V2.00BHeavy Arrow Carrier  Au-CCBAAGA 003 4 4 5 2TartA   q (Unknown)` (Unknown)0i (Unknown)-@u When Pinard Protectorates Limited of the Taurian Concordat announced its plans to create a new "lighter" SRM carrier, the Magestrix Command Center of the Magistracy of Canopus petitioned Magestrix Emma Centrella to begin a similar project with the reliable LRM carrier. Not only would this provide the Magistracy Armed Forces with a new and powerful vehicle, but it also represented an astute political move; it demonstrated the Canopians' strength and their willingness to aid other Periphery realms by selling them the new vehicle. Magestrix Centrella saw the wisdom in such actions and immediately authorized the project. To improve the LRM carrier, the designers chose to convert the design to a larger and slower "crawler" configuration. This heavier design sacrificed 60 percent of the original carrier's speed, but the designers compensated by adding a significant amount of additional armor for crew protection, as well as more firepower. Initial field testing proved these additions to be a very satisfactory tradeoff. The smaller internal combustion engine provides room to mount an additional LRM-20 rack, which enables the heavy LRM carrier to launch eighty missiles in a single salvo - considerably more missile firepower than any other Inner Sphere vehicle or 'Mech. The updated design also carries twice as much ammunition as the original, allowing for longer sustained barrages. Like the light SRM carrier, the new heavy LRM carrier mounts all of its weaponry in a turret. This allows the ponderous vehicle to track targets on multiple fronts and is especially effective against targets approaching or passing close to the carrier. The design also features additional armor plating on the front of the vehicle, but this only marginally improves the LRM carrier's life span.     The heavy LRM carrier began rolling off of the assembly lines only months after the light SRM carrier. This timing allowed Majesty Metals and Manufacturing and Pinard Protectorates Limited - with the blessing of Magestrix Centrella and President Calderon - to launch a propaganda campaign featuring the two vehicles working together in the New Colony Region to defend against Inner Sphere predations. Sales of both vehicles have soared, boosted by the promise of easy repair and maintenance, as well as the clever ad campaign. To keep up with demand, Majesty Metals and Manufacturing has already begun to retool its plant on Canopus IV to produce the heavy LRM carrier. Nearly every militia in the Periphery currently fields the heavy LRM carrier.QSource: TRO:3060 and RS:3060 Entered by Chris McIntosh, fluff by Rick Raisley Majesty Metals and ManufacturingDunianshire, Canopus IV InterComBust (Unknown) CommunicatorFireScan with IndirecTrack[ none ]