Jackalope

Jackalope
Production information
Manufacturer	Victory Conditions Industries and Eris Enterprises Design Group
Model	JLP-BD
Class	Light
Technical specifications
Mass	30 tons
Chassis	Triumph Dynamic Endo Steel
Armor	Advantage Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	Victory 240 XL
Communications System	Angst Clear Channel 5
Targeting Tracking System	O/P TA1240 with Light Active Probe
Heat Sinks	10 Double Heat Sinks
Speed	129 km/h
Jump Jets	VC Dynamo
Armament	2x ER Medium Lasers 1x ATM 6 1x Laser Anti-Missile System
BV (2.0)	1,396

Description

Produced jointly by Victory Conditions Industries and Eris Enterprises, the Jackalope represented a leap forward in anti-missile and recon technology. Designed to serve as recon and pursuit lances, this compact and swift BattleTech used to full effect in combat. It also has served as training 'Mech and design used arena combat. The 'Mech gets its named from a mythical animal which was said to had existed on Terra's North American continent.

The design's initial sales were not strong; it too was as elusive as its namesake. However, since Gray Monday, the design became popular among Inner Sphere powers including of the Republic of the Sphere, Mercenaries, Solaris VII and nations within Free Worlds League space. One of the 'Mech production facilities, Eris Enterprises of Capolla, would be lost to the Inner Sphere for a time after walls of the Republic's Fortress rose in 3135 blocking access. This left its output secretly at time be funneled to rebuild the Republic's armies. Victory Conditions’ production site on Mizar would have its sales regulated by Galatean Defense League, which continued to sell the 'Mech various parties by 3145.

One the design noted uses was in 3144, when one in the piloted by a former Knight of the Sphere named Captain Gloria Hansen piloted her machine on Gloria Hansen against raiding part from Clan Wolf. Twice in the same battle, first leading her company to defeated the attacking Wolves for control of her unit's DropShips. Second time her fighting Trial of Grievance against the Wolves unit's commander piloting a Wulfen Light OmniMech. Using her 'Mech speed to charged the Clan's Mech superior abilities at the cost of her own health and managed to destroy the Star Captain's 'Mech.

Weapons and Equipment

The Jackalope can be considered unique, which it owes to its compact and narrow chassis which allows for an absurd number of them to be loaded into DropShips for deployment. Its Jump jets allow it to deploy rapidly and quickly get to wherever it needs to go on the battlefield. In addition, eight jump jets allow the Jackalope 240 m wide jumps. A 240-rated XL engine provides ample power to this small 'Mech, propelling it at speeds of up to 129 kph, as well as powering its weaponry. The speed gives it ability give addition protection beyond its 6.5 tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor and its Clean-Sweep Laser-based Anti-Laser System. It key component is its Clan designed Light Active Probe, making it valuable scout while proving enough room for additional equipment.

The 'Mech's principle weaponry includes two Clan tech Conquest Extended Range Medium Lasers, which are located in its stubby but flexible short arms. Additionally a 6-tubed ATM launcher found in the right torso proves the Jackalope added punch at all ranges. The design however only has one ton of ammunition, cutting down its longevity in campaigns and reducing the pilot to relay on the lasers.

Variants

• JLP-C

  A Mixed tech version of the standard Jackalope, the C designed to serve as lancemate for a C3 Lance. Fitted with an Inner Sphere produced C3 Slave Computer, this variant becomes excellent spotter for its lance. The design drops the ATM-6 for a Clan produced 6-tubed Short-Ranged Missile Launcher with two tons of ammunition. BV(2.0)=1,253

• JLP-KA

  Faster than the original BD, the new engine powers it to 129 kph, making it faster than standard and other variants before it. However, half its Jump Jets are removed from the design, while retaining all other features of the standard model, the KA's ATM ammunition is given added protection with CASE II. BV(2.0)=1,488

• JLP-KW

  This variant, also known as the "Wolpertinger" is a Mixed Tech version of the Jackalope's KA variant. Built with the mostly Clan technology, the Mech retains the KA's fragile but powerful XXL Fusion Engine, it also gains additional jump capacity due to the inclusion of a Partial Wing and installation of 5 Improved Jump Jets. While retaining the KA's Clan ER Medium Lasers in the arms, a standard 4-tubed SRM Launcher added in the right torso with its ammo in the left with CASE II protection. Only Inner Sphere technology found in the machine is its Extra-Light Gyro. BV(2.0)=1,334

Notable Pilots

• Gloria Hansen; A Captain in the forces of Republic Remnant in 3145, her bravery and skills saved her company from elements of Clan Wolf. She was distraught by Republic's abandonment of the rest of the nation, she would renounced her Knighthood but remain loyal to citizens of Republic Remnant. Her victory on Chertan would boost morale of the tiny fragment of Republic of the Sphere.

Notes

The Jackalope was original conceived by Wizkids for its MechWarrior Dark Age Collectable Miniatures game as a part of its Dominion expansion set. The figure would be used as a both as a general and unique 'Mech in the CGC game. The Jackalope would later adapted by Catalyst Game Labs and redefined in the tabletop game once the company advanced the franchise's timeline to 3145.

The 'Mech would also be featured in the non-canon short-film/trailer Produced by DAVE's School's MechWarrior: Age of Destruction video. The film never completed officially, showcases the 'Mech and unique size/compactness which would later be translated as a design quirk.

Design Quirks

The Jackalope is subjected to the following Design Quirks:

• Compact ’Mech
• Narrow/Low Profile

Gallery

• 

  Jackalope first appearance on Wizkids Website.

Bibliography

• Record Sheets: 3145 Unabridged
• Technical Readout: 3145
• Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere

1. MechWarrior: Age of Destruction
2. LinkNet article on the Jackalope. Note Article is on archived website.*
3. Link to Dillon's entry (providing sources for this article)[1]