V5.00ˆo°2 Hunchback HBK-O (base)í >e€?MM 4 4 1 — —— 4Jomni È       âÿ¨0The HBK-O is the first Omnimech designed and produced by Burger's Battlemechs, beginning production late in 3053. Taking advantage of the numerous configurations of existing Hunchbacks, Burger's engineers used modern technology to upgrade the Hunchback to better take advantage of these configurations. ÛSimplicity of design is what makes the HBK-O effective and easily maintained. Instead of the numerous "subconfigurations" of Hunchbacks using different components, he HBK-O utilizes a simple structure and engine, based on the original HBK-4G Hunchback. The HBK-O can accept almost any weapons configuration easily, and the simplicity of design also makes repairs easier to accomplish. The HBK-O utilizes double heat sinks to handle a fair amount of heat. The cooling system is also configured to make adding extra heat sinks an easy matter. A major advantage this Hunchback has over others is the addition of jump jets, which greatly improve mobility and allow the Hunchback to keep up with mechs that are normally faster, given the relatively slow speed of the Hunchback for a 50 ton mech. The HBK-O has an impressive 19 tons of pod space. Most units use configurations utilizing ballistic (Primary/"D") or missile ("A"/"C") weaponry as the primary weapons, but a few configurations use exclusively energy weapons ("B"/"F"), primarily among mercenary units and those units where resupply could be a problem. One configuration is fast becoming the "standard Clantech refit" ("E") in various Federated Commonwealth and Draconis Combine units that have captured Clan equipment. Alternate Configuration "F" comes from the Taurian Concordat. Mechwarrior Peter La Casse, incensed at the shortcomings of the old HBK-4G Hunchback, and noticing a glut of advanced laser weaponry suddenly made available by the Taurian military industrial complex, used his connections in both the Federated Commonwealth and Taurian military bureaucracy to route a lance of HBK-O Hunchbacks to his unit, as well as a supply of the overproduced (and therefore cheap) Double Heat Sinks and Extended Range energy weaponry. La Casse tinkered about, until he came up with a configuration that had both long- and short-range firepower. Unfortunately, even with the addition of 3 Double Heat Sinks, overheating is a problem.    øSince production began late in 3053, the HBK-O Hunchback has been shipped to all of the major Houses and many mercenary units. Surprisingly, the Taurian Concordat has also ordered many HBK-O's, rare for a Periphery state. The HBK-O has enjoyed considerable success against all sorts of opponents, including the Clans. Rumors abound of Omni-Hunchbacks taking Clan Omnimechs as heavy as the Loki without assistance. If these rumors are true, it would go well towards promoting the mech's successes.   [ none ]Burger's Battlemechs Tancredi IVMagnaDurallex Medium with CASE Crucis Type VBurger CommPlusBurger TrackPlusBurger Special Type 2