Shortly after the redesign of the Hunchback, DSC Armory
officials created several additional design teams to look at
many existing designs and the possibility of converting
them into omnimechs.  The first battlemech slated for
redesign was the sturdy Thunderbolt, which had served
the military forces of the Inner Sphere for countless years.
The Armory promptly made a deal with Earthwerks
Incorporated to license the Thunderbolt chassis, provided
Earthwerks were allowed to produce the final product.

Capabilities:
The traditional Thunderbolt has always been considered a
multi-role battlemech, and engineers sought to keep this
aspect of the T-bolt, while improving its capabilities and
versatility.  The TDR7-O sports a larger Magna 325 engine
which gives it an effective gain of twenty kilometers per
hour over the TDR-7M, allowing this heavy battlemech to
keep pace with many smaller units.  To compensate for
the larger engine, an extra-light model was installed and
the chassis was reinforce with Endo Steel structuring.
While this equipment is bulkier, it dos allow the 7-O to
carry a comparable weapons load to the -5S and -7M
Thunderbolts.

Like the Hunchback omni, the TDR7-O Primary
configuration is designed to match the capabilities of the
original Thunderbolts to allow pilots to adapt to their new
machine.  The familiar Diverse Optics Sunbeam
extended-range large laser is still present on the right arm
and is supported by three Martell medium pulse lasers.
The long range missile rack was expanded to a Doombud
20-rack and slave to an Artemis IV Fire Control System in
an effort to increase long range firepower.  Rounding out
the arsenal are a pair of Voelkers machine guns to ward
off infantry and other soft targets.  Overall, this layout
should seem very familiar to Thunderbolt pilots and allow
them to more easily adapt to the increased speed their
machine sports.

The Alpha configuration is a slight departure from the
standard layout of the Thunderbolt.  Armory designers
have managed to dulicate the right arm onto the left arm
and mount paired Sunglow Type 2 large lasers.  This
should come as a surprise to most opponents as the
Thunderbolt can lay down concentrated fire at moderate
ranges.  Supporting the old model Sunglows, are the
familiar Delta Dart LRM-15 rack slaved the an Artemis
system and the trio of Diverse Optics Type 18 medium
lasers in the torso.  New the Alpha is the Guided
Technologies 2nd Generation Streak SRM-4 pack that fills
the spot of the old SRM-2 pack.  Designers choose the
2nd Generation in order to ensure maximum firepower can
be brought to bear on the target at close range.

The Bravo and Charlie configurations are two different
approaches to the variations on the Thunderbolt
constructed by the Eridani Light Horse.  The Bravo
mounts a single Diverse Optics Sunbeam extended range
laser, with supporting short range weaponry in the form of
Martell medium pulse lasers and Guided Technologies 2nd
Generation Streak-6 packs, while the Charlie is geared
toward moderate to short range engagements with its
Diverse Optics Type 20 large pulse laser, Shigunga
30-missile MRM rack and trio of Diverse Optics extended
range medium lasers.  Both configurations sport the jump
jets that were unique to the Eridani Light Horse refit of the
Thunderbolt.

Configuration Delta follows the lines of the Hunchback,
offering a possibly C3 command mech in the Thunderbolt.
The armament was kepts standard with the Sunbeam
extended-range large laser, the Delta Dart LRM-15 rack
slave to Artemis IV, and three Martell medium pulse lasers.
Replacing the machine guns of the traditional
Thunderbolt are a pair of Martell small lasers for use
against soft target and infantry.  It is expected that a
command mech of this sort would lead a medium C3 lance
of similar speed.  The Draconis Combine has already
voiced some interest in the possibility of the Thunderbolt
as a command mech, though currently they have no made
an offer for any of the production models.

Deployment:
Earthwerks appears to be ready to produce the new
model TDR7-O when the design pahse has finished, but
the Armory itself will need several months to establish a
production line for the omni.  Considering this, it appears
that Earthwerks will sell the bulk of the Thunderbolt omni
production to the Free Worlds League, while it is expected
that the DSC Armory will put the design up for general
sale.