Black Python (Viper)

         The Viper is a heavy BattleMech available only to Clan Steel Viper. A second Viper heavy ‘Mech, the Matador, is a formidable machine, but the Viper’s combination of weaponry is far better balanced. The Viper has the firepower of an Inner Sphere Warhammer or Marauder, and the BattleMaster’s capacity for taking damage.
         This combination of armor and firepower is further enhanced with extraordinary speed, making this ‘Mech a deadly battlefield opponent. This machine can currently catch and destroy all the significant medium ‘Mechs the Inner Sphere deploys.

         The Viper is a large, very fast heavy ‘Mech. The standard weapon layout consists of paired large and medium pulse lasers in each torso, augmented by small pulse lasers mounted on each side of the ‘Mech’s forward facing. All the weapons are tied to a targeting computer, placed in the heavily armored torso, which gives the ‘Mech deadly accurate firing abilities. A secondary machine gun is fitted to the left arm, giving the pilot minimal anti-infantry suppression fire.
         The ‘Mech is fully jump capable, and as on the Goshawk and Matador, thrust from the jump jets is passed over control surfaces to stabilize flight. Angular armor plating to deflect blast damage away from the point of impact creates a striking profile which makes the Viper easy to identify on the battlefield.
         Its four-pulse-laser combination provides the Viper with a balance of firepower the equal of any other ‘Mech in its weight class. That firepower aimed by the deadly accurate Clan targeting computer system forms a weapons platform of unparalleled accuracy. As battlefield analysts like to point out, the biggest weapon on the battlefield is of no importance if the pilot cannot hit the target; the Viper weapon system is not the biggest available, but its chances of hitting the target approach near certainty. The Viper demands, and should receive, a healthy respect from its opponents.

         One Viper variant uses alternate weapons in place of everything but the machine gun and small pulse lasers. In place of the twin laser combination in the torso sections, this variant carries a combination of an Ultra-2 autocannon plus two tons of ammunition and extended range large laser. A second small pulse laser is fitted to the head and a reduced one-ton targeting computer is tied into the aiming circuits. The Viper loses a double heat sink in this variant, but this should not adversely affect its combat ability as long as the pilot alternates firing the small lasers with one of the large.

         As with all new Steel Viper ‘Mechs, no substantiated combat reports are available. Computer projections, however, pronounce this ‘Mech a deadly machine, and this will no doubt be confirmed by the first raiders to face this design.