KG-7 AREION (UFE)

Name: KG-7 Areion
Operator(s): United Forces of Earth; Silver Squad; Aldaniti Platoon; Appaloosa Platoon; Falabella Platoon; Friesian Platoon; Mustang Platoon; Shire Platoon; Oldenburg Platoon; Andalusia Platoon; Belgian Platoon; Clydesdale Platoon; Ghanaati Platoon; Harbinger Platoon; Harroway Platoon; Lokai Platoon; Maremmano Platoon; Pottok Platoon; Rhinelander Platoon
Overall Height: 13.5 meters
Accommodations: Pilot only


The Kataphrakts were developed by the U.E. in the face of the Martian threat. Each unit is equipped with an automatic 75 mm cannon with an attached grenade launcher, and a pistol and blade as sidearms. The standard machine has limited hovering capability.

The KG-6 Sleipnir appears to be a training unit for the Areion, and judging by the model number, its predecessor as well. The Areion boasts heavier armor than the Sleipnir, at the cost of some mobility compared to the earlier unit.

Although it is Earth's most sophisticated weapon, it along with practically everything else used by Earth, is woefully outclassed by Martian Kataphrakts of the Vers Empire.

• Stabilizers
      A set of wings and small thrusters attached to the legs that allow the Sleipnir limited hovering ability, when active both open up into an "X" shaped array of wings with two wings on the side of each leg. They can also be used as a shield, but the destruction of the stabilizers impairs the Sleipnir's ability to hover and possibly it's ability to walk and run as well.
  

Armament

• 75 mm Cannon w/Grenade Launcher
  
      A bullpup rifle that serves as the Areion's main armament. It's capable of firing High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) or Armor-piercing (AP) rounds depending on the situation. It comes with the optional grenade launcher, mounted in front of the trigger.
  
  
• Pistol
      A pistol is stored on the waist of the Areion and acts as its secondary CQC weapon of choice.    
  
  
• Knife
      A short tantō knife is stored in the backpack of the Sleipnir and acts as its main CQC weapon of choice. It is produced by "Clibanarius Defence Alternatives", a defense contractor for the United Forces of Earth.
  
  
• Grappling hook
      A grappling hook is stored in the wrist similar to the Sleipnir.    

Space Load-out

• Recoil-less Cannon
        In space battles, Areions are equipped with high-caliber long-barreled recoil-less cannons, which direct the back blast of rounds out the back of the weapon when fired. This served to keep the craft stationary, even when drifting in the middle of space. In battle they were capable of firing high-explosive rounds.
  
  
• Grappling Hooks
      An Areion can be equipped with grappling hoops, allowing them to maneuver in the Satellite Belt.

History

The KG-7's were first known to have been deployed by the UFE against the Vers Empire's Operation Earthfall. They have been preparing for it for 15 years. Despite this long of a preparation, the KG-7 proved ineffective against their Martian counterparts. Significant numbers of KG-7s were destroyed within the first minutes of conflict. Their ability to be mass-produced was all that kept the UFE fighting during the war.