Rook (BattleMech)

This article is about the 55-ton BattleMech. For the WarShip, see Rook (Individual Potemkin-class WarShip).

Rook
Production Information
Manufacturer(s)	Hessen IndustrialWorks/NHDF New Hessen MechWorks New Hessen WorkMechs Precision Weaponry
Production Year	3074
Model	NH-2
Class	Medium
Cost	7,471,723 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	55 tons
Chassis	Hessen Rook Mk II
Armor	New Hessen Laminar Weave
Engine	DAV 220
Comms	Neil 6000
TTS	Octagon Tartrac System C
Heat Sinks	12 double
Speed	64 km/h
Jump Jets	Rawlings 45i
Armament	1x ER PPC 4x medium laser 1x small pulse laser
B.V. (2.0)	1,525

Description

Born in the fires of the Word of Blake Jihad initially as a Retrotech design, the Rook is a capable if unspectacular defensive trooper BattleMech.

During Hampton's Hessens' long trek home from Galatea to New Hessen through the Word of Blake Protectorate, the mercenary unit's commander General Pat Hampton saw first hand the horrors unleashed by the Blakists and resolved to devote his efforts to a massive build up of New Hessens defensive forces to protect against any Blakist assault. Initially these consisted of conventional forces, but after Hampton acquired a copy of the New Dallas Memory Core he quickly realized New Hessen's extensive maintenance and repair facilities could be retooled to build primitive "Retrotech" BattleMechs like the Battleaxe and Hammerhands. The heavy reliance of those designs on ammunition-based weaponry prompted him to direct the engineers to develop a complementary energy weapon based design, resulting in an entirely original 'Mech - the Rook.

Thanks to the relative ease and low cost of construction of such a primitive design, hundreds of Retrotech NH-1A Rooks were swiftly manufactured, bolstering New Hessen's defenses to aid in resisting the August 3076 Word of Blake assault on the world as well as being offered and sold to other nearby worlds. While effectively complimenting other primitive 'Mechs and combat vehicles, the original model's lackluster ground speed hampered its ability to combat more modern designs of similar weight with New Hessen WorkMechs developing plans for construction of a modernized successor. The NH-2 finally became a reality with Devlin Stone's offer for advanced equipment and specifications in return for General Hampton's permission to use New Hessen as a staging ground against the Blakists.

Between the large volumes of NH-1A and the modernized NH-2, despite its relative youth the Rook saw heavy use in conflicts on the worlds around New Hessen, with a number even falling into the hands of insurgent Blakist guerrillas as well as finding their way into Stone's Coalition forces during Operation SCOUR, later appearing in both the Republic Armed Forces and Armed Forces of the Federated Suns. Following the conclusion of the Jihad a number primative NH-1A Rooks would reach numerous Republic of the Sphere militia forces along the border of the Capellan Confederation, such purchasers clamoring for improved firepower prompting New Hessen WorkMechs to develop the aftermarket NH-1B Rook-X package specifically for the Retrotech version.

Weapons and Equipment

The NH-2 Rook upgrades almost every component of the original Retrotech NH-1A. The chassis, armor, and engine are all modern but affordable, as are the electronics. While merely 10kph faster, this marginal improvement was mandated by General Hampton who insisted retaining the original firepower was more important for a design built for the defense of New Hessen. He did agree with the designers on the inclusion of Rawlings 45i Improved Jump Jets that allow the NH-2 Rook to jump over obstacles at the same speed as it can cover flat ground, even though their complicated thruster network proved problematic until an advanced Compact Gyro was fitted.

The original PPC is upgraded to a Tiegart Maximum ER PPC. The head-mounted small laser, the design's anti-infantry component, is now a Sutel Precision Line Small Pulse Laser, far more effective at its task. The two rear-facing medium lasers were removed and the four remaining are more modern Hellion-V models. Two heat sinks were removed but the remaining twelve are upgraded to double heat sinks allowing it to more effectively utilize this weapons array. The Rook features two fully functional hands, allowing it engage in physical combat as well transport cargo and perform civic activities during peace time.

Variants

• NH-1A 

  Developed and commissioned by New Hessen MechWorks during the Jihad, the 1A used primitive and obsolete components to produce a RetroTech success story. Mounting HIW-50 Indyplate primitive armor, a Vlar Classic 200 primitive engine, Chilton 360 jump jets, and using a standard NHDF-1 chassis, the 1A carried weaponry that was modern if not cutting edge: a Hellstar PPC for long range combat, supported by six Martell medium lasers, two of which are rear-mounted, and a small laser. Fourteen single heat sinks required fire discipline from its MechWarrior. The top speed was a substandard 54 km/h. Production continued through the Jihad and beyond, though production on New Hessen was restricted to New Hessen WorkMechs. BV (2.0) = 1,197

• NH-1B 

  This version of the Rook replaces the primitive technology systems with their Succession Wars-era counterparts. Though it carries less armor than the original Rook, the armor is tougher and lighter. This allowed engineers to install a better engine that is larger and more efficient, allowing the NH-1B to reach a top speed of 64.8 km/h. It is also roomier, allowing the NH-1B to carry 20 single heat sinks, six more than the NH-1A. BV (2.0) = 1,227

• NH-1X Rook-X 

  This upgrade kit was designed by Arica Vasthi and released by Hessen IndustrialWorks for customers who had purchased the original NH-1A. It keeps the same armor protection and speed as the NH-1A, but replaces the weaponry. An ER PPC with an experimental PPC capacitor provides long range firepower, supplemented by two ER medium lasers, a pair of standard medium lasers, as well as twin ER small lasers in place of its original small laser. To help manage the increased heat, the Rook-X carries two more single heat sinks. BV (2.0) = 1,187

• NH-3X 

  This version uses a 330-rated extralight engine with a supercharger to increase the top speed of the Rook to 129 km/h for short bursts, and three additional jump jets have been installed. The PPC is replaced by a binary laser cannon and a small laser is mounted in the head. These modifications cost the NH-3X two single heat sinks and required downgrading to locally produced Hessen Heavy Boosters, which produce the same jumping capacity as the NH-2. BV (2.0) = 1,746

Design Quirks

The Rook is subject to the following Design Quirk:

• Rugged (1)

BattleMech Gallery

• 

  Original NH-1A Rook from JHS:3076

• 

  NH-1B Rook-X from XTRO: RetroTech

• 

  NH-2 Rook from TRO:3085

Notes

• Canon fluff was originally provided by then-Line Developer Herbert A. Beas II on the (defunct) Classic BattleTech board due to exclusion from the initial Jihad Hot Spots: 3076 PDF release in March, 2009.

Bibliography

• Experimental Technical Readout: RetroTech
• Jihad Hot Spots: 3076
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge
• Technical Readout: 3085