The Titans of Old were brothers to the Gods This Titan is worthy to fight beside them. --advert planned for Titan's original release. Overview The Titan 'Mech was found in the Star League depot on Galtor III. Because it was a new 'Mech design it was hushed up and sent to New Avalon where scientists spent four years testing and studying the design. Apparently in the final months before the Star League collapsed, General Kerensky became dissatisfied with the Atlas. Once it was out of ammo, the Atlas had no more weaponry than a light 'Mech. To remedy this problem, Kerensky told his engineers to make an Assault 'Mech with long and short range energy weapons. Several teams of engineers competed to design this 'Mech, which had been given the working name of 'Titan'. One team's answer was this, the TI A-1 B Titan. Other Mechs by this name are known to exist, though manufacturers and serial numbers vary Their program had another month to go before the Titan would be fully operational, when the water used for drinking and cooling on the planetary construction site was poisoned, rumor has it by agents of House Kurita. The seven hundred deaths resulting killed all but one of the engineering team. That last engineer, not wanting to see his dream go unfinished, downloaded all the information into a memory core and stored it in the Titan prototype. The several construction facilities now being considered by the NAIS each say that the information is complete enough to build 2550 Titans per year. So far, 25-30 are known to exist. Capabilities With a cruising speed of 32 kph and a flank speed of 54 kph the Titan is one of the slowest 'Mechs on the battlefield. Although General Kerensky wanted an all-energy Assault 'Mech, the engineers went one step further. First, they put 19 tons of armor on the Titan.This would ensure it could withstand even the heaviest of fire. Next they gave the 'Mech 22 heat sinks. While this permits a constant rate of fire, the pilot cannot fire all the 'Mech's weapons at once, or it will immediately shut down. Second, they gave the Titan two PPCs, which gave it a greater potential damage curve than the Atlas, without requiring ammunition. Third, the engineers gave it three medium lasers in each arm. These were intended to be fired at medium ranges along with the SRMs. The arm mountings ensure the lasers a broad field of fire. Finally, for the coup de grace, they installed two SRM four-packs on the right and left torso, and an SRM six-pack in the center torso. This arrangement permitted firing all the SRM systems while engaging in hand to hand combat. When General Kerensky was shown the designs, he was skeptical about the SRMs. The engineers were quick to point out that if the Titan did run out of ammunition, it still had two PPC's and six medium lasers. This armament outclassed even that of the famous Battlemaster. They also pointed out that the Titan's potential damage curve raises as the 'Mech gets closer to its target. This encourages the pilot to get into hand to hand combat as soon as possible. Battle History Although the Titan is a newcomer to the battlefield, it has already made a name for itself. On the Galtor raid, Major LeBrun of the 4th Crucis Lancers was given the important task of taking the Titan and three quick'Mechs from his own company to make a run for the waiting DropShip. The only problem was that he had to go through one hundred plus kilometers of hills and swamp. Major Le Brun chose a Phoenix Hawk, an Ostscout, and a modified Jenner without the SRM launcher, but with three more tons of armor. During the journey to the DropShip, he stumbled upon a heavy company of the 8th Sword of Light who were trying to circle around and ambush his own battalion. Outnumbered, but with surprise and mobility on his side, he attacked. Major LeBrun took the Titan in close for hand to hand combat where he killed an Awesome, a Marauder, and a pair of Riflemen. The Phoenix Hawk and the Jenner go two kills each. All four Lancers 'Mechs retired fully operational. Of the Sword of Light'Mechs, only two Catapults and a Thunderbolt survived. Major LeBrun was promoted to the rank of Colonel for his actions on Galtor Ill. He has been assigned to the Titan project now going on on New Avalon. Variants There seem to be three variants of the Titan which are currently being studied. The first and probably the best moves one medium laser from each arm and relocates them to the right and left torso. This increases the firepower even more when the Titan engages in hand to hand combat. This variant known as the Titan II will probably be the one most used in the Federated Suns. Another variant adds Rawlings 550 jump jets at the expense of the two SRM four-packs and two heat sinks. While it reduces firepower, it does add greater mobility. The last variant downgrades the SRM six-pack to an SRM four-pack, splits the ammo for the SRM four-pack to 12 instead of 25 reloads, and adds an SRM two-pack inferno plus five tons of ammo. Opponents of this variant refer to it as a suicide special. Notable Mechwarriors Colonel David LeBrun Because of his actions on Galtor III he received the first Titan II made by the NAIS team. A mechwarrior of over fifteen years standing, he has 46 confirmed kills and scores of assists. Rumor has it that his training time with the Titan II is completed, and that he will be back with his regiment in another month. Judging by the way he handled the 8th Sword of Light, he will be a force to be reckoned with. TI-1A Titan BattleMech Tonnage: 100 tons Chassis: Unknown Power Plant 300 Vlar Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph Maximum Speed: 54.8 kph Jump Jets: None Jump Capacity: None Armor: Type 23 Armament: 2 PPCs 6 Medium Lasers 4 SRM 4s 1 SIRM 6 Manufacturer: NAIS Mech Fabrication Communications System: Tek BattleCom Targeting / Tracking System: Wasat IBM Simulator Stats: Type:TI A-Titan Tons: Tonnage: 100 tons 100 Internal Structure: 10.0 Engine: 300 Vlar 19.0 Walking MPs: 3 Running MPs: 5 Heat Sinks: 22 12.0 Gyro 3.0 Cockpit: 3.0 Armor: 304 19.0 Armor Factor: Head: 3 9 Center Torso: 31 50/11 Rt/Lt Torso: 21 35/7 Rt/Lt Arm: 17 34 Rt/Lt Leg: 21 41 Weapons: Type: Location Crit Tons PPC RT 3 7.0 PPC LT 3 7.0 3 Medium Lasers RA 3 3.0 3 Medium Lasers LA 3 3.0 2 SRM-4s RT 2 4.0 Ammo, SRM-4s25 RT 1 1.0 2 SRM-4s LT 2 4.0 Ammo, SRM-4s25 LT 1 1.0 SRM-6 CT 2 3.0 Ammo, SRM-4s 15 LT 1 1.0 Back to BattleTechnology 11 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1989 by Pacific Rim Publishing. 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