Editing Liberator (BattleMech)

{{Otheruses|the 40-ton BattleMech prototype|other uses|Liberator}}
{{InfoBoxBattleMech
|image = Xtro liberator.jpg
|name = ''Liberator''
|manufacturer = [[Kali Yama Weapons Industries]]<ref name=XTROB-4>''Experimental Technical Readout: Boondoggles'', p. 4: "LBT-4T Liberator"</ref>
|model = LIB-4T<ref name=XTROB-4/>
|production year = 3018
|cost = 3,146,360 [[C-bill]]s
|Tech Base = Inner Sphere
|mech type = BattleMech
|mass = 40
|chassis = Standard
|armor = Standard
|engine = 240-rated [[fusion engine]]
|comsys = Unknown
|T&T = Unknown
|heat sinks = 10 [[heat sinks|single]]
|speed = 90
|armament = 
* 2x [[LRM-5]]s
* 1x [[large laser]]
* 1x [[SRM-2]]
|BV (1.0)=
|BV (2.0)=
}}

==Description==
Intended to be the first brand new [[BattleMech]] produced by the [[Free Worlds League]] in centuries, the '''''Liberator''''' never saw production due to a heavily flawed cooling system.<ref name=XTROB-4/>

When [[SAFE]] uncovered evidence during the waning years of the [[Third Succession War]] that the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and [[Capellan Confederation]] were both developing new 'Mechs (The ''[[Hatchetman]]'', ''[[Wolfhound]]'', ''[[Raven]]'' and ''[[Cataphract]]'' respectively), [[Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]] decided to prove the League could match them. Providing [[Kali Yama Weapons]] of [[Kalidasa]] with lavish funds, Kali Yama leapt at the opportunity to outdo their rivals at [[Irian Technologies]].<ref name=XTROB-4/>

While intended to serve as more a line-trooper than IrTech's mediocre ''[[Hermes II]]'', the ''Liberator'' maintains a similar ground speed as the IrTech design, mounting six and half tons of armor, just one ton less than the ''Hermes II'' to carry a heavier weapons loadout. Despite easily outperforming the ''Hermes II'', the ''Liberator'' was doomed by a severe flaw in its revolutionary torso design which resulted in the complete failure of the production model's cooling system, missed in the hand-built prototypes due to different manufacturing techniques.<ref name=XTROB-4/>

Covering up the issue to save the now multibillion [[M-Bill|Eagle]] contract with the [[LCCC]] in the hopes of being able to eventually fix the problem, the flaws were graphically revealed at the first public unveiling in [[Introduction Year::3018]]. Planning a carefully managed routine that allowed the 'Mech plenty of time to cool down, after the formal testing concluded Captain-General Janos Marik requested Kali Yama have the ''Liberator'' destroy an abandoned [[Augustus A-3 Tank|Augustus]] tank, the 'Mech's ammunition detonating under the crippling heat generated by a full barrage in under a minute.<ref name=XTROB-4/>

With the marketing and contracts immediately canceled, the ''Liberator''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s reputation was forever darkened by this failure, as Kali Yama eventually conceded that to correct the issue would require the entire chassis to be rebuilt from scratch. The remaining three surviving prototypes would languish for nearly half a century. In a touch of irony, the last was destroyed in a live-fire exercise by the Augustus' descendant, the [[Moltke]].<ref name=XTROB-4/>

==Armament==
Trading the ''Hermes II''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[AC/5]], [[medium laser]] and [[flamer]] for missile racks and an upgraded laser, the ''Liberator'' offered a harder punch. Carrying an [[LRM-5]] in each arm as primary weapons supported by a center torso mounted [[large laser]], an [[SRM-2]] rack fitted to the 'Mech's left torso provided close-range backup. A single ton of LRM and SRM reloads gave the design reasonable endurance in the field, with designers determining on paper that [[volley fire]] alternating between the missile launchers with the laser to easily manage the 'Mech's heat load.<ref name=XTROB-4/>

==Design Quirks==
The ''Liberator'' is subject to the following [[Design Quirks]]<ref name=XTROB-4/>
* [[Bad Reputation]]
* [[Nonfunctional|Nonfunctional (Heat Sinks)]]
* [[Poor Workmanship]]
* [[Obsolete|Obsolete/3025]]
* [[Prototype]]

==Notes==
* The ''Liberator'' was first mentioned as a 40-ton 'Mech in the ''[[MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game|MechWarrior RPG's]]'' first edition.<ref>''MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game'', p. 17</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Experimental Technical Readout: Boondoggles]]''

[[Category:'Mechs]]
[[Category:BattleMechs|{{PAGENAME}}]]