Proteus

media: Painter 9.5
May 2008

First things first: just before I decided to put this 'Mech on the site, it was called "Cyclops IIC" and nevere really had a form, until a sketch at work pointed out the head and center torso sections. Everything else came after that, just like the new designation...which, truth to be told, it doesn't exist as I write. I'm terrible with names and I just can't think of something right now (or ever since I started drawing this thing). It will surely have a name before being uploaded, but you might notice that all files concerning this Clan BattleMech are named "cyclopsiic"...
Also, I wanted to have a color image for this 'Mech and even painted the whole torso, but I prefered to keep the lines and watercolor shading, upload the design and concentrate on a full color image for the Panther 20K

click to enlarge

Type: Proteus

Mass:	90 tons
Chassis:	CCC-C-T mod. F7
Power Plant:	FusionPower 360 standard model
Cruising Speed:	43 kph
Maximum Speed:	65 kph
Jump Jets:	none
Jump Capacity:	none
Armor:	CC Ferro Fibrous compound 7
Armament:	1 ER PPC 1 ATM 9 2 ER Medium Lasers 2 Streak SRM 4s
Manufacture:	Clan Coyote factory 6
Communication System:	TBC-I CommSys subsystem
Targeting and Trackin System:	TBC-I T&T subsystem with Active Prove

Overview

Initially designed as Cyclops IIC, the Proteus came to its own life after an extensive redesign of both external and internal layout. However, the 'Mech design still features the "mono eye" assembly that gave the name to its ancestor, even if the assembly is no longer a cockpit, but a complex EW pod: the cockpit is located just below this pod, with plenty of protection coming from the 'Mech torso, eliminating the original Cyclops' head weakness.

Capabilities

The heart of the Proteus is its massive EW pod located on top of the cockpit. It features an ECM Suite and an Active Probe located in an heavely armored pod located on top of the torso, plus and updated version of the incredible Tacticon B-2000 computer used on the original Cyclops. Upgraded to Clan standards, the new TBC-I (Tactical Battle Computer, Improved) battle computer features roughly ten times the processing capabilities of its forefather, providing the MechWarrior sitting in the Proteus cockpit with a seamless stream of data coming from all friendly forces. The TBC-I is capable of coordinating even an entire Galaxy while outputting coincise and easy to understand informations to its pilot, giving Clan MechWarriors a feedback similar to Inner Sphere C3 computers, even if the Clan computer is not able to share targeting information as the Inner Sphere equipment or perform as Targeting Computer. What makes the TBC-I so powerful is that it doesn't have to rely on satellites or any existing information network to gather data: through a simple software update, all vehicles, being it 'Mechs, Elementals or Omnifighters, can feed the necessary information to the Proteus. For this incredible capability, the Proteus is often piloted by Star or Nova Colonels and is often away from the front lines, acting as a mobile command and control center. As the Proteus was intended to stay away from direct combat as possible, it does not employ TAG.
In case the Proteus must engage in battle, it can rely on some of the best weapons the Clans have to offer. The weapon loadout is strikingly similar to the original Cyclops: ER Medium Lasers rest in hand-equipped arms, with a massive ATM-9 replacing the original LRM 10 and an ER PPC taking the place of the Zeus-36 class 20 autocannon. With these weapons the Proteus is capable to engage anything at extreme ranges with ease. If an enemy closes too much, the MechWarrior can quickly switch to ATM HE ammo and bring two Streak SRM 4s to bear.
When engaging in battle, the TBC-I automatically switches to a "quiet" mode, where only critical information is relayed to the pilot, at which he or she can reply with voice commands.

Deployment

Although the chassis is easy to produce, the TBC-I is not. As receiving a Proteus also requires a time-consuming software update to any 'Mech deployed with the Proteus, for how simple it might be, not many Clusters have received the new design. Currently, only five of these 'Mechs are operating with the whole Clan Coyote, and none of them have been lost in combat, mostly beacause the Proteus has been assigned to second-line Galaxies where engagement rules are less strict and Proteus where able to direct their starmates from afar.

Variants

An extremly radical variant replaces the standard fusion engine with an extra light version, adds jump jets and to save critical space Ferro Fibrous armor is replace by standard plates. The ATM launcher is upgraded to a twelve-tube version while the ER PPC is swapped for a Heavy Large Laser and the ER Medium Lasers for Pulse models. The Streak launchers are kept, but one is moved to the right arm. A massive CASE protected area stores two tons of ammo for the SRMs and three tons for the ATM-12. One ER Small Laser is mounted near the Heavy Large Laser in the Right Torso, covering the rear side. The make room for the jump jets, the ECM Suite is moved to the head. Remaining space is filled with Double Heat Sinks, for a total of 20 double strenght freezers, still not enough to control all the waste heat generated by the 'Mech's weapons.
Such and extensive use of technology on a BattleMech is rare among the Clans: some speculates that Clan Coyote, where the design originated and only current user of both 'Mech and TBC-I, is working on a OmniMech variant: mixing Omni technology with the new TBC-I battle computer will turn any new 'Mech is an extremely powerful asset for any Clan.

Technology Base: Clan BattleMech
Tonnage: 90