Khan Marthe Pryde of Clan Jade Falcon wanted to bring a new and deadly OmniMech to the field of battle. Knowing she had already taxed her Clan to the limit, she took an unprecedented step. Rather than build from the ground up, she elected to modify a proven design. Beginning with a stock chassis from a Clan Adder, the scientists managed to field a virtually new design, code-named the Cougar, in roughly half the time normally required.

The AS7-K Atlas is a formidable design that incorporates an extra-light engine and an impressive array of weapons. The Federated Commonwealth, frantically trying to expand the Atlas assembly line at Defiance Industries on Hesperus, is beginning to produce a model much more like the original Atlas. The most significant feature of this design, the AS7-S, is its use of double heat sinks, which increase the design's ability to dissipate heat.

The Awesome has long been a favorite 'Mech among the armies of the Inner Sphere, and so its designers have proved reluctant to modify the design. The AWS-9M version, however, represents a real improvement over the earlier AWS-8Q Awesome. The new Hermes 320 XL, for example, provides the new Awesome with a top speed of around 68 kph - a full 28 Percent increase over the AWS-8Q's top speed.

This 'Mech's unorthodox look is designed to present a minimal target profile. However, this unconventional configuration nearly killed the project during its initial construction. Because of the design, the interior layout was extremely complex with the engine, sensors, and communications suites crowded together. It wasn't until scientists used design techniques from a Vulture spec that they were able to resolve the space issues.

The Catapult is a second-line fire-support 'Mech. Although the design lacks the manipulative hands needed for effective close combat and possesses no infantry-defense systems, the Catapult can muster impressive firepower. Using either its own targeting equipment or targeting data from any other suitably equipped BattleMech, the Catapult can provide excellent long-range striking power with its missile systems.

Supposedly christened Daishi (Great Death) by a member of the Draconis Combine's criminal underground, this 'Mech seems particularly aptly named. Though the left-shoulder mounted long-range missiles augment the 'Mech's firepower, it is the bundles of lasers, autocannons and other weapons in the arm pods that make the Daishi most fearsome. Slow but lethal, the Daishi is an assault 'Mech in the purest sense, able to wade through almost any defense.

The Loki is one of the Clans' most easily recognized designs with a blend of weapon systems that combine anti-'Mech and antipersonnel, long-range and short-range. However, because the design cannot handle the massive amounts of heat generated by all these systems, MechWarriors must be cautious in their choice of targets so that heat levels do not rise too high.

The Mad Cat was the first OmniMech the Inner Sphere encountered, on The Rock in the Oberon Confederation, on 13 August 3049. ComStar learned of these fantastic machines from a broadcast by a member of the Kell Hounds mercenary unit. ComStar named this design the Mad Cat because of its hunched over torso is common to both the Marauder and the Catapult.