Jack (Heavy Metal Magellan)

This page describes a mech for the game Heavy Metal Magellan, from a mostly in-universe perspective.

Jack

About Jack.

Overview

Name:	Jack
Model:	RU-39 Mustang
Chassis:	Light Combat Core
Weight class:	Light
Weight:	Standard Load:27 Tons Max Load 32 Tons
Height:	7.7 Meters (25.26 Feet)
Top speed:	241 KPH (150 MPH)

Description

The RU-39 is designed to be a reconnaissance mech with the ability to provide fire support during larger operations. It is capable of many things, though not always at the same time. Its greatest strengths come in the form of it's speed and unpredictability. While it's greatest weaknesses come in it's lack of raw power during most situations.

Armaments

Standard armaments

M-340 Auto-Cannon

(Fixed.) The M-340 is the heaviest weapon on the RU-39 Mustang. It is a rapid firing, heavy caliber, projectile weapon designed to fill the role that a light machine gun fills for an infantry squad. It is capable of damaging any class of targets and provides the RU-39 with an effective fire support option at all ranges. The auto-cannon's major drawback is that it's recoil is so powerful that the RU-39 can only utilize the M-340 when it's reactor output is focused towards it's weapon systems.

T-97 Laser Projector

(Fixed.) A tight beam laser projector, the T-97's design is originally based off of industrial cutting tools, however an increased power conduit and additional focusing lenses have allowed for the creation of a highly effective weapons platform. The T-97 fires an extremely short range, but heavily focused, laser beam which is capable of penetrating almost any material know to man. It's drawbacks are a very low rate of fire, and the fact that the beam dissipates before it can even strike targets at medium range.

Non-standard armaments

M-107 Flame Projector

(Non-Fixed.) The M-107 is a mech sized flame thrower, designed to allow it's user the ability to engage conventional forces in the most efficient means possible. The level of heat that the M-107's flames create allow the weapon to be effective against infantry, light vehicles, and even tanks. Against other mechs the M-107 is incapable of dealing direct physical damage and it's only use is in attempting to overheat the opposing mech's systems. This, coupled with the weapon's obvious close range requirements make the M-107 a useful, yet highly specific, weapon.

M-75 Combat Shotgun

(Non-Fixed.) A basic shotgun style weapon, the M-75 is meant to be used as a defense against light and medium mechs at close range where the concussive and penetrative force of the weapon's projectiles are at their highest. Against anything larger than medium class mechs the M-75 begins to lose effectiveness as it lacks the penetrative power needed to make it through the armor that such mechs possess.

Subsystems

Target Designation Beam

A infrared laser that is directed at the RU-39's current target and 'paints' said target with infrared light. When an enemy is painted by the beam any units who's communications systems are connected with the RU-39 will have an easier time hitting the target. The Target Designation Beam deactivates whenever the RU-39's reactor is focused on mobility.

"Wild Weasel" Decoy System

The "Wild Weasel" system is made up of several unmanned aerial drones stored within the RU-39 once activated one of these drones will launch from the RU-39 and begin a rapid flight away from the mech. Once in flight the drone will begin to broadcast an electronic signature that is identical to that of the RU-39, serving as a decoy against enemy radar, missiles, and even the targeting systems of mechs with less sophisticated sensors. The standard load for the system is 15 drones. Each drone can return to the mech upon command, assuming it is not shot down and still has enough fuel for the return trip. The decoy system is shut down when the RU-39 has it's power output focused towards weaponry.

Jump Jets

A set of high powered jump jets designed to allow the RU-39 to navigate terrain that would normally be inaccessible to it. The jump jets allow the RU-39 to quite literally jump into the air and safely land at either higher or lower elevations. When the RU-39's reactor is focused on it's weapon systems the jump jets are inoperable.

Redirectable Reactor

The RU-39's pilot can, at any time, focus the mech's reactor and power conduits to provide additional energy to either the mech's weapon systems at the cost of decreased mobility or to the mech's legs at the cost of it's weapon systems. While this shift in reactor output can be quickly achieved with the simple flick of a switch it takes the RU-39's reactor a considerable amount of time to store enough energy for any supplemental shifts. This means that rapidly switching between one setting to the next is something that the RU-39 is incapable of doing.

Balance Power System

When the mech's power system is balanced the RU-39 is capable of making use of all of its systems with the exception of it's auto-cannon, and jump jets.

Direct Power to Weapons

When power is directed towards the RU-39's weapon systems the mech is now able to make use of it's auto cannon but suffers decreased mobility, and cannot make use of it's jump jets or it's decoy system.

Direct Power to Mobility

With power directed towards mobility the RU-39 becomes able to make use of it's jump jets, and it gains increased speeds. However it is unable to make use of the Target Designation Beam, the M-340 Auto Cannon or the T-97 Laser Projector leaving it's hand held guns as it's only weapon systems.

Combat effectiveness

Strengths

Hands

The RU-39 is equipped with hands, allowing it to use most models of hand held mech weapons

High Moblity

The RU-39 is highly mobile, capable of achieving speeds and preforming maneuvers that many other mechs would never be able to match.

Small Target Profile

The RU-39 makes for a relatively small target as far as mechs are concerned.

Adaptable Focus

The RU-39 is able to adapt to the conditions it finds itself in. When the mech is completely outmatched or reconnaissance operations are required it can fill a fast moving recon role. And when caught in a stand up fight it can switch over to fill a heavier fire support role allowing it to engage targets of any size and fully support it's fellow units.

Weaknesses

Light Armor

The RU-39 possesses light armor by mech standards, meaning that most mech class weapons which manage to hit it will be almost guaranteed to cause damage.

Close Range Focus

With the exception of a single weapon the RU-39 does not possess the ability to effectively engage targets past medium range.

Crippling Specialization

While the RU-39 is capable of filling several roles thanks to its ability to focus on one aspect of its systems or another. This versatility is also a double edged sword. When focused on filling one role the RU-39 loses much of its ability to fill any other. For instance when power is focused to weapons the RU-39 is incapable of filling a reconnaissance role and becomes a much easier target. Inversely when the RU-39 is focused towards mobility it loses it's ability to engage targets at longer ranges and is almost incapable of damaging heavy or colossal class mechs.

Page owners: King Serperior, Saria, Urbanzorro