E.S.

Translation from Xenosaga I.II (DS) database

[Category: Unknown]

The general term for humanoid mobile weapons loaded with a Vessel of Anima.

Their cockpits can be either single- or two-seat, depending on whether or not firing control needs to be divided between a pilot and a co-pilot. Most units equipped with a large amount of weaponry are two-seat. However, units with specialized functionality have only one seat.

The size of an E.S. is not greatly different from that of a standard A.M.W.S., but its fighting ability can be an order of magnitude greater. With the right combination of weaponry and pilot, an E.S. can hold enough combat power to be a match for a whole division of A.M.W.S. units.

The chief reason given for this is the complete difference in the quality of the energy it uses for its operation, as well as the method by which that energy is supplied. A.M.W.S.s, like A.G.W.S.s, operate via pulse energy transferred from their mother ship, making them highly reliant on their U.M.N. connection status and the condition of the mothership. This leads to the amount of energy that can be supplied in a given amount of time to be necessarily limited.

This holds especially true when the mothership has been destroyed in battle; in such a case, basically the only recourse for a unit is to operate using its internal condenser and auxiliary co-generator. However, since the firearms and logical drive installed in each unit were designed under the assumption they would be receiving a large supply of pulse energy from a mothership, it becomes impossible to operate everything at full spec.

On the other hand, since E.S. units operate on energy supplied by the Zohar via the Vessel of Anima interface, their supply of energy is inherently limitless. they are not reliant on the status or location of a mother ship, which makes their operating range and weaponry they can use in battle practically unlimited. (Of course, it is rarely the case that they use weaponry so overly enormous that it severely reduces their mass balance and mobility.)

The only disadvantage is that an unqualified pilot is unable to link the Vessel of Anima with the Zohar and therefore cannot even start up the unit. There are only a very few qualified pilots in the entire galaxy; as a result, E.S. operation seems to be naturally limited to tactical-level operations.

E.S. Issachar