The Hatamoto-Chi was one of the first BattleMechs fielded by the DCMS using advanced construction materials, most notably an endo-steel chassis and ferro-fibrous armor. First deployed by the DCMS on An Ting in 3039, the Hatamoto-Chi was a significant conversion of the Wells Technologies CGR-lAl performed by Maltex Industries. ComStar originally claimed the conversion was performed on Errai, the old main construction complex of Maltex Industries, but they were wrong. The ruins of Maltex's main plant fell to the Federated Commonwealth during the War of 3039, but Maltex did have satelite installations on some nearby worlds that performed refit and assembling functions. The industrialized world of Nirasaki hosted one of these installations and it was there that Maltex performed the original modifications and in the end began to actually produce the design after the Combine helped them expand the installation.
         Over the years, a large number of variants saw action, but the last created was the 30T in 3068, an oddly lower-tech version designed to fight against the Word and be easy to maintain. Nirasaki fell during that war and the Maltex plant took extreme damage from Word forces that shut it down. Most Hatamoto-Chi's in service died during the long conflict, and many thought the design would fade away altogether, until the Tikonov Free Republic captured the world. They repaired the facility and began selling the design exclusively to the Azami Caliphate.

         Externally, the Hatamoto-Chi is similar to the Charger, retaining the large shoulder assemblies and lack of a left hand which give the machine its characteristic silhouette. A right hand exists on the design, but it seems to be a vestigal hand, with no use other than appearance. The most obvious distinguishing characteristics of this class are the radiator fins mounted on the center rear torso and head. The rear fin, resembling an ancient samurai's sashimono (back banner), is what gives the BattleMech its name. Many warriors attach a sword to the BattleMech's right hand, though the sword is as ineffective as the hand, made of decorative metal that vaporizes under the fire of 'Mech-scale weapons.
         The Hatamoto-Chi's main weapons are the Tiegart Magnum Extended-Range Particle Projection Cannons, one in each arm. Capable of crushing foes at most ranges, they give the 'Mech an impressive punch in a fight. The SRMs that are standard in most Chi-variants though were replaced with an Intek medium laser emitting out of each old tube. This reliance on the smaller lasers causes many purists to call this a Hatamoto-Hi, but as the only major surviving variant of the design, most call it by the original name. The twelve lasers can emit a light that, especially if a lance of them fire, can be seen from orbit, and can eviscerate nearly any opponent foolish enough to close with them. A Matabushi Citizen C3 Slave Unit allows the Hatamoto-Chi to share targeting data with other units, thereby making them even more deadly in groups.
         The flamer in the head is a Dragon's Gaze created specifically for the Hatamoto-Chi and continues to see use in many Draconis Combine worlds, former and present. It is capable of emitting flames from multiple ports, and on this design those ports were artfully placed in the Hatamoto-Chi's eyes. Many infantry have died when a Hatamoto-Chi's Gaze falls upon them. A Nambu Anti-Personnel Pod in each leg makes the design even more deadly to infantry, and when they see one of these BattleMechs approaching they usually run.
         While slow, heavy low-tech armor, a standard chassis, a standard engine, and no explosive ammunition in the BattleMech make it what many refer to as a "Zombie", a 'Mech that has to be taken apart, limb-by-limb, and utterly destroyed before it is taken out of the fight. The unrelenting ferocity that a Hatamoto-Chi can bring to combat makes them a feared sight on the fields of battle.

         The vast majority of the Hatamoto-Chis that still exist throughout the Draconis Rifts are either this design or a lower-technology variant that the local infrastructures can maintain. The Azami Caliphate is the largest user of the design, and all Hatamotos in their service now sport this Chi version. No one outside the Draconis Rifts seems to use it, even the Ridzik brothers as they sell all production to the Azami Caliphate. Most captured Hatamoto-Chis in service outside the Azami Caliphate replace advanced heat sinks and particle cannons on a case-by-case basis with less advanced versions if they are damaged beyond repair. Because of this, there is no way of knowing in what condition you will find a Hatamoto-Chi, but rest assured that if it can fight it is deadly.