In 3062, the designers at Akula Corporate Engineering 
were given the task of creating an assault mech that 
would be capable of filling a fire support role, as well as 
the asualt role.  Their answer was the 95 ton HLP-7D 
Helepolis.  The interested parties in the Federated Suns 
were so impressed with the results that they immediately 
ordered the mech into full production.

Capabilities:

The Helepolis is capable as a long range fire support 
mech, or as a line mech.  It's mix of missles and lasers can 
be devastating to opponants, and its Garret/Gaurdian 
Interface Gaurdian ECM helps protect it from return fire 
from enemy fire support mechs.

The original idea for the Helepolis came to see if the basic 
design of the Stalker could be improved upon.  By making 
the Helepolis 10 tons heavier than the Stalker, the 
designers were able to increase the size of the LRM 
launchers, greatly increasing the fire support potential of 
the mech.

The Helepolis mounts a pair of arm mounted  
Holly LRM15's with 2 tons of ammo for each launcher.  
This allows the Helepolis to provide fire support for a 
lengthy time on the battlefield.  The launchers can also be 
rotated to cover the rear firing arc, greatly increasing the 
Helepolis's effectiveness.  In addition to the LRM15's, the 
Helepolis carries a pair of Chiscomp 43 Special Large 
Lasers that are in a fixed firing arc in the torso.

As secondary weapons, the Helepolis carries 3 Blazefire 
Sweetshot ER Lasers and a pair of Holly SRM6's.  This 
gives the Helepolis a very respectable short range punch. 
 Ammunition is limited for the SRMs, but the Helepolis 
would likely only use them to finish off a mortally wounded 
adversary anyway.

The Helepolis does not skimp on armor.  Carrying 17 tons 
of A.C.E. Type 5 Super Heavy armor with CASE, the 
Helepolis can take a severe amount of punishment.  For 
added defensive capabilities, the Helepolis mounts a 
Gaurdian ECM to make targeting and tracking more 
difficult for enemy units.

The only disappointing feature of the Helepolis is its 
somewhat slow gait.  While the Pitban 285 Fusion engine 
is more durable than an extra light, it does not give 
impressive horsepower.  The top speed of the Helepolis is 
54.0 kph, which can be a liablility in combat.  However, 
the addition of 3 Chilton 600 jump jets does give the 
Helepolis some added manueverability not often found an 
a mech its size.

Deployment:

The Helepolis can only be found in the service of 
Federated Suns units loyal to Prince Victor.  To date, only 
a handful of Helepolis's have been delivered, but this will 
soon change after Akula Corporate Engineering upgrades 
its mech production facility on Outreach.