MercTech: Panther

History:
One of the Draconis Combine's primary light mechs, the Panther is a rather slow 35-tonner, but it packs a mean punch. Originally built for the SLDF, the early Panthers relied on a large-class laser for long-range combat, with a four-tube SRM system for use up close, where it can exploit any holes in a target's armor, and a quartet of Jump Jets to augment its lackluster mobility. Users of this Panther model would find the laser's punch lacking, but after the fall of the Star League and the beginning of the Succession Wars these models would still be used out of necessity. The sole remaining factory would belong to the Draconis Combine, who completely redesigned the Panther to use a powerful particle cannon instead of the laser, and it would cement itself in the Combine's scout lances as a fire-support mech.

The Combine's redesigned Panther would continue to see upgrades throughout the 31st and 32nd Centuries, even as it would be slowly replaced by newer designs. Many of these upgraded Panthers would replace their PPCs with more advanced variants and either increase the number of SRMs it can fire, add Artemis systems to them, or replace them with Streak versions.

PNT-8Z:
Structure: Standard

Armor: Standard 7.5 tons

Engine: Standard 140

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 14 Single Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 1x Large Laser, 1x SRM-4 w/ 1t ammo, 4x Jump Jets

PNT-9R:
Structure: Standard

Armor: Standard 6.5 tons

Engine: Standard 140

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 13 Single Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 1x PPC, 1x SRM-4 w/ 1t ammo, 4x Jump Jets

PNT-10K:
Structure: Endo-Steel

Armor: Standard 6.5 tons

Engine: Standard 140

Top Speed: 65 kph

Gyro: Standard

Heat Sinks: 13 Single Heat Sinks

Cockpit: Standard

Equipment: 1x ERPPC, 1x SRM-4 w/ Artemis IV w/ 1t ammo, CASE, 4x Jump Jets