Saturn

Beyond the stars I shall shine.

491 (Elite)

656 (Heroic)

1474 (Heroic)

## Introduction

The **Saturn** is the US Super Weapons General Alexander's super unit in Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour: Contra. The Saturn is a gigantic armored walking battle fortress that can freeze enemy vehicles thanks to its cryo beam.

## Overview

Once, Alexander secretly researched on human consciousness aided with her occult arts to answer science's ultimate question: *Do humans have a soul?* After some time, she found a chilling result: Humans do have an invisible soul. When they die, the soul will separate from the body like someone waking up, only to find out that he/she actually woke up from his/her empty body before eventually choosing to rise up to the sky (perhaps to an alternate dimension) or wander around aimlessly. She then wondered whether if it was possible to "upload" someone's soul (or mind) into computer software in order to achieve digital immortality. So she randomly chose a convict from the infamous Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp (probably of French, Walloon-Belgian or Francophonic-Swiss origin according to the super unit's accent) and performed an occult ritual to "seduce" his soul out and trap him into an AI software: the convict was pronounced dead afterwards. The experiment was a success but then she started to think how would she use human consciousness as an AI. Then, she had an idea of a battle fortress capable of both destroying anything thrown at it and building the foundations of a military base. Hence, the Saturn was born. Originally, the Saturn was only revealed in the media as an "AI-controlled gigantic mobile battle fortress" with the AI's origin remaining hidden from public knowledge, but it was revealed by one of the engineers involved in the project, who whistleblowed the Saturn's origins to the International Criminal Court, prompting in an investigation by the ICC authorities. Alexander was slammed with a hefty fine and a final warning to never entrap any human consciousness in a device anymore (she would have been jailed if not for the bribing efforts of hers).

The Saturn is an AI-controlled mobile battle fortress with a tall metallic pyramid chassis and four separate "tracks" that act as its walking limbs powered by powerful hydraulic systems. The interior of the fortress consists of two parts: an AI computer and a Cryo generator. The AI computer is the brain of the vehicle that controls all of its actions (although it is rumored to be a human consciousness-based AI computer). The second part is the Cryo generator. It generates an ice beam that is strong enough to freeze an entire vehicle. It serves as its main weapon fired through an eye-shaped orb on its top.

The Saturn is best described as a mighty glacier of a unit, as the best quality of this walking fortress is its outstanding durability, capable of even withstanding nuclear blasts. But as a result of its heavy armor and odd choice for locomotion, it's the slowest unit in *Contra*, even infantry can outrun it.

Besides its dire lack of mobility, the Saturn also has the weakness of not being customizable, it cannot detect stealth units and mines, thus it needs to be escorted by sentry drones constantly when engaging in enemies that are known to utilize stealth.

The main weapon of the Saturn, the eye shaped orb mounted on top of its pyramid shaped body, which fires an ice beam that is somewhat lackluster in terms of damage output, but freezes the target. It's one of the few weapons in *Contra* that can attack everything, from ground units, to aircraft, to mines and traps. It also deals continuous damage and will immediately retarget the next enemy when the enemy it's engaging is destroyed. Thus the Saturn is a lot less vulnerable to Zerg Rush tactics than it looks.

## How to Counter ?

Only a handful of units in Contra can take the Saturn head on and emerge victorious. Sporting a whopping 4,600 HP (5,500 HP with Uranium Plated Armor upgrade), the Saturn is the second most durable super unit in *Contra*, being trumped only by Leonidas. Its armor is resistant to most attacks and its weapon allows the Saturn to engage both air and ground units.

Rushing the Saturn with large amounts of fast but frail units is generally a bad idea, as the Saturn's weapon hits accurately and switches targets instantly, doing so will result in heavy losses. Rushing at Saturn with a blob of heavy tanks can achieve better results, as firepower wise, the Saturn is one of the weaker super units. As usual, supplementing your tanks with artillery and air units will be more effective, since Saturn is not capable of multitasking, unlike Leonidas. Stealth units, especially suicide ones, can also be an effective counter, provided that the Saturn is not accompanied by detectors.

So far, one of the best tactics to use against Saturn is hit & run attacks, most artillery units can easily land a few shots on the Saturn before having to pack up and fall back. Super siege units can also be used in this tactic. Due to the Saturn's sluggish speed, even the slower super siege units like the Zhu Rong and the Omega Cannon can "kite" the Saturn due to their longer firing range and the ability to fire on the move.

## Assessment

Pros:

* The second most durable super unit in *Contra*: has extreme health and armor.
* Fairly decent range.
* Its weapon, while far from being the most powerful, is still quite effective, and can target air units.
* Can self repair.
* Since it is very tall it can fire over most buildings.
* Can freeze enemy vehicles.

Cons:

* Slowest super unit in *Contra*.
* Expensive super unit ($6000).
* Long build time (60s).
* Once out in the open it is nigh impossible to retreat alive.
* Cannot fire over cliffs.

## Quotes

### When Selected

* Set me free!
* The chains you gave me will be broken soon...
* Beyond the stars I shall shine.
* Do you want to play a game with me?
* Wait until I get those chains off...
* \*singing\* Ring Around the Rosie...
* Em ot did sved artnoc tahw kool! ("Look what Contra devs did to me!" *in reverse*)

### When Ordered to Move

* I really don't belong here...
* One step to freedom!
* This body is not made for walking...
* Onwards.
* This… thing… is so slow!
* Maybe we should invest in a better engine.
* \*yawning\* Are we there yet?
* Full speed! Or not… Pff...

### When Ordered to Build a Structure (Cut)

* This will be true art!
* Fine, I will built it...
* Okay, okay, don't hurt me! I will do it!
* Construction procedure engaged.

### When Construction is Complete (Cut)

* My work here is... done!
* Can I finally rest now?
* This is truly my masterpiece!
* My work here is done. Now what?

### When Ordered to Repair a Structure (Cut)

* Fix it yourself next time!
* Who did that? He will pay!
* Oh they did harm you, didn't they?
* Let's erase that stain, shall we?

### When Ordered to Attack

* Share my suffering!
* As you order.
* Die, you maggot!
* Oh yeah… I will be gentle...
* I am terribly sorry!
* Why are you ordering such cruel things?
* No, I don't want to do it... No, no, NO!
* It's nothing comparing to what I will do to you!
* Let there be light! \*laughs\*

## Trivia

* Saturn (or Kronos) is named after the Roman/Greek God of time. He used to rule as King of Gods until his son, Jupiter/Zeus, ousted him from the throne and imprisoned him in the Tartarus, a part of Hell where those who committed serious crimes or dared to challenge the gods are condemned to an eternal torment.
* Saturn's main weapon was originally a particle beam cannon, much like the SDI Cannon, it can fire on inbound superweapon missiles or artillery shells, albeit less effective.

* According to the lore intended for this character, General Alexander performed an occult ritual on an unknown individual (probably a convict) and trapped his soul inside the machine to make him an obedient servant. This resulted in the trapped soul suffering from a personality disorder, hence the different behaviors or emotional states along with different voice effects displayed by the Saturn in its quotes.

* "Wait until I get those chains off" is a reference to the Soviet Flak Trooper in *Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3*.

* "Ok ok, don't hurt me, I will do it!" might be a reference to the Goblin Worker in the game *Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring.*
* The quote "It's nothing comparing to what I will do to you!" might be addressed as a threat to the player ordering it to attack the enemy.
* One of its quotes is reversed. It says: "Look what Contra devs did to me!"
* Saturn has lost its builder ability in Patch 3.
* In earlier versions, the Saturn was built by a Dozer similar to Leonidas and had its own scaffoldings shaped like a Pyramid, but later became a trainable unit since it's small enough to fit inside a War Factory.

## Gallery

Why the hell did you install Apple Map?!Saturn's cameo