Originally conceived in 3034, the Gecko was created to 
expand on the Cicada medium mech.  The result was a 
somewhat slower 'mech with an improvememnt in 
firepower, but it was not well-received by customers.  In 
3059 engineers at the DSCA decided to revisit the orignal 
design in an attempt to make it more marketable, the 
GK-7-N is the result.

Capabilities:
The primary critcisms of the original model Gecko were 
directed at the fact that it attempted to take on the role 
better suited to a heavier mech.  With this in mind, 
designers began to alter the GK-4-R to push it into a 
completely different role.

It was decided that the Gecko would be better suited as a 
spotter unit for support mechs.  In order to give it spotting 
capabilities, designers removed the chin mounted large 
laser and replaced it with a Narc Missile Beacon.  This 
would allow a Gecko to tag targets for Catapults, Archers, 
and Crusaders.  Since the Gecko is a fairly small 
battlemech, designers chose to install Myomer 
Accelerated Signal Circuitry to give it a speed boost in 
order to improve survivability.  The Gecko can dart in and 
dart out with the speed of the smaller Cicada while using a 
smaller Pitban 270 fusion engine to reduce cost.

The weapons package of the GK-7-N is quite similar to 
that of the GK-4-R.  While the large laser has been 
replaced by the Narc beacon, the SRM-6 launchers 
remain.  Designers felt that as long as the Gecko was 
carrying the Narc beacon it could take advantage of it 
itself.  Backing up the SRM launchers are a pair of 
Diverse Optics extended range medium lasers, mounted 
under the SRM packs in the stub arms.  This assortment 
provides the Gecko with modest firepower at short range.  
Engineers were forced to remodel the Gecko skeleton to 
save enough weight for these additions.  The DSCA 
Model GK frame was reworked with Endo Steel to save 
enough weight for the MASC system.  Armor was also 
improved by using newer DSCA Protoweave Ferro-Fibrous 
rather than the DSCA Standard of the GK-4-R.

Deployment:
The new model Geckos have just begun rolling off the 
assembly lines on Keystone.  Already the Free Worlds 
League has placed an order, as well as the Draconis 
Combine.  The other Houses have yet to show any 
considerable interest in the reworked Gecko, however the 
DSC Armory has been approached by several mercenary 
outfit who wish to field it along with their support units.

Variants:
The Capellan Confederation and Draconis Combine have 
both requested a more heavily armed version of the newer 
Gecko.  The GK-7-L replaces the Narc Missile Beacon 
with a chin mounted Guided Technologies 
2nd Genereation Streak-SRM-6.  The SRM packs have 
been removed from the arms so that they may each mount 
a matched pair of extended range medium lasers and 
medium pulse lasers.  Finally, the 7-L carries a Guardian 
ECM Suite in order to disrupt enemy electronics and to 
mask its position.