Laborious Extra-Orbital Vehicle
The Laborious Extra-Orbital Vehicle are a type of mecha that feature in Zone of the Enders.
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History
The Laborious Extra-Orbital Vehicle (LEV) was a general-purpose, manned mechanical suit that became a cornerstone of humanity's expansion into space during the 22nd century. It represented a significant scientific advance, developed as a versatile machine for both heavy labor, such as construction and mining, and military applications. In its early history, before the advent of the superior Orbital Frames, the LEV was considered the primary and most powerful combat mech. The United Nations Space Force (UNSF) heavily utilized various models of the LEV as their standard combat vehicles. These mechs ran on arkjet engines for propulsion and were typically armed with conventional weapons like large guns and rifles, though their maneuverability and power were considered inferior to the later, Metatron-powered Orbital Frames. Despite becoming somewhat obsolete in the face of the advanced Orbital Frame technology, modified LEVs, such as the experimental Vic Viper, could still rival some Orbital Frames, and commercial models continued to serve vital non-military functions throughout the solar system's colonies.
By the late 22nd century, Mankind had colonized Mars, and space colonies are set up in orbit around Jupiter. Fueling this expansion are two scientific advances: the development of the Laborious Extra-Orbital Vehicle, or LEV, a mecha used for labor and military use, and the discovery of Metatron, a high-energy ore found on Callisto. Humanity was actively engaged in settling Mars and initiating terraforming efforts around 2052, with Earth devoting significant resources to the endeavor. LEVs, initially developed for general purposes, were extensively used in non-military, industrial capacities for the arduous task of building infrastructure on the red planet, including construction and mining operations in resource excavation facilities. As the political climate shifted and tensions between Earth and Mars colonists (known as "Enders") escalated, the LEV's role evolved to include military functions. The United Nations Space Force (UNSF) deployed a range of LEV models as their standard armed vehicles to maintain control and suppress resistance movements. These military LEVs were equipped with conventional weapons like rifles and machine guns, forming the backbone of the security forces on and around Mars. Martian resistance groups, such as BIS (Born In Space) and BAHRAM, also utilized LEVs, even converting civilian construction models to use in protests and battles against Earth's forces. Some experimental and modified LEVs, often blending technology with the later-developed Orbital Frames, were even able to match the performance of the superior Metatron-powered machines, showcasing the vehicle's enduring versatility during the critical period of Martian development and conflict.
The severe technological limitations and structural obsolescence of the standard LEV configuration were brutally exposed during a sudden, rogue military coup spearheaded by the BAHRAM resistance group on Mars. The rebels deployed a newly developed, highly advanced class of weaponized mecha known as the Orbital Frame, which utilized a pure Metatron-ore power source. A squad of standard UNSF Phantoma-type LEV units attempted a coordinated defensive interception to protect a military colony, but their conventional machine guns and solid laser blades proved entirely incapable of matching the spatial speed, quantum maneuverability, and reality-warping shield arrays of the alien-tech frames, resulting in the swift physical demolition of the entire defensive phalanx.
The underlying electronic and hydraulic architecture of a civilian Construction-type LEV asset was hijacked by a veteran human freighter pilot named James Links to execute a desperate rescue operation. Facing a violent tactical assault by the elite UNSF WIRED security division, Links hotwired the control cabin of the slow, poorly armored industrial machine, utilizing its heavy cargo-manipulator claws to physically tear through reinforced steel barricades and shield his family from incoming small-arms fire. Despite the asset possessing an extremely sluggish tracking index and lacking any integrated military targeting computers, the raw mechanical mass of the construction frame successfully absorbed several high-yield kinetic impacts before its internal electric batteries suffered total structural exhaustion.
Once powerful, capable units, the LEV has become obsolete with the development of Orbital Frame technology.
Overview
In appearance, the Laborious Extra-Orbital Vehicle (LEV) was a bipedal, humanoid mechanical suit, standing at an average height of approximately 10 to 12 meters, designed with a focus on functionality and versatility. Unlike the later, sleek, and biologically inspired Orbital Frames, the LEV possessed a more rugged, industrial design characteristic of a practical utility or military vehicle. Its frame was constructed for durability, often featuring visible hydraulic components, heavy armor plating, and functional manipulators (hands) capable of handling heavy equipment or weapons. The overall aesthetic varied significantly depending on its specific model and purpose. Construction and mining variants typically featured brighter colors like yellow or orange, equipped with tools such as drills, gripping claws, or heavy lifting mechanisms. Military models, conversely, were clad in drab, tactical colors (greens, grays, or camouflage patterns) and possessed hardpoints for mounting a variety of conventional armaments, including large rifles, missile launchers, and machine guns.
A LEV was powered with an arkjet engine, an electric power source used as a propulsion system.
The LEV was the standard mech well before Metatron was discovered and used in all future mech designs. In general, the maneuverability of a LEV is inferior to that of an Orbital Frame and the firepower one generates is not as strong. Certain exceptions, such as the Vic Viper and the Bizac series, are able to match most Orbital Frames, though are created with a hybrid of Orbital Frame and LEV technology.
The majority of LEV's seen are armed with large guns and used as infantry, while others may be used for non-military purposes as well, such as for construction and mining.
Among the variants of the LEV included:
- HarutMarut : a large LEV utilizing metatron advocated by Zephyrs; used mostly in riot control. Roughly 2-3 times the size of the average LEV, assistance intelligence installed enables complex maneuvers to be handled with ease, even by just one pilot. Looks like an octopus, jellyfish, or other similar deep-sea creature.
- HarutMarut II : a version of the HarutMarut with still more improvements. Although the spherical cover parts have been removed, it possesses great durability and a solid defense mechanism. Just like "I," it features self-binder and has the capacity to control itself.
Pilots
Notes
- The Laborious Extra-Orbital Vehicle was created by Hideo Kojima where they featured in the setting of the Zone of the Enders universe.
Appearances
- Zone of the Enders:
External Link
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