Megazome

Ferrite:	4600
Bioptics:	2600
Niodes:	95

To understand the Megazome, you must understand its origins and that story starts with the Fides mecha. The Megazome has been called a bigger and more punishing version of the Fides, a point that has been debated by military theorists since the introduction of the two mecha.

Early in the second Meiji/Illyrian conflict, Alpha Corp was attempting to capitalize on the success of their Smilodon design. When the Fides was first introduced by the Illyrian Hegemony, it immediately made an impact in their ongoing conflict with the Meiji Shogunate. This motivated Shogunate high command to put a bounty on the Fides with the promise of a huge reward for the capture of an intact model. At the same time, they ordered their research and development teams to add the design elements into a similar model for the Shogunate military. This model was to become the Megazome.

While both the military and scientific approaches led nowhere, the Shogunate found its luck in a young mercenary pilot named Andi Blackwing. In pursuit of the bounty, she developed and carried out a brilliant plan in which she stole the Fides factory blueprints and construction schematics, rather than make an attempt to steal a heavily guarded mecha. She received a generous reward for that information and AlphaCorp engineers began building the Megazome prototype.

Since the AlphaCorp engineers had the design data to study, they had the luxury of concentrating their efforts on improving the base design to create the Megazome. This option was far more appealing than constructing a simple copy of it. They reprogrammed the original Black Box A.I. and made considerable performance improvements. False signals and jamming effects from anti-mech viruses are gradually amplified as the Black Box receives upgrades for increasing yield in battle. The analysis programming for individual weapon types is subdivided in order to boost the output of every weapon system.

Several banks of target scanners are included in this version of the Back Box to search for weakened or vulnerable locations on an opposing mecha that may be exploited with a Crit-Kill shot. Fully upgraded, the Megazome has a probability greater than one-in-ten of executing a Crit-Kill every time it fires. Long range IFF allows the pilot to direct fire into any area with approaching enemy mecha. The Black Box for the Megazome has a trio of slots for custom upgrade modules.

The complex “Hexapod” movement system built for the Fides was one of the features of the design most admired by Shogunate Command, so the Megazome designers kept it unchanged. Engineers decided to power the Megazome with the Akira class cold fusion generator. The Akira produces enough energy to boost the Megazome’s performance beyond the standards for mecha in this tonnage range. Double and Triple strength overloads are also produced as any power not used for the motive system is directed into the weapons systems. The Akira comes equipped with two slots for the addition of mission critical equipment.

The low profile and wide frame of the Megazome allow for six chassis modules to be mounted inside the frame, giving this mecha an impressive range of flexibility on missions. The large number of upgrade modules enable Shogunate commanders to deploy it in nearly every mission and theater in their ongoing skirmishes with opposing factions. This versatility makes the Megazome a dangerous and unpredictable opponent.

The large volume dedicated to chassis equipment leaves less room for shielding, although the commonplace trimount shield module was installed behind the powerplant. While this makes maintenance difficult, the added protection is worth the time required to swap modules.

Late in the first decade of the 3300’s, while the Shogunate struggled to recover from civil war, they came under attack from the League of Ages and Gorax. In order to strengthen their forces, the Shogunate concentrated on improving their military production. The Megazome is one of their premier assault units and was made a high priority under this project. The update package they developed was entirely offensive in nature and this is most likely due to the various threats to the Shogunate at the time.

The Megazome’s electronics package received the vast majority of the update programming. Processing and computing routines were given an overhaul in order to increase the probability of a Crit-Kill shot. The anti-mech virus programming also received a boost, enabling the Megazome to slow the response time and rate of return fire from its opponents. New targeting subroutines also enhanced the damage potential of all types of weapons, giving a more powerful punch to every shot that connects.

The Power systems were also improved in the update package. Considerable speed increases keep the Megazome on pace with similar mecha. Overload capacitors were optimized for rapid recharge, allowing for a greater frequency of overloads.

When Andi Blackwing set the course of history and dramatically delivered the Fides schematics to the Shogunate, Shogunate high command was so impressed by her unorthodox tactics that they offered her a permanent position in Shogunate Intelligence. Andi Blackwing was fiercely independent and to their surprise, she politely but adamantly refused their offer. Rather than risk her lending her talents to other agencies, the Shogunate Intelligence Corps then tried to have her assassinated. She repeatedly dodged the assassins they sent after her but this double-crossing motivated her to found the Blackwing Bandits. Her leadership laid the foundation for their mysterious group’s profitable existence over the last 100 years.

The Shogunate owes the existence of the Megazome to the daring exploits of one pilot. Her legendary commando style raid in the Hegemony is still studied in military academies across the galaxy.

Legendary Pilots

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  Bing Paculan

  known as "The Destroyer", he made his humble start in the Black Company and worked his way up the KOTM ladder where he quickly gained fame and the eye of the MMI where he now resides. The Megazome made him famous, though he is more than proficient in most mechs on the market.

• 

  Mark K. Penner

  Ensconced within his Megazome, Commander Penner utilizes its brutal maneuverability to seek out the weaknesses in opponent's armor. The versatility of this mecha plays perfectly into this pilot's hands as he dominates the battlefield to this day from his Megazome's cockpit. Beware all, This warrior is a master of the multi-limbed art of war.