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Megalodon
Megalodon started it story as a Warhawk Prime claimed by Clan Diamond Shark as isorla from Clan Wolf. Its four ER-PPCs had been destroyed making it worthless to the front line galaxies so it instead went to the second line shops for a refit. It sat in disrepair for an inordinate amount of time until the lead tech drew up alternate plans for it in a final bid to get it out of the door before it started costing him personally. The build proved more costly and difficult than anticipated but in the end they completed a new omni-mech compliant variant which they designated WHK-M.
The build tested well, but its unusual weaponry made it completely unviable for many of the combat roles Warhawks were known for. Its twin LB-20X auto-cannons were dependent on heavy weight ammo meaning it lacked the battlefield longevity that commanders often demanded. They were also only effective at close range, meaning the mech would be too under-armed in open field battles with its three ER medium lasers. Despite these limitations, the mech was acquired by Lambda Spina Galaxy and used very effectively in fast paced assaults. Usually, by the time it hit the front line of a battle, snipers and faster mechs would have done enough damage to open up enemy armor just enough for the Megalodons LB-20Xs to pulverise their internal structure.
...Warhawks pack a lot of quirks
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Sulfur Hawk
After a long battle of attrition with elements from Clan Wolfs 1st Wolf Cavalry through the sulfurous boiling hot springs of Evciler's lowlands, all that was left of an escort unit from Jade Falcons 9th Provisional Garrison cluster was one Warhawk of an experimental design a Marauder IIC and three Kit Foxes. The star had been repainted in thick coats of industrial anti-corrosive paints after their Phi Galaxy liveries had been scorched while fighting just two days earlier. Despite being outnumbered nearly two to one against a veteran unit the Jade Falcons managed to win a decisive battle at Archgrave Break-away iron extraction site. Anticipating a fast and aggressive push by the Wolves at this location the Jade Falcons used survey data and resources from the mine to lay a trap for the wolves. Five hundred kilograms of mine explosives were hidden beneath the springs, and when the Wolfs vanguard Dire Wolf passed over it they were detonated causing disorientation as the thick plumes of steam and sulfurous gasses reduced the already poor visibility to near zero. Star Commander Johan in the Warhawk immediately lead the counter-attack. He smashed through a high wall of calcium stalagmites opening up a direct route to the enemies flank, and then only a few minutes later the bulk of the perusing Wolf units were completely annihilated with the remainder retreating out of the dense blanket of toxic fumes that had shrouded the site.
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Shukuteki
Although this Masakari from Clan Smoke Jaguar's Delta Galaxy was eventually captured intact during the battle of Luthien, it's unknown pilot managed to defy and embarrass Draconis officers by destroying multiple waves of tanks and mechs sent to destroy it. It was named Shukuteki by the elite Kurita unit that was eventually mustered to hunt it down. After finding Shukuteki's pilot too exhausted to fight, the unit secured the mech for the Combine and it was later gifted by the Otomo to Kato Reo, the daughter and only child of a respected Kurita mechwarrior who was killed during the battle. She had vowed revenge on Smoke Jaguar and returned the Masakari to the clan territory it came from to fight in the battles that would eventually lead to the annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar.
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Edited by jjm1, 01 April 2017 - 10:52 PM.
