Difference between revisions of "DEMO04 "Banshee""

Revision as of 17:19, 28 February 2007

Background

A SentanCorp classic, the DEMO-04 "Banshee" is the fourth in a series of armors designed specifically for demolitions work. Its function is clearly indicated by the DEMO- designator serial. This model is somewhat older, but still serviceable for routine assault on structures or stationary defensive emplacements. It was designed to be an excellent support armor that was capable of holding its own in a fight if necessary.

Description

The Banshee is an intimidating mecha, standing around 32 feet tall and painted jet black. It is vaguely humanoid in shape, but it is proportionally very thin and skeletal; many pilots enhance this feature of the design by painting a skull-like "face" on the front of the head. Despite its apparent thinnness, the Banshee is very heavily armored, and its mirror field is semi-visible, appearing as a coherent, swirling mass that can be reshaped by the will of the pilot (or the symbiote). This lends the Banshee a ghostly appearance; it is intended to resemble a mechanical wraith.

Anti-gravity projectors allow the Banshee to fly, providing much-needed maneuverability and tactical opportunities. The Banshee's name comes not only from its design, but from its primary weapon--a powerful heavy sonic screamer for tearing apart gun emplacements and other buildings. In close combat, the Banshee uses a clinging plasma sprayer as a deterrant, and it is also equipped with a pair of mana beams for use while its screamer is recharging between blasts.

Some pilots like to outfit the Banshee with an optional energy scythe, sometimes colloquially referred to as the "Grim Reaper" loadout, but this is generally seen as unnecessary given that the Banshee's typical equipment is more than enough for it to hold its own on the battlefield. While the sight of an advancing Banshee with ignited plasma scythe can be intimidating, more than a few pilots have expressed the opinion that such an equipment choice is "hopelessly cheesy." Experienced pilots often consider a Banshee wielding a scythe to be a signal that the mecha's pilot is all talk, more concerned with the appearance of a mecha than the practicality of its weaponry--or the skill of its pilot.

Izue Mazuo piloted a stock DEMO-04 "Banshee" during the final battle with Delta Unit; however, he did make use of an enormous bio-engineered creature designed to uplink with his astral symbiote as a means of both protecting his armor and enhancing his spellcasting abilities, so it cannot be said that his equipment for the confrontation was entirely "standard issue."

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