Wasp WSP-2K (FuH)

==Overview==
The WSP-2K variant of the ancient Wasp Light 'Mech design was created for the fan story, Fighting Uphill by fan author evilauthor on the SpaceBattle.com forums. 
==Background==
The Wasp is the most commonly produced mech in the Inner Sphere, and the Draconis Combine is the most profligate user of the Wasp. DCMS Doctrine is to use lances and even companies of Wasps to probe enemy positions to gather information on defenses and to soften them up before committing more valuable mechs and mechwarriors. Wasps are so commonly used in the DCMS that specialized custom Dropship cubicles were created for them so that common carrier Dropships can carry more Wasps than they would be able to otherwise.
This is a result - or perhaps the cause - of the Combine having the most factories that produce Wasps. Some of them are automated Star League Era factories still producing the classic 1A model. But during the Succession Wars, the Combine has managed to produce even more Wasp factories. While not as automated as the Star League era factories, the new factories use legions of unskilled workers to factory line produce Wasp.
The current model produced by the newer factories is the WSP-2K, a trooper mech instead of a scout, intended for new mechwarrior recruits who enter the DCMS lacking their own mechs. Recruits that survive long enough to achieve a decent level of skill or otherwise distinguish themselves will often be promoted to better, more advanced mechs. Although some pilots have been known to get attached to their issued mechs and will use their savings to customize them with more advanced technologies.
Attrition rates are high for Wasp 2Ks and their pilots, but the DCMS honors their bravery and sacrifice even as it quickly replaces them with more Wasps and pilots.
==Armament and Capacities==
Unlike the Wasp 1A, the Wasp 2K isn't armed for self defense, but fore pure offense. The 1A's weapons load has been swapped out entirely for a Light PPC and a small MRM launcher, giving the recruit quite a bit of reach and damage potential for such a light mech. This helps guarantee that even the rawest, greenest mechwarrior recruit can inflict at least some damage on the enemy before sacrificing themselves for the glory of the Dragon.
The armor has been swapped out for an equal tonnage of Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor in order to give some additional protection and survival-ability, at least against weaker weaponry.
Some life support equipment has been removed from the cockpit, as the usual amenities common to most mech cockpits have been deemed by the Combine's leaders as superfluous extra expenses. The freed space was used to store ammo for the MRM launcher and a heat sink to help keep the pilot cool. The WSP-2K retains the original 1A's ten Single Heat Sinks to regulate heat of the Machine. This poses challenge to new trainee MechWarriors, lesson in heat management of the 'Mech.
==Variants==
* WSP-2X - Early experimental models of the 2K attempted to use a fuel cell and even internal combustion engines to cut down the mech's cost, but the small reduction in cost was deemed not worth the resulting overheating issues and their impact on the Wasp's performance. BV (1.0) = ???, BV (2.0) = ???
==Technical Notes==
Total Cost: 1,648,520 C-Bills
Battle Value: 481
==References==
*A Fan Made BattleMech from SpaceBattles.com
*Fighting Uphill - Chapter 23
Wasp, WSP-2K
Wasp, WSP-2K
Wasp, WSP-2K