ESU-S4xC/NU-025 Arbalestæ

Technology and Combat Characteristics
Using the designs of the Kingship, Juggernaut, and Jupiter II as its base, the Arbalestæ diverges from many of its high-mobility sister units in that it is centered around heavy armor and massive weaponry over speed and precision. Like all descendants of the Majestic, the Arbalestæ is skilled at charging attacks by default. Similar to the Dark Pegasus, however, this machine hyper-specializes in a certain factor; in this case, it specializes in power. This takes inspiration from the Juggernaut: while the Kingship made use of a Giga-Claymore, the Arbalestæ enhances that idea with its primary weapon—The Reversible Destroyer Blade. Alongside its sub-arms, the Arbalestæ was deployed as the DTRO's second NU METACOM System Garrisai, alongside the first NMS Unit Valtheræ.

Armaments
- Reversible Destroyer Blade: The Arbalestæ is armed with a pair of massive swords known as the Reversible Destroyers. Being based off of the Folding Anti-Armor Blade, these weapons compensate for their sheer presence by being capable of folding down their middles. Due to the weight of these weapons, they must be two handed in order to properly wield; however, the Arbalestæ’s pair of dynamic sub-arms allow for simultaneous use of both blades. A unique feature of the Destroyers is their ability to combine along their ridges to form an even larger weapon known as the God Destroyer Blade.

- God Destroyer Blade: A special configuration where both Reversible Destroyer blades are combined to form a weapon much larger than the Arbalestæ itself. Explicitly designed to be capable of taking down IMSs on its own, use of the weapon is only possible with all four arms of the Arbalestæ. Since it is nearly impossible to use the weapon for quick swinging attacks, it is used as a charging or single “crash down” weapon that relies on single attacks that deal immense damage when placed right.

- Anti-Armor Knife: A pair of custom daggers are mounted on the sides of the Arbalestæ's head. Resembling the appearance of a pair of tusks, they can allow for extreme close-quarters attacks similar to the Kingship's horn. Unlike the aforementioned unit, these daggers can be disconnected from the head and handheld via a rotating joint that flips the knives upwards, revealing their handles.

- Dantalion Warhead Assembly: An incredibly powerful anti-Celestial Strider weapon that makes use of a three-tube launcher and Megaparticle-charged “warheads” that can pierce even the strongest of armor. Being mounted on a set of movable joints to allow for its setup sequence, it can fold up behind the shoulders when not in use.

Special Equipment and Features
- Advanced Sub-Arms II: The Arbalestæ features a second set of arms, which can be used for a number of purposes. From holding or handing weapons to the main arms, to going headfirst into combat with a devastating four-armed melee, the Arbalestæ is a strong threat no matter what it is equipped with. Unlike the original Jupiter—which needed a second pilot to operate the sub-arms—the addition of a NU METACOM System allowed for a single pilot to operate all four arms at once as if it were an extension of themselves.

- Rear Skirt Booster Unit: Due to the immense weight of the Arbalestæ and the weapons it used, a Rear Skirt Booster Unit is often attached to the machine in order to still reach High-Mobility Hovering Speeds. Serving as the rear-skirt armor of the machine, this large system is capable of storing the Arbalestæ's Reversible Destroyer Blades, which leaves space for the Dantalion Warheads on its back. Extensive use of the Booster Unit does require extra fuel canisters in order to continue functioning. Should it become compromised, this system can be purged. However, it is a prerequisite for any form of movement when the Reversible Destroyer Blades are combined into the God Destroyer Blade.

History
After being captured by the Mercury Legion during the fall of the NDRC, the machine would be overhauled to operate in anti-Celestial Strider operations, namely against the Lacerta CS. It would be destroyed during said operations under Ian Hunt, in which it would be recovered and placed back into storage.

Arbalestæ and Valtheræ Article
The last two units of Project X were developed primarily as means of testing the effectiveness of remote weaponry used on Garrisai, but were eventually taken by The Mercury Legion during the Fall of the NDRC. These two machines would undergo an extensive overhaul, as the Legion was unable to reproduce the highly unique technology found in these units. Over the course of the PURITY story arc, the Jupiter II and Saturn II (now Arbalestæ and Valtheræ respectively) were deployed in response to the reactivation of the Celestial Stride Lacerta. This was the Mercury Legion's attempt in containing this new threat after realizing their asset, Magdalena Cassidy, could not handle the situation (even when backed by Marie Winhart and Veronica Angelos).

Both units were equipped with a special weapon developed to use against CSs known as Dantalion Warheads. It consists of a three-tube booster assembly, which can hold up to three “Warheads” for firing. Each warhead is loaded with a small Megaparticle cannon behind a conical front. In order to use this weapon, the assembly would be pressed up against the armor of a CS, aiming for its core. It would then fire out one of its warheads into the armor, where after penetrating it the Megaparticle cannon will fire. This would allow the Arbalestæ and Valtheræ to finish off an IMS after damaging it with their melee weapons. The Dantalions are usually mounted on movable joints over the shoulders, and would be operated via the NU METACOM System.

During the battle in stopping the Lacerta, the Arbalestæ and Valtheræ were piloted by Ian Hunt and Chelsea Ferguson, respectively. Chelsea had not yet underwent testing with the LESLIE, and was as only using the NU METACOM System for the time being. At some point Ian and the Arbalestæ are put out of commission, leaving Lena and Chelsea as the only two left on the Mercury Legion team. This is homage to two things: the Valtheræ and Blacklight fighting the Lacerta being references to Cyclops and Whisper fighting the large mecha, Operator, in the comic short “Back From the Dead,” as well as Chelsea and Lena taking inspiration from Ragdoll and Pixiebob from MHA.

Ian and Chelsea would have had only used Revolta GTs up until now, as Daniel Sherman was still in the process of dealing with the UNI and hadn’t found the Arcandy CB yet. Thus, they were given temporary use of the Arbalestæ and Valtheræ to deal with the CS.

Trivia
- [The Kingship is Remote Weapons, the Pegasus is precision attacks, the Noir is Hit and Run, and the Destiny is Heavy Weapons. Basically it's a more extreme version of the Archangel.]

- The "Shiphead" head of the Jupiter II was replaced by a special head design based on the Revolta Guards Type.

- Its name is pronounced (Ar-buh-lest-uh), which pays partial homage to Ballista—another artillery Garrisai.

- In canon, Chelsea was the one who gave the Arbalestæ its name, as she wanted it to match the "æ" style of her Valtheræ. This was also how the machine was named by the author.

- Similar to the Valtheræ, the Arbalestæ has a “Spartan” themed ATS.