ESU-S4xD-023 Blacklight (Godsender Gamble Ver.)

- Hi-Sensitivity Targeting Visor

- Utility Cloak (Full Cowl)

- Old-Era Telecomms System

- Right Knee Lockdown Anchor

- Comet Queen’s Lockdown Mode

## Standard Armaments

### Fixed

- Left Forearm Smoke Grenade Launcher- Assassin’s Retractable Single-Blade Gauntlet

### Handheld

- EC-07 Laser Sniper Rifle "Cosmic Cannon"- 40mm Compact SMG (Suppressed)

## Optional Armaments

### Hnd

- 200mm Artillery Gun (Sniper Variant)

The ESU-S4xD-023 Blacklight (Godsender Gamble Ver.) is a Garrisai from the *Harbinger - Last Gamble* Novel. It is piloted by Magdalena Cassidy.

## Technology and Combat Characteristics

Being a Sniper Unit, the Blacklight stays behind the front lines, supporting its allies atop a vantage point. Using its Laser Sniper and High-Sensitivity Targeting Visor, any enemy not behind a tough cover is usually done for. The Blacklight also comes equipped with a Cloaking Drive, making it completely invisible as long as it stands still. This allows for an incredibly powerful attack pattern that keeps Lena herself away from the front lines. Despite being equipped with a HMT Thruster Kit, the Blacklight's Stealth Drive and Utility Cloak keeps the unit incredibly silent when moving.

## Armaments

- Left Forearm Smoke Grenade Launcher: A single tube projectile launcher that fires a smoke grenade. It can be used to start an ambush, make an escape, or signal to friendly forces. It is built into the left forearm armor, covered by a small shield to protect the user while sniping.

- Assassin’s Retractable Single-Blade Gauntlet: Based off of the Assassin’s Retractable Dual-Blade Gauntlet from the original Whisper, this simplified version of the rather complex weapon is just as effective. Similar in external design to the Left Forearm SGL, the outer layer of the gauntlet is covered by a small shield to add additional protection in most situations. The modification of a hooked blade means that not only can the weapon pierce Nanolaminate Armor with ease, but also tear away any internals it may latch on to. When not in use, the blade can retract back into the gauntlet or be purged if necessary.

- EC-07 Laser Sniper Rifle "Cosmic Cannon": This variant of the EC-06 Megaparticle Laser Cannon was the first laser weapon to be capable of conventional Garrisai use. Compared to its Warship-mounted predecessor, the GT-M-LC had an internal Fusion Drive, allowing it to fire without actually being connected to an external power source. Its internal magazine can hold up to two four Ichor Cores, though the weapon's cooldown time was so lengthy that it had to be used sparingly. If the laser was used prematurely before its cooldown was finished, the weapon's reactor had a chance of exploding. The Blacklight's has been extensively modified to resemble the performance of a Sniper Rifle, being nicknamed the "Cosmic Cannon" by its user. When not in use, it is stored vertically on the right side of the backpack.

- 40mm Compact SMG (Suppressed): A variant of the reliable 40mm ASU that has been modified to operate more like a submachine gun. By removing the stock and being fitted with a shortened barrel, it allows for the weapon to be drawn and stored easily. In order to increase its effectiveness in covert operations, a suppressor has been affixed to the barrel. When not in use, it can be stored on the rear skirt armor.

- 200mm Artillery Gun (Sniper Variant): The 200mm Artillery Cannon is one of the more rare weapons manufactured by Kestrel, though this doesn’t change the fact that it’s just as effective as any other. It is a recoilless Artillery gun that is usually mounted with a two-handed grip. Due to its recoilless design and optional long range targeting sensor, it’s a favorite among snipers and battlefield marksmen. Uses a six-round external magazine in most cases. This one used by the Blacklight, similar to its EC-07, has been modified to operate like a sniper rifle.

## Special Equipment and Features

- Stealth Drive MKII: Mapped throughout several hardpoints Blacklight's armor are sound-suppression nodes. These muffle all thruster and movement sounds made by the Blacklight when used, ensuring that motion/sound tracking devices cannot detect the machine.

- Cloaking Drive MKII: This upgraded version of the Stealth Drive from the original Whisper sports a stronger and longer lasting invisibility device compared to the original. While still retaining the distortion when moving, it makes the machine completely invisible when standing still. Unlike the original, the device consumes power independently from the Blacklight's Fusion Drive.

- Hi-Sensitivity Targeting Visor: This advanced version of the Assistive Targeting System has been equipped with not only a standard targeting interface, but also an additional long-range targeting interface. Unlike its standard counterpart, the long-range comes in the form of a slide-down visor that shifts over the eyes. This almost doubles the range at which the system can track targets.

- Utility Cloak (Full Cowl): In the case of the Cloaking Drive being disabled, a large reflective "cape" can be draped over the Blacklight to cover the machine's profile. While not retaining any mechanical properties, it still provides a level of stealth in certain conditions. Depending on the area deployed, different shaded cloaks can be used. During the events of PURITY, the cloak completely covers the whole of the Garrisai, with only its face and parts of its arms showing through. In order to prevent the thrusters from burning the cloak, it has been constructed with fireproof weave.

- Old-Era Telecomms System: As the original Whisper II was removed of its Telecomms System to maximize its stealth capabilities, Lena Cassidy found a way to work around this compromise by installing the old radio system from a Fighter Jet similar to the one she used to pilot during the First Armeli Invasion. Because the old-era radio was on a long outdated and separate frequency than the modern Telecomms System, the Blacklight’s communication abilities went practically undiscoverable by most modern conventions. In order to communicate with Lena, Jack has a special radio system linking to her machine, meaning he is usually the only one able to communicate with her during operations.

- Right Knee Lockdown Anchor: In order to maximize stability when firing, the Blacklight has been equipped with a lockdown anchor on its right knee. After kneeling down, the “spike” on the knee will rotate outwards and drive into the ground, with additional stabilizers extending on both the Blacklight’s feet and shins.

- Comet Queen’s Lockdown Mode: This requires the availability of the EC-07 Laser Sniper Rifle, Hi-Sensitivity Targeting Visor, Stealth Drive MKII, Cloaking Drive MKII, Right Knee Lockdown Anchor, and Utility Cloak (Full Cowl). After activating its H-STV/S-Drive/C-Drive, locking down in the kneeling position, and equipping its sniper rifle, the Blacklight enters what could best be known as the “Comet Queen’s Lockdown.” In this form, the Blacklight is virtually untraceable and several times more powerful than before, with all systems on low-power in order to concentrate them into the sniper systems. As such, this Mode is best used atop a vantage point, or in an obscure location. Entering this mode takes no more than ten or so seconds.

## History

The Blacklight was at the peak of its effectiveness over the course of the Godsender Gamble, equipped with its most advanced weapons and armor. Initially deployed on its own by the command of Jack Kendall, it and its pilot Lena Cassidy were later backed by fellow Project Resurga units Valtheræ and Skybreaker to defeat the CS Lacerta. Upon the defeat of the Celestial Strider, the Blacklight had undergone severe damage (losing its Gauntlet and Cloaking Drive), becoming the significantly weaker Blacklight seen during the Harbinger Uprising. It would go on to lose its grey and black color scheme for a more exotic teal and gold.

## Trivia

- Had the Blacklight seen during the events of *Last Gamble* been in its original state during the events of *Dead Legacy*, it would have been a significantly more powerful threat. The loss of the Cloaking Drive meant that it was more prone to being ambushed, going from its role as a multipurpose stealth machine to simply a backline sniper.

- Aka the Cooler Blacklight