The Scorpion Light Tank is another vehicle from the successful Quikscell Company.   As is typical with all their products is small, inexpensive, and easy to repair.
         The Scorpion has earned the name "Budget Tank" because it is so inexpensive, as compared with most tanks. Using only one main weapon and one defensive weapon, the Scorpion's low cost makes it attractive to buyers from poorer worlds, especially the Bandit Kings and Periphery Pirates.
         Aside from its attack functions, the scorpion also performs as a scout or transport vehicle, Field commanders often use the tank in large groups because the individual Scorpion is weak in relation to most other vehicles.

       The Scorpion is not a particularly effective vehicle, though it can fight well enough against other similar units.   The tanks main weapon, the Deleon Autocannon can inflict marginal damage against targets at fairly long range but it has the typical tracking problems of any Autocannon at ranges of less than 90 meters.
       The 20mm Gatling gun is a time-proven weapon, giving the Scorpion good defensive firepower with plenty of punch.   Though some users of the tank have tried 30 mm machine guns, the Gatling gun's high rate of fire makes larger shells unnecessary.   Unlike most tanks of its weight class, the scorpion lacks any SRM racks, which are effective in killing light vehicles.   This was done because Quikscell wanted to keep costs down and because the Autocannon has double the range of any short-range missiles

       Bandit Kings sometimes become more than a minor nuisance to the Five Successor Lords. Whenever one of them becomes too great a threat. The Lord will send out an assault force to remind such a "king" of just how powerless he really is.
       Helmar Valasek is one of these kings.   For months he had been raiding Kurita worlds in search of water for his desert-dry planets.   When the High Command realized what was going on they decided it was time to teach the Bandit a lesson.   Mobilizing a small 'Mech force, the Kurita leaders jumped into the Santander system and landed on Helmar's home planet of Santander V.
       When word of the Kurita force reached Helmar, he immediately devised a plan that might give him a chance against the invaders, without requiring the sacrifice of any of his own 'Mechs which were so badly in need of parts and repair.   He had recently "borrowed" several platoons of Scorpion light tanks, which he set up in a known storage supply area.   Valasek believed this to be an obvious choice for a Kurita punitive attack.
       Ten hours after jumping into the system, the Kurita troops assaulted Valasek's ambush area.   The moment the Kurita troops touched down, the Bandit's Scorpions opened fire at close range, dealing some heavy damage to the invading 'Mechs.   Because the Kurita 'Mechs were outnumbered more than three to one, and there was nowhere to retreat, the Combine troops went into hand-to-hand combat against the small tanks. Casualties were high on both sides.   When the dust settled, however, Valasek had scavenged some 'Mech parts and the Kuritans had persuaded him not to attack their worlds for the time being.  
       This battle became known as the "Scorpions Nest" and is now a popular training exercise for new Kurita MechWarriors.   It teaches how to deal with swarms of small vehicles, and how to remain cool in combat.

       Because the Scorpion is found in most armies, it is often equipped with the house's preferred weapon.   The most popular variant replaces the Autocannon with SRM racks.      

         Rummage Sale
         "Rummage Sale" is the name of a Scorpion made famous as a courier and messenger tank during all the battles for Halstead station.   "Rummage Sale" has never once sustained damage.

         Jalex Schenker and Parson Smith
         These two men are the owners of one of the largest Scorpion suppliers and repair services in the Inner Sphere.   Operating in Davion space near Terra, Schenker and Smith have won all their Scorpions through various games of chance.