CSF-S3c/LP04 Nautica Aquatic Type

- Periscope

- Portable Beacons

- Assault Binder

- Gas-Powered Spear Gun

The CSF-S3c/LP04 Nautica Aquatic Type is a Garrisai from the *Harbinger* Universe.

## Technology and Combat Characteristics

Similar to the Centurion Antilockup Type, the Nautica Aquatic Type was fine tuned to allow for ease of mobility in certain environments. In the case of the Nautica, it was designated as a naval-based Unit, excelling in hit and run attacks. This was from a generally weak armor frame, and thus it was given high-powered aquatic turbines and fins to glide through the water as compensation. When it is needed on land, the Nautica can leap onto the shore, and purge any of the aquatic turbines or depleted weapons it used when underwater. It can then use its 60mm Carbine, which was encased in a storage capsule, and one unit has been known to use a large melee weapon known as the Omega Blade. The Rocket Anchor and spear gun can still be used on land.

## Armaments

- Back-Mounted Torpedo Launcher: Also known as the [Anti-Ship Long-range Assault Torpedo Launcher w. Directional Thruster], is a back-mounted pair of missile launchers designated towards naval combat. Most often, several Nauticas would be deployed on Armeli naval craft, in which they would use volleys of torpedos to defeat them. The use of directional thruster(s) allowed for minor adjustments in the torpedo's travel path, as to ensure a hit. Up to four torpedoes could be stored on one Nautica, with two in each Launcher.

- Rocket Anchor: Based off of the Rocket Anchors developed by Omega Armories, this version has been slightly modified to work underwater. When activated, the anchor’s conical head fires out towards a target, and the cone breaks up into three clawed digits. The head can be recalled at any time by reactivating the Rocket Anchor. They were primarily used as additional forms of maneuverability in the water, and sometimes pulling naval craft off balance as an offensive tool.

- Gas-Powered Spear Gun: This unique forearm-mounted weapon fires steel bolts at high velocity. Using a smooth projectile to glide through the water, they were gas-powered as conventional firearms were unable to be used in an aquatic setting. It is magazine fed through the top of the weapon, though these magazine were unable to be removed when underwater as to prevent clogs in the firing system.

- KT-060 Carbine: Being a less common alternative to the 40mm ASU, the 60mm Carbine is a weapon more tailored towards infantry marksmen instead of general soldiers. Featuring an adjustable scope, semi-automatic receiver and recoil compensator, the weapon is perfect for accurate and powerful shots. The only problem with the Carbine compared to the ASU is its staggering capabilities. Since it relies more on precision instead of fire rate to attack enemies, the pilot cannot attack the body of the Garrisai, and instead aim for its joints or head camera. This makes it difficult to use, but in practice, invaluable in battles. A three-round burst fire receiver is also available should the pilot using the weapon choose one.

- Omega Blade: This prototype variant of the T-11 Redesigned Giga-Claymore was redesigned to resemble more of a hook than that of a sword. When used by a Nautica, it could allow for it to latch on to surfaces or capture enemies, allowing for more dynamic fighting options underwater. It could also be used to board enemy naval vessels, in which the machine could deploy its land weapons for a more direct attack.

## Special Equipment and Features

- Aquatic Turbines System: Serving as the replacement for the typical thruster kit found on mass-production units, the Nautica's Aquatic Turbines are primarily mounted on the shoulder and calf armors. Supported by several Redirectional Thrusters and stabilizing fins mapped across its armor, this system can allow the Nautica to reach speeds unparalleled by most naval vessels.

- Echocommunication Array: The Echocommunication is the Nautica's main form of communication with friendly machines and naval craft through a relatively simple input/output set of antennae. It is possible for live transmissions of the Periscope's viewfinder to be sent from the Nautica to an outside force if the connection is strong enough.

- Periscope: Similar to their uses on submarines, a periscope is situated on the top of the Nautica's head near the Echocommunication Array Antennae. Being capable of extending several feet above the machine's own head size, it allows for covert visibility above water. This allows for both the Nautica and its allies to coordinate an attack or scout out an area.

- Portable Beacons: All Nauticas are equipped with four Illuminating Beacons. They are used primarily for communicating different messages to other naval craft and machines, should their standard communications systems be compromised. They can be activated and toggled to different emissions by twisting the two ends of its frame, causing the internal lights to emit a different pattern of lights. When not in use, two are stored on each front skirt.

- Assault Binder: This compact version of the Weapons Binder seen on machines such as the Centurion GT allows for the storage of the Nautica's 60mm Carbine. Its vacumn-pressurized interior ensures the weapon is still functional no matter what depths the Nautica travels to, though it means said weapon is only usable on land. The Binder holds the Carbine, alongside 2-4 magazines.

## History

The Nautica Aquatic Types were developed off of several subnautical weapons used back in the First Armeli Invasion, from which their name was derived from. Predicting that the Armeli forces would use a similar form of naval crafts as they did in the aforementioned invasion, the LCDM's solution was the form of aquatic Garrisai. Much of the technology developed for this new line of limited-production machines was unique to this project alone, as weapons developed by both Kestrel and Omega weren't compatible with water. Thus, the DTRO would design a handful of armaments and equipment independently and submit to these manufacturers for limited production.

In the invasions of Armeli, some Nauticas were brought from storage and flanked the incoming landing craft to support their allies on the surface. They provided a strong deterrent when in combat, and their speed ensured that hitting them was difficult when in the water. However, once the landing craft were dealt with, the Nauticas were ordered to convert into their land-based forms, where they were quickly disadvantaged as they became no more than a heavier CGT when out of water. This led to the destruction of many of these units, when instead they should have been kept for when water combat was actually needed.

## Trivia

- The head and sword design of the Nautica stems from a T-51 inspired power suit from the Green Sketchbook.

- It is also inspired off of the Aqua GM from Gundam.