Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/Hanzo Z

"Let's get things started! Ready, GO!"

-...

The Hanzo Z is one of the Katsuragi Protectorate's Mechas. Planned to be voiced by *TBA*

History
Protectorate mecha forces, though instantly recognizable to an outsider, were never intended to be the core of the Katsuragi armored divisions. Mecha, it was constantly pointed out, have a great many inefficiencies and disadvantages; they are best used in limited avenues and in conjunction with more conventional SDF and Phoenix King vehicles, themselves supporting infantry divisions.

This line of thought came to an abrupt end during the war when it was found that mecha had been misapplied since their inception. They were not tanks, but large infantry, and the articulated forms of the machines had given them unique advantages that could not have been predicted. As a result, the Protectorate commissioned a new wave of more humanoid mecha, and leading the pack is the brainchild of Honda's mecha division, the Model 69 Hanzo Z.

Some might find the Hanzo Z's design a little strange, but with a bit of thought it appears to make sense. Honour and civility are two things both highly respected in the Katsuragi Protectorate, so the other Guardian armed forces - men and women that are both of those things both on and off the battlefield - must have left them pleasantly surprised. The fact that the Protectorate is currently at peace with the Allies might have something to do with it as well. Regardless of the reasons behind the choice, the Hanzo Z stands just over 8 meters tall and shows the greatest range of motion of any Katsuragi mecha thus far.

Despite its size, it runs, dives, rolls, and crouches with the same agility as any infantry, giving it a unique advantage over its enemies that the Mecha Divisions have been capitalizing on. Hanzo Z pilots have been encouraged to lay low and engage the enemy from behind their shields, then leap in when the enemy is weak and deal the killing blow. To this end, they have been equipped with vector jet thrusters, allowing them unparalleled mobility in exchange for stability and range.

The primary weapon of the Hanzo Z, the so-called "Hyper Rifle", a product of Ulthuan Armoury, is very clearly based off infantry assault rifles, though obviously scaled. Its sizable shells, long-range and rapid fire rate make it appropriate for use against light vehicles, helicopters, and infantry in equal measure, while its underslung grenade launcher, one of the largest of its kind, allows it limited anti-tank potential if equipped. The Hyper Rifle is small enough to be used in one of the mecha's hands, allowing the other to be free to carry its battle shield or stabilize it while hovering.