MECHS: Galactic Siege Warfare



We all know the typical representation of the mechanized biped vehicle (MBV), a typical Mech design; Huge, stomping metal monstrosities, raining fire and steel upon all who stand in their way. While this may be true in some aspects, the Mech is in fact not as universally unbeatable or invincible as many portray it. Though certainly intimidating and effective in the right scenarios, an MBV mech vehicle may not be as useful in standard warfare as other, cheaper methods and equipment.

Bipedal mech vehicles have reasonably easily controlled limbs, which near always consist of two multi-jointed four-toed legs and two smaller limbs which can be fitted with different forms of weaponry. Typically, automatic heavy rifles are attached to these limbs, preferred for their versatility and the ease of use in comparison to explosive weaponry or the danger that comes with plasmic. The cockpit of a mech is situated on the front, positioned on the front end of the central chassis. Inside is (generally) a single man seat with controls for movement and attached limbs. A reinforced glass casing can open or close using internal controls, or external emergency levers. Mechs are generally heavily armored, which comes as something of a double edged sword. Heavily armored mechs have less dexterous limbs, rendering easy control near impossible. Heavy plating will also render mechs more weighty, making them more viable to getting stuck in difficult terrain and slower to move. Each change in a mech’s design, be it plating thickness or fitted weaponry, can completely change how it can or should be used.

Some generally accepted designs for different roles are widely used.

Light MBV: Thinner plating, usually enough to shrug off conventional rifle rounds, but heavy rifle weapons may pierce or damage plate made of standard material. Equipped with heavy rifles on the frontal limbs, or occasionally with heavy slow-loading explosive weaponry. Easily brought down with heavy weaponry, explosives, or plasmic weaponry.

Medium MBV: Moderately thick plating, difficult to damage with any conventional firearm types, except the highest caliber sniper weaponry, explosives, and plasma. Typically loaded exclusively with heavy standardized rifles- Anything heavier would make the benefits of moderately heavy armor moot.

Heavy MBV: Thick and heavy plating, or plating made of denser material. This mech can even shrug off heavy sniper rounds- But it is extremely slow to move, sometimes even used as stationary defense weaponry. Plasmic weaponry or high yield explosives can cause extreme damage to an HMBV-Mech.

Each of these designs and models will always have a number of weaknesses which may outweigh their strengths in a standard field of warfare. Mechs are very heavy, and some forms of terrain may be completely impassable due to the nature of the mech’s weight. Any terrain which the mech can sink into (thick mud, sand, etc) will be very difficult for a mech to pass without being trapped. A common plight of mech pilots; bringing your heaviest, most powerful HMBV-Mech to a field, only to have it get trapped in a sand pit before it can even see the front lines. Mechs will always also have the frontal cockpit covering, which when broken or open, will leave the pilot exposed to weapons fire. Though the reinforced glass is thick and resistant to some conventional rounds and melee weapons, it can only take so much damage before it shatters. Not to mention the effects explosives have on a mech. Internal functions can be destroyed, joints jammed or broken, or power sources and wiring rendered useless.

The power source of a mech takes the form of an internal generator or engine, depending on the size of the mech and it’s equipment. In order to prevent overheating, a mech’s power source is most commonly based close to the exterior, covered by a strong grating over the back of the main chassis. Heavier mechs and larger ones may actually have multiple engines of higher power, and smaller mechs may be run using generators fueled from simpler material and more well covered. Due to the nature of the power source being closed to the exterior of a larger mech, most will be deployed with ground escorts to prevent and defend against flanking of the vehicle to attack the power source as a weak point. In real warfare, it is extremely rare to see a mech deployed alone, or with no escort.

Mech Purposes

Mechs aren’t commonly seen or used on the battlefield of typical ground warfare. However, they can be extremely effective in the right scenarios. Due to a mech’s heavy and slow-moving nature, as well as the cost of production, they are most commonly produced as mass defensive vehicles, positioned and patrolling strategically around military installments to deter enemy intrusion. Mech units will generally consist of: A mech and pilot, two to three infantry ground guards for protection, and an engineer equipped for emergency field repairs. A pilot is also familiar typically with the mech’s function, weak points, and where damage is most often caused. Mech pilots aren’t just pilots- They need to be engineers, as well.

These units are sometimes seen patrolling controlled territories of well-armed military groups, and thanks to the sheer defensive power of a mech unit, many are difficult to bring down when working in tandem. Ground units keep fire off the back of the mech and remove straggler threats, the mech itself brings a hellfire of lead and steel onto grouped forces, and field engineers make sure the mech functions in the field.

However, mechs are also occasionally seen in offensive situations. As is the most obvious quality of the mech in principle, it’s heavy and massive. This means that when storming enemy installments, mechs are favourable for tearing through walls and compounds to flush enemies within or open the possibility of ground warfare against planetside settlements. When a military group storms the everyday settlement of Glich, Floran, and occasionally Avian origin, the more simple walled areas can easily be opened with a heavy mech; Seeing a mechanical biped titan crashing through a bricked wall would be reason enough for most to surrender on the spot, but the more stubborn will often find themselves swiftly defeated by a well-working and maintained mech unit.

Overall, the mech in concept is simply considered the “big gun” of galactic siege warfare. Defending against intrusion of larger forces or rendering their defenses nothing more than rubble, a well-trained mech unit can handle several tasks infantry can’t. However, mechs will always have their weaknesses, and facing well-equipped enemies without a supporting unit is often a death sentence for mech pilots. The worst fear of a mech pilot is to find themselves without a backup unit- many an empty and damaged mech have been found with signs that they were flanked and disabled through damage to the unarmored power source.

[Yes, I know it’s logical to have more than a grating over a power source, but the grating is necessary to prevent overheating, as well as an actual weakness to the mech. Mechs are powerful- But not invincible. Having an extra coolant output would also allow for protection of a mech generator to be added, but the tradeoff is increased weight or vulnerability. If your mech’s armor is pierced and your coolant flow disrupted, the mech is liable to overheat much faster. Main plating over the limbs and chassis are near impervious to all non-armor piercing conventional weaponry, and even the typical grating over the power source would require something stronger than a 9mm to pierce. Smaller explosives will also have little effect unless used directly on weaker points. Against ground forces, a mech is powerful, but only with a unit to prevent the mech from being flanked and disabled. Plasmic weaponry and high-power armor piercing rifle rounds can pierce a mech’s plating.]