Aestavalis - Land Combat Unit

Name: Aestavalis - Land Unit Species: Human - Nergal Technology: Robot

Background

The Land Unit is the most generic of the Aestavalis chassis, it uses the least mission specific technology and thus is the lightest and most maneuverable of the Aestavalis. It is also the easiest to pilot, during the first attack on the Nadesico Akito Tenkawa was able to easily pilot a Land Unit without any training whatsoever. 

The Land Unit is based on the standard Aestavalis Chassis, with only a basic weapons upgrade.

The Land Unit has high tensile caterpillar tracks built into its legs to enable it to operate at high speeds with minimal power consumption. Its low armor rating (when compared to the other upgraded chassis) gives it the high mobility and speed needed to fight the mobile Jovian Insects.

This chassis is still almost totally dependent on a power siphon generator for its energy needs and cannot fight inside buildings or underground. However its lower than average power consumption, and low energy caterpillar tracks mean that it can operate further from the Nadesico's power feed, and can sustain its self for far longer on internal batteries (aided by the reduced need for environmental support when fighting in a breathable atmosphere).

The main pilot capsule is interchangeable with that of all other Aestavalis models as are all of its critical components.

The Land Unit has been use in battle throughout the Earth - Jovian War, and was critical to operations both during the Nadesico's return to Mars (Episode 6 - Sort of like a fateful decision) and during the fighting on Earth. 

Most notably three Land Units where deployed as a escort for the Nadesico's heavy artillery Frames during the near catastrophic mission to destroy an experimental Rail Gun deployed by the Jovians in a former Russian industrial centre (Episode 11 - Finding yourself in a routine plot.).  During the afore mentioned engagement the three Land Units were equipped with experimental power cells to enable them to fight for a far greater duration without support from the Nadesico or an external supply of energy.

Armour

The Land Unit carries no additional armor, relying solely on the ceramic armor fitted as standard on all frame varieties. The standard armor is sufficient to repel all light laser and conventional weapons and can sustain moderate fire from Jovian semi guided rockets.

Defensive Field

The Land Unit carries a standard Factory fitted distortion field capable of repelling moderate rocket fire and light fire from Heavy Graviton Weapons.

Weaponry

The Land Unit can be equipped with all standard light weaponry though because of weight restriction and the requirement to remain mobile they are often equipped with minimal weapons

Rocket Forearms (standard)
Assault Rifle (optional)
Combat Knife (optional)
Field Penetration Halberd/Lance (optional)

Thrusters

The Land Unit is equipped with simple thrusters in a rocket arrangement on its back, the thrusters enhance the agility of the Land Unit and allow it to perform simple maneuvers in the air, but because this model does not have attitude thrusters or guidance panels it is not able to fly like the Jovian Jiro, or perform complicated tasks in the air.