While one team of SearcyWorks engineers worked on the
Super Crusader, another looked for a second light 'Mech
to upgrade (after the Stinger). They settled on the THE-N
Thorn, a light 'Mech just returning to the battlefield after
the technology for endosteel internal structure was
rediscovered. While admittedly not truly a 3025-era
machine, the THE-N Thorn met the requirements, and
design was given the go-ahead.
When the SCRD-3R Super Crusader was released as a
heavy fire-support platform in 3045, the STHE-N Super
Thorn was right alongside it filling the role of light
fire-support.

Capablities
The STHE-N Super Thorn is a mobile fire-support and
long-range dueling platform. It excels in the role of scout-
hunter, simply because few scout 'Mechs are able to
reach as far, and those that can are unable hit as hard.
The Super Thorn's claim to be the ultimate mobile fire
support platform comes from its single Doombud LRM-20
rack, complete with 12 volleys of missiles. This weapon, of
ARC-2R Archer fame, has mated quite well with both the
SearcyWorks-built targeting and tracking system and the
Super Thorn's chassis itself. Techs report it requires
minimal maintance, and SearcyWorks engineers made the
whole launcher assembly easy to remove so it could be
worked on. It is also often a surprise to enemies, because
very, very few light 'Mechs mount a weapon so large.
As support for the missile rack, the Super Thorn mounts
three SearcyWorks-built medium lasers, giving it an edge
in firepower over its parent design, and 7.5 tons of
standard plate armor protect the Super Thorn, giving it the
maximum possible amount of protection from enemy fire for
a 'Mech of its weight class. It has good speed, allowing it
to get into posistion to support its lancemates. On the
other hand, it lacks jumpjets, just as its progenitor did.
Lastly, as an essential for any run-and-gun 'Mech, the
Super Thorn can sustain alpha strikes while on the move
indefinitely, and even Inferno missiles will not degrade this
capablity!

Battle History
For a long time, the VLK-Q Valkyrie was regarded as the
ultimate light fire support machine. At least, until it ran up
against the Super Thorn in 3045. A lance of Davion light
'Mechs, supported by a Valkyrie, ran into a lance of of
Kurita light 'Mechs, supported by a Super Thorn, on
Prosperina. The battle was very one-sided. The Super
Thorn moved in and launched two flights of missiles at its
counterpart. At the same time it used its lasers to support a
Panther that was engaged with a Davion Wolfhound. The
Valkyrie's head absorbed most of one of the LRM-20
volleys, ending that fight, and the Super Thorn turned its
missile rack on the already-damaged Wolfhound and
launched another two flights of missiles to cover the
damaged Panther's retreat. The Wolfhound managed to
weather the first LRM-20 flight, but the second snapped
off a leg, and the Wolfhound's MechWarrior ejected. The
remaining two Davion 'Mechs, a Jenner and a Wasp,
attempted to withdraw. The Wasp, however, ate a LRM-
20 volley before it could get out of range, and its SRM
ammunition detonated, destroying the 'Mech. The Jenner
high-tailed it for the horizon.
While it does resemble the THE-N in the manner of a
'Super'-series redesign, it is not likely anyone will mistake a
Super Thorn for a Thorn. The LRM-20 rack that replaces
the LRM-5 is a dead giveaway, being quite obviously
much bigger. Unlike most other MechWarriors who piloted
a 'Super'-series redesign, the only advantage that Super
Thorn pilots had when the Clans came is that the Smoke
Jagaurs had no idea what to make of these overgrown
Thorns. Often they dismissed them, expecting that they
had little mobility to mount an LRM-20. While most of them
lived to learn from their mistake, this is more a testament to
Clan engineering than Clan training.