Shiva
Shot Lancer x 1: An innovative hybrid weapon that combines a series of light machineguns with a long, needle-like blade. The latter is set in place of a weapon barrel, and comes equiped with a powerful hydralic piledriver that hammers through targets. At its base are three small barrels for the former, each firing a series of armor-piercing bullets. An ammunition drum stores enough bullets for forty bursts of fire.
Impact Bracer x 1: A strange spin-off of the Grand Cross' thermal weapons, this shield contains energy generators which heat up its outer surface to tremendously high levels. Effectively, it gains the duel benefit of being a defensive tool while also burning anything that comes into contact with it. It can also be used in ramming, attacks, allowing the pilot to melt through obstacles.
Shock Shackler x 1: A rather unusual weapon, it consists of a wide barrel that can be mounted under either of the mobile suit's arms (even when one carries the Impact Bracer). It fires a large, mobile suit-sized net that envelops a foe completely, restricting movement. In addition, while connected to the shackle launcher, the net can carry a powerful electrical charge that can physically damage the target and scramble its electronics. If necessary, the net can be reeled back in, and prepped for additional firings. If the net is lost, the launcher can be used to deliver a one-shot electrical blast before it overloads.
The rebirth of the Shiva from its Aeshma Prime origins began when an Operae Pretium Est test pilot commented on how he would prefer such a mobile suit to any general purpose design. An informal poll of other pilots, along with an excellent presentation to the Grand Cross' chief tacticians, allowed the space station's staff to fulfill the pilot's dream. Additional alterations were made to the test bed model, heightening its durability and reaction time. Minor speed enhancements were also made, making the suit more nimble. However, these were all overshadowed by the potential of its weapons configuration.
Banking on the effectiveness of their Shot Lancer, the Operae staff made it the centerpiece of the Shiva's arsenal. Its Impact Bracer became both a fall-back weapon and defensive tool, while the obscure Shock Shackler net was meant to be an unexpected surprise. When activated, this entire ensemble of thermal and electrical weaponry causes the air to waver around Shiva, as if it is about to burn down the world around it. Eager to exploit the fearfulness such a visage creates, the technical staff installed an Axis series vernier system that can constantly vent heat, even in standby mode. The end result is a mobile suit that appears to step straight out of hell to face down its foes.
Given the origins of this mobile suit, it could hardly be called a standard field model. Since its creation on Operae Pretium Est, however, the Shiva's design specs were spread out among the Grand Cross' fleet divisions. The organization's Fatima Colony had planned on converting at least one of its old Aeshma Prime assembly lines to manufacture these units, with logistical authorities planning to keep one machine on each large battleship. However, that plan was ultimately squelched by the views of both the Grand Cross' military command and the marketing arm of the Tresdemo Foundation. Believing that the future of mobile suit warfare lay not in close range supremacy, but long range firepower, both parties decided to write the Shiva off as a failed experiment. Those built were sent to backline garrisons, and usually scrapped for spare parts. Since deployment of the GC-MS06 Vayu unit was already underway, the Shiva was allowed to officially keep the "MS05" designation, even if it never saw much general use.
Cell Artwork by MS Gundam 3DCG