The Drillson Heavy Hover Tank is the newest addition to the Steiner military, in keeping with the Lyran commanders' predisposition toward heavy combat vehicles. Unlike most Steiner designs, however, the Drillson has not sacrificed speed for heavier armor. indeed, the tank can hold its own against some of the fastest 'Mechs and vehicles around.
         The Drillson is normally assigned as a supplement to regular 'Mech forces. Its armor is heavy enough to withstand the severe punishment typical of a 'Mech battlefield, and its speed allows it to keep up with any advance. Though it is as vulnerable to fire as any other hovercraft, the Drillson's variety of weapons and heavy firepower make it a formidable vehicle.
         The first Drillson was manufactured in 3025 by Cyclops Incorporated, a newcomer to the field of military hardware, and its targeting control system has caused quite a stir in the normally placid and unimaginative military design community. With its wraparound video monitors and helmeted sight recital, the Cyclops Evil Eye system is expected to set a new military standard.

         The Drillson's main weapon is the turret-mounted Cyclops Eye Laser, unique among heavy lasers for having a small emission blister instead of the typical long barrel. This gun uses both laser technology and particle-beam technology. Instead of firing a beam of coherent light or a stream of electrons, the Cyclops Eye fires a combination of both. The excited photons release electrons, which in turn release more excited photons, creating a beam of tremendous power. Though not any more effective in combat than the other lasers, the Cyclops Eye Laser is much easier to maintain and manufacture.
         Another interesting feature of the Drillson is the Evil Eye Tracking & Targeting System. Though it does not use any new components, the interface between the gunner and the turret is unique. The gunner sits inside the lower turret ring in front of a wraparound video monitor that provides him with a 360-degree view. The gunner has the choice of operating the video monitors to operate in IR, visual light, or radar spectrums - or of switching between them. The gunner's helmet projects a sight reticule onto the screen, which lines up the turret with whatever target the gunner is viewing. The various weapons systems then adjust themselves so that the weapon will hit the target.
         The other weapon systems on the Drillson are fairly standard. The Hover Tech Short-Range Missile Racks and the Light CrossBow Long-Range Missile Rack have been mounted on 'Mechs for years. The two Kicker Machine Guns are also a fairly standard design, using large-caliber ammunition at the expense of rate of fire.

         During an unsuccessful raid on Almach, several Liao BattleMechs found themselves backed into a swamp by two platoons of Davion hover tanks. The swamp slowed down the 'Mechs so much that they could not disengage from the enemy forces.
         The Liao commander may have been unlucky, but he was not stupid. He immediately ordered all his units to fire on the swamp and on anything else that was flammable. Knowing that many Davion tanks utilized sighting systems that only functioned in the visual-light spectrum, he hoped to create a screen of smoke and steam that would totally blind the Davion tanks, allowing his force a chance to withdraw.
         The plan worked, except that the smoke blinded the sensors of both sides. This, in turn, made all fire control and tracking systems next to useless. Fortunately for the pursuing Davion forces, they were equipped with Drillson hover tanks whose radar capability functioned even though the normal IR and visual systems were out. Using their radar systems, the Drillsons would be able to engage the Liao 'Mechs at close range. As they moved into the darkened swamp, the Drillsons went hunting for Liao 'Mechs.
         As the hours passed, the Liao BattleMechs occasionally fired into the swamp to create more smoke. Responding immediately, the Davion Drillsons would visually estimate the enemy's location and then open fire. This see-and-shoot tactic was only marginally effective for either side, but the Liao forces still could not break out of the swamp.
         Sensing that his men were becoming restless, the Davion commander ordered his units into a battle line, then moved them forward at high speed. Minutes later, one of Drillsons ran into a Liao 'Mech and destroyed its legs. The other tanks immediately converged, opening fire on the crippled 'Mech and destroying it. After using the ramming tactic several more times, the Davions finally forced the Liao troops to surrender.

         The most common variant of the Drillson replaces the LRM 10 rack with more SRM 2 racks. The laser is never removed because of the usefulness of the Evil Eye.

Bernard "Banzai" Simon
         Bernard Simon was the Davion commander who used the ramming technique so successful against the Liao invaders on Almach. His action earned him the nickname "Banzai." (He does not have any known connection to the well-known Davion physician of the same name.)