Stalking Corsac

The Stalking Corsac is a totem BattleMech designed by Clan Ashen Corsac scientists on Tiegel IV. A rare example of a Light totem Mech, it was designed alongside the Leviathan G variant and the Onyx Eel Omnimech as part of the Corsacs 3070s Project Ruby.

## Technical Information

### Armament

* 2x Heavy Medium Lasers
* 2x SRM6
* 2x Flamers
* TAG

### BV

1'325

In the late 3060s, Clan Ashen Corsac began Project Ruby, which was a development program gathering experts from MachtWerk, Schwarzstein Metall and the newly established Ravenstein Experimental Bureau, Project Ruby's goal was to create a new 'generation' of Mech design all built on a shared axis of newly developed weapon systems and technologies which had yet to be fully proven on the battlefield. Key among these were the use of Reinforced Structure, Reflective Armor, and Heavy Lasers.

With many among the original leadership of the Corsacs being formerly intelligence service operatives, the Clan afforded a far higher importance than others to reconnaissance, accurate information and electronic warfare techniques. As such, the Stalking Corsac was designed as a dedicated support platform which took some unashamed inspiration from the Inner Sphere's highly effective and successful Raven BattleMech. Especially with the proliferation of systems such as the rediscovered Artemis, C3 networks, and a variety of stealth technologies, there was a need for a Mech that could counter these emergent threats, primarily used by Dezgra enemies.

Stalking Corsacs were first seen by the other Clans when SaKhan Kadenza Schtern lead Beta Galaxy to Huntress to relieve Khan Hannah Faust's besieged Alpha Galaxy during the closing years of the Wars of Reaving. With the general chaotic state of the Kerensky Cluster at the time, and the Homeworlds having largely abandoned Zellbrigen and devolved into barbaric styles of warfare, the Stalking Corsacs were able to unleash their full potential and were a nasty surprise for both the fanatical puritans of the Snake Alliance and the mad hosts of the scientist rebellion of the Society and their Dark Caste allies.

Although seen in smaller numbers in all Clusters since 3077, the Stalking Corsacs were most common among Executioner Clusters. Most feared among them were Execution Stars, made up of one Stalking Corsac, two juggernaut-class Assault Mechs (generally Leviathans) and two artillery fire heavy Mechs equipped with Arrow IVs and/or Swarm LRMs. With the Assaults drawing attention, the smaller Stalking Corsacs were free to run in, disrupt hostile electronics, and designate homing beacons for the fire support Mechs with their TAG. Stalking Corsac pilots' bravery was highly respected as their role forced them to get close to an enemy superior in numbers and weight of fire and call in artillery at dangerously close distances.

For that purpose the Stalking Corsac was made as durable as possible, making use of Project Ruby's newly-developed high-strength Iridium-alloy internal structure and reflective armor to make the small Mech deceptively tough. The use of Reflective armor on all Mechs of project Ruby had been dictated by battlefield observations that PPCs and Large Lasers were among the most popular weapons systems of the modern battlefield, and therefore increased protection against Energy weapons was well worth the tradeoff of increased vulnerability against ballistics and physical attacks, especially with the reinforced structure mitigating much of reflective armor's weaknesses.

Ultimately, the Stalking Corsac proved itself worthy as a Totem Mech for Clan Ashen Corsac and found its way into the Toumans of Clan Jade Falcon, Diamond Shark and Snow Raven, nominal allies of the Corsacs. It was highly respected, for although its maneuverability was somewhat poor for its weight class, it was able to take it and dish back like a heavily armed and armored Medium, while maintaining its powerful electronic warfare suite. It shattered the traditional perspective that a support Mech had to be a 'boring' and 'gloryless' Mech by packing enough firepower in a compact space and modest tonnage for 'support' Mechwarriors in a Stalking Corsac to annihilate all sorts of threats at close range.

## Equipment and Weapons

The Stalking Corsac is surprisingly well-armed for close range brawling for its size, as a 'LanzenReiter' Heavy Medium Laser in each arm and a 'SeeHund-6' missile battery in each side torso can bring forth enough firepower to threaten any other Light or Medium Mech of combat vehicle, while even heavier units can be threatened if flanked or damaged. Only a single ton of standard ammunition for the two SRMs affords only short endurance however. To deal with infantry, a ton of Inferno missiles are also carried, while each arm also features an underslung flamer, making the Stalking Corsac a daunting prospect for any swarming attempts. Finally, the Target Acquisition Gear on the cockpit allows it to call down artillery fire.

For defense, 7 tons of 'PanzerKristall' reflective armor provide it protection on par with a Medium Mech, especially against energy weapons, while the use of Reinforced Structure also beefs up the internals. A flank speed of 97 kph allows it to outrun the main battle line despite being relatively slow, but the 'Gespent' ECM suite's scrambling is seen as a more important defense. Finally, with a detection range of 210 meters, the Stalking Corsac's advanced Active Probe as few rivals when it comes to sniffing out hidden units and ambushes.

## Design Quirks

All Stalking Corsacs have the following Design Quirks:

* Improved Sensors
* No/Minimal Arms