The Gae Bolg fire-support 'Mech from JB BattleMechs of Storfors had achieved some success in the hands of LAAF units along the Jade Falcon border. However, sales had not achieved the level that JB's executives had hoped for. In addition, poor sales of the company's other major design, the Dragonfire, threatened the company's future. Pers Untherhaart, the company's Marketing Manager, proposed a daring initiative to save the company - to produce a range of 'Mechs based on a single chassis. Not only would this simplify design and workup time for each new variant, but the prospect of having a range of 'Mechs which shared the same basic chassis, and 75% of the same components, was seen to entice the economically minded. Untherhaart was able to point to Troll Mech Work's Gunman series, which revolved around the same concept, and which was meeting with considerable success in the Chaos March at the time.

The first variant to be designed was pegged to be the opposite of the Gae Bolg - instead, a well-armored, close-in brawler was aimed at. The result - the Gaki.

At first glance, or at a distance, there is little to differentiate the Gaki from its ancestor, the Gae Bolg. However, the differences lie beneath the skin - and become obvious to anyone unwise enough to close with the Gaki.

JB's design team decided that three major changes needed to be performed on the Gae Bolg to transform it into the ideal brawler: - the design needed jumpjets for added mobility, as it was not practicable to re-engineer the design to accept a significantly bigger engine; - Obviously, a new weapons mix was needed to allow for close-in work, which necessitated upgraded heat-sinks, and - Lastly, articulated arms were a pre-requisite for a brawler.

In the process of upgrading the Gaki's chassis for the 120-meter jumping ability selected, the engineers upped the 'Mech's armor from   a respectable 9 tons, to a more imposing 13 tons. CASE was no longer needed, and was accordingly dropped. The rear armor was increased as well, as it was recognized that a brawler would face opponents from many angles at once, unlike a fire-support 'Mech (when well used, anyway).

The ER PPC of the Gae Bolg was retained, due to its lack of a minimum range, but the Autocannon and LRMs were dropped. Ammunition-based weapons such as SRMs were ruled out to avoid ammunition explosions. A large pulse laser replaced the LB-5X autocannon, and three medium lasers - one pulse, and two standard - were mounted in a triangle where the autocannon ammunition had been. Finally, a medium pulse laser and a flamer were mounted under the newly installed battle-fists on the right and left arms respectively. Three additional double heat sinks were shoehorned into the increasingly tight chassis to help cope with the heat-load of the resulting all-energy weapons load.

As indicated, users have petitioned for a version of the Gaki which drops the ER PPC, and replaces it with a larger light fusion motor producing a top speed around 85 kph, and additional jump capacity. While acclaimed as clearly superior by LAAF pilots, LAAF quartermasters are still making the purchasing decisions, and prefer the existing chassis-compatability with the Gae Bolg for logistical reasons.

Despite the radically different weapons loadout, pilots report a quick and pleasant transition from the Gae Bolg to the Gaki. Indeed, seasoned Gae Bolg pilots have to be frequently reminded that their 'Mech has jump capacity, so seamless is the transition (In all fairness, it must be reported that Gaki pilots moving over to a Gae Bolg frequently halt for a moment as they "try" to use their non-existant jump-jets). What does take getting used to is the range of fire options available. The Gaki simply has too many energy weapons for its heat-sinks, and an unwise pilot can easily overheat after only a few exchanges of fire.

Most pilots eventually get the idea to only use the ERPPC at ranges of 300m plus, and to use the battery of lasers at ranges under 200m. The mid-zone - from 200m to 300m - is best handled as circumstances permit; and most Gakis that have come to grief have done so by being unable to close their range from this distance. This can happen due to inferior tactics, or due to faster opponents - and most Gaki pilots agree that they would cheerfully trade in one of their "big guns" for a larger light fusion engine, and more jumpjets.

However, JB's "Buy three, get one cheap" deal - any 3 Gae Bolgs or Gakis, and get 25% off the price of the 4th - has seen strong sales, particularly as fighting between revisionist old Davionist units and loyal LAAF regiments increases. Fire lances of 3 Gae Bolgs, plus one Gaki, are being increasingly purchased under JB's special deal.

Finally, the name of the design - meaning "Hungry Ghost" in Japanese - appears to have attracted attention from within the Draconis Combine, who are negotiating with JB BattleMechs for rights to produce Gakis within the Combine.