The Ostscout has always been regarded as one of the premier scout BattleMechs in the Inner Sphere. So fragile and sought-after were they during the Succession Wars that some even regarded them as lostech. During the technological renaissance that followed the decoding of the Gray Death memory core the Ostscout was given new life and new missions. The prestige of the Ostscout slowly began to degrade as more and newer reconnaissance ’Mechs were produced and put to use. Modern MechWarriors slowly began to eye the Ostscout less as a wonder and more as a liability.

ComStar produced the most upgraded model recently, and Ostscout proponents hailed it as the ultimate recon ’Mech. It mounted active probes, ECM suites, and the new C3i modules ComStar devised. It was delivered to waiting divisions where it was hoped it would make a splash. Unfortunately for the purchasing officers who’d bought the ’Mech, however, the ’Mech rather just plunked down to little fanfare. Quiet rumors began to circulate about MechWarriors complaining about being assigned the scout ’Mech and kept out of the fighting.

Those same purchasers listened to the unofficial complaints, shuffled some paperwork, and ordered the Ostscouts in for retrofitting. Combat could be arranged.

The newer model refit strips out all but the advanced C3i module, replacing the electronics with improved Rawlings jump jets that give the ’Mech a staggering 300-meter jump radius. An extralight gyro assembly is nestled near the extralight engine, freeing even more mass. Double-strength heat sinks fill the remaining space, giving the new combat version of the Ostscout the ability to leap its full distance and fire its lasers without immediately-disabling heat buildup.

Reports from combat indicate the pilots have taken to this new Ostscout with a vengeance, using its incredible maneuverability to leap near or even into enemy formations and sending C3 data back to their allies. The institutional inertia many pilots have learned in not firing on delicate Ostscouts is even aiding the, although most enemies learn to overcome it immediately after being fired up by the Ostscout’s mates.