compiled overview of the 30
ton Jackal 'Mech, from various
BattleTech novels and game sourcebooks:
The
Jackal was designed by the now famous
Vining Engineering and Salvage Team (
VEST) in conjunction with
House Marik's
Earthwerks BattleMech factory on
Keystone.
VEST began as a five person
BattleMech salvage operation on
Solaris VII and in seven months has grown into one of the most innovative design groups for the Battlefield technology in the
InnerSphere.
The key to
VEST's approach is that the designers study and analyze the combat conditions up close, then engineer to meet the needs of
the MechWarriors. During salvaging operations on
Carse and
Nox (1st wave of the
Clan invasion)
VEST's design team reviewed
Clan tactics and the damage they caused to
InnerSphere units. They determined that
'Mechs capable of inflicting concentrated damage at long ranges would be most useful to
InnerSphere commanders.
For the structure of the
Jackal,
VEST used a prototype Hollis Mrk VI
endo steel frame as the basis for their design. Drawing again on their
first-hand experience of
the Clans, the engineers tackled the problem of manufacturing a hard-hitting BattleMech with the
defenses to hang in for a prolonged fight against superior
Clan firepower. One very powerful, energy weapon would be needed to provide unlimited firing and conserve weight for
armor.
The core of the
Jackal's firepower is the
Aberdovey Mk XXX extended range PPC. Mounted in the
'Mech's upper right shoulder, the weapon has proved easy to service. Rather than waste space on
static discharge coil systems, the
VEST designers simply allow for rear discharge; when the
Jackal fires its
PPC, there is a blast of blue
static electricity out of the back of the
'Mech to the rear of the
PPC mount. Though it is not dangerous, the rear discharge is a menacing sight, silhouetting the
Jackal during night operations.
Backing the
PPC's onslaught is a
Holly Streak SRM-2 Pack with 50 salvos. A Burow
Anti-Missle System adds another defensive measure and helps against
infantry.
In order to sell their design,
VEST offered it to a promising new
stable on
Solaris VII, where the
'Mech took part in several
matches. The
Jackal proved to be a deadly
hunter 'Mech. With
speed and firepower equally balanced, it was able to slowly chew away at its
opposition before the enemy could
close for a kill.
Earthwerks was so impressed with the
'Mechs performance that they purchased the design immediately.
Quite a few of these new
BattleMechs have been sold to
House Liao and deployed along their
Periphery border with the
Magistracy of Canopus. In the very
limited engagements occurring there, the
Jackal has served as a highly effective deterrent to the typical Periphery border raiders/
pirates.
The
Federated Commonwealth has also expressed interest in procurring a shipment of
Jackals, but their order has been delayed by the notorious tangle of
red tape created by the
Free Worlds League's bureaucracy.
MIIO operatives believe that the delays are intentional rather than coincidental. According to unofficial
sources, the
Jackal was designed to be a commodity shared only by
House Liao and
House Marik.
Note: Information used here was the domain of FASA before they split the rights between Wizkids LLC and Microsoft (table-top gaming and video games respectively). Copyright of the fluff text is in limbo, but names of persons, places, & things are without any doubt the property of Wizkids LLC. Use of any terms here related to the BattleTech trademark are not meant as a challenge to Wizkids LLC's rights.