V5.00ˆ‹¯ CommandoCOM-3Tò ð$.”CsCPA@ML 2 2 2 2 —— 6 –   j Pinard Reaperj2 Pinard Reaper8Diverse Optics Type 188 j ú2  jjâÿY`The Lyran Commonwealth has made use of the Commando design for centuries, making its image nearly synonymous with the Lyran state, a powerful feat for a nation that considers anything that size to be an overgrown BattleArmor. A good light BattleMech with heavy firepower and decent armor, it has long been the bane of light BattleMechs fighting for its enemies. Therefore, when the Taurian Concordat found itself in a position to "acquire" the specifications to build a number of Lyran designs the Commando was one of those chosen. Since the 3020s, it has proven itself to be as powerful as its reputation suggested, helping to revitalize the Taurian light lances and companies. It is therefore no surprise that the Commando was the second BattleMech chosen by the Taurian Defense Forces to be upgraded with modern technology during the early 3050s. Work on it began the moment the first Griffins were sent off for field-testing, and it proved to be an easier process than that larger BattleMech. The upgrade process required that the upgraded Commando be cheap enough to be mass-produced, while still increasing its survivability and throw weight. In the end, the Vandenberg Mechanized Industries engineers were unable to match the TDF's stated requirements, but the price increase of less than 20,000 C-Bills per BattleMech and its survivability won the TDF over.•The first upgrade performed on the Commando was the complete removal and replacement of its armor with Durallex Light Ferro-Fibrous with CASE. With maximum armor load on all limbs and on the torso, this made the new 3T variant far more capable of surviving any weapons strikes. Even a catastrophic loss of ammunition containment would no longer destroy the BattleMech, allowing it to continue fighting or to withdraw while still threatening its enemies. This increased survivability has made it the favorite of many MechWarriors. They also replaced the old missile racks with Pinard Reaper Streak systems. While this replacement cost the Commando in throw weight, and was therefore a concern to TDF staff, it did not significantly reduce the average amount of damage the 3T could inflict compared to the older 2D variant. In addition, it greatly reduced ammunition expenditure, allowing a 3T to stay in battle for a longer time. Even though the Streak ammunition proved more expensive, the frugality with which the 3T used it impressed the TDF. Finally, to save money on refits for both existing BattleMechs and the production line, VMI engineers declined to upgrade the engine to one capable of working with the freezer heat sink technology. While the TDF questioned the lack of head dissipation, VMI impressed upon them the capabilities of the Streak systems to keep heat at a much lower level than normal for such a heavily armed BattleMech. They also showed the TDF staff the projected price increase for the 3T with and without the freezer technology. In the end, the TDF agreed with the decision to not use freezer technology and sent the Commando 3T into testing. The prototype Commando 3Ts saw action with the Hyades Light Infantry, battling pirates and raiders from both the Capellan Confederation and the Federated Commonwealth. In all cases, the attackers were surprised by the new Commando's capability to take damage and dish it out in response. One of the battles nearly turned to disaster though when the O/P 911 targeting and tracking system froze up. Not designed to work with the Pinard Reaper Streak systems, a rare series of inputs from the Reapers partially caused by a series of freak conditions including a hailstorm and lightning that greatly affected the sensors caused the O/P 911 to refuse to accept any information at all. The MechWarrior in command, outnumbered, now outgunned, and limited to the mark one eyeball, chose to charge the enemy Wasps and engage them in physical combat. The 3T's improved armor allowed it to shrug off the Wasps' weapons fire while the MechWarrior commenced to reducing the Davion raiders to hysterics. Even when one of the Wasps managed to maneuver behind the Commando and shot its ammunition bay out, the damaged BattleMech continued to fight back with its one remaining arm. Reinforcements arrived in time to literally shoot the last Wasp off the Commando, sending it to join its three compatriots already on the ground. When it returned to headquarters the VMI engineer on hand to help with problems could barely believe the Commando was still running. Only scraps of its armor remained, and most of its heat sinks had been blown off. Its cracked engine shielding was venting waste heat, and even the laser assembly in its left arm was ruined due to constantly being the target of desperate Davion raiders trying to avoid the MechWarrior's punches. The VMI engineer soon found himself avoiding the enraged MechWarrior's punches as well after the man seemingly ran down his BattleMech's side while swearing a blue streak a kilometer wide. Only the timely intervention of several Constables kept the MechWarrior from badly injuring the engineer. Once the threat to his life and limb had been pulled off him, the engineer was able to find the fault that caused the problem in the first place. A simple software patch was all that was required to fix the issue, but battle ROMs of the encounter found themselves circulating throughout the Concordat within weeks. The ability of the Commando to destroy its competition in physical combat impressed any MechWarrior considering upgrading his or her Commando, and did much to bring acceptance of the design to the TDF in general. ôSubaltern Tiberius James The MechWarrior who took his Commando into physical combat, he has a tendency to bite off more than he can handle. When asked about Tiberius, Colonel Verbret says "that mouth of his keeps landing his ass in trouble. But if Davion BattleMechs had me surrounded I'd want him at my side." Tiberius has numerous citations for disorderly conduct, and appears to have never met a bar fight he didn't love. He also has a tendency to have communications problems at the height of battle, and has been through nearly a dozen communications systems to date. So far, no battle has been lost because of his intermittent loss of communications, but the Colonel seems to be keeping a close eye on the slightly rebellious company commander.1The Hyades Light Infantry make heavy use of the Commando 3T, preferring it over other light BattleMech designs for its pure ruggedness and offensive power. They make use of other light BattleMechs that are more mobile, but whenever the Light Infantry commits to battle there will always be multiple 3Ts involved. With the ease of upgrading 2Ds to the 3T version, they are also seen throughout the TDF in other formations. Enemies from one side of the Concordat to the other have met this dangerous light BattleMech and have universally learned to respect it.  @C:\Program Files\HeavyMetal\Pro\Bmps\TRO 3025\3025 Commando1.jpg Vandenberg Mechanized IndustriesIlliushin / TC (VMI)VOXDurallex Light with CASECoventry Metal Works Garret T10BO/P 911 (Unknown)