon. The Incubus, as it is known among the Clans, is somewhat expensive for a light garrison 'Mech, which confused Spheroid observers until they understood how important one-on-one duels were in Clan culture and how often they occurred among bored garrison troops. The Incubus is a 'Mech that is often used in such Trials, especially because it is easy to turn off weapons to effectively balance the 'Mech's strength with that of an augmented Elemental. Despite its purpose, the Incubus does show up in some second-line forces as well and is highly regarded in all roles it serves.

Following Clan Hell's Horses recapture of Tokasha MechWorks Alpha, and inspired by Clan Diamond Shark's "Phoenix" renovation of older designs, the Hell's Horses developed a new version of the venerable design incorporating newer weapons technology to expand their BattleMech strength. Though visually different, the core purpose of the 'Mech remains intact, especially useful given the Horses Elemental-heavy touman. This visually refreshed Incubus also appealed to Clan Ice Hellion, who developed their own variant of it, examples of which fell into the hands of Clans Cloud Cobra and Star Adder following the Hellion's ill-fated trade mission to Tanis prior to the Wars of Reaving.

Weapons and Equipment

Part of the Inner Sphere observers' confusion around the garrison role of the Incubus is its use of an expensive 270-rated XL engine, endo steel frame, and five and a half tons of ferro-fibrous armor. While seemingly expensive for a "mere" garrison 'Mech, this gives the Incubus impressive performance for a light 'Mech, as well as an aggressive profile despite its weight, a distinct psychological advantage for its pilots.

The Incubus is armed with primarily medium-range weaponry. A large pulse laser is accurate and covers a respectable range, mounted in a semi-modular "rifle" in the standard version's right arm. Similar to such classic designs as the Wolverine and BattleMaster, the "rifle" placement makes both repair and modification of this weapon extremely easy and rapid. The Hell's Horses upgraded version replaces the "rifle" with a forearm mounted pod instead, but retains the same semi-modular nature for this reason.

The arm-mounted primary weapon is supported by over the shoulder light weapons clusters in each side torso. A pair of ER medium lasers are solid backup weapons, while four machine guns are highly effective against unarmored infantry. A half ton of machine gun ammunition and 10 double heat sinks are more than adequate for Clan Trials.

Variants

• Incubus 2 

  An example of the semi-modularity offered by the Incubus's "rifle," this variant replaces the large pulse laser with an ER PPC. BV (1.0) = 1,573, BV (2.0) = 1,913

• Incubus 3 

  This variant mounts a Streak SRM-6 and a single ton of ammo in the "rifle," and uses the weight saved to upgrade the torso lasers to medium pulse lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,216, BV (2.0) = 1,324

• Incubus 4 

  Clan Hell's Horses Incubus 4 completely changes the weapon loadout with an eye to lower cost, but keeps the core purpose of the 'Mech intact. It mounts a heavy large laser, two medium pulse lasers, two micro pulse lasers, and two ER micro lasers. It can quickly build up heat in normal combat situations, but most of the Trials it is involved in necessitate disabling multiple weapons, so this is rarely a problem. BV (1.0) = 1,215, BV (2.0) = 1,581

• Incubus 5 

  Clan Ice Hellion, always prolific users of fast light 'Mechs, copied the original redesign of the Incubus, but decided to create their own variant. This fifth version mounts an ATM-6 with two tons of ammunition, two ER medium lasers, and four light machine guns. BV (1.0) = 1,239, BV (2.0) = 1,364

• Incubus 6 

  This variant uses an XXL engine to allow the chassis to carry an ER PPC and SRM-6 in the right and left arms respectively. For close attacks it has six ER micro lasers split between the side torsos, and is fitted with talons. It's frequently seen with Hell's Horses Mongol warriors. BV (2.0) = 1,599

• Incubus 7 

  This variant replaces the large pulse laser with a Ultra AC/2 and one ton of ammo. The significant loss of damage capability makes this decision questionable. BV (2.0) = 1,175

• Incubus 8 

  Identical to the standard model, the 8 merely swaps out the large pulse laser for an LRM-20 and one ton of ammo. These are both mounted in the right arm. BV (2.0) = 1,557

• Incubus 9 

  The 9 modifies the weapons loadout with 3150 era tech. An ER large pulse laser replaces the standard large pulse laser in the right arm. Each side torso carries one ER medium pulse laser and two AP Gauss rifles, fed by one ton of ammo is carried in the right torso. To make room for these upgrades a fragile and expensive XXL engine is used. BV (2.0) = 1,849

Apocryphal Variants

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.

These variants were introduced in various apocryphal sources, and thus far have not appeared in any canonical media.

From MechWarrior Online:

• INC-SA Sabre 

  This customized MechWarrior Online Hero 'Mech is equipped with 270-rated XL engine, two ER micro lasers and heavy machine guns in both torsos, Streak SRM-4 with its one ton of ammo in central torso and two Streak SRM-2s in the right arm, along with 10 double heat sinks to cope with the heat. The ballistic weaponry is fed by half ton of HMG ammo in left torso, and one full ton of HMG and Streak SRM 4 ammo bins in right torso. [1]

Apocryphal Content Ends

Design Quirks

The Vixen has the following Design Quirk:

• Jettison-Capable Weapon (Large Pulse Laser)

Related BattleMechs

• Incubus II - The first design of a Jihad-era industrial alliance between Clan Hell's Horses and the Exiled Wolves, the Incubus II trades lower ground speed for mobility thanks to jump jets and a partial wing and replaces the standard design's "rifle" for an array of interchangeable hand-held weaponry.

Notable Pilots

See Category:Notable Incubus (Vixen) Pilots

Notes

• The Incubus/Vixen as originally depicted in the Jade Falcon Sourcebook and the original Technical Readout: 3055 was constructed via Fractional Accounting, allowing it to carry a fifth machine gun in the head, removed under the current construction system starting with Technical Readout: 3055 Revised.

• Author Ashley Watkins stated in a blog entry that she designed stats and wrote background for Vixen as originally published in TRO:3055.

• In German products, the unit's proper Clan name was left unchanged. The unit's proper Inner Sphere name was translated to Füchsin.

Gallery

• 

  Original Unseen Incubus from TRO:3055

• 

  Incubus from RG:ilClan v7

• 

  Incubus 4 from TRO:3055 Upgrade

• 

  Incubus from Jade Falcon Sourcebook

• 

  An Incubus on patrol in a swamp from Jade Falcon Sourcebook

• 

  Model of Incubus from MWO

• 

  Vixen miniature from MechWarrior: Wolf Strike set

• 

  Incubus miniature from BattleTech: Clan Striker Star

Bibliography

• Combat Operations
• Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrade
• Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged
• Record Sheets: 3055/3058
• Technical Readout: 3055
• Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3150
• Record Sheets: 3150
• Technical Readout: Prototypes