V5.00ˆ! F WarhammerWHM-8Mû BÊ„°EÐEàA˜Aà@MH 5 3 4 4 22 4  ! ¯ (Unknown)¯ (Unknown)Z (Unknown)Z (Unknown)l (Unknown)[ (Unknown)[ (Unknown)¯¯¯¯ Z[ ¯¯¯¯ Z[ llü  öÿØ— Like the Marauder, the Warhammer is one of the most feared BattleMechs ever designed. Throughout its more than five centuries of history, many a weak-spirited warrior has run from the sight of a "Hammer" bearing down on them. StarCorps Industries, the original builder of the Warhammer, jumped at the chance to redesign and build what is arguably the most famous BattleMech in history. As the initial design and development process progressed on Crofton, the Lyran bureau on Son Hoa expressed an interest in this redesign. It didn't take long for the other bureaus to get wind of this update and soon production managers and engineering chiefs from all of Star Corps' divisions had made their way to Crofton. What was supposed to be a weeklong business negotiation allegedly turned into a month long festival where all parties celebrated endlessly as StarCorps executives made the decision to simultaneously produce this new Warhammer in four realms. The 'Mech's base chassis would remain the same; the only differences between the final production 'Mechs would be House-specific technologies that would, naturally, not be shared between the four involved realms.ê The WHM-8D is the descendent of the venerable Warhammer 6D, but has been given a complete redesign. It retains a weapons loadout similar to that of its forebearer, though mounting extended-range lasers and PPCs instead of the standard versions of those weapons. Replacing the traditional SRM 6 launcher is the new Harpoon Streak 6 launcher. The addition of the C3 module allows this model to work in lances and companies with the new Thanatos and other C3-equipped AFFS 'Mechs. It retains the theoretically maximum-possible armor protection that, when combined with its standard fusion engine and CASE, makes the Warhammer 8D a powerful and tough BattleMech. In fact, to date no complaints about the 8D has yet been forwarded from the field. ì Three additional Warhammer variants have seen the light of day. The Capellan Confederation is, of course, producing a stealth armor-equipped model to further their Shadow Lances. The LAAF version built on Son Hoa makes use of their light fusion engine, removing the small lasers and the C3 slave and filling the available mass with additional heat sinks. The Federated Suns has taken a completely different tactic with a second version built on Crofton, though; the WHM-9D increases replaces the power plant with a 350 extra light, and adds jump jets and a targeting computer. House Marik is already producing the 8D on Emris IV, but is also working on obtaining a license for Ronin, Inc. on Wallis, a company likely to design and produce a FWL-exclusive variant. The most disturbing fact, however, is that the WHM-9S has been sighted in service with the Black Warriors. No known units have been stolen from Son Hoa, however, and the LAAF has not yet determined the source of these Warhammers. ï StarCorps was able to deliver a full production run to each of the four involved Houses by mid-August of 3066, giving these new Warhammers the chance to test their mettle against other new 'Mech designs during the FedCom Civil War. Surprisingly, AFFS and LCAF reports show that every single Warhammer delivered to those two militaries is still in service. As it once did years ago, the Warhammer is again becoming the backbone for many heavy lances within the AFFC, CCAF, FWLM and the LAAF.ÏEntered by Josh "Maverick" Helton from Project Phoenix, www.ClassicBattleTech.com. Distribution from RS:3067. Fluff from "Project Phoenix", www.classicbattletech.com, entered by Josh "Maverick" Helton. [ none ] Heavy PPC 1515  A'@ 2452211901551170830523067<StarCorps IndustriesCrofton, Emris IVGMDurallex HeavyStarFrame HeavyGarret T60 FasScan w/ C3 Garret F22C (Unknown)