Orbital frame

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An Orbital Frame is an advanced giant mecha in the fictional universe of Zone of the Enders. It is distinguished by its enormous superiority over the more common LEV mecha. This is due to the use of the rare mineral Metatron in the Orbital Frame's armor, generator, and many other components. Metatron is a strange metaloid mineral which spontaneously compresses space, although this ability can be easily controlled, and can easily shift its shape. Through the use of Metatron, Orbital Frames can considerably reduce the mecha's size and vastly increase its energy supply and efficiency, speed, agility, armor effectiveness, and weapons capability. Standard LEV technology is completely outclassed by Orbital Frames in battle.

Orbital Frames feature much more elegant control systems than LEVs. A touchscreen panel is mounted in front of the pilot's seat and is used to start the machine up as well as monitor vital functions; actual piloting seems to be accomplished through some sort of neural interface. The runner just places their hands on domes located at the ends of the seat's armrests and controls the frame as an extension of their own will.

Additionally, most newer-age frames have their own AI entity that assists the runner with navigation and other functions. This is similar to a LEV navigator, but much more sophisticated. It also assists with basic piloting operations to some degree; Ken Marinaris was unable to pilot Ardjet after its AI was deleted. However, AI support is evidently not strictly necessary; Dingo poked fun at her for not knowing how to control an Orbital Frame without the AI.

Orbital Frames are characterized in battle through their ability to fly freely and almost exclusive use of energy weapons, which are far more powerful in the Zone of the Enders universe than solid-ammunition weapons; the only known instance of an Orbital Frame using a shell-firing weapon was in the first Konami video game, in which Jehuty used a long-distance rifle that fired solid ammunition in order to circumvent the energy-resistant field being generated by a mission target. This rifle, and the various shell weapons used by LEV mecha, did virtually no real combat damage to an Orbital Frame. Though no other instance of an Orbital Frame using a slug-thrower has been recorded, Orbital Frames have been known to use other physical ranged weapons, such as guided homing missiles and airborne floating mines. Orbital Frames also possess energy shield generators which other mecha did not. Most Orbital Frames were also equipped with some form of blade or other melee weapon which was frequently more powerful than most of the Orbital Frame's long range energy weapons.

In the PlayStation video games, Orbital Frames have the ability to automatically repair themselves by obtaining additional supplies of Metatron ore, scattered about the game world. In the anime Zone of the Enders: Dolores, the Orbital Frame Dolores could use this ability without obtaining additional Metatron supplies. Instead, the Orbital Frame siphoned power from a large space station to fuel the self-repair function. They also possessed technology known as Vector Traps, which used Metatron to compress space and store more handheld subweapons than the Frame could ever have carried otherwise. This space compression also fueled such technologies as the Urenbeck Catapult, instrumental in the colonization of Mars, and the powerful Zero-Shift subweapon, which allowed the Orbital Frame to seemingly teleport around enemies by momentarily accelerating to sublight speeds.

Visually, Orbital Frames are roughly divided into two classes - normal-sized Orbital Frames, also known as Type C Orbital Frames, built on the same scale as LEV mecha and huge Orbital Frames the size of battleships. The first are characterized by their slim, delicate-looking construction, especially noticeable against the bulky LEVs, lack of recognizable feet, and the unusual location of their cockpits, mounted in large protrusions in the Frame's groin. (This location of the piloting compartment is a play-on-words used as a joke by the designer of the game's mecha, derived from the slang term for 'penis.') These Frames were controlled by a single pilot, known as a Frame Runner, though they had room for a passenger. The larger Orbital Frames had no unifying characteristics beyond their size.

Orbital Frames were primarily used by BAHRAM, a military organization which devotes itself, initially, to the liberation of Mars from oppressive government by Earth. In truth, BAHRAM desires nothing but total control of human-occupied space, using the war against Earth as a pretext to justify its actions. BAHRAM uses vast armies of unmanned Orbital Frames to completely dominate Earth's LEV units. Very few Orbital Frames made their way into the Earth force's hands, most notable among them the Orbital Frame Jehuty from the PlayStation video games. Because of BAHRAM's brutal military operations and frequent abuse of the power of their Orbital Frames, the mecha are usually seen as wicked and oppressive, the symbol of BAHRAM's undisputable and unwanted authority over anything it desires. Despite this, it is an Orbital Frame - Jehuty, piloted by the ex-BAHRAM soldier Dingo Egret - which defeats BAHRAM's leader, Nohman, and thwarts BAHRAM's plans to construct an invincible military fortress and complete their subjugation of the solar system.

[edit] Notable Orbital Frames

• Anubis

Twin to Jehuty, one of the two most powerful Frames in existence. Piloted by Nohman. It is characterized by its dog-like face, inverted leg joints, and a large set of "wings" on the back that connect to the frame by lines of pure energy.

Named after the Egyptian deity Anubis.

• Ardjet

A Frame resembling a Geisha, piloted by Ken Marinaris.

• Dolores

The normal form of the Isis orbital frame. The Dolores transforms into it's original form (the Isis) when there is great danger to the pilot or frame from a strong enemy presence. The name and some of the personality of the Frame's artificial intelligence reflects that of a child version of Dolores Hayes, an assistant researcher on the Orbital Frame project who was killed in the Deimos Incident.

• Durandal II

A strong humanoid orbital frame that used by BIS. Durandal II is best for close range-combats. It appears in the Fist of Mars as a playable character. Its piloted by warren.

• Fake Anubis

An inferior copy of Anubis that lacks the "wing" sections of the real one. It was used in an attempt to trick Dingo in the second Zone of the Enders game.

• Grafficane

Grafficane is humanoid- Praying Mantis hybird orbital frame appearing in the Fist of Mars as an enemy boss with two large blades at each arm allowing it to slashes its opponent in half with ease. Its pilot by Phil.

• Hathor

The other Frame created from Idolo's remains. It is characterized by its silver and black coloration, and the prominent "wings" that come off its head and feet which can wrap around or into the body to change the frame's combat mode.

Named after the Egyptian deity Hathor.

• Iblis

The prototype Animus Series OF, equipped with the IDO Mindflow System which only specially engineered pilots can use. Named after the Islam devil Iblis.

• Idolo

The first Orbital Frame, constructed by BAHRAM on Mars. Critically damaged during the Deimos Incident, it was scrapped and its Metatron used to create two new machines.

• Inhert

Equipped with an unusual gelled armor, this Frame is piloted by Orion.

• Isis

One of the two machines created from Idolo's remains. Is smuggled off of Mars and given the name Dolores along with an artificial intelligence that has a child-like personality.

Named after the Egyptian deity Isis.

• Jehuty

The primary Orbital Frame of the series. First piloted by Leo Stenbuck and then Dingo Egret. It is characterized by its orange and blue coloration and its bird-like features.

Named after the Egyptian deity Thoth.

• Nebula

Large aerial-combat frame with two long tentacles and has the ability to fire beams, piloted by Nightraid. It is extremely fast.

• Neith

Piloted by Viola, this frame is the primary antagonist of the first Zone of the Enders game. Named after Egyptian deity Neith.

• Nephtis

An improved version of the Neith Orbital Frame controlled by an artificial intelligence based on combat data and some personal character gathered from Viola.

Named after the Egyptian deity Nephthys.

• Orcrist

An Orbital frame built by BIZ, appears in the Fist of Mars as a playable character. It appearance is a female humonoid with a cannon on its right hand. Piloted by Mebius K. Lylekraft.

• Ravana

A orbital frame with two long arms that are equipped with knifes. It has unquie abilities to repair itself. It appeared in the Fist of Mars as an enemy frame. At the end it was detroyed by Testament. Plioted by Ned

• Selkis

A orbital frame formally piloted by Nohman. It is characterized by its blue coloration. It can be in one of two modes, either 'fighter' mode in which it is compacted for minimum air resistance and can achieve maximum velocity, or in 'scorpion' mode in which it extends its full weapons array and can bring large amounts of fire power to bear.

Named after the Egyptian deity Serket.

• Tempest

A giant orbital frame that resembles a jellyfish, it uses was destroyed by Jehuty in the space colony.

• Testament

The second model of the Animus Series from the game Fist of Mars, piloted by Cage Midwell.

• Tyrant

A strong armored orbital frame with a cannnon on each side, but quite slow. Often used as a transport vessel for smaller Orbital Frames.

• Vjaya

A fast ninja-type orbital frame that appears in the Fist of Mars. It was secretly built by BIZ. Vjara has the ability to trap or slow other enemy frames hinder it from escaping. It is playable. It is first piloted by Ares, however after his disappearance considering what the player does it can by plioted by Nadia or Twede Gray.

• Zakat

A huge sphere shape orbital frame that is piloted by five runners, has lots of fire-power but still couldn't match Jehuty. The runners managed to eject themselves from it in an escape pod after losing the battle.

Possibly named after the third of the Five Pillars of Islam, Zakat. Another possible source for the name maybe "Zakat" (Закат) which also means "Dusk" in Russian.

[edit] Unmanned Orbital Frames

• Clod

A large unmanned orbital frame equipped with the tractor-beam weapon Wisp that it uses to grapple with its opponents before slamming them into a solid surface.

• Cyclops

Unmanned orbital frame that uses mainly melee attacks, but has one one ranged attack called Sonic Boom.

• Leopardo

A very fast orbital frame appearing in the second game.

• Mummyhead

This is basically a Raptor in armor. It can only use ranged attacks which includes Halberd beam, Comet, rapid Phalanx shots and a small blast from its head.

• Norita

An Unmanned morphing orbital frame that appears in the second game.

• Nephtis Clone

Weaker copies of the Orbital Frame Nephtis.

• Raptor

The basic unmanned fighter use by BAHRAM, they are the regular opponents encountered though out the series. Can be manned through an optional cockpit.

• Spider

A small spider-like combat vehicle described as a "walking tank" in the game that is protected by an energy shield. Though the energy shield suggests the use of metatron technology in its construction, it is never actually referred to as an orbital frame. The in-game lock-on reticle does name it, which it does not name most other minor enemies such as gun turrets.

---

[edit] Sources

• Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars (Gameboy Advance)
• Zone of the Enders (PlayStation 2)
• Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (PlayStation 2)
• Zone of the Enders: Idolo (DVD Movie)
• ZOE: Dolores, i (DVD Series)