#Todesritter

[gerogerigaogaigar]

AMX-018 Todesritter

This thing is pretty extra with its four arms, four swords, and backpack that launches little drone missiles. And while I love his design I'm a little less impressed with the outrageous number of stickers in extremely difficult to apply locations. There are more than a few places that are quite unsightly because I just couldn't get the sticker inside an area without mangling it.

[gremoria411]

Note: This is Part 2 of a post on the Pale Rider Seies. Part 1 discusses the original Pale Rider and it’s design.

Before beginning though I would like to mention that, while the actual number of Gundam’s running around the One Year War is largely set in stone, the Pale Riders are pretty much always deniable assets, with much of the information destroyed or lost. As such, new models are introduced on a semi regular basis, with the White and Black Riders being the most recent to my knowledge.

So, how about those other Rider units, then?

The White Rider was the first (in-universe) machine manufactured under the Pale Rider Plan. It is not equipped with a HADES system, but is instead equipped with the earlier ZEUS system (oh… I see what you did there). Which instead of hijacking the pilot like HADES, instead acts as a sort of really good fire control system. This is also the reason for the crown and more Gundam-like face. The system has not yet been miniaturised, and thus extrudes from the head quite considerably. It is armed with the Prototype Shekinah, which houses a Gatling gun and High-output Beam Cannon. The Shekinah was found to work fine, but the High-Output beam cannon severely limited the suit’s ability to use other beam weapons (and was quite frankly overkill), so the output was ratcheted down in future iterations. Because of this, the White Rider is armed with a heat sabre, styled after a rapier, as opposed to any beam sabers. I’m genuinely not that sure what the “cloak” on its left arm is for. It could be extra armour, but I seem to recall reading it was cooling apparatus/balancing for the Beam Cannon at some point, so I’m not sure. I’ve chatted about it’s design in a post I did on Code Fairy little while back, but in a nutshell, I like. The Beam Cannon being styled like a bow and the crown on its head both evoke the Biblical White Rider Pestilence, who rides a white horse, dons a crown and carries a bow, which is pretty neat. It was given to the Federation’s Black Dog Team after testing, and deployed against Zeon’s Noisy Fairy.

Next up, the Red Rider (which has some lovely art of it, by the way). The Second unit produced (by process of elimination) and the one that basically nailed down what the design was going to be. It was built to collect data to fine-tune the final product and was supplied to the Aggressor Squadron. It is fitted with an ARES system (getting a theme here), which… is essentially a baby HADES system, just with a much higher chance of killing the pilot. Because of this, the cockpit is fitted with a heart resuscitation program called “rymm-va”. I have no idea how this passed health and safety, not to mention that if the pilot dies in the suit, Zeon forces could easily capture it and steal valuable federation secrets. Nice job guys. Anyway, the Red Rider is armed with the standard suite of Federation machine guns, a beam saber and two new weapons. One, a 100mm machine gun equipped with beam bayonets, and two, a shield that can unfold and become a Zweihänder (as seen in the upper right image). Which is honestly pretty dang cool. It is designed after - you guessed it - the Biblical Red Rider War, who rides a red horse and carries a sword.

Unit 3 of the Rider Plan is the Black Rider. It was built to test a variety of specialised equipment, now that the basic design was down. From the fact that most of it never shows up again, we can assume things didn’t go well (or the data wasn’t properly backed up). It is equipped with a Rail Cannon (identical to the type used by the GM Ground type from M-MSV), heat daggers, a grenades launcher, stun anchor (a sort of electric harpoon similar to weaponry found on the Gouf) and fitted with a unit known as a Steelyard. I’ve talked at length about it’s design and my opinions on the existence of the Steelyard in an earlier post about Code Fairy, but in a nutshell: actual cloaking just isn’t a thing in UC, so this unit having it is very odd. I do love the Black Rider’s design though. It nails that whole “Tacticool” style I see getting thrown about so much lately without falling into the easy trap of going overboard with it. The Steelyard unit itself is styled after a pair of scales - such as the ones used by the Biblical Black Rider Pestilence (to measure the rising cost of grain). It is also equipped with the THEMIS system, which is a weaker version of HADES that removes most of the drawbacks (to my knowledge). Like it’s sibling unit the White Rider, it was eventually handed off to the Black Dog Team after testing, where it was then deployed against Zeon’s Noisy Fairy, and destroyed while attempting to kill Renato Germi, commander of the Black Dog Team.

The last Pale Rider unit deployed during the One Year War was the Pale Rider Cavalry. It was essentially supposed to be the Pale Rider, tweaked and simplified for mass-production after the war as a next-gen mobile suit. It was eventually stolen by the (by this point rogue) Slave Wraith team, but was later damaged and abandoned. It was armed with the Shekinah, a composite weapon made up of a Beam Cannon, Gatling Gun and Missile launcher in order to save costs (essentially a composite of the G04 and G05’ primary weapons, built to look like the Heavy Gundam’s frame Launcher). Other than it existing and having a pretty sweet design, I don’t honestly know a whole lot about it.

But speaking of that pretty sweet design, let’s go over that, shall we? I honestly really like the more Gundam-style design here, with the extra detailing just being wonderful. The Shekinah is a really good integrated weapon, because whatever weapon you want to switch to is going to be aiming at the same target at the one you switched from, so it’s very quick. I do love the Heavy Gundam’s frame launcher anyway, so the Pale Rider Cavalry having one is also nice. The colours evoke the Blue Destiny Unit 3, which is a very advanced and very good mobile suit. It all works so very well together, I think.

The Pale Rider Dullahan was built and deployed in 0080. It is the wreckage of the above pale rider cavalry restored to a functioning state after it was damaged. Unfortunately, since a large amount of the records regarding the Pale Rider had been lost, it was reconstructed without the HADES system. It was armed with a Hyper Beam Rifle/Hyper Bazooka, Heat Lance (taken/spare from the G-line Project) and Guardian Shield (taken from the GM Guard Type). It would be deployed against remnants of Zeon’s Marchosias team, where it would be destroyed in combat against the Pale Rider (VG). It was named the Dullhan after the headless horseman, since it wasn’t equipped with the HADES system. I honestly don’t have a whole lot to say on this one.

What I have considerably more to say on is the Pale Rider DII. It’s a reproduction of the Pale Rider Cavalry, with the Pale Rider Dullahan filling in the parts they don’t have information for (so, again, no HADES System). It was deployed against Zeon Remnant forces (that would eventually become part of the AEUG) in UC 0084. The full story can be found in Anaheim Laboratory Log, but in essence, the Pale Rider DII deploys with some GM’s to take on Two Galbaldy Alpha High Mobility Customs along with a new mobile suit, the Dowas Custom (painted red). The Pale Rider DII gets wrecked (though not destroyed).

The Dowas Custom, while initially appearing to be little more than a supercharged Dom, is actually rather special. It is the first (in-universe) second-generation mobile suit, acting as a carrier for some of the early Axis Zeon’s best technologies, which will in turn be used to develop the Rick Dias, the AEUG’s first mobile suit. So the fact that the Pale Rider, arguably the Zenith of First-Generation Mobile suit tech, loses to it is wonderful. Why? Because it shows that the Pale Rider’s time is over, that a new generation of mobile suits is coming, far superior over what came before. It emphasises just what a big deal the second-gen suits are compared to their forebears, how different things are going to be compared to the One Year War. It’s the first victory of the early AEUG over the titans. I love how the DII is used here as a microcosm of the events surrounding it. (Also it makes me think of a beefed-up GM Quel, which is quite nice).

Last one now. The AMX-18 [HADES] Todesritter. An unapologetic fourth-gen mobile suit, it was built by Neo Zeon using parts from the original Pale Rider, and retains its pilot, Chloe Croce, in addition to the HADES system in its head. It’s armed with Vulcans, Machine cannons, beam sabers, beam guns and so much more. It’s main gun is a hyper Knuckle Buster taken from a Ga-Zowmn, it uses a shield from a Bawoo with built-in mega particle guns, it has the tri-blades used by the Dreissen, and of course Incoms taken from the Döven Wolf. In addition to all this, it has two sub-arms in its shoulders that are used in close-quarters to wield additional beam sabers, such as hyper beam sabers of a similar design to those wielded by the ZZ Gundam. It is a lot. It was deployed by Char’s Neo Zeon in UC 90, against some Glemy Faction remnants, and is piloted by former Marchosias team personnel. Honestly, I quite like it. It doesn’t feel overarmed, since fourth-gen mobile suits typically have a lot of armaments. If anything, I tend to look at it as Neo-Zeon’s answer to the ZZ Gundam. It looks like this big, operatic villain, the incom units looking like a cape and the pointy feet adding a lot to this impression. The built-up arms and obvious emphasis on its weaponry makes it feel like it’s about to turn to me sadly and say “well if that’s how you really think of me, *draws sword* then you and I are enemies”. It’s a very solid aesthetic, is what I’m trying to say. It’s a distinctly odd blend of old Earth Federation aesthetics and Neo Zeon ones, but it all works. I especially like the legs, though that might just be because they remind me of the Döven Wolf. (Also, as an aside, I really like a lot of mobile suits with High Heels, simply because they’re always animated to run so delightfully. The Todesritter having a very busy back adds to this significantly, it looks like it’s lugging around a small dress train, or indeed, a cape).

[galactic-johnny]

P-bandai HG Todesritter.

I actually finished this a while ago and took pictures but I didn't feel like posting until now.

This is the only member of the pale rider family I've been able to get my hands on so far, but hopefully in the near future they'll do reprints of others. The pale rider line is sort of infamous for being a mold bandai put not effort into and slapped a bunch of stickers on. The original kit came out 2015 and was one of the first p-bandai kits that was a completely unique mold (although from what I understand its similar to the hg gm sniper ii). They then proceeded to release its variants, which reused a most of the runners but had all new, equally huge sticker sheets.

The HG Todesritter then came out in 2020 with a completely new mold, and proceed to also have a ton of stickers for all of the gold, most of the gold/gray vents, and some of the white, and still used a bunch of polycaps.

At this point I almost refuse to use stickers aside from metallic eye/sensor stickets, so I tried my hand with gundam markers and I'm pretty happy with out it came out, and at least half the gold parts were actually very easy to color in myself. It sounds like I'm complaining but honestly it was worth the effort, the Todesritter is a such a cool combination of federation and neo zeon design.

It also two really fun gimmicks, being the incoms and the subarms for the huge beam sabers, complete with mastergarde beam saber effect parts. The shield looks cool but is all molded in the dark blue, and was the hardest part for me to paint with gundam markers but I was not going to use a sticker that folded 20 different times.

It's also very big, almost as big as the RG Hi-Nu Gundam, and it big enough to toss the normal sized Lfrith around.

The build was fun if you actually enjoy the painting part to some degree like I do, but there were a few flimsy parts, like the front skirts that are connected to the piping that kept coming loose, the wing binders are on a polycap so those fall a lot, and only the left leg fell off a lot for some reason. If you can get through those the articulation is pretty okay but not as good as most of the gwitch kits for comparison.

I didn't play gundam side story missing link or read the manga, but I think the gist is that during the first neo zeon war the Todesritter was built using the cockpit of the original pale rider that got destroyed in the one year war with the HADES system intact, and is piloted by the guy that destroyed the original pale rider, who is also married to its pilot, and she is now dead/dying because of the effects of the HADES system on her. If that's correct feel free to let me know.

It's currently the most effort I've put into a kit, but worth it imo and I don't regret it, I actually want to try the original pale rider now. I first saw it in Gundam Evolution and it was one of my favorite designs, and apparently a lot of people like it because bandai keeps doing reprints and has done all of the variants of it, maybe soon they'll do a master grade version (p-bandai of course :( ).

[awesomexboxplaygame]

So erhalten Sie die Todesritterrüstung und Sabatons in Avowed Entfesseln Sie die Macht des Todesritters mit exklusiver Rüstung und Eisenschuhen in Avowed. #Spiel #avowed

[lyrics365]

Wenn Walküren Reiten

[1.] Wotan entsendet seine Töchter wohl auf das Schlachtenfeld Auserwählt, um zu erwecken, wer im Kampfe fällt Hehre Krieger, mutig, treu dem Stahl Walküren tragen sie nach Walhall’ [Kehrreim:] Rösser schnauben, Hufe schlagen, wohlan zum Todesritt Erneut erwachen wird nur der, der ehrenhaft im Kampfe stritt [2.] Todesmutig, kampfentschlossen stürmen die Krieger voran Keiner wird dem Feinde…

[gameforestdach]

Das Feature der "Heldentalente" in der kommenden Erweiterung von World of Warcraft, "The War Within", weckt beträchtliche Aufregung und Neugier in der Community. Hier ist eine umfassende Zusammenfassung basierend auf den neuesten verfügbaren Informationen: Wesen der Heldentalente Heldentalente werden als eine beständige Form der Charakterentwicklung für jede Klassenspezialisierung eingeführt, die neue Kräfte und Klassenfantasien hinzufügt. Diese Talente sind darauf ausgelegt, die bestehenden Fähigkeiten und Talente der aktuellen Klassen und Spezialisierungen zu erweitern und bieten den Spielern einen hohen Grad an Individualisierung. Mit den Heldentalenten schalten Spieler auf Stufe 71 neue, in sich geschlossene Talentbäume frei, die die Fähigkeiten und Rollen ihrer Charaktere weiter ausbauen. Freischaltung und Anpassung Jede Klasse verfügt über drei Heldentalentbäume (außer Druiden mit vier und Dämonenjäger mit zwei), und jede Spezialisierung innerhalb einer Klasse kann zwischen zwei dieser Bäume wählen. Dieses System ermöglicht es den Spielern, pro Charakter einen Heldentalentbaum zu aktivieren, ähnlich wie die derzeitigen Klassentalente geändert werden. Das neue Heldentalentsystem ermöglicht es den Spielern, ihr Spielerlebnis weiter zu personalisieren, indem sie ihre Charaktere mit einzigartigen Fähigkeiten und Kräften ausstatten. Integration mit bestehenden Talenten Einige Heldentalente setzen voraus, dass Spieler bestimmte Talente in ihren Klassen- oder Spezialisierungsbäumen auswählen. Diese Integration dient hauptsächlich der thematischen Konsistenz mit dem Heldentalentbaum. Beispielsweise verstärkt der Kriegerbaum "Mountain Thane" Avatar und Thunder Clap, während der Paladinbaum "Templar" zusätzliche Kraft für Wake of Ashes bietet, was zeigt, wie Heldentalente bestehende Klassenfähigkeiten ergänzen und verstärken. Spekulationen und Spielerfeedback Die Namen und Details dieser Heldentalente stehen noch zur Diskussion, und Blizzard sucht aktiv nach Rückmeldungen von Spielern. Dieses Feedback ist entscheidend für die Verfeinerung der Heldentalente, um sie an die Erwartungen der Spieler und das Spielgleichgewicht anzupassen. Die Einsichten und Erfahrungen der Spieler sind ein wertvoller Teil des Entwicklungsprozesses und gestalten die Zukunft dieser neuen Talentbäume. Beispiele für Heldentalente Einige der enthüllten Heldentalente umfassen San’Layn für Todesritter (Blut- und Unheilig-Spezialisierungen), die sich auf vampirische Fähigkeiten konzentrieren; Chronowächter für Evoker (Verstärkung, Erhaltungs-Spezialisierungen), mit Schwerpunkt auf Zeitmanipulation; Lichtschmied für Paladine (Heilig-, Schutz-Spezialisierungen), die heiligen Schaden oder Heilungsboni bieten; und Gebirgsthane für Krieger (Wut-, Schutz-Spezialisierungen), die bestimmte Kriegerfähigkeiten verbessern. Auswirkungen auf das Gameplay und das Metagame Die Einführung von Heldentalenten könnte einen bedeutenden Einfluss auf das Metagame von WoW haben. Blizzard scheint schrittweise mehr Unterstützungsoptionen für alle Klassen einzuführen, was möglicherweise zu einer Verschiebung des Spielschwerpunkts von individueller Leistung hin zu teamorientiertem Spiel führt. Dieser Wandel könnte das Spielerlebnis bereichern, indem er sowohl individuelle Anpassung als auch kooperatives Spielen betont. Zukünftige Entwicklungen und Enthüllungen Blizzard plant, in den kommenden Monaten weitere Details über Heldentalente zu teilen, einschließlich der vollständigen Designs der Bäume. Dieser fortwährende Enthüllungsprozess ist Teil ihrer Strategie, um die Reaktionen der Spieler zu bewerten und entsprechend anzupassen. Die Community wartet gespannt auf diese Updates und ist bereit, in die neuen Tiefen der Charakteranpassung und der Spielermöglichkeiten einzutauchen, die die Heldentalente zu bieten versprechen. Zusammenfassend zielt die Erweiterung „The War Within“ darauf ab, das WoW-Erlebnis mit Heldentalenten zu bereichern und neue Dimensionen der Charakterentwicklung und Klassenfantasie zu bieten.

Dieses Feature scheint eine frische Dynamik ins Spiel zu bringen, indem sowohl individuelle Anpassung als auch kooperatives Spielen betont werden.

[theballmighty]

Todesritter Thursday, or something.

[alphamecha-mkii]

AMX-018[HADES] Todesritter by Kuri Giepi

[wisteriafield]

Why is the Todesritter allowed to have Maneuver Armor and a Shield as a General and the Ex-S having neither while being bigger

Last night the Ex-S got

+1500 HP (barest minimum, would’ve liked 2000 but it can’t be helped)

4s Charge on the Smart Gun -> 3s Charge (while still maintaining 18s Overheat by default...). You really want me to play this the boring way and not use its burst fire and treat it like a 400 cost MS’s beam rifle huh? You wanna make this thing a subpar stun beam rifle in a range where everyone else has instant stun beam rifles huh?

Flight Control Lv2, something that it should’ve come with at launch that literally every other modular MS has, and pretty much every Gryps Conflict MS onward has

Reflector Incom less likely to collide with environment, supposedly easier to hit. Something it actually really needed, though it can avoid the first obstacle that doesn’t stop it from running into a wall on the 2nd path. Don’t know if the easier to hit part is better movement prediction of enemies, faster beam, or wider hitbox because matchmaking has been dead for english PS4 players for roughly 20 hours

The buff to the ZZ was modest but its flaws are fundamental to its weapon selection

They said they would further retune the Qubeley, no mention of that this month

[gremoria411]

Alright, since I did a post on all the Gundam Units running around in the One Year War, and since I also just finished my big long post on Gundam: Code Fairy, I should probably do one on the Pale Rider series, shouldn’t I?

Being that they’re also very popular, and thus show up in a lot of places. I should note that I’m working off second-hand information for most of these, since I haven’t played the Missing Link Games.

I’m also going to talk about the original pale rider first, then I’ll deal with the others in (in-universe) chronological order in a second post:

The Original RX-80 PR Pale Rider (later retconned into being the 4th unit in the Pale Rider plan). First appeared in the Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link videogame. It’s first known deployment was against the Slave Wraith Team, an Earth Federation MS team made up of condemned criminals, often used as an internal disciplinary unit (read: taking out traitors and political enemies of the group’s controller, Grave) after they were judged too much of a liability (betrayed). It was later heavily damaged in battle against Zeon’s Marchosias Corps (basically a bunch of pilots that Zeon doesn’t fully trust due to possible ties with the Earth Federation, but who are too good for Zeon not to use) and captured (along with its pilot) at a Baoa Qu, at the end of the war. What happens to it next depends, since the Videogame and Manga diverge here. In the videogame it is eventually refitted into the AMX-18 Todesritter by Neo Zeon (in UC 0090, around the time of Char’s Rebellion), which I’ll get to later. Whilst in the manga it’s customised into the Pale Rider (VG) in UC 0080, then used by Vincent Gleissner, former member of Marchosias, and fought against the Pale Rider Dullhan, which I’ll also get to later. The Pale Rider (VG) is stated to be repaired using Gelgoog parts, but really the only notable difference is it’s weaponry. Notably, the name Pale Rider is implied to be something of a sick joke - in normal mobile suits the Pilot controls their actions as if they were riding a horse, with the Pale Rider, it’s the other way around.

So there it is, the unit that started it all. While I do understand it’s popularity I confess I’m unable to really appreciate the design. Why is this? Well…. The original Pale Rider design could be described as taking a bunch of existing cool elements from the Gundam Sidestories and mashing them all together. While not a bad method of designing a suit (especially one that you want to feel threatening, or a culmination of that which came before it), it does mean that the design is going to have a certain stitched-together quality to it.

First off, the mobile suit itself takes several design cues from the GM Sniper II (some of the chest and most of the legs and skirt armour) stated to be one of the best suits in the war, and it equipped with a HADES system, a derivative of the (strictly-limited) EXAM system used by the Blue Destiny Units, from which it also appears to derive its head design and general colourscheme.

(I’ll talk about it another time, but the EXAM system is essentially a super mode, where the suits limiters are released, but it places incredible stress on the pilot, since they’re essentially being used as a biological cpu. It is limited to three minutes, otherwise the suit is put under too much stress).

Armament wise, it has multiple weapon loadouts, all of which use weaponry cribbed from other machines. The ground type armaments uses the same 180mm Cannon as the Gundam Ground Type, and is also equipped with a Spike Shield used by the GM Striker. Whilst the Space use version uses the exact same armaments as the Gundam G05 - Giant Gatling Gun, Hyper Beam Rifle, Shield and this is also where the Pale Rider gets it’s beam guns which are built-into it’s arms.

When customised for use by Vincent Gleissner, it’s equipped with the Beam Machine Gun from the Gelgoog Jäger (essentially the best beam weapon available at that time) in addition to its Beam spot guns in the arms, to replace it’s destroyed beam guns. It gets twin beam naginata’s from the standard Gelgoog, and has twin missile pods added to the legs (I assume they’re standard Zeon equipment, but the only other suit we see them on is the EXAM Efreet).

This isn’t meant to call out the Pale Rider as a “Bad Design” or anything. I think it does a good job of blending its influences together. It’s just that I generally find myself preferring it’s component units over it (particularly the G04 and G05).

I’ll talk about the other Rider units in a follow-up post.

[neco117]

Kleiner Tipp für alle, die auch gerade die ARD-Mediathek durchforsten:

Gönnt euch den neuen Kroatien-Krimi "Der Todesritt"!

Mit Karin Hanczewski als bisexuelle Tierärztin, eine wlw Ermittlerin mit crush Potential, Familiendrama, wunderschöne Landschaften und Pferden...

[redguns]

Todesritter

[midnightactual]

SPACE ACE: Yoruichi’s Mobile Suits & History Part II

Part I is here!

U.C. 0088, April: MSA-0011 [Ext] Ex-S Gundam

U.C. 0091, January: MSZ-010A1 Theta Plus [ALICE] Yoruichi Custom

U.C. 0093, August: FA-93-ν2HWS Hi-ν Gundam Heavy Weapons System Type [ALICE] Yoruichi Custom

U.C. 0096, April: FA-93-ν2HWS Hi-ν Gundam Heavy Weapons System Type [ALICE] Yoruichi Custom

While the existence of the [Ext] Ex-S Gundam’s ALICE artificial intelligence system initially went undetected by Yoruichi during the course of the First Neon Zeon War—it overwhelmingly judged her decision-making abilities and reactions as both correct and logical, and rarely interfered—she would eventually come to perceive its presence through a variety of combat incidents during the conflict. Intrigued by the capabilities of the AI and the way it subtly augmented her combat performance, after the war ended in January of U.C. 0089, Yoruichi would spend the next couple of years delving into the darker secrets of the past decade to uncover the truth of many of the scientific horrors she’d faced on the battlefield.

In the course of her investigations, she would not only learn of the origins of the Cyber-Newtypes and the various Newtype Labs which had produced them (including Zeon’s Flanagan Institute and the Federation’s EXAM Institute, Augusta Newtype Lab, Oakland Newtype Lab, and Murasame Newtype Lab) but also of various technologies developed along the way such as: Augusta’s ORX-013 Gundam Mk-V with its Quasi-Psycommu System and INCOMs, which she had first seen on its successor, the AMX-014 Döven Wolf, during the First Neo Zeon War; the EXAM System created by the EXAM Institute, the HADES iteration developed by Augusta, and True Federal’s subsequent NEO EXAM System developments; and even the Reuse Psycho Device created by Zeon during the One Year War.

Seemingly lacking advanced Newtype abilities herself, Yoruichi knew she would likely gain little if any benefit from Psycommu or Bio-Sensor (and eventually Psycoframe) technologies. This was a problem as it became increasingly clear to her that advantages in mobile suit warfare were trending in that direction of development. Whoever held the advantage would probably determine the fate of humanity, and she was unwilling to simply stand aside in the face of whatever that outcome might be given the stakes. Utterly unwilling to submit to becoming a Cyber-Newtype given the evident drawbacks she’d witnessed through the First Neo Zeon War, let alone her subsequent detective work, Yoruichi instead decided to pursue alternative means of keeping up. She would still be collating all the information she’d uncovered when she was invited by Captain Bright Noa to join Londo Bell prior to its official founding on March 21, U.C. 0090. She agreed on certain conditions and was instated at the rank of Commander (chūsa).

With her newfound authority and data, Yoruichi returned to Anaheim Electronics in April of U.C. 0090 to renegotiate her relationship with them using the information she’d acquired. She also issued an ultimatum: cut her into even more of their latest technologies and work with her on competitor technology to counter Newtype battlefield superiority or she would air their dirty laundry not just to Londo Bell, but the entire Earth Sphere, making it very clear her threat was automatic: if anything happened to her or those close to her, the cat would be out of the bag no matter how thorough they might try to be.

Considering this a small price to pay to maintain her as an ally, Anaheim Electronics agreed to her terms, albeit with intentions of their own... They had already come into possession of several captured AMX-014 Döven Wolf units and were working on converting them into ARX-014 Silver Bullet units which were intended to test the Quasi-Psycommu System and INCOMs. Likewise, they were already negotiating a contract to work on converting the RX-80PR Pale Rider into the AMX-018 [HADES] Todesritter for Char Aznable’s Newborn Neo Zeon. Yoruichi’s provided information and continuing combat data both as an individual and from training ALICE would prove invaluable to both efforts, and others to follow...

Yoruichi was accordingly the recipient of the first production article of the MSZ-010A1 Theta Plus in January of U.C. 0091, with the ALICE AI from her [Ext] Ex-S Gundam being transferred into it. Finally in possession of firepower to surpass the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam, Yoruichi would continue to sortie with the mobile suit for Londo Bell during the events leading up to, through, and beyond the Second Neo Zeon War in U.C. 0093.

With the disappearance and presumed death of Char Aznable and Amuro Ray during the Axis Shock event which concluded that conflict, Yoruichi’s relative prominence in Anaheim Electronics' eyes rose; she was their last “in-house” ace and in their view she depended on them as much as they now did on her. It would be to their mutual benefit to continue their relationship in such uncertain times...

Thus, in August of that year, they issued Yoruichi with the final development of the RX-93 ν Gundam, which had originally been intended for Amuro Ray himself: the FA-93-ν2HWS Hi-ν Gundam Heavy Weapons System Type. Stripped of its originally intended Psycoframe cockpit, it was retrofitted with a Quasi-Psycommu System and wired fin funnels developed from the ARX-014P Silver Bullet (Funnel Test Type) which had directly lead to the original RX-93 ν Gundam. This plus the integration with the ALICE AI which had accompanied Yoruichi for years would allow for the use of the funnels under AI-control in a fashion similar to that of the INCOMs of the AMX-018 [HADES] Todesritter, yet superior as Yoruichi’s ALICE lacked the issues of the HADES system. Her Hi-ν Gundam would continue to vastly outperform derivatives such as the RX-94 Mass Production Type ν Gundam and even the later RGM-96X Jesta in the years ahead.

With such a prize in Yoruichi’s possession, Anaheim Electronics tipped its own hand just as Yoruichi herself had demanded they do three years earlier by revealing to her the UC Project, the creation of the Newtype-Destroyer (NT-D) System, and the development of both the MSN-06S Sinanju Stein and RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. Privately horrified at the prospect of the arms race continuing without end, Yoruichi was all the more chagrinned to learn that the NT-D system required a Newtype to function. With all that conveyed, Anaheim Electronics gave a final revelation: a showcase of the almost completed MSN-001X Gundam Delta Kai and its n_i_t_r_o System, which could temporarily augment an Oldtype into a Cyber-Newtype, albeit with some ongoing teething issues...

Nonplussed at the possibilities apparently being dangled in front of her, Yoruichi proposed instead focusing on the synergy of systems like ALICE, the Quasi-Psycommu System, and miniaturization of existing technologies like I-field generators and Minovsky craft systems. She was not left with the impression Anaheim Electronics was particularly interested in her proposal and departed with the Hi-ν Gundam. She would continue to utilize it, with periodic upgrades by Kūkaku, through the leadup to the Third Neo Zeon War (“Laplace Incident”) in April, U.C. 0096, throughout it, and through the associated events.

Yoruichi’s earlier suggestions to Anaheim Electronics would prove prescient in the aftermath of the conflict as it was agreed by both the Earth Federation and Minerva Zabi’s faction in the Republic of Zeon that Psycoframe technology was too dangerous to continue to allow its development or proliferation. Her Hi-ν Gundam was—conveniently, due to all its alterations—exempt from this ban, as the Quasi-Psycommu System was considered primitive by comparison, like comparing a transistor with a microprocessor. Indeed, Londo Bell (along with ECOAS) and Yoruichi herself with the Hi-ν Gundam would be instrumental in enforcing this agreement through to Zeon rejoining the Earth Federation in U.C. 0100...

[cerastes]

Missing Link is cool but also, you can tell the scenario writers and designers of B.B. Studio really took the opportunity to realize their most adolescent desires when it came to the new machines.

We went from grunt and semi-grunt units like GM, Gundam Ground Type, and GM variants like GM Striker or GM Intercept to SLAVE WRAITH and PALE RIDER and, my favorite, [HADES] TODESRITTER which translates directly to HADES DEATH KNIGHT.

[kaja-gmbh]

Weihnachtszeit, ja Freunde, dies wird bitter,

Habe ich doch fast keine Zeit für meinen Todesritter.

Ja, machmal tun die Feiertage sogar weh,

hab ich keine Zeit für mein liebstes MMORPG!

Sitze mit Oma und Opa bei Wurst und Gurke,

wäre ich doch jetzt nur ein Schurke.

Doch ist es aus, und warte bis sie wieder ziehen,

ganz und gar, wie der edle Paladin.

Die Kerzen brennen, es raucht der Baum,

Langsam erfüllt Stimmung unseren dunklen Raum.

Die Oma schreit und ruft nach Gott,

ich hingegen träume mich nach Azeroth.

Ein zwei Lieder sollen wir gemeinsam Singen,

lieber kreuzte ich mit einem Worgen meine Klingen.

Der Baum mit seinem Lichterglanz,

er erinnert mich an die schöne Zeit mit der Allianz.

Der Opa schläft, die Oma singt,

Der Goblin lacht am Fenster stark beringt.

Es ist so schön es ist geschafft,

Habe ich nun Zeit für mein geliebtes World of Warcraft.

Noxplode

[sparklingdarkness0609]

Was wäre besser?

Die Blutelfe mit den feurig roten Haaren saß auf dem Balkon, Ihrer Wohnung am Königlichen Markt, und studierte eines der Bücher, welches Sie auf Ihren Reisen mit Ihrem Mann ergattert hatte. Ein leichter Wind fuhr durch Ihr glänzendes Haar und die Sonne wärmte Ihre Haut angenehm auf, als Sie die nächste Seite umblätterte und sich zurück lehnte. Ihr Blick wanderte über das Geländer des Balkons herunter auf den Markt, auf dem es um die Mittagszeit immer etwas ruhiger war und für einen Moment lang beobachtete Sie das Treiben, ehe ein Geräusch an der Tür Sie wieder aus den Gedanken riss. Schnell schob Sie Ihre Notizen zusammen  und legte Sie in das Buch, welches Sie zuklappte und dann zur Tür eilte. Es war wirklich Ihr Mann, welcher gerade seien Sachen neben der Tür abgelegt hatte und sich umdrehte als er Ihre  Schritte hörte. Sie sprang Ihn sofort an und fiel ihm um den Hals, ehe sich Ihre Lippen auf seine senkten und die Beiden sich einen langen Kuss gaben. „Du bist zurück.“ hauchte Sie und sah Ihn freudig strahlend an, bevor Ihre Hand durch das schwarze Haar fuhr. „Hat ja auch lange genug gedauert.“ meinte er leise, ehe er die starken Arme um den wohlgeformten Körper seiner Frau schloss und diese eng an sich zog. Tief atmete er Ihren Duft ein und nahm Sie auf den Arm. „Ich hab dich vermisst oh mein Feuer.“ raunte er in Ihr Ohr, als er Sie zum Sofa trug und dort vorsichtig ablegte. Sie legte sich auf den Rücken und mit den Armen, welche Sie um seinen Nacken geschlossen hatte, zog Sie ihn mit sich, dass er über Ihr lag und in Ihre Augen herunter blickte. „Was bedrückt dich?“ säuselte Sie verführerisch und er musste schmunzeln. „Du ließt mich wie eines deiner Bücher.“ raunte er und seine Lippen senkten sich auf die weiche Haut Ihre´s Halses, welche er sanft küsste, bevor er Sie wieder anlächelte. „Ich hab ihn nicht gefunden.“ murmelte er, nach einem Moment der Stille und seien Frau fuhr mit der Hand sanft durch seine Haare. „Aber ist das denn so schrecklich?“ fragte Sie liebevoll und schenkte Ihm ein sanftes Lächeln, doch er schwieg und schloss die Augen. „Solange du Ihn nicht findest, ist es immer noch möglich, dass er wirklich Tot ist und nicht als Todesritter durch die Lande streift.“ meinte Sie ruhig und er seufzte, bevor er die Luft aus seinen Lungen komplett entweichen ließ und langsam wieder einatmete. „Ich weiß nicht was schlimmer wäre...“ hauchte er und sah seine Frau in die Augen. „Ich würde Ihn gerne sehen… aber zu wissen, dass er ruhe hat, wäre wohl auch nichts schlechtes.“ meinte er leise und setzte sich wieder auf. Sie kniete sich neben Ihm und strich mit den Fingerspitzen sein Ohr herunter. „Ach mein Krieger...“ flüsterte Sie leise, fast schon verletzt und stand dann auf. Sein Blick folgte Ihr, als Sie sich vor Ihn stellte und Ihn grinsend ansah. „Was hast du vor?“ fragte er und Sie stupste mit dem Finger an seine Nase. „Dich auf andere Gedanken bringen hauchte Sie.“ schob mit der Hand Ihr Kleid erst über die eine Schulter und dann über die andere, bevor es langsam nach unten glitt und erst Ihre prächtige Oberweite frei gab und dann Ihre wohlgeformten Rundungen am am unteren Teil Ihres Körpers. Bei diesem Anblick wanderte das Blut des Elfen gleich in eine ganz bestimmte Region und besonders nach dem er fort war lief Ihm regelrecht das Wasser im Munde zusammen. Ohne ein weiteres Wort drehte Sie ihm den Rücken und Ihren schönen Po zu, ehe Sie in Richtung des Schlafzimmers verschwand und ihm kurz vor der Tür noch einen Blick über die Schulter zuwarf, der jeden Mann hätte dahin schmelzen lassen. Ihr Mann erhob sich vom Sofa und mit dem Zeigefinger winkte Sie Ihn zu sich heran und zeigte ihm sehr deutlich, dass er Ihr folgen sollte und bereits auf dem Weg ins Schlafzimmer wanderte das Hemd über seinen Kopf und dann zu Boden. Nur mit einem Tuch um die Hüfte stand er auf dem Balkon und hatte die Unterarme auf dem Geländer abgelegt, während sein Blick über die Menge tief unter Ihm wanderte. „Immer noch am nachdenken?“ hauchte die verführerische Stimme hinter Ihm, ehe er die weichen Brüste seiner Frau an seinem Rücken spürte und Ihre Hände um Ihn wanderten und auf seiner nackten Brust zum liegen kamen. „Vielleicht.“ neckte er Sie, in dem wissen, was passieren würde und spürte kurz darauf den süßen Schmerz, welchen er so liebte, als Ihre spitzen, krallenartigen Fingernägel über seine Brust kratzten und perfekte rote Kratzer hinterließen. „Vielleicht?“ raunte Sie in sein Ohr und biss sanft in seinen Hals, was Ihn wohlig auf keuchen ließ. „Eine letzte Reise nach Nordend… aber diesmal will ich dich dabei haben.“ hauchte er, als er sich umdrehte und Sie ansah. „Nordend ist kalt… vielleicht muss ich erst überzeugt werden.“ hauchte Sie an seine Lippen und knabberte danach an Ihrer Unterlippe. „Dann sollte ich Überzeugungsarbeit leisten.“ raunte er, bevor er Sie küsste und Sie nur einen Augenblick später auf den starken Armen hatte und Sie zum Bett trug.