Wednesday, March 16, 2016

TRO: 3087 - Enforcer

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.

Enforcer ENF-7D
Overview
For over five years, The Capellan War threw the Federated Suns’ Capellan March into turmoil. Also known as The Duke’s War, it was started by Duke George Hasek’s unsanctioned launch of a de facto Capellan invasion in 3068. The Capellan reprisal was overwhelming and the next several years saw the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces target and destroy units loyal to the Duke.
The Armed Forces of the Federated Suns High Command held of intervention, seemingly content that a bitter enemy and a rogue noble were beating each other into submission. The collateral damage became politically damaging when the Enforcer plant on Talon was destroyed in a nuclear blast. Forces on New Avalon subsequently began seeking a peace settlement.
The AFFS, still struggling to keep line units at strength after the Civil War, hastily rebranded their new Enforcer model as the Enforcer IV and sent them to help rebuild local forces. It was hoped that the agile, fragile support ‘Mech would keep the Capellan March from engaging in provocative action against the Capellans for some time to come.

Capabilities
Even though the Enforcer was designed for harassment and fire support, it shines in cavalry roles. Its machine gun and streak-capable missiles also ensure it has a place in city fighting, though most MechWarriors piloting it in urban environments rue the design’s unique lack of jump jets. 
The Enforcer IV is common inside of the AFFS. The Federated Hellfire Territories Citizens Army can boast a number as well, but most of those numbers are within the somewhat autonomous Capellan March Defense Forces.
It’s also used as a raider, given the exceptional longevity granted by its energy weapons, it’s ammunition-saving streak systems, and the nearly-inexhaustible supply of machine gun ammunition. The complex engine and advanced structure have created maintenance problems in the field, but its fast over-ground speed, tough armor, and versatility has outweighed those limitations.


Battle History
As it took its place as a workhorse ‘Mech along the Capellan front, local tactics changed to suit its strengths. Smaller, more agile units came to outmaneuver Capellan incursions. This had the added effect of making the use of orbital fire and nuclear attacks less effective than they had been against larger formations.
Units based around the Enforcer IV cannot compete with most enemies in a stand-up fight, but they can melt away and strike the most vulnerable areas of stronger forces. This was shown in 3078 when the the Federated Suns hired the Dragoons Pact to secure Suns-leaning worlds as the Word of Blake’s protectorate collapsed.
The security contract eventually expired and the worlds negotiated with The Dragoons to hire the mercenaries directly, breaking from the Suns. Over the objections of their liaison with the Dragoons, Colonel Adrian Menglo, the AFFS assembled a task force to evict The Dragoons. Menglo lead the task force, which was immediately shattered. 
From his Enforcer IV, Preta, he lead Federated Suns loyalists against The Dragoons in a guerrilla campaign across Epsilon Eridani, Epsilon Indi, and Sheratan. For two years of fighting against a superior foe in increasingly hostile territory, he was posthumously nominated for, though not awarded, the Federated Suns Medal of Honor.

Variants
Older versions of the Enforcer are still in service across the Inner Sphere. The breakdowns in trade and destruction of facilities have made maintenance of models like the Enforcer III and -5D upgrade troublesome. Most trade in their advanced autocannons for readily-available standard models or racks of streak-capable standoff missiles.

Friction between The Dragoons and the Federated Suns has landed a number of Enforcers into the mercenaries’ hands. The Dragoons version is rebuilt with lighter lasers and carries backup lasers the original lacked.
The earlier -6D model is still seen in some Federated Suns units. It uses older, heavier missile systems which lack the streak ability and carry a hard to find advanced targeting computer. The loss of double heat sinks and lack of streak missiles make the -6D run infamously hot.
 The removal of jump jets from the Enforcer early in design allowed for a number of new abilities. Subsequently, attempts to add jump jets have required massive adjustments to weapon systems, armor configurations, and even the cooling system. Very few successful attempts have been reported.

ENF-7D Enforcer
Type/Model:    Enforcer ENF-7D
Tech:          Mixed / 3069
Config:        Biped BattleMech
Manufactured:  Federated Hellfire
              Territories
Fielded:       
Federated Hellfire Terr. (Common)
Federated Suns (Common)


Mass:          50 tons
Equipment:              Crits     Mass
Int. Struct.: Endo-Steel   14     1.50
(Loc: 1 HD, 2 CT, 4 LA, 3 RA, 2 LL,
 2 RL) 83 points
Engine:300    Fusion XL    12     9.50
 Walking MP:   6
 Running MP:   9
 Jumping MP:   0
Heat Sinks: 15 (30) Double  9     5.00
(Loc: 9 RT)
Gyro:                       4     3.00
Cockpit:                    5     3.00
Actuators:                 16     0.00
L: Sh+UA+LA  R: Sh+UA+LA
Armor Factor:               0    10.50
 168 pts
      Internal Structure  Armor Value
Head:                  3      9      
Center Torso:         16     24     
Center Torso (Rear):          7
L/R Side Torso:       12    19/19
L/R Side Torso (Rear):       5/5
L/R Arm:               8    16/16
L/R Leg:              12    24/24


Weapons and Equipment Loc  Crits  Tons
---------------------------------------
2 Machine Guns         LT    2     1.00
ER Large Laser         RA    2     5.00
2 Streak SRM-4s (C)    RA    2     4.00
ER Large Laser         LA    2     5.00
@MG (1/2) (100)        LT    1     0.50
@Streak SRM-4 (25)     RA    1     1.00
Crits & Tons Left:         10     0.0

The Enforcer IV was the model around which The Federated Hellfire Territories’ light ‘Mech bay was built. They are sometimes called “Enforcer Bays” because of the unparalleled ease of working on an Enforcer in a LMB.

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