Flushed with the success of their Dragonfire design, JB BattleMechs of Storfors branched out into supplying other heavy 'Mechs to the Lyran Alliance and Draconis Combine. Whereas the Dragonfire had been based on the Marauder chassis, JB chose to base their new designs on a Clan second-line design captured in some numbers during Operation Bulldog - the Corvis. They regarded the design more than the Clanners who had built it, or even those who had fought in it. The resulting design - the Gae Bolg, named after the harpoon of Cuchulainn, a legendary Celtic warrior - was submitted to both the LAAF & DCMS as a mobile fire-support 'Mech.

The JB team comprehensively analysed the Corvis examples they had obtained, and identified several key features:

digitigrade legs for stability and terrain-crossing ability, a wideslung torso providing ample room for equipment, and easy maintenance, and a forward-positioned cockpit for improved visibility. They improved on the Corvis layout by bringing the cockpit up to the top of the chassis, providing superior range of vision for the pilot. The roomy torso also allowed easy integration with the endo-steel chassis. Finally, JB were lucky enough to obtain permission to use the newly-developed Light Fusion Engine, with a 240-rated LFE giving a top speed of around 60 kph. 9 tons of Arcshield Maxi I armor provides median levels of protection for a 'Mech of this weight.

Three main long-range weapons were selected for the Gae Bolg - an extended-range PPC, long range missiles and an LB-5X autocannon. All of the weapons tracked out over 600m, and provided a mix of direct and indirect fire, and also of concentrated or dispersed damage. Deployment of the ER PPC and LB-5X in alternate torsos proved quite conventional. The configuration of LRM launchers did not.

Rather than fitting a single large launcher, JB's engineers distributed five smaller launchers across the 'Mech - two in each arm, and one in the centre torso. Four tons of ammunition - two in each arm - provided each launcher with an average of almost 20 shots each. This allows the launchers to survive battle damage better, as a lucky shot is less likely to take out as large a portion of its armament. It also allows it better conservation of ammo by giving the pilot more options to fire smaller salvos. Between this, and the large amount of ammunition carried for both the LRMs and for the LB-5X autocannon (40 rounds), the Gae Bolg is capable of maintaining its effectiveness in prolonged actions, even with ammunition-dependant systems - and the ER PPC ensures that the Gae Bolg will never be totally inoffensive, even when its ammunition runs dry.

JB BattleMechs is rumored to be working on additional variants based on the same chassis - one a heavily-armed and -armored brawler version, and one intended for export. More details will be released as they come to hand.

Significant numbers of Gae Bolgs have been deployed along the Lyran - Jade Falcon border. Usually, Gae Bolgs are not concentrated into fire lances. Instead, they are deployed in ones or twos per company - providing long-range firepower for either a conventional heavy lance such as a command lance, or as backup for specialised short-range brawlers such as Hunchbacks. The LB-5X autocannon can also be used to fire anti-aircraft flak rounds; however, vertical traverse is somewhat limited by the placement of the weapon in the 'Mechs' torso. Despite this, the FireScan tracking system has proven its worth against VTOLs on numerous occasions.

Two main criticisms are levelled at the design - it is not fast, and it is not heavily armored. The second of these is more of a problem, given usual Lyran preferences. However, the Gae Bolg's defenders have but to point out that it is not meant to engage in common brawling - its job is fire support. The design's speed, and lack of jump-jets, would be more of a liability outside the LAAF - but as yet, no units have been seen outside LAAF line regiments.

(Fluff by Worktroll)