The Mentor was born out of the need for a true exo-armor training system. Since the introduction of the exo-armor in 0063, training the new pilots had been done in a standard simulator — something that just couldn't give the "feel" of the real thing.
In 0070, the EARTH FEDERATION gave a special contract to Anaheim Electronics: they were to develop a machine that could fulfill the double role of trainer/ twin seat heavy combat unit. The Mentor was the result of two years of hard work, the main difficulty was working out a way to place two people with the necessary double cockpit/life support systems without making the machine too bulky and slow. The cockpit of the MkI was equipped with two seats, one behind the other (student in front, instructor in back). It was rather uncomfortable for the instructor, who had his movements hampered by the student's seat. The MkII, introduced in 2181, had the same problem but to a lesser extent. This was possible through a better, more ergonomic design.
In 0090, the Mentor design was once again upgraded but this time to a greater extent. The new MkIII kept the legs, arms, back-pack and head units of the MKII, but its body configuration changed considerably. Now both crewmen had a full cockpit with 360ยบ protection. This was due to the advances in both life-support and micro-electronics, which allowed the Mentor to have two cockpits without the machine gaining any weight or dimensions. The cockpit of the student is in front and the instructor's is a little higher, just under the back of the neck of the machine.
Since the Mentor is a training unit, its armament is not very heavy. It is composed of one PL-3 Plasma Lance in each thigh, one simulator-type cannon w/mock lens and a small laser point turret on each shoulder. Of course, the forearm modular weapons available to the Pathfinder series are also available to the Mentor.
In 0070, the EARTH FEDERATION gave a special contract to Anaheim Electronics: they were to develop a machine that could fulfill the double role of trainer/ twin seat heavy combat unit. The Mentor was the result of two years of hard work, the main difficulty was working out a way to place two people with the necessary double cockpit/life support systems without making the machine too bulky and slow. The cockpit of the MkI was equipped with two seats, one behind the other (student in front, instructor in back). It was rather uncomfortable for the instructor, who had his movements hampered by the student's seat. The MkII, introduced in 2181, had the same problem but to a lesser extent. This was possible through a better, more ergonomic design.
In 0090, the Mentor design was once again upgraded but this time to a greater extent. The new MkIII kept the legs, arms, back-pack and head units of the MKII, but its body configuration changed considerably. Now both crewmen had a full cockpit with 360ยบ protection. This was due to the advances in both life-support and micro-electronics, which allowed the Mentor to have two cockpits without the machine gaining any weight or dimensions. The cockpit of the student is in front and the instructor's is a little higher, just under the back of the neck of the machine.
Since the Mentor is a training unit, its armament is not very heavy. It is composed of one PL-3 Plasma Lance in each thigh, one simulator-type cannon w/mock lens and a small laser point turret on each shoulder. Of course, the forearm modular weapons available to the Pathfinder series are also available to the Mentor.
NAME.....................MENTOR MKIII
PRODUCTION CODE.....EAT-02 MKIII
MANUFACTURER:.......ANAHEIM ELECTRONICS
USE:......................TRAINING/DOUBLE SEAT COMBAT UNIT
CONTROL SYSTEM:.....LINEAR FRAME X2 (1 STUDENT, 1 INSTRUCTOR)
HEIGHT:..................16.3 M
WEIGHT:..................25.3 TONS (EMPTY), 34 TONS (TRAINING)
POWER PLANT:.........1490 KW
MAIN THRUSTERS:......10
APOGEE MOTORS: ......15
ARMAMENT:..............PL3 PLASMA LANCE X2, JOVIAN OPTICS 122B LASER CANNON X1 , LASER POINT TURRET X2
EQUIPMENT:............SURVIVAL POD X2, BOOSTER UNIT
(OPT.), MR-65 EWAC SYSTEM
(OPT.), SPARE FUEL TANKS X2
• VARIATIONS
A long range support version of the Mentor exist. Named EAT/LRS-02 Sensei, it is equipped with two backpack-mounted heavy particle beam cannons and heavier armor. The right shoulder's laser point turret is replaced by a long range visual target acquisition array. In the Sensei, the instructor is replaced by a gunner/system operator. This machine has not seen combat yet.
• SERVICE RECORD
The Mentor has been used with great success since its conception in 0070. It is one of the oldest designs of exo-armor in service, but is still loved by everyone who's been taught in it, if only because it always gets you home, whatever happens. This legend started in 0075, when a heavily damaged Mentor MKI got back to base on its own after a serious accident, thus saving the two pilots.
