>>23285081Technicals by themselves cannot win wars, as we have learned from Mars and throughout time. But it did mean that even for the most conservative cost of tank production (an archaic estimate of $6.2 million per unit) your country could order about 100 MECHs.
Military action in hostile environments almost always used personnel in MECHs, as a hostile environment suit by itself would rupture and lead to imminent death due to even the slightest cut from. Occupation and capturing of high priority locations lead to advancements in mobility, and through the discovery of Magnetic Jump Pistons, coupled with Course Correction Jet Assemblies, your iconic "Jump Jet" Mech was born. Able to cover rough terrain at blistering speeds, using a minimal amount of fuel and electrical charge. Innovative Shock Absorbers allow for their use in Drop insertions.
It could carry a whole squad's ammunition needs, meals for weeks, water for days, explosive charges, anything heavy at all was trivialized by the carrying power of the MECH. It became common to have at least one in every squad.
Since that time Mech's have grown larger to meet their needs, as making a single spacefaring trip to a construction site is cheaper than ordering a score or more of them; and they still hold true to their origins as Caterpillar remains in business today.
During Sol War I and Sol War II, the utility of Mechs were increased by the use of "shields" first created by any material laying at hand, but later in Sol War II forged in specific for Mech use, enabling the smaller vehicle to withstand direct hits from heavy guns.
Again the mechs got slightly larger, for only slight increases in cost, in order to carry heavier field guns with the revolutionary power of new-age engines and power supplies.
The rest, as they say, is history.