Paladin Heavy OmniMech (ECotS)

==Description==
The Paladin, is a Heavy OmniMech built by the Royal Federation, using the technology developed by the Terra Union prior to the nation's demise. With Union's demise, this versatile design has been spread across the Inner Sphere. 
This unique design was created by Big Steve for his fan story Emergence - The Concert of the Sphere. 
===Overview===
Designed following the victory over the Terran Union and the widespread dissemination of the Terrans' best technology, the PLD-3 Paladin is an OmniMech
that employs the improved XL Engines, Ferro-Fibrous armor, and endo-steel that were developed by the Terrans during the dark days of the Succession Wars. 
Selassie Defense Works, acting on recommendation from High King Thomas, employed the iconic Paladin 'Mech as the basis for this improvement over the
Chevalier OmniMechs designed in the 3030s.
===Battle History===
The PLD-3 has been widely employed in the Federation armed forces since the 3070s, seeing its first service in the Proctor Heavy Guards and 1st Atrean Dragoons in the Concord-Compact War, particularly in numbers during those units' role in OpForce Excalibur and the fighting on New Avalon in 3071-72.Among those piloting the machine in that battle were Prince Ethan Proctor-Steiner, the current Prince of Atreus and future High King, and Mathilda Brewer-Steiner, his wife and the heiress of Defiance-Hesperus.It particularly saw extensive service during the 4th Succession War in all of the regiments of the Federation Army and a number of allied units, including becoming a favorite of the Warrior Monks of St. Cameron.  Over time it has replaced its cousin, the Chevalier, as the principal OmniMech of its mass and size, being even more common that the Mad Cat II (at least in Arcadian service).
===Deployment===
The Paladin enjoys wide employment in several major regiments of the Federation military, including the Arcadian Guards, the 2nd Donegal Guards, the 1st and 
2nd Atrean Dragoons, and the Proctor Heavy Guards.  Ghastillia is known to field the 'Mech in some numbers, and several other states have salvaged the PLD-3 from the battlefields of the Later Second Age of War and the Fourth Succession War.
==Armament and Equipment==
Powered by 375-Rated Fusion Engine, the design is able move to 86 kph hour with it's baseline of 10 Double Heat Sinks. The Mech's hull is protected by 12.5 tons of Ferro-Fibrous Armor.
The "Prime" Configuration/Variant that is widely favored has a multi-range profile.  A RussTech Coilgun on the right arm and the torso-mounted Vickers-Armstrong Mk. 8 Particle Projection Cannon (Extended Range) provide a strong long range punch, and should the battle draw closer, the torso-mounted TharHes Streak-integrated SRM launcher and the left arm's twin ER Medium Lasers - typically Vickers-Armstrong Mk. 15s or Defiance Royal Quality Medium Lasers - complement the other weapons.  The quantity of heat sinks allows the 'Mech to remain cool save for a complete alpha strike, and even then heat build up is negligible in the short term. Additionally the Prime is fitted with 5 additional double heat sinks.
Ammunition: The Prime carries 3 tons of Gauss Rifle reloads in right arm, & right torsos. It's Streak SRM ammunition is also stored in the right Torso.
===Alternate Configurations===
*;Alternate Configuration A : Amounts a heavy ultra-rated autocannon, usually a Kalidasa-manufactured Kali Yama Deathhammer, with three tons of ammunition for sustained use.  The ER PPC provides long range fire, and a pair of Vickers-Armstrong Mark 16 lasers (medium quality, extended range, pulse) rounds out firepower, although pilots must take more care with heat management if they're double-firing with their autocannon. To ward off the excess heat all weapons can generate, it is fitted with seven additional Double Heat Sinks. BV (2.0) = 2,586, Cost: 23,954,609 C-Bills
*;Alternate Configuration B : The "Bravo" has been described as turning the Paladin into a smaller version of the ever-reliable, workhorse Awesome BattleMech, as it mounts three Vickers-Armstrong Mark 8 PPCs and a targeting computer to direct the fire, with enough heat sinks that the pilot can fire two PPCs in unison without heat buildup., the Bravo. BV (2.0) = 3,186, Cost: 23,510,156 C-Bills
*;Alternate Configuration C : The "Charlie" configuration is for close-range fighting.  The V-A Mk. 8 PPC provides some ranged firepower for the approach, with a Matthews Ballistic Double-Shot 120mm autocannon (UAC/10) and twin Vickers-Armstrong Mark 16s providing further firepower close-in.  The right arm carries a sword for melee attacks.  The heat sink complement allows full firepower use for several salvos before heat buildup forces the pilot to reduce fire. BV (2.0) = 2,334, Cost: 23,656,109
===Custom Configuration===
*;Alternate Configuration White Knight : While not an official variant, Prince Ethan piloted his own variant, known as the White Knight for its similar loadout to the ubiquitous Black Knight (which for many years was the most common heavy 'Mech in the Arcadian arsenal due to the Star League autofab facility on Arcadia).  It is a hot-running all-energy weapon machine with weapons typically from Vickers-Armstrong or Defiance; two extended range large lasers, one of them standard and one pulse, extended range particle projection cannon, two extended range medium lasers, and a shorter-ranged medium pulse laser, with every spare cubic meter crammed with heat sink hardware. BV (2.0) = 2,720, Cost: 23,938,359
===Striker OmniMech Configurations===
This are variation of the Paladin OmniMech customized for the Royal Federation's Striker Corp. While identical to the original, Tthe "Striker" variants add a full complement of RussTech TurboJets for jumping capability, as well as allowing the 'Mech to perform airborne drops without jump pods, making these variants favored in the Striker Corps. 
*;Striker Primary Configuration : The primary Striker variant takes the Alpha variant but reduces the autocannon to a Matthews Ballistic Double-Shot 120mm (Ultra AC/10), and the lasers to Mark 15 extended range standards instead of the heavier pulse lasers.  Therefore it runs rather cooler, even with jump jets employed.  Some pilots have taken to mounting a Sword as well, at the cost of reducing the heat sink complement. BV (2.0) = 2,692, Cost: 24,130,797
*;Alternate Configuration Striker Alpha : The "Striker" variants add a full complement of RussTech TurboJets for jumping capability, as well as allowing the 'Mech to perform airborne drops without jump pods, making these variants favored in the Striker Corps.  The primary Striker Alpha variant takes the standard Alpha Configuration but reduces the autocannon to a smaller Matthews Ballistic Double-Shot 120mm (Ultra AC/10), and the lasers to Mark 15 extended range standards instead of the heavier pulse lasers.  Therefore it runs rather cooler, even with jump jets employed.  Some pilots have taken to mounting a Sword as well, at the cost of reducing the heat sink complement. BV (2.0) = 2,665, Cost: 24,205,172
*;Alternate Configuration Striker Beta : The second Striker variant is particularly favored as it is an all-energy weapon version that makes it a better long-term raider, with the PPC, Vickers-Armstrong Mark 14 and Mark 18 lasers (extended range large lasers, standard and pulse), and twin Mark 15s.  It is rather hotter than other configurations. However, especially with jumping, and the pilot must carefully stagger fire to avoid debilitating overheating its 19 Double Heat Sinks. BV (2.0) = 2,929, Cost: 24,579,844 C-Bills
*;Alternate Configuration Striker Charlie : The third Striker is a direct fire machine, sporting a RussTech Coilgun with three tons of ammunition and a pair of Vickers-Armstrong Mark 14s.  It only experiences heat build-up on firing all weapons and using the jump jets, but the reduced quantity of weapons is not relished by some pilots. BV (2.0) = 2,929, Cost: 24,579,844 C-Bills
==Technical Notes==
*Total Cost: 21,322,656 C-Bills (Base Line Chassis) - 23,667,359 C-Bills (Prime) 
*Battle Value: 1,069 (Base Line - No Weapons) 2,714 (Prime) BV2
==Notes==
==Links==
*Original Posting for the Paladin / Striker OmniMechs by Big Steve on Bg.Battletech Forums
==References==
== Bibliography ==
* Emergence - The Concert of the Sphere
*Technical Readout: 3120 The Concert of the Sphere 
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