ARX-8 Laevatein

ARX-8 Laevatein is an Arm Slave, a fictional mecha from the light novel, manga, and anime series "Full Metal Panic!". It first saw action during the events of the series' eighth novel.

Unit History

After ARX-7's destruction at the hands of Leonard Testarossa's Belial, Mithril's special agent "Wraith" managed to salvage its AI unit and Lambda Driver system. With the help of the remnants of the Mithril force, the AI unit designed a new AS that would completely suit Sousuke's habit in battle. Since this AS doesn't belong to Mithril's regular design, it did not follow the tradition of naming after medieval weapons (ARX-6 Halberd and ARX-7 Arbalest). Instead, it was named after a legendary sword in Norse mythology, the Laevateinn. It was seen completed at the end of the novel "Burning One Man Force", and was delivered to Sousuke during the eighth novel. During the first combat against Amalgam forces in the events of "Get Together and Make My Day", it single-handedly destroyed three Behemoth units and three Codarl units within 5 minutes and 52 seconds.

Characteristics

The Laevatein is almost entirely designed for direct combat capabilities. Featuring a high-output powerplant and an enhanced musculature, it has exceptional strength and mobility. When combined with the Lambda Driver, it is even able to tear apart enemy Arm Slaves with its bare hands. In addition to the regular pair of arms, two mechanical arms are attached between the upper torso and the shoulder joints. Controlled entirely by the AI, these arms can deliver various weapons to the main arms, or take direct action such as throwing anti-AS grenades. Since the AI is familiar with Sousuke's combat habits, it will choose the weapon most suited to the present situation.

The 165mm demolition gun is not a regular AS equipment, however. When firing, the Laevatein needs to utilize the Lambda Driver to stabilize itself. An extra barrel section can be attached to increase its range and accuracy, but it also increases recoil to the point where even the Lambda Driver cannot stabilize the AS. In "Get Together and Make My Day", the ARX-8 is knocked flat on its back when it fired with the barrel extension.

In exchange for advanced combat capabilities, the Laevatein has sacrificed other equipment, including the ECS and missile countermeasures. The power of its radar is also reduced; in terms of electronic warfare, the ARX-8 is only on par with an M6 unit. The Laevatein's high power draw also reduced the operation time to only 30 hours, 70 hours shorter than the ARX-7 Arbalest and only one fifth of the M9E Gernsback.

The Laevatein's limbs are bulkier than those of the Arbalest, probably as a result of increased muscle mass. Its white armour is decorated with red and orange highlights, giving off a "fiery" feeling to Sousuke. The enhanced cooling system includes retractable heat-dispensing wires resembling a ponytail, just like those seen on earlier "Codarl" units.

AL, the callsign of the ARX-8's AI, was known to be quirky with its one-line comments and humor when it was formerly mounted in the ARX-7 Arbalest. After the Codarl/Behemoth trio fight in "Get Together and Make My Day" ended, AL and Sousuke had a one-on-one conversation where both admitted that they missed one another ever since the destruction of the Arbalest. By this time, AL appears to have "matured" enough to hold a personality mirroring that of Sousuke's (if the latter had grown up in different conditions); however, his jokes and comments did not lessen at all, keeping to the offbeat comedic mood of the Full Metal Panic! storyline.

ee also

*Full Metal Panic!
*Arm Slave