Bishop

Ferrite:	10500 On Sale! 8820
Bioptics:	11500 On Sale! 9660
Crystal:	300 On Sale! 252

Star Factories, content with their dominating market share in mech production, had taken to developing top of the line prototype models like the Sever. The Corporate Titan felt comfortable with this position, as they "promoted innovation" within the industry.

The competitors over at Talbus Arms felt the need to put forth a competitive design to match the prototype models. Thus they were tasked with creating a centerpiece Mecha to compete with the pure offensive nature of the Sever Mech. At 75 tons, the result was the Bishop.

Using design techniques and components from the 32/Hoplite and the Freon the engineers were able to strip the shield components of the '32' and mesh them with the weapon systems and armor frame of the Freon.

The mass of the mech combined with the armor system on base models caused a speed reduction. However, an adapted energy regulator in the advanced models have the ability to give certain speed enhancements that make it quite formidable. The Bishop furthered the competition with laser and ice weapon circuts with faster recycling times, higher energy capacity and flow regulators opened wide.

It still has better armor than most mass produced Heavy mechs. However, the decision to use thinner plating than most mechs allowed for the bioplastic and niode servers and control systems to operate at peak efficiency for speed and accuracy of motion. This makes for a heavy mech that with a skilled pilot familiar with its controls reacts as quickly a much lighter mech. Unfortunately a pilot unfamiliar with the responsiveness of the Bishop compared to other heavy mechs often has to dampen its systems.

The Cogwerk was quick to adopt the Bishop as a point mech against Hegemony offensives when they realized they were being bested in terms of precision. Controlling the initial moments of battle post gate-jump with the Bishop allowed the Cogwerk the time to move other mech forces into position. The Bishop was adept at eliminating targets and providing cover fire with its freeze and ion weaponry.

Legendary Pilots

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  Joe Kump

  Mercenary Commander Joe "Raven" Kump, during action against the Cogwerk, was able to intercept a new shipment of Bishops bound for the front. After painting one black and fitting it with Galaxy Eyes, Commander Raven was a terror during the Hegemony Offensive. Parents still whisper to their children about the Raven's eyes in the night.

• 

  David van Fleet

  There are stories of the first mech pilots who debuted on the first circuits and tournaments and conquered the coveted golds of the champions. These pilots became the veteran assassins behind the controls of the most fearsome ferrite machines; they were the heroes and warriors that emerged from the mists of legend.
  
  David van Fleet, known by the call sign Baby Elephant, was one of these legendary pioneers. In a short time, he reached renown and honor among the other veterans. In the second division of the inaugural Clan War, Baby Elephant made a masterful tactical maneuver that even today is reverently taught in some of the most prestigious mech pilot academies. In it, he used lethal elegance to beat each of his opponents without suffering the loss of a single mech. Some smile at the memory of his short yet resounding public announcement: "Killed them all. Blood on the trunk".
  
  After a fleeting walk through the halls of glory with the MurderBots, Baby Elephant decided to retire to a more discrete unit. There, he perfected some of his maneuvers with his powerful Bishop "Crazy Train", until, in 3298, he retired completely from the competition.
  
  In 3325, rumors spread that the old legend had emerged from his long lethargy. During the campaign of Vupa 6, he found a heroic death, being the only one to find, fight, and defeat a Yoram Mech warrior. Although it is said that he died along with his opponent, nothing is known for sure, except that the Illyrian Hegemony rescued his body and that he was buried with the honors of a hero.

• 

  Captain Elwood Gearey is one of the best Talbus Arms test pilots. During initial tests of the Bishop chassis he decided to try outrunning four camera equipped Anzus assigned to film the test run. Not only did he out run them, he completely lost them. Unfortunately the pseudo armor platting on the test chassis was shredded in the process.

• 

  The prototype of this mech was piloted by the Captain of the Hired Goons shortly after Clan Wars 5 who didn't want to leave the cockpit exclaiming "The laser systems are firing so fast people will think a star hit them. You should name this after the Aurora Borealis back on earth. If you could paint it like my motorcycle, that would be great. I can't wait to tell the boys in the clan about this one... Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!"