LATE BREAKING NEWS FLASH! Just at our press deadline, BattieTechnology was able to obtain specifications and background on the new Davion-Steiner 100 ton 'Mech known as the Alliance. We have been assured that this currently Top Secret information should be released for publication by the time of this issue's release, and we feel that information such as this should be in the hands of you, the 'MechWarrior, as soon as possible. Because of this, BattleTechnology has suspended its policy not to release sensitive information for this item only. Overview New BattleMech designs have been a thing of Star League history for a number of centuries. But recently, various state-sponsored corporations have once again been experimenting in prototype 'Mech designs with varying degrees of success throughout the Known Sphere. One of the more successful of these experimenting organizations is the New Avalon Institute of Science. Sources have recently revealed that the NAIS will be testing its first prototype of a new 'Mech design built with the cooperation of leading 'Mech technicians from the Lyran Commonwealth. This new design, known as the ALI-1 A ALLIANCE, was announced as one of the "wedding presents" to Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner on the occasion of their wedding ceremony. It is not known whether the "regiment of 'Mechs which were the bride's gift to the groom is to be composed of these 100-ton assault 'Mechs. Capabilities Information is sketchy on the capabilities of this new 'Mech design, since it has just begun field testing with various Steiner and Davion 'Mech regiments (we have received reports that up to 20 prototype Alliance 'Mechs are now undergoing full testing under battlefield conditions along the Kurita border.) The Alliance has been designed to reportedly "out Atlas the Atlas" and field tests will stress the one on one actions between these two 'Mech designs. Provided with more armor protection than the Atlas developed by NAIS research labs, the Alliance should prove to have more staying power. This armor, known only as "Type 23" in NAIS circles, is a composite plasti-steel/ceramic blend that should allow for more resiliency and less hit penetration than other more common types of armor such as the Duralex fitted to the Atlas. The Alliance contains the same powerplant as its opponent: the Vlar 300 series. This is a tried and true system that has been known throughout the Successor States for centuries. It is reported that the 20 Alliance 'Mechs currently being tested contain new Vlar 300 systems purchased by House Davion from unknown agents who claim they can obtain at least 300 more. We can only surmise that a hidden old Star League supply / repair base has been discovered somewhere within the Known Sphere by persons unknown. The Alliance is armed with standard 'Mech weapons that give it a heavy punch at all ranges. Its two torsomounted Whirlwind Type 10 Auto Cannons provide the same punch as an AC/20 but with less heat retention and more weapons redundancy and ammo capacity. The Delta Dart Long Range Missile Ten Rack provides the support firepower that is necessary in any assault situation. And the standard Diverse Optics Type 20 Medium Lasers mounted in the head and each wrist offer that firepower at medium range that is so essential on today's 'Mech battlefield. New, improved NAIS-80 heatsinks should reduce any heat retention that these weapons cause. It should be noted that this is not considered to be the final armament arrangement for the Alliance. Several different weapons' mounts are being tested on the prototype models and it hasl not become clear which will eventually find its way onto the production model. Battle History No reports of any actions involving the new Alliance 'Mechs have been received by any outside groups or agencies at this time. It is hoped that a report will be available by the release date of the next issue of BattleTechnology. Variants As stated above, a number of different weapon arrays are being tested on the 20 Alliance 'Mechs now undergoing field tests. Some officials have argued that the standard Alliance armament as stated above is undergunning the 'Mech. Weapons arrays are being tested that accentuate heavier laser armaments while others use heavy missile armaments or PPCs. One prototype contains a set of Rawling Type 500 jump jets! It is not known whether all these different weapon arrays will be standardised when the final armament decision is made or if the prototype 'Mechs will be allowed to keep them in their battle careers. It is hoped that this situation will clear up in the upcoming months. Notable 'Mechs / `MechWarriors: As a class, all 20 of these Alliance 'Mechs should be notable on the battlefield with their unusual silhouette and shock value. None of the names of the 'MechWarriors piloting the prototypes into battle could be obtained by our sources but we have learned that Alliance 'Mech Number 21 is nearing completion at the New Avalon Institute of Science's Fabrication Complex and its pilot will be none other than Hanse Davion himself! BattleTechnology will provide more information on this new 'Mech as it becomes available. Statistics ALI-1 A Alliance Mass: 100 tons Chassis: NAIS special Power Plant: Vlar 300 Cruising Speed: 38.4 kph Maximum Speed: 52.8 kph Armor: NAIS Type 23 Armament: 2 Whirlwind Type 10 Auto Cannons and 1 Delta dart LRM-10 and 3 Diverse Optics Type 20 medium lasers Manufacturer: NAIS Stellar 'Mech Fabrication and Repair Complex Communications System: Highpoint System A783 Targeting / Tracking System: Instatrac Mark IX NOTE: The Alliance is one of the few operational new 'Mech designs in centuries. Twenty prototypes are now undergoing field test under battle conditions. No reports on the performance of this new 'Mech design are currently available. ALI-1A ALLIANCE Item Tons Tonnage: 100 100.0 Internal Structure: 10.0 Engine: Vlar 300 19.0 Walking MPs: 3 Running MPs: 5 Heat Sinks: 22 10.0 Gyro: 3.0 Cockpit: 3.0 Armor Factor : 320 20.0 INT STRUCTURE ARMOR Head: 3 9 Center Torso: 31 49/12 Rt / Lt Torso: 21 30 /12 Rt / Lt Arm: 17 34 Rt / Lt Leg: 21 41 WEAPONS & AMMO: Type: Location Critical AC / 10 RT 7 12 AC / 10 LT 7 12 Ammo RT 1 1 Ammo LT 1 1 LRM 10 RT 2 5 Ammo 2 LT 1 1 Medium Laser H 1 1 Medium Laser RA 1 1 Medium Laser LA 1 1 Back to BattleTechnology 7 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1988 by Pacific Rim Publishing. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com