ESU-S4xA/NU-024 Valtheræ

- Nanolaminate Riot Shield "Paladin’s Shield" (Internal Missiles)

The ESU-S4xA/NU-024 Valtheræ (also known as the Valkyrie-Athena) is a Garrisai from the *Harbinger - Last Gamble* Novel. It is piloted by Chelsea Ferguson.

## Technology and Combat Characteristics

Designed as a direct overhaul of the well performing Unity II, the Valtheræ is a close quarters, high mobility Garrisai that excels in large, heavy hitting melee weapons. While the original Unity was only limited to its rocket forearms, the Valtheræ uses a pair of AA Rocket Hammers in tandem with its own pair. When used with the rocket forearms, the machine can utilize an extended amount of attacks further than close-range. Similar to high-mobility units such as the Diamondback, the Valtheræ has a unique thruster network that allows for high jumps, forward charges, evasive actions, and of course, high-mobility. If necessary, the Valtheræ can equip an alternate set of hands that are replaced with large hammer heads, affixed with a retractable wire each. This loadout is more in line with its original design concept, though removes the machine’s ability to wield standard handheld weapons.

## Armaments

- Wire-Guided Rocket Forearms: A pair of gauntlets that act as the Valtheræ's forearms. Their unique gimmick is that upon activation of the pilot, the gauntlets can detach from their sockets, flying forward with a set of four thrusters. This allows for an extremely deadly and long range punch. The gauntlets can be retracted from a pair of sturdy wires, attaching back onto the arms. Optionally, the gauntlets can be bladed for an extra amount of damage. They are used to the best of their ability due to the Valtheræ's NU METACOM System.

- Nanolaminate Riot Shield "Paladin’s Shield" (Internal Missiles): A massive body-Shield that is usually handheld. Due to its immense size, a visor is carved near its top to allow for seeing nearby enemies. Underneath the shield is a three-tube missile rack that can be fired remotely by the pilot. It also features a bottom-mounted lockdown spike that can anchor the shield to the ground, locking it in place as a portable cover.

- 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.

- 40mm Compact ASU: This more slimmed down version of the ASU allows for a quicker draw time in combat, as well as ease of use when in the hands of the Wire-Guided Rocket Forearms. In exchange for a removed stock and short barrel, the weapon is loaded with a large drum magazine.

- Anti-Armor Compact Rocket Hammer: The Valtheræ is equipped with a pair of one-handed warhammers that are best used for quickly fatiguing enemy armor, as well as tossing them around the battlefield. They are rather unwieldy to use when the Wire-Guided Rocket Forearms are deployed, and thus are usually reserved towards close-combat roles only. The rears of both hammers are equipped with a small rocket engine that can propel it forward for a devastating attack, or even act as a stabilizer when thrown.

- Transformable Chain Hammer: An alternate pair of forearms that directly integrate a pair of large hammer heads into the Wire-Guided Rocket Forearms. While this negates the Valtheræ's ability to use handheld weapons, it dramatically increases the close-combat efficiency of the machine.

## Special Equipment and Features

- Advanced Thruster Kit: This thruster kit was modeled after the one seen on units such as the Diamondback, where small thrusters are mounted all over the armor plates of the Valtheræ. This allows for evasive maneuvers, as well as jump attacks that are best paired with the machine's close-quarters weaponry.

## 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 Celestial Strider. It would be destroyed during said operations under Chelsea Ferguson, in which it would be recovered and placed back into storage.

### Arbalestæ and Valtheræ Article

The last two units of Project Resurga 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 Titan II and Unity II (now Skybreaker 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 Skybreaker 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 Skybreaker 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 Skybreaker 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 Compact Breaker yet. Thus, they were given temporary use of the Skybreaker and Valtheræ to deal with the CS.

## Trivia

- The Valtheræ’s name is a hybrid between the names of Valkyrie and Athena; the unit’s original name. (The unit’s head design is also reminiscent of the original.)

- (Val-thur-eee for a Valkyrie pronunciation or Val-thair-uh for an Athena pronunciation)

- In canon, the Valtheræ's name was decided after Chelsea couldn't decide which of the two names she wanted to call the machine: Valkyrie or Athena.

- Flail Hammer: An Anti-Armor Hammer with a unique perk. When pressing a button located on the weapon’s lower handgrip, the head of the hammer will detach from the handle, attached to a retractable chain. This makes combat more accessible when at mid-range, though in practice it is very difficult to use for first-time users.

- The Valtheræ’s head design is also similar in shape to the Domino IV’s.

- Its original "Domino Genesis" head was replaced with two independently-moving main cameras that link with each of the forearms, while the main ATS helps with the weapons.

- The Valkyrie-Athena of the early stages of Harbinger 2584—the machine the Valtheræ was based on—was piloted by Stella McAllister—the character who would become Cecelia Palmer in canon.