TRO: 3087 - Raven

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. 

RVN-5L Raven
Overview
    As the other four great houses spiraled into seeming anarchy over the past twenty years, the Capellan Confederation has been a bastion of order. Those outside credit its geography (being far from the Clans) and its slow withdrawal from interstellar politics and trade.
    The Confederation’s recent military conflicts have been few, but often resulted in solid successes. Much of that is thanks to its impressive new Raven design. Both the Free Worlds League and Federated Suns have attempted to capture the cutting-edge electronics warfare machine, without success.
    It was hoped that when the Diamond Shark trade caravan passed through Capellan space in the early 3080’s that they’d emerge with new and ever-rarer intelligence from The Confederation. While the traders have had generally positive things to say about the upgraded Raven, they’re quick to mention it’s not as nice as the Sharks’ own Mad Cat Mk V.
    Though sources indicate their mission wasn’t a successful one, some of the few deals the Clanners struck included their silence about what they witnessed within the insular House.

Capabilities
    The Raven is a harbinger of Capellan Confederation forces, heralding artillery and indirect missile fire against targets which aren’t aware of its presence.
    The RVN-5L is strictly better than its predecessor, but that often means it performs the same battlefield roles. The Raven excels at scouting and support while shying away from battle.

Battle History
    The Raven is a jealously guarded Capellan Confederation design. The few, sanitized reports coming out of The Confederation leave very little to pick through. The Raven was essential in the campaign of lightning raids that ran through both Free Worlds League factions, giving much needed coordination and information to larger bodies of CCAF.
    During the raid on Marik, a company of local militia forces were drawn out to capture what they thought was a lance of light Capellan ‘Mechs. After a few miles of stalking their prey, they registered a Capellan battalion closing them. It took their commander a week of playing cat-and-mouse with an imaginary battalion in the wilderness to see through a ruse created by just four Ravens. They cornered and destroyed the light ‘Mechs, but their base had already been sacked by the raiders’ main force.

Notable Variants
    Some earlier models lacked the NARC missile system, instead carrying a self-destruct device and jump jets. As security concerns over the design have apparently eased, the NARC system has been reinstalled and the older models have been reclassified as the RVN-5Lx.
    The Mechwarriors who’ve been ambushed by Ravens have mentioned the use of ten-pack rocket launchers installed as a field modification. Footage from Tikonov implies that those Ravens usually sacrifice their CASE equipment in exchange for the additional weapons. These are most likely field modifications not approved by Sian, but most warriors would apparently rather win a fight for the Chancellor than dwell on how to mitigate a loss.
    The only variant that seems like a line model is the RVN-5Ls. It carries twin four-pack missile launchers and a second ammunition bin for specialty munitions. This allows the Raven even more battlefield control as it can spread smoke, utilize incendiary rounds against infantry, and overwhelm enemy anti-missile systems.

RVN-5L Raven
Type/Model:    Raven RVN-5L
Tech:          Inner Sphere / 3073
Config:        Biped BattleMech
Manufactured:  Capellan Confederation
Fielded:      
  Capellan Confederation (Common)

Mass:          35 tons
Equipment:              Crits     Mass
Int. Struct.:               0     3.50
  58 points
Engine:210    XL Fusion    12     4.50
   Walking MP:   6
   Running MP:   9
   Jumping MP:   0
Heat Sinks: 11 Single       3     1.00
  (Loc: 1 CT, 1 LT, 1 RT)
Gyro:                       4     3.00
Cockpit, Life Sup., Sensors:5     3.00
Actuators:                 12     0.00
  L: Sh+UA       R: Sh+UA
Armor Factor:              12     5.00
    80 pts Stealth

        Internal Structure  Armor Value
  Head:                  3      6     
  Center Torso:         11     10     
  Center Torso (Rear):          4
  L/R Side Torso:        8    11/11
  L/R Side Torso (Rear):       3/3
  L/R Arm:               5     8/8
  L/R Leg:               8     8/8

Weapons and Equipment Loc  Crits  Tons
---------------------------------------
Active Probe           CT    1     1.00
SRM 6                  RT    2     3.00
TAG                    RT    1     1.00
CASE                   RT    1     0.50
ECM Suite              LT    1     1.00
CASE                   LT    1     0.50
2 Medium Lasers        RA    2     2.00
NARC Missile Beacon    LA    2     3.00
Ammo (SRM 6) 15        RT    1     1.00
Ammo (NARC) 12         LT    2     2.00
---------------------------------------
TOTALS:                           35.0
Crits & Tons Left:          16     0.0