The Free Rasalhague Republic's attempt at a sophisticated 
electronic warfare mech.  Until the Cricket's conception 
the raven held its place as the only light recon mech 
with advanced sensory equipment.  Since the clan invasion 
stripped much of the FRR's resources, and devistated its 
economy, the cricket could not be expensive, nor could
it be too easily destroyed, and would need to be easily 
repaired.  The cricket can be used as a recon mech with 
its advanced sensors, a strike mech with its TAG and ER 
medium lasers, and a support mech with its C3 computer 
and NARC beacon.

Capabilities: Based on the raven's success, the cricket is 
was designed from scratch, and although it is 5 tons 
lighter, surpasses it in several ways.  The Cricket boasts 5.5
tons of Ferro Fibrous armor, and while not much, it is a whole 
ton heavier than the raven's 4.5 tons of ferro fibers.  While the 
addition of endo steel increases the cost the Standard engine 
gives the cricked a marked advantage in survivability, and 
decrease in cost.  With a top running speed of 97.2 kph the 
Cricket can quickly dissengage from a battle if it is damaged 
or in danger of destruction. The ER medium lasers constitute the 
entirety of the Cricket's direct arsenal and by those means are 
just fine for a mech of its size, since it can fire them 
indefinitly without risk of overheating.  The real selling 
point of this mech, however, comes not from its direct 
weapons, but from its indirect weapons.  The cricket's NARC 
beacon allow it to increase the destructive power of its 
lancemates.  While the NARC launcher only carries one ton of 
ammunition, it is more than enough for most minor 
engagements, anything larger and the cricket could easily fall 
back to reload.  The C3 computer, now an intigral part of the 
inner sphere battle combat plan, allows the cricket to target, 
for other mechs and allows other mechs to target for it, so to 
speak.  The Beagle active probe, gives the cricket undesputed 
sensor range, while the guardian ECM unit provides it and 
its lance with an electronic barrier against enemy sensors.  
Its innovative tripple actuator leg design, while not any 
heavier or lighter than normal mechs, gives the pilot greater
accuracy when aiming his weapons, this is especialy useful when 
employing the Target Acquisition Gear.  The TAG allows the 
Cricket to induce hyper accurate artillery strikes, definitly 
powerful, yet indirect weapon.

Deployment: The cricket has seen action in the Free 
Rasalhague Republic who is constantly at conflict with the 
clans, and in the armys of the star league defence force.  
while other houses have requested use of the mech, none have 
been exported to date.  The cost effectivness of the cricket 
has allowed it to be produced in reletivly large numbers. The
The Wolfs dragoons who ordered several crickets, disliked the 
design and sold them to the iridante light horse, who have since 
used to awesome effect.  and has proved very useful in their 2nd 
phase recon, and communications disruption strategy.