| With the introduction of the Cheetah, the Ferret became instantly obsolete. Still sporting technology developed over a century before, the Ferret could not compare with the speed, maneuverability, and general performance of the Shaian Mechanics Cheetah. Keimuri Gear and its new partner Northco realize that the basic design of the Ferret is sound for a fast scout unit and have cooperated to rebuild the machine from the ground up, using the latest materials, electronics, and sub-systems. The result is the Ferret Mk II, realeased onto the military market in TN 1933. The outward appearance of the Mk II is much the same as the traditional Ferret, the primary changes having been made to the internal systems. An improved sensor suite has been added and the movement system now features far sturdier parts, allowing for a higher operational speed without compromising structural integrity. The most important of the changes, however, was made to the engine. An upgraded engine design based on long term performance charts of the Ferret's power usage has increased the speed of the Mk II to almost 100kph, beyond the stability capabilities of most foot-mounted SMS systems. The same performance ratings allowed engineers to better calibrate the engine for endurance, managing to gain almost 15% more deployment range. The only drawback is the necessity of slightly increased engine maintenance. The weapon pack of the Ferret has been maintained, except that the M25 pack gun has been replaced with a more durable M222 autocannon.
The Ferret Mk II is a small, fast, and nasty Gear. Although still ungainly when moving on its legs, minor improvements of the power transfers, actuator timing, and the prudent removal of a few extraneous safety precautions have made the Mk II somewhat less awkward. The primary mission profiles for the Mk II, however, should not require it to hobble about as much. As a scout, it performs extremely well. In tests between a Ferret Mk II and a Cheetah, the Mk II kept pace with the Shaiain Mechanics design with relative ease and even left it behind on several occasions. The Mk II has already begun to enter service in some Northern Guard units.
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