Merlin (BattleMech)

Merlin
Production information
Manufacturer	Alliance Defenders Limited (1B) Mountain Wolf BattleMechs (1A) Sabanillas Mining Company
Production Year	3010
Model	MLN-1A
Class	Heavy
Cost	4,911,200 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	60 tons
Chassis	Heavy Star QAT-4
Armor	Longanecker PlastiSteel
Engine	Pitban 240
Communications System	Magestrix Alpha
Targeting Tracking System	Magestrix Gamma
Heat Sinks	18 single
Speed	64 km/h
Jump Jets	Pitban LFT 50
Armament	1x PPC 2x medium laser 1x LRM-5 1x machine gun 1x flamer
BV (1.0)	1,039
BV (2.0)	1,217

Description

The Merlin debuted in 3010 as a product of the rebuilt Mountain Wolf BattleMechs. The Merlin was hailed as a technological marvel at the time it was released, as it was the first completely new design to be developed in over 100 years. The Merlin uses components that are all reliable and readily available, making the Merlin a durable and easy-to-repair 'Mech. The 'Mech is powered by a Pitban 240 fusion engine that gives it a top speed of 64.8 km/h. The Merlin carries ten and a half tons of armor, which is a respectable amount of protection for its weight. Additionally, the Merlin carries eighteen heat sinks to handle its heavy heat load.

The Merlin became the salvation of Mountain Wolf BattleMechs; the company was barely a name, without production facilities, for centuries, barely kept alive. Two of the members of the company, however, designed a new 'Mech which can be produced with the 3010's technological level, with parts produceds around the Inner Sphere. The new design, however, was rejected by Mountain Wolf's then CEO, Michael O'Leary, but after his death, his son, Brandon O'Leary, succeeded him and, after sealing a deal with The Outworlds Alliance President, Ronaine Avellar, and it began being produced on the Alpheratz plant. The new 'Mech was so successful than saved the company nad it was soon produced in a new factory, on Vendrell.

The Merlin became so popular that a member of House Avellar bought one for his niece, Rowan Avellar, in 3029. However, even that year, the 'Mech was very rarely seen in the Inner Sphere's House units, but became very popular among mercenary groups, as it was cheap to buy and able to serve multiple roles. Wolverton's Highlanders had the largest concentration of them.

Weapons and Equipment

The Merlin is armed to be able to engage an enemy at any range. For long range combat, the 'Mech carries a Magna Hellstar PPC and a Holly LRM-5 launcher. To protect itself at medium to short ranges, a pair of Martell Model 5 medium lasers provide the Merlin with respectable short range firepower. Finally, to protect the 'Mech against infantry attacks, the Merlin has a Zippo Flamer and a Sperry Browning Machine Gun. Four Pitban LFT-50 series jump jets allow the 'Mech to travel up to 120 meters in the air.

Variants

• MLN-1B 

  The 1B variant introduced in 3053 removes the Machine Gun and its ammunition and replaces them with an additional heat sink to help handle the Merlin's heat load. BV (1.0) = 1,060, BV (2.0) = 1,228

• MLN-1C 

  This field upgrade to the 1B developed by Lushann Industries in 3068 replaces the medium lasers with ER medium lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,051, BV (2.0) = 1,267

Custom Variants

• MLN-1B Merlin Porter 

  A uniquely customized Merlin introduced in 3064, which was created by a tech named Porter Romero on the world Armington. He salvaged the 'Mech from a pirate raid during the 3060s. Using a wrecked militia Bulldog for parts, he replaced the ruined PPC and LRM-5 with the tank's Large Laser and SRM 4 Launcher as well as adding additional armor. BV (1.0) = 909

• MLN-SX 

  An experimental variant of the Merlin which was created by the FedSuns' Sabanillas Mining Company and developed in 3075. Created by retired FedSun Major Caleb Gruber, he used his company to produce three of these modified Merlins. Gruber had the Merlin's internal structured strengthened by installing Endo-Composite Internal Structure and switching out the Standard Pitban Fusion Engine for a Lighter version. He then added five tons of Armored Shielding to protect the 'Mech's engine and side torsos. Gruber then exchanged the original 1A's medium lasers for Blakist tech Medium VSP Lasers. He then added ancient or Retrotech Laser Insulators to help cool down the VSP lasers. Lastly, he exchanged the old PPC for a Bombast Laser. The MLN-SX also sports 14 Double heat sinks. BV (2.0) = 1,181

Design Quirks

The Merlin has the following Design Quirks:

• Easy to Maintain
• Rugged (1)

Notes

• The Merlin was the first sample 'Mech used to demonstrate the 'Mech construction rules with the Battledroids rulebook, where it appears in a slightly different configuration owing to slightly different construction rules. Like the Chameleon, it was largely overlooked until it finally received a proper entry in Technical Readout: 3058.

Gallery

• 

  Original Merlin from TRO:3058

• 

  Experimental MLN-SX Merlin from XTRO:Boondocks

• 

  Merlin from RGilClan: vol. 26

Bibliography

• Battledroids
• BattleTech, 2nd Edition
• BattleTech Manual: The Rules of Warfare
• Combat Operations
• Experimental Technical Readout: Boondocks
• Master Unit List
• Record Sheets: 3055/3058
• Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades
• Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere)
• Record Sheets: Unique 'Mechs
• Seal the Deal in Shrapnel#11
• Technical Readout: 3058
• Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade