View source for Project Jacob's Ladder

'''Project Jacob's Ladder''' was a [[3132]] [[Bannson Universal Unlimited]] (BUU) research and development project that tried to skirt around [[Republic of the Sphere]] restrictions on military hardware. It produced the ''[[Raider (BattleMech)|Raider]]'' BattleMech.<ref name=MWDASPp54>''MechWarrior: Dark Age - Sneak Peeks'', p. 54: "Raider Mk II"</ref>

==History==
On 7 April [[3131]], [[Jacob Bannson]], head of Bannson Universal Unlimited, ordered one of his research and development teams to assess how feasible it would be for BUU to produce its own low-cost [[BattleMech]] exclusively using in-house equipment.<ref name=MWDASPp54/><ref name=EDDAp40>''Era Digest: Dark Age'', pp. 40-41: "JL-1 ''Raider''/JL-2 ''Raider Mk II''"</ref><ref name=TRO3150p150>''Technical Readout: 3150'', p. 152: "JL-1 ''Raider''"</ref> The team - consisting of [[Ben Keller]], [[Denise Harlson]], [[Jim Harding]], [[Susan Lollar]], [[Kit Smithson]], and lead [[Jacob Karlson]] - completed their assessment by 23 October, leading Bannson to officially authorize construction.<ref name=MWDASPp54/>

After the construction of a remote underground facility to house development, Project Jacob's Ladder fully launched on 2 February 3132. The secretive Delta Green-security level project was highly productive in most regards.<ref name=MWDASPp54/> Development of weapons and armor over the first few months was particularly successful, even bringing BUU a patent on an improved [[rotary autocannon]] barrel cooling mechanism.<ref name=EDDAp40/> An outside component considered by the team, the [[Hatchett-Dauer]] [[BUU Quarrel-10|Quarrel-10]] [[MRM-10|MRM launcher]], so impressed them that they convinced Bannson to acquire the manufacturer.<ref name=EDDAp40/>

What proved more difficult was the new BattleMech's engine. The team was expected to produce their own military-grade [[fusion engine]]. Salvaged reactors were requested repeatedly, and denied each time: they were reserved for repairing existing BattleMechs. Attempt after attempt failed, sometimes disastrously; one failure ended in an explosion that killed Jim Harding. In September 3133, the team gave up.<ref name=MWDASPp54/> The final 'Mech they delivered in [[3134]]<ref>[http://masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/6955/raider-jl-1 MUL Profile for the JL-1 Raider - Introduction year.]</ref> held only an [[internal combustion engine]]. The design was heavier than hoped for, lacked energy weapons and jump jets, and was only lightly armed, but it was a functioning BattleMech, produced to BattleMech standards rather than those of IndustrialMechs.<ref name=EDDAp40/> [[BattleMech Jump Pack|Jump pack]] development went smoothly, helping make up for the lack of jump jets.<ref name=MWDASPp54/><ref name=EDDAp40/> BUU marketers gave the final 'Mech a name: the ''Raider''.<ref name=EDDAp40/>

Despite the lack of a fusion engine, the ''Raider'' satisfied most elements of the Project Jacob's Ladder plan.<ref name=TRO3150p150/> Full production soon launched. Having failed to meet all project requirements, however, project lead Jacob Karlson resigned from BUU.<ref name=MWDASPp54/>

==Notes==
* The Delta Green security level for Project Jacob's Ladder is likely a reference to ''[[w:Delta Green|Delta Green]]'', a line of ''Call of Cthulhu'' sourcebooks when Jacob's Ladder was introduced in the early 2000s.

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Era Digest: Dark Age]]''
* ''[[Master Unit List]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age - Sneak Peeks]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3150]]''

[[Category:Science and Technology Events]]