The Bulldog LWP is a mecha that was specifically designed to be an inexpensive and modular weapons platform. Its extreme modularity and low cost of purchase and maintenance make it ideal for civilian security agencies, mercenaries, and even criminal organizations.

Make no mistake, despite its affordability it should never be underestimated. The chassis is capable of bringing more than enough firepower to a fight.

The Bulldog LWP is not a complicated concept. Its initial purpose was to be a mobile turret and grew from there to be something akin to a bipedal armored patrol vehicle. The chassis is extremely modular with nearly every mechanical part being widely available from industrial suppliers and fabricators.

When used alongside infantry and equipped with rapid-fire weapons it is best suited for fire support, being tall enough to shoot over the heads of infantry to cover their advance while carrying enough firepower to contend with vehicles they might encounter.

Usage against other mecha is not its strongest suit, however, it’s small size and maneuverability gives it a fighting chance. In the end, it will primarily be up to the pilot’s skill and ability to use the machine that will determine its abilities in an anti-mecha role.

The bulldog is not specifically fast nor is it especially durable. On the field, this platform emphasizes modularity and maneuverability. Off the field, the bulldog is inexpensive and easy to repair and maintain. Its focus on modularity makes it possible for every minor part and weapon to be replaced within an hour.

This weapons platform is not limited to terrestrial use. It’s hermetically sealed cockpit and life-support system allows it to operate in both atmosphere and vacuum while its gravitational propulsion system and GPD equipped feet enable it to achieve very limited flight characteristics and even operate in space.

In the beginning there was the Octo-Gatling Rotary Pulse Laser Battery built for usage on spacefaring vessels. Its self-contained design made it perfect for installing the weapon system on virtually anything, including the ground. Eventually, FMS engineers presented The concept of a self-propelled Octogat. And thus the Bulldog LWP was born!

The addition of legs and conversion of the gun pods into arms granted the bulldog excellent maneuverability though it’s small stature limited the manufacturer in the size of the generator they could install.

The bulldog retains the same boxy shape of the Octogat as its torso, with a thick, dense slab of hardened titanium nanotube reinforced durandium in a very dark, gritty shade of gray. Above the armored nose is the dome-shaped heavily-armored cockpit, its hatch the same dark gray as the nose armor. Atop the torso is a large radome located toward the rear of the body above vents covering the main gravity engine. The large thrust vectoring nozzle of the primary gravity engine extends from the rear of the torso and the two compact auxiliary gravity engines extend from the bottom of the hip assembly between the legs. Two industrial looking arm segments that extend the gunpods out from the torso hull. Exposed coolant hoses aid in the maintenance of the machine.

The legs are of a reverse joint nature with narrow legs leading into Y-shaped feet giving it a more avian-like stance. The bottom of the Y faces the forward direction of the mecha. Overall the Bulldog is not much taller than a common utility truck.

The Bulldog is a light mecha and is openly available for civilian purchase.

• Organization: Any
• Type: Mecha
• Class: Tier 7, light mecha
• Designer: Frontier Manufacturing Service
• Manufacturer: Frontier Manufacturing Service
• Nomenclature: Fs-YM1
• Production: mass production
• Price: 35,000 KS

• Crew: 1
• Maximum Capacity: 1

• Length: 5 meters
• Width: 4 meters
• Height: 6 meters

• Weight: 10 Tons

• Ground speed: 150 kph
• Air speed: 250 kph

• Range:
  • Safe conditions: 1 month
  • Combat conditions: 1 week
• Lifespan: 100 years with maintenance

See Damage Rating (Version 3) for an explanation of the damage system.

• Body: Tier 7
• Shields: Tier 7

Beneath the heavily armored, diamond reinforced canopy is the cockpit. The pilot is secured in an FMS Aerospace Seating System that can be built to the Pilot's specification. Whether the pilot chooses to wear power armor or a simple flight suit, a seating solution can be made to order. A FMS Pilot Companion AI can be connected via the pilot seat when inserted to a slot behind the back.

The Wahoo double joystick controls proved to be very useful for the Bulldog. In its stock configuration, the right-hand joystick controls aiming while the left joystick controls leg movement

In the end, every single control can be changed and programmed to suit any pilot’s desires.

At the end of each arm are four hardpoints identical to the ones found on the Wahoo Interceptor for mounting a variety of weapons.

Though simple in design and built with generic parts that are compatible with most industrial machinery, the Bulldog has many parts.

Just like the Wahoo, Bulldogs use a cluster of datapads for computing power. This hardware comes with a suite of programming tools to help adjust the behavior of the mecha, setting systems to automatically deploy under certain conditions, automatically take defensive action, and generally assist with piloting and maintaining the unit.

As always the computer system has support for the Pilot Companion AI. While it isn’t necessary to the general operations of a Bulldog The collision avoidance features are very useful when operating in close proximity to buildings or other units. A particular advantage to be equipping a PiCo is the ability to move and act autonomously. A well trained PiCo can process orders given verbally from the pilot and learn how to operate independently to achieve its orders. Naturally, there are dangers associated with this type of function, therefore it is recommended by the manufacturer to follow the PiCo training guide closely as damages incurred during autonomous usage are not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

The armored hull of the Bulldog is made of a thick Durandium Alloy alloy. As with all vehicles made by FMS, the hull is built according to FSCorp's aerospace insulation method that arrests potentially dangerous electromagnetic radiation and channels it into the units power supply as electricity. As a result of this when a pilot is in a pinch he can quickly recharge his shields from the splash of EM weaponry through their hull.

The endoframe is made of titanium-durandium alloy, maximizing the weight reduction while maintaining the load-bearing ability of the internal structure.

The standard Bulldog uses a trio of FMS Gravity Engine for propulsion, power, and gravity manipulation. The primary engine is compact while the two lower engines are ultra-compact. A reaction control gyroscope helps with balance and naturalizing the mechas movements. The gravity engines require little fuel and generate tremendous power, yet due to the weight and poor aerodynamics of the Bulldog, do no more than grant basic flight capabilities in 1G. Flight control is sluggish and limited. They are best used to increase running speed, jump obstacles, reach a higher shooting position, or break a fall. Additionally, the engines are the primary source of power generation and passively lighten the entire chassis. With these engines, the mecha could theoretically operate indefinitely, however, in order to maintain proper and safe cooling performance routine coolant replenishment must be a part of the unit’s regular upkeep.

The Bulldog is equipped with a cryogenic cooling system to maintain safe temperatures. To make room for the leg driving system the cooling system had to be significantly downsized. Unlike the Octogat’s 5 minutes of sustainable PLW fire, the Bulldog can only sustain 15 seconds of sustained fire. Exposed hoses from the gun pods serve as a secondary path for hot, expanding coolant to return to the coolant tank and a means to refill coolant from smaller containers. Maintenance crews may also use these hoses when flushing the cryogenic cooling system.

The unit tends to purge superheated coolant when the cryogenic cooling system is running too hot to reduce strain on the mecha and prevent the rising pressure from bursting the coolant lines. Weapons with high rates of fire or great power demands may cause overheating errors when fired too often or for too long. If the heat reaches a critical level the computer has an automatic shutdown failsafe that will prevent damage to internal components and run an intensive cooldown sequence that renders the unit immobile until safe temperatures are regained. This feature can be overridden at the risk of severe damage or even explosion. Damages from overheating while the failsafe is disabled will void the manufacture's warranty.

Pulled directly from the YV1, the Bulldog uses a subspace radar built into the nose to detect objects, exotic particles, and space-distortion at extreme range in a 270-degree arc in front of the mecha. Small Optical and Thermal sensors equipped on the nose and inside each gunpod provides navigational data, imaging, and targeting information.

An optional radome attachment further improves detection abilities to 1LY and is necessary to the coordination and accuracy of using more than 4 G-TAM or A-TAM equipped Starfighter Primary Laser Weapon. Additionally, the radome attachment can increase The scouting abilities of a Bulldog drastically as this powerful sensor array can deliver detailed scans very quickly.

The Bulldog's cockpit has only enough storage space for its food and water provisions within a sealed overhead compartment big enough to hold a briefcase-sized container. Additional storage can be attached to the hull by strap cargo pods or any other imaginative ways. The Bulldog has more than enough horsepower to drag two of its own kind in tow.

The cockpit contains the following equipment:

• FMS Aerospace Seating System
  • First Aid Kit
  • Liquid Ally Container
  • Modonafil Tablets
  • Bracket for a small rifle
• Fire Extinguisher 🧯

Rizzo created this article on 2019/08/14 10:48.

Approved by Syaoran on 8/25/2019