3087 is a Battletech alternate universe where The Jihad never happened. Instead, political fracturing continues in the wake of the technological and military upheavals of the 3050's. Its history is told through the pages and designs of TRO: 3087. With any luck this series will be the last anyone hears about 3087.
Overview
The Flea -23 was designed during the golden era of cooperation between the Free Worlds League and the Word of Blake. It was intended as a flagship reconnaissance and electronics support ‘Mech, carrying a variety of new equipment, including the void signature system.
However, when the Dragoons’ Gamma Regiment and warships Alexander and Jardine took a garrison contract for the Capellans just across the border, Blakist technical support dried up. Even equipment made in the League was redirected elsewhere and the flagship design became another minor tweak, the -23E.
The -23E has been well received and has been a major export even after the onset of the Free Worlds League Civil War. Often seen on the Senate side, its relative toughness sees it showing up on both sides of the battlefield.
Capabilities
The Flea still sees the most action as a reconnaissance ‘Mech. Its commendable ground speed is improved with MASC and slim profile almost makes up for its light armor.
Its longer-ranged weapons, including the extended range lasers and inferno missile racks help it flush out infantry and other units lying in wait. They also provide a ranged advantage against most kind of infantry, armored and unarmored.
Pilots accustomed to the pulse lasers of the ubiquitous predecessor, the FLE-17, often complain about the lack of them, but shortages around the Free Worlds League don’t make this a problem unique to the Flea. As soon as pulse lasers are available again, many pilots of the newer models will no doubt customize their Fleas.
Battle History
As a freelance intelligence agent on Solaris 7, Hunter Marikov, piloted a heavily modified Flea called Killer Bee. Posing as a Mechwarrior in the arenas, Marikov used the high radiation output from Killer Bee’s experimental PPC to cover coded transmissions to contacts in the arena. He has since become The Federated Hellfire Territories’ Citizen of Intelligence.
In 3077, veterans and dissatisfied citizens began organizing to oppose the Senate-backed government ruling Avellaneda. A lax militia allowed the Avellaneda Citizens Brigade to grow into a regiment of infantry over the course of a year.
The Brigade’s seizure of the capitol complex on April 13th set in motion a plan that winnowed away the militia’s superior ‘Mech force with tiger pits, car bombs, and controlled demolitions of buildings.
By nightfall on the first day, only Fleas and Urbanmechs were left to stop the insurrection. For the next week, the militia’s humble light BattleMechs hunted the ACB (or were hunted by them), until the ACB was destroyed as a fighting force. Resistance continued on Avellaneda until it was taken by Captain forces in 3086.
The original FLE-23 had three prototypes that were tweaked and tested. It mounts a 180 extralight engine that compensates for the lack of MASC. A null-signature system is backed with electronic countermeasures and active probe systems. Paired small pulse lasers and extended range flamers mark the -23 as an espionage and ambushing unit. Like many of the resources for the refit, the three prototypes went missing prior to the production of the new model.
Plentiful FLE-17 models already in service across the Free Worlds League often replace their hard-to-find pulse lasers with common medium lasers, each supported by an additional flamer.
The Killer Bee uses engine and myomer enhancements with an experimental engine to reach speeds of up to 266 kph. A light PPC linked to a capacitor gives it respectable hitting power, backed up with a pair of medium lasers. After a string of losses under other Mechwarriors, the Killer Bee has been placed in a museum.FLEA FLE-23E
Type/Model: Flea FLE-23E
Tech Base: Inner Sphere / 3069
Chassis Config: Biped BattleMech
Manufactured: FWL-Senate
Fielded:
Free Worlds League-Senate (Common)
Free Worlds League-Captain (Common)
Mass: 20 tons
Equipment Type Rating Mass
Internal Structure: Endo-Steel 33 points 1.00
Internal Locations: 1 HD, 3 LT, 2 RT, 2 LA, 2 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Engine: Fusion Engine 120 4.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9 (12)
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 10(20) 0.00
Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA R: SH+UA
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 48 3.00
CASE Locations: 1 LT 0.50
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 5
Center Torso 6 8
Center Torso (rear) 3
L/R Torso 5 5
L/R Torso (rear) 3
L/R Arm 3 4
L/R Leg 4 4
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Equipment Location Critical Mass
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ER Flamer CT 1 1.00
MASC CT 1 1.00
ER Small Laser RT(R) 1 0.50
SRM-2 LT 1 1.00
ER Medium Laser RA 1 1.00
ER Medium Laser LA 1 1.00
@SRM-2 (Inferno) (50) LT 1 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 11
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