When Brigadier introduced the Scorpion Class, the 'Mech received mixed reviews. As the first of the four-legged 'Mechs, it was called the "white elephant" of the military corps. Troops dropped that nickname soon after they fought in close quarters with the 'Mech, however.
         The Scorpion was the dreamchild of Dr. David Harrison, who projected that a four-legged 'Mech would offer greater movement flexibility in combat. Because it could raise and lower its weapons to account for target elevation, it could generate a more favorable range for each weapon. Unfortunately, the Scorpion proved to be more of a target than a fire platform against BattleMechs of the same weight class. As an infantry support vehicle, however, it proved to be effective because it could move faster than most common tanks and carry much more firepower.
         The Succession Wars were not kind to the design though. With Brigadier's factories destroyed, spare parts for the odd design became hard to find. Also, it became harder and harder for commanders to justify "wasting" a BattleMech to support infantry, and they ordered the Scorpions into combat with their more mobile brethren again and again until the number of Scorpions dwindled into near extinction.
         The recovery of Star League technology allowed Brigadier to rebuild its Oliver plant, and to begin producing new Scorpions. Sales proved unimpressive though, until Brigadier designed what many consider to be the best version of the Scorpion during the Jihad. The few they built before being annexed by the Sirian Concordance died during the Jihad, but they (under a new name) continued to build and sell spare parts to any who wished them, hoping to keep the remaining Scorpions in the Human Sphere operational.

         As the saying goes, "Piloting a Scorpion is like strapping yourself to a raging bull." It is true that the older Scorpions do not move as smoothly as a two-legged 'Mech, but the modern SCP-13M uses a four-beat gate modeled on riding horses that make them far smoother than most can imagine.
         The Scorpion does not carry a great deal of firepower because much of its space is allocated to control devices and to the special gyros that keep the 'Mech functional. These gyros are so advanced that the 'Mech can move as long as two of its four legs are still functioning. However, this also depends on the skill of the pilot. The 'Mech's crab-like stance makes it stand out in a battlefield. It moves like a spider and can pivot much faster than other 'Mechs.
         The Dragon's Wrath Heavy PPC proved to be the Scorpion's stinger. A seven-tube Sirian Multi-Shot Multi-Missile Launcher and two Intek medium lasers support the particle cannon at all ranges, giving the MechWarrior impressive choices on which weapon to use at which target. Lower to the ground than most BattleMechs, it is often compared to a tank, but the stable platform it provides for weapons fire allows for greater accuracy than many guess at first.

         The SCP-13M is used primarily by the Sirian Concordance, with very few outside that realm. They are most often deployed in at least lance strength, where they can support each other and keep a single mobile 'Mech from flanking them and avoiding their weapons.