MercTech: Catapult

History:
Designed for the Terran Hegemony as a second-line missile support mech, the 65 ton Catapult would eventually become a mech synonymous with the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine. Produced in large numbers during its short production run the Catapult would maintain a constant presence in the SLDF up until its exodus after the Amaris Civil War, when most of the remaining examples would fall into the hands of House Liao and Kurita. The Catapult is notable for its exceptional mobility for a support mech, with the inclusion of Jump Jets into the design allowing it to easily traverse difficult terrain and easily put itself into advantageous positions. The original Catapults all relied on large LRM launchers found within its box-like arms, allowing it to put out impressive firepower at long ranges, at close ranges, however, the mech suffers, with many models only offering token firepower if any at all within the LRM's arming range.

While the Catapult's numbers would slowly dwindle over the Succession Wars, the mech would re-enter production in the early 31st Century for both the Confederation and the Combine, who would continue to upgrade it over the next century with the latest technologies, with both houses taking it into different directions. The Capellans would develop a few variants built around a massive Arrow-IV artillery missile system, allowing it to strike from extreme distances and pairing well with Capellan spotter mechs like their iconic Raven, while the Kuritans would continue to improve a pre-Succession War model that replaced the launchers with particle cannons, turning the mech into a potent brawler.

CPLT-C1:
Structure: Standard

Armor: Standard 10 tons

Engine: Standard 260

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 15 Single Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 2x LRM-15s w/ 2t ammo, 4x Medium Lasers, 4x Jump Jets

CPLT-A1:
Structure: Standard

Armor: Standard 12 tons

Engine: Standard 260

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 15 Single Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 2x LRM-15s w/ 4t ammo, 4x Jump Jets

CPLT-C4:
Structure: Standard

Armor: Standard 10 tons

Engine: Standard 260

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 10 Single Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 2x LRM-20s w/ 4t ammo, 2x Small Lasers, 4x Jump Jets

CPLT-K2:
Structure: Standard

Armor: Standard 11 tons

Engine: Standard 260

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 20 Single Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 2x PPCs, 2x Medium Lasers, 2x Machine Guns w/ 1t ammo

CPLT-C3:
Structure: Standard

Armor: Standard 10 tons

Engine: Standard 260

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 15 Single Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 1x Arrow-IV w/ 1t ammo, 4x Medium Lasers, 4x Jump Jets

CPLT-C1b:
Structure: Standard

Armor: Ferro-Fibrous 10 tons

Engine: Standard 260

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 12 Double Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 2x LRM-15s w/ 4t ammo, 4x Medium Lasers, 4x Jump Jets, 2x CASE