Difference between revisions of "Project Jacob's Ladder"
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| − | + | '''Project Jacob's Ladder''' was a [[3132]] [[Bannson Universal Unlimited]] (BUU) research and development project that tried to skirt around [[Republic of the Sphere]] restrictions on military hardware. It produced the ''[[Raider (BattleMech)|Raider]]'' BattleMech.<ref name=MWDASPp54>''MechWarrior: Dark Age - Sneak Peeks'', p. 54: "Raider Mk II"</ref> | |
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The | + | On 7 April [[3131]], [[Jacob Bannson]], head of Bannson Universal Unlimited, ordered one of his research and development teams to assess how feasible it would be for BUU to produce its own low-cost [[BattleMech]] exclusively using in-house equipment.<ref name=MWDASPp54/><ref name=EDDAp40>''Era Digest: Dark Age'', pp. 40-41: "JL-1 ''Raider''/JL-2 ''Raider Mk II''"</ref><ref name=TRO3150p150>''Technical Readout: 3150'', p. 152: "JL-1 ''Raider''"</ref> The team - consisting of [[Ben Keller]], [[Denise Harlson]], [[Jim Harding]], [[Susan Lollar]], [[Kit Smithson]], and lead [[Jacob Karlson]] - completed their assessment by 23 October, leading Bannson to officially authorize construction.<ref name=MWDASPp54/> |
| − | + | After the construction of a remote underground facility to house development, Project Jacob's Ladder fully launched on 2 February 3132. The secretive Delta Green-security level project was highly productive in most regards.<ref name=MWDASPp54/> Development of weapons and armor over the first few months was particularly successful, even bringing BUU a patent on an improved [[rotary autocannon]] barrel cooling mechanism.<ref name=EDDAp40/> An outside component considered by the team, the [[Hatchett-Dauer]] [[BUU Quarrel-10|Quarrel-10]] [[MRM-10|MRM launcher]], so impressed them that they convinced Bannson to acquire the manufacturer.<ref name=EDDAp40/> | |
| − | + | What proved more difficult was the new BattleMech's engine. The team was expected to produce their own military-grade [[fusion engine]]. Salvaged reactors were requested repeatedly, and denied each time: they were reserved for repairing existing BattleMechs. Attempt after attempt failed, sometimes disastrously; one failure ended in an explosion that killed Jim Harding. In September 3133, the team gave up.<ref name=MWDASPp54/> The final 'Mech they delivered in [[3134]]<ref>[http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6955/raider-jl-1 MUL Profile for the JL-1 Raider - Introduction year.]</ref> held only an [[internal combustion engine]]. The design was heavier than hoped for, lacked energy weapons and jump jets, and was only lightly armed, but it was a functioning BattleMech, produced to BattleMech standards rather than those of IndustrialMechs.<ref name=EDDAp40/> [[BattleMech Jump Pack|Jump pack]] development went smoothly, helping make up for the lack of jump jets.<ref name=MWDASPp54/><ref name=EDDAp40/> BUU marketers gave the final 'Mech a name: the ''Raider''.<ref name=EDDAp40/> | |
| − | + | Despite the lack of a fusion engine, the ''Raider'' satisfied most elements of the Project Jacob's Ladder plan.<ref name=TRO3150p150/> Full production soon launched. Having failed to meet all project requirements, project lead Jacob Karlson resigned from BUU.<ref name=MWDASPp54/> | |
| − | The Project | + | ==Notes== |
| − | + | * The Delta Green security level for Project Jacob's Ladder is likely a reference to ''[[w:Delta Green|Delta Green]]'', a line of ''Call of Cthulhu'' sourcebooks when Jacob's Ladder was introduced in the early 2000s. | |
| − | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 18: | Line 17: | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
| + | * ''[[Era Digest: Dark Age]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Master Unit List]]'' | ||
* ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age - Sneak Peeks]]'' | * ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age - Sneak Peeks]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Technical Readout: 3150]]'' | ||
[[Category:Science and Technology Events]] | [[Category:Science and Technology Events]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:41, 18 March 2024
Project Jacob's Ladder was a 3132 Bannson Universal Unlimited (BUU) research and development project that tried to skirt around Republic of the Sphere restrictions on military hardware. It produced the Raider BattleMech.[1]
Contents
History[edit]
On 7 April 3131, Jacob Bannson, head of Bannson Universal Unlimited, ordered one of his research and development teams to assess how feasible it would be for BUU to produce its own low-cost BattleMech exclusively using in-house equipment.[1][2][3] The team - consisting of Ben Keller, Denise Harlson, Jim Harding, Susan Lollar, Kit Smithson, and lead Jacob Karlson - completed their assessment by 23 October, leading Bannson to officially authorize construction.[1]
After the construction of a remote underground facility to house development, Project Jacob's Ladder fully launched on 2 February 3132. The secretive Delta Green-security level project was highly productive in most regards.[1] Development of weapons and armor over the first few months was particularly successful, even bringing BUU a patent on an improved rotary autocannon barrel cooling mechanism.[2] An outside component considered by the team, the Hatchett-Dauer Quarrel-10 MRM launcher, so impressed them that they convinced Bannson to acquire the manufacturer.[2]
What proved more difficult was the new BattleMech's engine. The team was expected to produce their own military-grade fusion engine. Salvaged reactors were requested repeatedly, and denied each time: they were reserved for repairing existing BattleMechs. Attempt after attempt failed, sometimes disastrously; one failure ended in an explosion that killed Jim Harding. In September 3133, the team gave up.[1] The final 'Mech they delivered in 3134[4] held only an internal combustion engine. The design was heavier than hoped for, lacked energy weapons and jump jets, and was only lightly armed, but it was a functioning BattleMech, produced to BattleMech standards rather than those of IndustrialMechs.[2] Jump pack development went smoothly, helping make up for the lack of jump jets.[1][2] BUU marketers gave the final 'Mech a name: the Raider.[2]
Despite the lack of a fusion engine, the Raider satisfied most elements of the Project Jacob's Ladder plan.[3] Full production soon launched. Having failed to meet all project requirements, project lead Jacob Karlson resigned from BUU.[1]
Notes[edit]
- The Delta Green security level for Project Jacob's Ladder is likely a reference to Delta Green, a line of Call of Cthulhu sourcebooks when Jacob's Ladder was introduced in the early 2000s.