Notos

Ferrite:	21000
Bioptics:	16000
Niodes:	100

In early 3311, the Gorax Plague had spread to every region in the galaxy and the Mercenary Clans stepped up to help deliver a vaccine for the virus to all known worlds. Swarms of Ambershard Stalkers roamed the galaxy, and the Illyrian high command knew they they needed to come up with a new mecha to combat this threat. Fortunately, the research staff on Novum Delorum had already begun work on a new 100 ton mecha design and their timing couldn’t have been better.

When the Novum colony was cut off by Gorax and his forces, the Illyrian House of Romulus representatives on Novum realized that the best course of action was to complete the project with resources they already had at their disposal. Taking a few ideas from the Pyrophorus, Inferno, and Ignis, they worked with Novum’s designers to craft the perfect fire mecha.

Rather than build from scratch, they decided to heavily modify a widely renowned combat-proven mecha design and rebuild it to create a fire weaponry specialist. They chose the Boreas due to its well known combat suitability. The Notos concept from the Novum research staff, which included initial design notes from Security Chief Tory, was centered around two very important facts: Flame weapons are the optimal weapon against creatures like the Ambershard Stalkers and heavy shields prolong combat effectiveness.

Since the design team had a working model to use as a baseline, they began by looking for ways to optimise the existing A.I., dubbed El Niño to meet the needs of the Notos. This phase of development progressed rapidly and they were successful in replacing several of the single mecha targeting processors with multiple targeting Splash subroutines. Since one of the primary effects of many Fire weapon systems is the area attack Splash, this was critical to the redesign.

Fully upgraded, the Notos A.I. can support up to eight custom equipment modules. This is more than any other mecha can currently field. A large portion of programming is dedicated to multiple target acquisition.

Illyrian engineers are adept at gaining the maximum benefit from Fire weapons and as a result, the Notos will generate a yield that grows to 88% above factory specification with flame units. The Notos applies its own target data to greatly enhance the inherent features of flame weapons. The ability to damage multiple targets with overlapping fields of fire makes a squad of Notos particularly dangerous. Coupled with built in targeting locks to ensure shots will hit their mark, El Niño packs a deadly punch.

Engineers expanded the available space for the powerplant from the Boreas framework and as a result, Notos carries a larger powerplant. The massive Southron Furnace provides enough power to the motive system to make the Notos the fastest 100 ton mecha produced yet.

At basic battle-readiness, the Southron Furnace produces enough power to generate overloaded triple-powered salvos. As it is upgraded, pilots will be able to generate these overloaded salvos with increased frequency and double-powered become an available addition to the Notos’ arsenal. Combined with the area of effect Splash attacks, the overloads can quickly cut a wide swath through enemy ranks.

The Southron Furnace can support up to six additional modules, giving pilots a great deal of flexibility to customize this mecha. The extreme bulkiness of the powerplant precluded the installation of a secondary cooling system and the heavy impacts from Projectile attacks can disrupt coolant flow, causing overheating in the powerplant.

The Chassis required the fewest modifications for the Notos design, so pilots will still have the familiar seven equipment slots for custom equipment modules. For defense, the Notos carries several small shield emitters to reduce any incoming fire. There are also five slots for heavy shield modules to be added, giving the pilot a full range of protection from all weapon types.

The majority of the shielding built into the mech is designed to counter Missiles, Lasers and Ice weapons. Not a surprising choice by designers, considering the contemporaries the Notos will likely face. Fully upgraded, the pilot can expect 25% of Ice and Laser weaponry attacks to be absorbed by the shielding. A ballistic defense system is provided to shoot down or deflect nearly half of all Missile attacks before they can impact the Notos. This system comes online with only minor upgrades and functions at higher capacities as pilots continue to upgrade the mecha.

To defend against secondary targeting systems, the Notos uses a series of electronic noise generators to create false images in an opponent's display. This is combined with a unique radar absorbing alloy woven into the armor and gives the Notos a small chance to evade incoming fire. After the pilot losses suffered in the testing of the Cindron, the designers made the unique composition of the armor heavily flame retardant for additional pilot protection. This system also enables the Notos to evade up to 30% of Fork and Wide Fork attacks. The abundant shielding provided for the Notos is designed to withstand an impressive array of firepower.

While the Mercenary Clans have often been looked to for feedback on the design, they were heavily recruited to transport the vaccine for the Gorax Plague to every known world in the galaxy while the Notos was being developed. Not wanting to leave any remote colonies without aide, the Mercenary Clans ensured the the Plague was vanquished.

The Hegemony high command took full advantage of the clans’ conspicuous absence to build the Notos in secrecy. With their primary research facility unreachable, Illyrian generals were unwilling to risk their new design getting into the wrong hands. Many people feared that more worlds may be cut off from the Gateway network.

The Notos benefited greatly from being manufactured in a collaboration between the House of Romulus, Tory, and the Novum security staff. Tory’s extensive experience as a Fire weapon specialist pilot gives her a uniquely qualified view as to specifications needed for the Notos. A small number of Notos are manufactured at the Novum research facility on an ongoing basis. These units are built for the exclusive use of the Novum security staff and Illyrian military. The majority of Notos are manufactured at an adjacent facility on Novum Delorum.

Legendary Pilots

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  MAKEMA

  As of Today a new legend s being told around the Mecha Galaxy. Makema Mathews has become renowned as a legendary pilot of the 100 ton Notos Class Mecha. Partially designed by Security Chief Tory, a brilliant mind particularly when it comes to flame based mecha, the Notos is one of the most finely designed mecha currently available in the galaxy, boasting impressive enhancements to not only fire based weaponry, but speed and shielding as well. First made famous by legendary pilot Fabio Favaro in 3311, Mathews is the second pilot to ever achieve legendary status with the battle ready Notos; the first student to every truly become a master of the mecha. Mathews has a long galactic history, gaining his first medals and establishing himself in the mecha universe in 3341. Two short galactic years later Mathews was instrumental in the defeat of one of the galaxies most sinister villains, Drochah. From there, Mathews began his search for a mecha home. Mathews wandered briefly before taking up an ever bigger challenge, that of forming his own clan. If Mathews could not find a home among the clans that existed, he would be a beacon for other like minded pilots searching for a clan amongst the far flung stars. At it's height the clan, known as "Raging Vengeance," Mathews could boast of over 100 skilled and trained pilots at his command. A force to be reckoned with, Raging Vengeance made it's presence known in the clan wars and left a powerful stamp on the young mecha galaxy. Though health issues would temporarily cause Mathews to retreat from the public square, he returned galactic years ago and reformed the Raging Vengeance with a fury befitting it's name. Sheparded by Mathews the clan's name is consistently seen on leader boards and will continue to be a potent for in for the mecha galaxy in the future as it was in the past. When asked for comment, Mathews mused that the tale of Raging Vengeance was far too complicated to be told as a blurb, "One day I'll tell the story," he affirmed "There's too much not to tell." Whether by his own pen, or by future bards and skalds, only one things is certain - the legend of Makema Mathews will only grow throughout the galaxy.

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  Fabio Favaro

  Pilots who dare to crest the upper reaches of power in the galaxy are often known for their eccentricities, and Fabio Favaro is no exception. He is a regular fixture on Novum Dolorum, and can often be found discussing fire weapons and mecha with Tory. Flamethrowers excite him and fill him with passion. After the Gorax Plague, he was invited to consult with Tory on ideas for a new fire mecha and her team eventually developed the Notos. Fabio was one of the first pilots to test the initial prototype and his extensive experience was an asset to the team in finalizing the design. When the Notos was made available for purchase, Fabio lead the field and debuted his Notos in the Point Mech competition of 3311.