Guardian

Databank entry for the Guardian.

When the Androsynth departed Earth en masse in 2085 during the Clone Revolt, no Human had ever imagined that one could take to the stars at faster-than-light speed. Clever, cunning, and imaginative, the Androsynth outwitted their human creators at every turn by keeping low-key until an opportunity presented itself. In retrospect, it should have been no surprise that the pride of their space fleet, the dumpy little blue pod known as the Guardian, would hide something a bit more sinister inside its modest packaging, the sight of one quickly becoming the ultimate fear of all mankind. Near the the end of the First War, the Androsynth Hit-and-Run squadrons along the Coreward Front occasionally used modified Guardians capable of extended Blazer modes, giving them greater speed, range, and destructive power.

Navigation

In its normal configuration, the Guardian is far from the fastest ship around, but it can still outrun an Intruder. With a turning rate slightly below average and its acceleration only slightly above, it may seem less than impressive.

However, in Blazer form, all this changes. Always at full speed — which is faster than almost any other ship — and turning on the edge of a dime, it makes for a highly effective killer. The catch is that this newly gained strength only stays for as long as the batteries are charged, and they will be rapidly being drained. As you cannot turn off the Blazer mode as long as there is energy left, this will leave the Guardian very vulnerable for a moment.

Armament

Primary

The Guardian's main weaponry is an acidic bubble launcher. The acid bubbles themselves are specially engineered with highly-intensified surface tension cohesion in order to survive the rigors of space and with pH levels so acidic that no substance outside a laboratory setting has been able to withstand contact with it. The acid itself seems to sense biological material as it always heads in the direction of the nearest living object! This inorganic-guidance mechanism has been dubbed "Chaos™ tracking" by the subject's premier reseachers. On top of that, the Guardian holds a great store of this bubble-creating acid that can be released nearly instantly without destroying the launcher or the vehicle. It still baffles scientists today as to how the Androsynth were so ingenious as to not only invent this substance, but to also build a space-faring weapon with such deadly effect to others without any detriment to itself or its crew. It is unfortunate that this secret may now be lost forever...

Secondary

There is one of two ways to defeat an enemy in a head-on battle: be stronger or be faster. The Androsynth decided both options were best when they developed Blazer technology, and did they succeed! One tug of a rope and the Guardian sheds its crusty blue cocoon and morphs into a beautiful blazing deadly comet, which just about vaporizes anything it touches!

There are a few bugs in the system though. Once the Blazer form has been initiated, it burns up all available fuel until there is none left. And once it does that, it reverts to normal form and comes to a dead stop like it was a space-anchor. And there's no better irony than when a Guardian's captain is peeling his face off the comm-screen after his Guardian ran out of gas, only to find a nuclear missle being forcibly shoved up his exhaust diffusor!

Tactical Overview

While the Guardian's main weapon may be useful to keep an enemy at bay for a moment, its real strength lies in its Blazer form. Once activated, go straight for the enemy's ship and quickly bash it to bits. Be careful though for its weapons, which can still harm you.

If you can't finish off the enemy in one run, save some of your battery power to escape to a safe range, as you'll be vulnerable when the Blazer form runs out.