Zoids: Chaotic Age Zero

Name: Blade Liger
Alignment: Helic Republic
Family: Liger
Registration Number: RZ-028
Crew: 1-2
Height: 12.2 Meters
Length: 25.9 Meters
Weight: 124 Tons
Top Speed: 305 kph (boosters), 260 (running)
Weapons: Twin 30mm Pulse Laser Guns, Dual Impact Cannon, Twin Laser Blades.
Special Abilities: Hyper Blade Attack, Frontal E-Shield.
Level: 4

The Blade Liger is an evolution of the earlier Helic Shield Liger with improved melee capabilities, in the form of increased speed, strength, and agility, along with the addition of two Laser Blades. Originally publicized by Van Flyheight, who piloted the very first one of these, the Blade Liger used to be considered a rare Zoid. Originally, the Helic Republic had difficulty manufacturing more due to its unique construction and Zoid Core, but still recognized the merits of having such a Zoid on their side in times of both war and peace. Despite being more expensive than the stock Shield Liger, several dozen of these Zoids were produced and filtered through the ranks of the Republican Army.

Though many have been either lost to time or destroyed in combat, each war finds new uses for the Blade Liger. A wide array of customizations and modifications available to the Blade Liger make it attractive to individual pilots and armed forces alike, and many have been produced as a result. After the Backdraft resurrection of the Charged Particle Gun, Blade Ligers were treated as invaluable resources for their potential to counter the new threat. During the war, Blade Ligers nearly poured from the factories to swell the ranks of the Zi Coalition Forces. Now, many have been sold off as army surplus, and many have found their way into the hands of private owners.

Needless to say, the reputation of Blade Liger as high performance and reliable has made it a popular choice among aspiring young pilots. At least an equal number choose it for its connection to the legendary hero Van Flyheight, or because of its involvement in an untold number of heroic victories during the war. Whatever the reason, calling the Blade Liger “rare” is now nothing less than black heresy; indeed, many nations are trying to find ways to discourage pilots from using Blade Ligers to increase variety in the competitive Zoid Battling circuits.

If we speak technically for a moment, though, the Blade Liger is still extremely attractive on stats alone. It has armor better than many of the Zoids in its class of similar speed and agility, and has a good array of weapons to begin with. If the stock form just isn’t enough, there exist an array of modifications to give it any number of other abilities, allowing it to adapt to most situations. And, lastly, the Blade Liger is a powerful melee demon, with almost unparalleled close-quarters abilities.

Weapons:
Twin 30mm Pulse Laser Guns:
Mounted to each of the Blade Liger’s infamous laser blades sits a 30mm Pulse Laser Gun. The primary ranged weapon for the ‘Liger, the Pulse Laser Guns are fully automatic, and spew out 12 rounds per second each. Also, because they’re mounted to the blades, these weapons can face and shoot at anywhere the blades can. That makes them near omnidirectional, and extremely useful.

Dual Impact Cannon:
When the Twin 30mm Pulse Laser Guns just don’t seem strong enough, the Blade Liger’s famous Dual Impact Cannons might succeed where other weapons failed. This semiautomatic, double-barreled AZ80mm Impact Cannon can take the armor off of some Zoids in a just a few volleys. Unfortunately, this weapon is fixed to the undercarriage, facing forwards, and has a maximum range of 300 meters. Something else worth noting is that Dual Impact Cannon is extremely hard to aim properly while running, because it is a fixed weapon.

Twin Laser Blades:
The Dual Impact Cannon just not destroying your opponent quick enough? Have no fear. The Blade Liger’s signature Twin Laser Blades are capable of dealing with your problem. Two chargeable blades, each conventionally mounted on the back and to either side of the midsection, are more than sufficient to cut down most enemies. Though they’re razor-sharp uncharged, the Blade Liger has the ability to charge its Laser Blades, drastically increasing their cutting power. Also, since they’re mounted on rotating hinges, each Laser Blade can be pivoted up to 180 degrees on the horizontal axis (from straight forward to straight behind) and up to 90 degrees straight upwards. The hinges themselves can even move a bit, capable of sliding from the back to “docked” position on the sides. Note that the Laser Blades are just over 7 meters long, allowing the ‘Liger to slice and dice targets with no threat to its own safety.

Special Abilities:
Hyper Blade Attack:
The Blade Liger is universally recognized as a powerful combination of the high performance Shield Liger and the potent attack power of two chargeable laser blades. However, every weapon other weapon on the Blade Liger, and every other weapon on every other Zoid, and indeed the Charged Particle Gun itself pales in comparison to the Blade Liger's ultimate attack, the Hyper Blade Attack. This attack entails that the Blade Liger deploy its blades (however it likes, they just can't be in resting position), and then raise and overcharge the shield and blades together. This process takes two seconds, and two seconds only. Once that's said and done, creates a devestating interface of the shield and the blades, which is called the Hyper Blade Attack.

The Hyper Blade Attack field lasts for 4 seconds, during which time it forms a knife-shaped field in front of the Blade Liger. Though no longer a shield, the Hyper Blade Attack field does cut anything and everything that enters its path. That includes bullets and the like, though explosives detonate and still cause damage. Energy passes through just fine, and one of the classic counter-maneuvers to this attack is simply to bombard the Liger with energy fire. During the Hyper Blade Attack, the Blade Liger is at a distinct disadvantage in a few ways. Firstly, the boosters of the Zoid burn out, and cannot be used during the attack. Secondly, the Blade Liger has to use in a practically straight line. Thirdly, the Blade Liger cannot fire any weapons or raise its shield.

That aside, the Hyper Blade Attack naturally repels charged particles, and normal Blade Liger's HBA can repel up to a Super Charged Particle Gun before failing. This reduces the power of the attack, but this reduction usually doesn't matter, as the HBA is so powerful that even a fraction of its energy can slice and dice most Zoids. When at full force, the HBA can be staved off by a few Zoids in the "Banned" category, but by no one else.

One last thing: once the HBA has reached completion, the 'Liger still can't use its shield, boosters, or even charge its blades until 18 seconds have elapsed and the Zoid has re-built up its energy stores. This means that this attack should be used to finish the battle - not start it. Lastly, in sanctioned Zoid Battles, the Hyper Blade Attack is treated as a superweapon and cannot be used within the first 6 seconds of the match. All's fair in war, though.

Frontal E-Shield:
Among the most useful holdovers from the Shield Liger that the this Zoid possesses, the Blade Liger can raise a Frontal E-Shield. Raising the E-Shield entails opening the shield panels on the top and bottom on the ‘Liger’s head. If either one is badly damaged or destroyed, the maneuver will fail. However, once the shield is up, it protects the Blade Liger from the head all the way to the rear legs. The E-Shield itself is almost as good protection as the Blade Liger’s own armor, as far as conventional weapons go. It can also be used in melee as a high-speed battering ram, allowing it to be used offensively as well. Explosives (mortars, missiles, rockets, grenades, ect.) and special shield-piercing rounds can quickly compromise the E-Shield, though, so know thine opponent before bringing the E-Shield up. It takes 18 seconds to regenerate after being downed. However, the Blade Liger’s own Dual Laser Blades have the unique ability to, when charged, pierce the shield from inside and stick out without ill effects to the shield.

Available Modifications: