엑스칼리버

Excalibur is a state-of-the-art Assault Frame developed as part of the aerospace initiative tied to Project Startaker. The unit was created to serve as the centerpiece of Calvard’s emerging Aerospace Force.

Development

Excalibur was manufactured by the Verne Company and developed primarily by Professor Yang Cronkite, with Professor Esmeray Archette responsible for designing its cockpit and life-support systems. The project relied heavily on technology supplied by the Epstein Foundation, including the integration of its Aeon System, after negotiations between the Marduk Company and the Reinford Group to jointly develop the unit ultimately fell through. Designed to operate in extreme environments, Excalibur boasts mobility and combat capabilities far exceeding those of existing Xycres Assault Frame models.

The frame also incorporates a built-in Xipha system, allowing it to synchronize with orbital infrastructure through a control holo located aboard Prometheus IV - a communications and observation satellite developed by Marduk. Prometheus IV functions as a central communications relay between Excalibur and other mission systems, enabling coordinated operations during the project.

The unit’s development was further influenced by Shizuna, who provided guidance on its combat design and personally trained its pilot.

Pilot

The pilot selected for Excalibur was Major Emilia Harring, an ace of the Calvardian Air Force. Harring was widely respected for her combat achievements and had previously received both the Winged Silver Star Medal and the Order of the Chevalier from former President Samuel Rocksmith for valor during the Battle of Jormungandr. Harring becomes the first astronaut in Zemurian history.

Excalibur AX

Excalibur AX is a specialized variant of the Assault Frame developed in secret designed for outer-space combat. Developed for the true objective behind Project Startaker — Project Laevateinn - its purpose was to render Laegjarn’s Chest completely inoperable.

Equipped with a large booster system, Excalibur AX is capable of high-speed maneuvering in airless, zero-gravity environments. It is also armed with Demi-Answerers - miniature versions of the nuclear-equipped orbal rocket missiles known as the Independence Answerers - which were designed by Professor Cronkite. Drawing on research left behind by Professor David Callaghan, Cronkite successfully developed an implosive lens capable of detonating the Answerers in airless, weightless conditions without requiring the Sword of Divine Darkness.

In addition, the control holo aboard Prometheus IV linked to the Assault Frame via Xipha can deploy shard protective fields to shield the Answerers from hostile attacks.

Story

The Excalibur is first seen during the joint exercise held at the Aerospace Force’s Oort Proving Ground. To gather operational data and fine-tune the human–machine interface enhanced by the Xipha system, a simulation battle is conducted between the Excalibur and the Panzer Soldat Tyrfing units piloted by Rean Schwarzer and Crow Armbrust.

On July 12th, S.1209, as part of Project Startaker, Excalibur is officially launched into space aboard the two-stage orbal propulsion rocket Independence II from Zeku Space Base in the Kunlun Basin. After confirming the existence of the Cradle of Time and Laegjarn’s Chest, the unit transitions into Excalibur AX, a modified configuration developed for Project Laevateinn. During the operation, Major Emilia Harring protects Answerers 1–8 from the Sept-Terrion’s guardians, allowing the missiles to strike their targets in what initially appears to be the destruction of both the Cradle and Laegjarn’s Chest.

However, the situation changes abruptly when a shadowed entity resembling Zoa Gilstein suddenly appears. Caught off guard, Harring is ultimately defeated by the mysterious figure. In the aftermath, Excalibur crash-lands in the stone circle at Creil Hills, where it comes to rest as a stone statue. Its pose closely resembles the Statue Artifact recovered from the same location by Kevin Graham and Thomas Lysander ten years earlier.

Trivia

• The name Excalibur is base on the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain.

Gallery

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  Excalibur AX