Reposting jwolfe's stats for the Zaku MS-1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Type/Model:
Zaku MS-1
Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Fenspace
Chassis Config: Biped
Production Year: 3021
Chassis: Zaku Standard type 1
Power Plant: Tellus Fusion Engine
Walking speed: 60 km/h
Maximum Speed: 85 km/h
Jump Jets: Tellus Industries Starhoppers Type 1
Armor: Unknown Commercial Armor equivalent
Standard
Armament for 1A (trooper) configuration:
1 Gearheads Variable-Fire AC-10 Module
6 Spotlight Medium Lasers
2 Starshot Laser CIWS
1 Heat Hawk Vibroaxe
2 Integrated Cargo pods w/ CASE
Standard
Armament for 1B (gunner) configuration:
1 Gearheads 175mm Coil assisted Heavy Rifle Module
6 Spotlight Medium Lasers
2 Starshot Laser CIWS
2 Integrated Cargo pods w/ CASE
Manufacturer:
Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown
Overview:
While the
fictional mobile suit that the mech is based (the Zaku II) on did not have any
built-in weapons, the creator fortunately realized that an effective mech was
better than one that was 100% faithful to the original work. Four medium lasers
are mounted in pairs on both arms with two more placed in the upper left and right
torso with enough heat sinks to fire constantly provide good medium and short
range firepower while the laser CIWS systems can deal with infantry and
missiles.
Unlike most mechs, this design like the mobile suit it is based on, sports a
heavily armored and enclosed torso mounted cockpit while the head contains the
main sensor array, the dual laser CIWS which is based off existing PD lasers on
Fen ships along with enough dedicated heat sinks for extended fire. What is an
interesting part of the design is the multiple secondary sensors mounted over
the rest of the mech (front and back torso, on the arms in the same direction
as the lasers etc) that allow the machine to continue fighting even if the head
is completely destroyed. Jumpjets mounted on the back and feet allow for
respectable assisted jumps and a high speed skimmer-like movement as needed.
Sufficient space and weight was allocated to provide good armor coverage, but
when the mech was first introduced Tellus had not mastered production of
Standard grade Armor. This resulted in the Zaku being more fragile then its
armor weight would suggest.
The main armament of the mech is entirely modular by design and connects via a
plug-and-play type system in the hands/palms enabling power feed, targeting sensor
readings from the weapons etc. The first two weapon units produced were another
call back to the original design but served very well in close quarters and
medium range combat.
The
ranged module is a variable-fire (single shot, burst, full
auto) AC-10 with a detachable magazine. While the ammo pod on the rifle module
does not has enough munitions for extended combat, the mech has armored storage
pods at the waist that can contain multiple additional magazines and/or one
shot anti-mech/personal munitions (grenades etc).
The second module of the set is a mech scale
Vibroaxe that can be holstered at the Zaku's waist when not in
use. While of limited use in open terrain combat, this weapon shines in
close-quarters city fighting where the Zaku can use its high speed and jump
jets to close and begin dismembering opposing mechs before the enemy pilot even
knows what hit him.
While new modules can be designed for different weapon load-outs the true value
of the unit is the ease at which parts and systems can be swapped for repairs,
upgrading or conversion to different roles. This greatly speeds turnaround in
repair bays where damaged armor, weapons, limbs etc can be quickly swapped with
spare ones and the damaged parts can be worked on which the mech heads back
into the field.
Variants:
The Zaku-1B configuration discards the axe and machine gun in exchange for a
massive coil-assisted
rifle and serves as a second-line sniper mech. While difficult
to fire on the move and possessing a fairly low RoF, the long range and high
accuracy of the rifle make it a deadly threat against any mech that dares stick
its head up out of cover.
*applaus*
