ESU-S4x-0XX Solar Eclipse

Developed as the direct successor to the Catalyst of the FGC Era, the Solar Eclipse is a prototype Garrisai designed to operate the weapon known as the Solar Cannon.

Technology and Combat Characteristics
Other than occasionally being armed with a 40mm Assault Rifle, the Eclipse’s primary function is to support its allies with a devastating weapon known as the Solar Cannon. The Cannon is a head mounted gun that, when activated, protrudes a large barrel out from the forehead, and lowers the unit’s “fin,” which is actually a particle accelerator. The backpack of the Unit consists of a large Gyrotumbler, as well as a cartridge with an energy converter which raises up and plugs into the back of the unit’s head. Two reinforced pipes hanging from the backpack will also swing up, serving as stabilizers for the back of the head. A startup sequence will begin, as the Gyrotumbler draws energy from pipes leading down to the Arcandite Core, while the Particle Accelerator begins to cycle the energy within the head. The cannon will then fire its laser in a massive blast, destroying and breaking through anything in its path. The laser is so powerful that the unit’s knees and forearms are equipped with lockdown mechanisms that anchor it to the ground. Even then, the unit’s Improvised Frame can fall apart, with its arm and leg joints often tearing or breaking clean off.

Armaments
- EC-06 Electromagnetic “Solar Cannon”: The signature weapon of the Eclipse. Being a retrofit of the warship-killing Superweapon of the same name, the weapon was head-mounted and capable of obliterating anything in its path in a massive beam. This is made possible through the use of the Arcandite Core, as well as a Particle Accelerator (that’s basically a secondary Gyrotumbler unit). The beam can be consistently fired by the machine, as long as its frame is anchored to the ground; even then the weapon has been known to rip apart the machine, as its actual frame design was derived from a wrecked Cyclops GT. With some improvised heatproof armor it is able to continue sustained fire, though this is ill-advised as continued energy spinning through the reactor can cause it to burn out. With all of these dangers placed upon the Eclipse, the Cannon is usually a one-time-use weapon, or most times will be replaced with a conventional 500mm Receiver when in active combat. Alternatively, the torso of the machine is commonly mounted in a special turret on Guardia 7 in which it can be fired safely.

- 500mm Conventional “Solar Cannon”: This toned down version of the EC-06 Electromagnetic Receiver does away with power and replaces it with consistency. The weapon is still capable of dealing immense damage to anything it hits; that is, if it hits something in the first place. The barrel placement in the head was designed to be recoil compensating, but still was inaccurate in practice. However, the trade off with a more reliable and sufficient ammo supply meant that this was the Eclipse’s more common configuration. It would eventually be swapped out for the EC-06 EMR, during a last stand against the Mercury Legion. It is still labeled as the Solar Cannon, and didn’t pose the risk of severing limbs or overheating the reactor.

- 40mm ASU: In the need the machine has to engage in combat, it is equipped with a standard assault rifle. While not the most effective for a machine of its class, it can still deal a considerable amount of damage when needed.

Special Equipment and Features
- While the Solar Cannon was originally equipped with a EC-06 Electromagnetic “Laser” round receiver, it was later changed to instead fire conventional 500mm “Solid” rounds. These rounds, despite having less power, were still more powerful than a HPNC and were more efficient to produce. They were also safer to use and didn’t result in parts of the unit breaking off when firing. It would eventually return back to its EC-06 receiver during the fight with the Mercury Legion.

History
Shortly after the UNI’s capture of the LCDM Citadel—Guardia 7—former DTRO members Samantha Jenkins and Connor Holland would begin work on their own rendition of the Solar Cannon Apparatus. After mounting their first design atop a damaged Cyclops GT left in the base, they would shortly come to realize it was far from being front-line ready. Thus, the Cyclops would be broken down and its chassis mounted on a rotary platform. This would allow it to function like an automated turret, with Sam herself being its primary operator. Numerous LCR and ML platoons who attempted to storm Guardia 7 were often quickly eliminated by this Solar Cannon. This, while simultaneously paired with the TERRA Shield System surrounding the base, make Guardia 7 one of the strongest fortresses on Decholonian soil.

Trivia
- Since it was developed from the blueprints conjured from Project X, the Eclipse is classified as a S4x Unit. However, it doesn’t have a model number since it wasn’t part of the project itself.

- Due to the unit’s gun being mounted in the front of the head, it must retain a kneeling on one knee position to safely fire unassisted.

- The connection method is similar to the Gundam Flauros’ Galaxy Cannon attachment.

- The Solar Eclipse has gained the nickname “Gunhead” from UNI Soldiers.

- It has an unintentionally similar laser cannon placement to the ZZ Gundam, as both are mounted on the head.

- Despite the Solar Eclipse’s Frame being much more unstable than the Domino III’s, it runs on a much safer version of the firing sequence. This means that the Eclipse doesn’t require a parallel operation system, but instead a much more compact particle accelerator.

- The Solar Cannon was originally called the Sleeper Cannon, and the first form of the cannon was flame-based. This first form was pyrotechnics-based and known as the Solar Bishop.

- The Solar Eclipse may have inadvertently inspired the development of the Fortress Vendetta’s Shelling Form. (Author’s perspective)

- The text displayed on its right shoulder says “animejanai,” which is the name of a song from ZZ Gundam.

- The lockdown knees are inspired off of the EZ-8’s knees of 08th MST.