Hermes II

Hermes II
Production information
Manufacturer	Irian BattleMechs Unlimited
Production Year	2798
Model	HER-2S
Class	Medium
Cost	3,165,680 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	40 tons
Chassis	Irian Chassis Class 40
Armor	Riese-456
Engine	Hermes 240
Communications System	Irian E.A.R.
Targeting Tracking System	Wasat Aggressor
Heat Sinks	10
Speed	97.2 km/h
Armament	1x Autocannon/5 1x Medium Laser 1x Flamer
BV (1.0)	665
BV (2.0)	784

Description

The Hermes II was first produced in 2798 and was based on the original Hermes BattleMech that was used by the Star League. A heavy scout, the Hermes II boasts respectable weaponry and seven and a half tons of armor, allowing it to easily brawl with lighter 'Mechs or survive an encounter with heavier 'Mechs and retreat. It's Pitban 240 engine gives it a respectable amount of speed for scouting duties, although the heart of this reconnaissance 'Mech is it's Irian E.A.R. Communications System. The system is capable of transmitting extremely fast data bursts on tight communication bands anywhere up to orbiting satellites and spaceships, making it much harder for the enemy to listen in or attempt to triangulate the machine's position. The E.A.R.'s downside is the sheer bulk of the system and the amount of body surface necessary to mount it's thread-thin sending/receiving wiring. The "wings" on the heels of the Hermes II are vestigial holdovers from the prototype and were originally designed to function as heat sinks; to the relief of many pilots the 'Mech's only non-engine heat sink was moved to the left torso, where it doubles as armoring for the autocannon ammunition. Out of all medium-weight 'Mechs the Hermes II is the easiest to perform field maintenance on, leading to it's nickname "old reliable."

As combination scout/light strike platforms Hermes II 'Mechs often operate alone, employed for missions for which lighter 'Mechs are too fragile and heavier 'Mechs too clumsy. The Hermes II is in it's element when operating in a restrictive environment like a forest or city, where it can employ a most unusual tactic of setting it's surroundings on fire to escape pursuit. Since most 'Mech pilots will naturally avoid a fire to prevent overheating and the flames interfere with most thermal scanners, setting a blaze allows the Hermes II to slip away. When operating as part of a team the Hermes II is usually paired with 'Mechs sharing similar performance statistics, such as the Vulcan or Phoenix Hawk, but it is also paired with heavier 'Mechs like the Hunchback or Centurion where it serves as bait to draw the enemy in to it's compatriot's heavier guns.

When first produced the Hermes II had it's autocannon mounted in the center of the torso, although this proved to be disastrous since even a minor hit to the chest rendered the weapon inoperable. A replacement model armed with lasers was temporarily deployed while Irian reworked the design and shifted the weapon to it's current placement. The Hermes II stayed in production throughout the Succession Wars (with minor stoppages every time the 'Mech factories at Irian were destroyed) and served almost exclusively for the Free Worlds League. A few could be found in the arsenals of the other Great Houses as a result of battlefield salvage, and Irian was willing to sell the design to mercenary units; the company preferred to sell the 'Mech in large lots but was willing to make small custom orders for a premium.

With the slow recovery of lostech Irian was not only able to begin producing the original Hermes again but also upgrade the Hermes II, building upon the original Star League-era schematics they had saved to create the HER-5S model in 3050. As a result of the Clan Invasion and the accords reached by the Great Houses on Outreach, Irian began selling these upgraded models to the rest of the Inner Sphere. These upgraded models were also used to replace older variants within the Free Worlds League Military as part of a massive upgrade program, with the first models going to elite units such as the Free Worlds Guards and slowly trickling down to other units. This also meant a large number fell into the hands of the Word of Blake and were used on both sides of the Jihad.

Weapons and Equipment

The primary weapon on the Hermes II is an Oriente Autocannon/5 in the right torso, a reliable weapon which gives it a respectable reach on the battlefield. A single ton of ammo in the left torso only supplies twenty rounds for the weapon, limiting it's utility for true front-line combat. As secondary weapons, the Hermes II carries an Irian Weapons Works Medium Laser in the right arm for anti-'Mech combat as well as an Olympian Flamer in the left for anti-infantry combat. Unlike most 'Mech flamers the Olympian is a liquid-fuel flamer, although it is far safer that other models in that it uses a flammable gel which is prevaporized before ignition by the heating element. This gel is also harder to manufacture and takes up more space than equivalent fuels.

Variants

• HER-2M 

  Nicknamed the Mercury, this variant of the Hermes II was introduced in 2802 and primarily used by SAFE's Dark Shadows units. A larger VOX 280 engine was installed to bring the 'Mech's top speed up to 118.8 km/h, although this necessitated the removal of the autocannon, eliminating the 'Mech's long-range firepower. To make up for this short-range firepower was increased with two additional medium lasers and two Machine Guns. BV (1.0) = 740, BV (2.0) = 910

• HER-4K 

  Also sometimes referred to as the Hermes III, this variant of the Hermes II was introduced a year after the original. Based on the prototype Hermes II which used lostech technology, it is a modification of the design built to remove its dependence on ammunition by replacing all of the weapons with two Large Lasers and an additional heat sink. It solely appears in the Draconis Combine, suggesting that it was an export-only version. (The HER-4K Hermes III should not be confused with the HER-4K variant of the Hermes, which was an export version for the Draconis Combine of the Hermes II's predecessor.) BV (1.0) = 749, BV (2.0) = 976

• HER-5C 

  Used by Word of Blake, the 5C variant of the Hermes II was introduced in 3062 and takes aspects of the 2M and 4K variants. The chassis has been upgraded to Endo Steel and the 'Mech is powered by an extralight engine. The primary weapon is an ER Large Laser in place of the autocannon, backed up with three ER Medium Lasers. Finally, the 5C carries an Improved Narc Missile Beacon and an Improved C3 Computer to allow it to assist other friendly units in targeting enemy units. BV (1.0) = 887, BV (2.0) = 1,119

• HER-5ME 

  An upgrade of the "Mercury" model used by Dark Shadows units, the "Mercury Elite" is armed with only a Light Gauss Rifle, albeit with two tons of ammo, turning the Hermes II into a sniper. This comes at the cost of two tons of armor. BV (2.0)= 886 [Note that the Technical Readout states that this variant makes use of Ferro-Fibrous armor. Despite having the room, the Record Sheet does not incorporate this.]

• HER-5S 

  The 5S variant of the Hermes II was an upgrade of the design incorporating the recovery of lostech. It's standard chassis has been replaced with an Endo Steel one, freeing up mass for a number of changes. The original autocannon was replaced with an Imperator Ultra Autocannon/5, although it still only carries one ton of ammo, and the medium laser with an Intek Medium Pulse Laser. The original Olympian flamer was kept, while the the heat sinks were replaced with double heat sinks. Although this change was met with some criticism since the original design was not know to cause heat management problems in the first place, the double heat sinks allow pilots to redline their machines even after significant engine damage. BV (1.0) = 740, BV (2.0) = 857

• HER-5Sr 

  A field refit employed during the Jihad, the 5Sr uses an XL Gyro and removes the Ultra Autocannon, allowing engineers to install a Guardian ECM Suite and a Heavy PPC. BV (2.0) = 1,242

• HER-5SA 

  The 5SA was a training variant commissioned by the Legionary Training Academy in 3068. It incorporated an XL Engine to upgrade the medium laser to a Large Pulse Laser while the remaining half-ton was used as additional armor on the legs. An extravagant upgrade for what was ostensibly a training 'Mech, the 5SA added more fuel to the political fire regarding the Academy's political connection to Captain-General Thomas Marik. BV (2.0)= 924

• HER-6D 

  This variant introduced in 3062 was used by the Davion Light Guards. It exchanges the laser for an ER Medium Laser and the autocannon for a Rotary Autocannon/5. It still has only one ton of ammo for the autocannon, however, forcing MechWarriors to use their ammunition wisely. BV (2.0)= 1106

• HER-7S 

  An experimental 'Mech "ahead of its time", the HER-7S is the brainchild of Baron Roderick Axel of Lopez, who was long on belief he knew better than the military industrial complex how to develop an advanced upgrade of the Hermes II. Unfortunately, he was short on practical understanding of the true costs involved. Built on a composite skeleton, powered by a massive 320 rated XXL Engine and clad in relatively low seven an half tons of armor, the HER-7S had a top speed of over 120 kph and a 240-meter jump distance. Mounting ten Double Heat Sinks, an ER Flamer, a Clan-spec Large Pulse Laser and a Light PPC linked to a Clan-grade Targeting Computer, the 'Mech is a deadly combatant. However, due to the absurd expense and extreme fragility of the design, only three prototypes were manufactured, and in fact the whole proceedings seem to have been just a way for IBMU to use the Baron's money to gain more hands-on experience with the technologies involved. BV (2.0) = 1,578

'Mech Gallery

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  HER-2S Hermes II of the Fusiliers of Oriente

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  HER-5S Hermes II in combat

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  HER-5S Hermes II in combat

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  HER-7S Hermes II in motion

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  'Hermes II in motion

Bibliography

• Experimental Technical Readout: Marik
• Master Unit List: Battle Values
• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New
• Record Sheets: Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3025 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3050 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3085