- ZWR05 Sniptera "Imperial Guard"
Please note! This page relies on automated translations, which are bound to have mistakes! It's provided only as a more convenient way to read these stories until such a time that better translations become available.
- Basic Details
Release Date: January 2022Price: 4,400 Yen (Tax included)
Parts: ??
Size:
Motion: Motor (x1 AAA Battery)
Description:
A new series of Zoids Wild begins! Its name is "Zoids Wild Biographies!"
The fifth installment in the Zoids Wild Biographies series is a realistic moving model kit that completely recreates the Sniptera Imperial Guard, which appeared in the TV anime Zoids Wild Zero!
- Teaser Photos + Associated Pilot Art
- Unit Description
A medium-scale Pteranodon-type Zoid that was boarded by Hannah Melville, a major character in the TV anime Zoids Wild Zero.
The Sniptera Imperial Guard coloring is the original coloring used for this product. The main gray-blue color is painted with a secondary white-blue, with metallic guns and silver on the armor, recreating the machine that appeared in the anime.
It can be transformed from a Walking Form to a Flying Form, and when the Activation Bone is turned on in Walking Form, it moves forward by walking on its wings and hind legs. If you transform it into the Flight Form and turn on the Activation Bone, the wheels will spin as if it's flying while the wings flap. Its Machine Blast allows you to open the mouth and pull out the A-Z Sniper Rifle, transforming it into Sniper Mode.
- Painting
The main painted parts are the armor on the head and wings. The gunmetal paint on the head and the white-blue paint on the wings are details to create an image similar to the one in the show.
- ZW Biographies: Sniptera Imperial Guard
- Episode 5: The Blue Stratagem
After receiving information that the Empire was testing a new Zoid, the mass-produced Sniptera, the Republic sent a squad of three still-in-development prototypes to Imperial territory.
"Captain, are they really testing a new Imperial model in a desert area like this?"
The Republic's new Zoid pilot asked.
"Yes, there's no doubt about it. This is solid information received from our agents that were sent over to the Imperial Army."
The fearless-looking captain in charge of the new machine replied.
"We've only unearthed three of these test machines, and I've heard that the enemy's Sniptera is a highly maneuverable aircraft, but don't be afraid, these Sonic Birds are even more maneuverable."
The prototype Sonic Bird formation, sporting only gray armor was still in development and hadn't officially deployed, and now they were about to enter Imperial territory.
"Come on, we're close to Imperial territory, shift to maneuvers!"
The Sonic Bird formation accelerated immediately and deployed in the sky at an almost vertical angle ascent.
Temporary Imperial Army Desert Base—
As the conflict with the Republic escalated, the Empire was testing a new Zoid for mass production.
The Empire's ace rider, Lieutenant Christopher Giller, also known as the Red Reaper, had destroyed a Republican division with his Sniptera, and the Empire had highly praised this achievement. A highly maneuverable attack from the air could thus be expected to yield great results in the future of warfare. The Empire had developed the mass-produced Sniptera created by Dr. Land, and was in a hurry to deploy it on the battlefield.
Two Snipteras were launched from the catapult of the temporary base and soared into the sky, taking a formation behind their leader's machine.
"Lieutenant Maninov, you're as good as they come! Move on to turning!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"The second unit is late! Ensign Melville, you're two seconds behind the rest of the formation!"
"I'm sorry, sir. This machine is unstable..."
"Ensign Melville, if this were a real battle, you wouldn't have that excuse!"
Lieutenant Maninov interrupted the transmission to chastise Melville.
"Now, now, Captain Ark! Lieutenant Melville's aircraft is just acting a bit ornery before the sortie, what with the output of the boosters being unstable... I think it's a good thing that it's like Melville"
"What the hell was that, Lieutenant Maninov!? I'm not ornery!"
Captain Ark laughed at the conversation between the two.
"Maybe it's exactly as Maninov says. The Sniptera might just be the perfect machine for you."
"Even you, Captain! Joining in..."
Melville was a bit embarrassed to be teased by the two men.
Lieutenant Maninov, who'd served as Melville's instructor during her time at the academy, had been transferred to the Imperial Guard when the Snipteras were deployed in recognition of his achievements in actual combat. Captain Ark, who was a test pilot, had seen Melville many times on the podium as an instructor, and was an old friend and confidant of Melville's.
"All right, let's continue the test! You two, descend at maximum acceleration and deploy off to the side! Then get back into formation!"
The Snipteras repeated their test flight smoothly under Captain Ark's direction.
On the ground, the temporary facility was too small to be called a base, but an Imperial engineer was watching the flight while talking to a scientist next to him, who had a rather large mustache.
"Ensign Hannah Melville... She's still a recruit fresh out of the academy, so maybe the Sniptera is too much for her?"
The technician said to the scientist beside him, noticing that Melville's Sniptera was lagging behind by several seconds.
"Hmph... Is that all you can see? Look at the power gauge on the monitor! She's flying a very unstable machine."
The scientist laughed at the engineer's sarcasm then looked up at the sky again.
Dr. Frank Land was the scientist who'd appointed Hannah Melville as the pilot of the first mass-produced Sniptera.
"When excavated Zoids are restored, each one is different. Not all Zoids are the same. Even in the same pteranodon species, each machine can have individual differences."
"But isn't that why they're controlled by the visor you made, Doctor?"
The technician curiously questioned the Doctor's words.
"The visor isn't the end all be all... The wild strength of a Zoid, as well as the characteristics of the different species, and even their individual differences can't all be controlled so easily. The quality of Imperial engineers has fallen so much that they don't even know what they're doing..."
The Sniptera's output monitor at the base showed a power curve with sudden rises and falls in output, but they only showed for the second machine Melville was riding.
Only Dr. Land understood that the ups and downs in the power output, which at first glance would've appeared to be because of Melville's maneuvering, were actually due to the individual differences in the character of the Sniptera she was riding. He also appreciated Melville's mastery of it.
"Melville... She should be able to use that power to handle her machine..."
Suddenly, as the doctor was talking to himself, an alert siren sounded at the temporary base, and a few Imperial soldiers came rushing in.
"It's urgent! We have reports of an approaching Republican force! All troops have been ordered to cease testing and withdraw! Dr. Land, it's not safe here, you must evacuate immediately."
The emergency transmission also reached the Sniptera platoon flying the test flight.
"What the hell is going on!? I can't believe the Republican Army would come to such a remote place, but why, could it be...? Do they intend to target this test...!?"
Melville interrupted the surprised Lieutenant Maninov.
"Captain Ark! At this rate, we won't be able to retreat from the base in time! We'll go on a defensive mission until we can buy enough time to retreat."
"Wait! Lieutenant Maninov is still inexperienced, and not prepared for combat duty! So follow Lieutenant Maninov and retreat! I'll take care of the enemy machines!"
Captain Ark ordered Melville to return to the base, but Melville begged to be allowed to join the mission.
"But... I'm an Imperial soldier! I can't just run away in the face of an enemy like this..."
On the ground, Dr. Land, who was listening to the Sniptera's transmissions, interrupted them.
"Captain Ark, it's quite fine... Take Melville with you! I didn't expect a battle here, but it'll be a good test."
Melville was surprised to hear Land's transmission from the base, where all troops had been ordered to withdraw.
"Doctor! You have to leave now. It's not safe there."
"What are you talking about? You're here to avert that danger."
Maninov entered the conversation.
"Leave it to me, Doctor! I'll take care of Melville for you! Well, it's not like Melville can stand to just sit back and be guarded, but..."
Captain Ark gave up in despair, and passed instructions on to the other units.
"Maninov, follow Melville from the rear! But don't over do it, do everything you can to avoid engaging! Buy just enough time for the base to retreat, and don't forget to take your own life into consideration while you're flying your first Sniptera..."
Section 2
"Got it!"
At the same time as Ark's words, the three Snipteras again took formation and flew off in the direction of the enemy invasion!
In the cockpit of the captain's machine, Ark had a troubled look on his face.
"I didn't think something like this would happen... If I could somehow just get Melville back safely..."
About 10 kilometers from the base an enemy machine was confirmed on the Sniptera's radar.
"Enemy units detected! Wait, this is!? The enemy's also using flying types, Captain! Has the Republic also succeeded in developing flying Zoids?"
Ark silently stared at the radar when he heard Maninov's transmission.
"Captain!? What's going on...? Shouldn't we be moving into an intercept position?"
"Ahh, s-sorry... Not yet, the enemy hasn't clearly shown any intention to attack, so we'll watch them for a while and close the distance on the defensive."
Melville, anxious about Ark's instructions to wait to attack the enemy, advised him.
"But that could allow the enemy to get ahead of us! The enemy aircrafts are 700 meters away from our attack range! Give us the order to attack before they can reach us!"
Then it was time. A transmission came into the confused Sniptera squadron from the enemy Sonic Bird.
"This is Captain Chuck Jager of the Republic's Special Guerrilla Force and the pilot of their new aircraft, surrender quietly and we won't attack."
Lieutenant Maninov, hearing the transmission from the Sonic Bird, turned to Ark.
"Captain! Who the hell do these guys think they are, do they think we're stupid! That aircraft! It's no match for the Sniptera!"
With that, Maninov's Sniptera broke off from the formation and flew off in its own threatening maneuvers.
As soon as Ark saw this, he shouted.
"Wait! Maninov, stop this unnecessary battle, if we surrender quietly as they say, we can guarantee the safety of our base."
But Maninov cut Ark off, heading towards the enemy.
"Captain! What the hell is wrong with you? Now's our chance to get ahead of them!"
Maninov's Sniptera, who'd broken formation, caught the Republic's Sonic Bird in its sights, then fired the Force Barrel Gatlings attached to the two wings. Maninov's attack was sure to catch the enemy. The Sonic Bird was struck in the wings, and plummeted to the ground. Maninov's attack triggered another transmission from the Republic Captain, and at that same moment, the aerial battle began.
"What the hell! If you're going to take hostile action, then we'll show you no mercy!"
The Sonic Bird took a fighting stance and launched an attack on the Sniptera.
Melville, unable to grasp the situation, received a message from Ark.
"Melville, go back to the base and start an evacuation! There's no need for you to be here!"
But Melville was confused by Ark's instructions.
"Why...? Anyway, our priority now is to intercept the enemy aircrafts!"
Melville banked hard to the left, covering herself with gatling fire as she closed the gap between her and her opponent, but somehow the highly maneuverable Sonic Bird had gotten behind her.
"You! You've got some nerve!! I'll take that aircraft by force!!"
"The enemy's on my rear!! Please cover me...!!"
However, Melville's communication didn't reach her two allies. The line of communication that should've been established was being blocked.
"Oh no...!! Now, of all times!! Even your communication functions are fickle!!?"
Immediately afterwards, her Zoid was grazed by countless shots from behind.
"Come on!! Give me a break here!!"
Melville was dodging the enemy's attacks, but her still unstable Sniptera was unable to shake the Sonic Bird that had caught them from behind.
"That machine! Are you saying that it's more maneuverable than the Sniptera!?"
Melville wanted to shake the enemy, but her Sniptera, whose output remained unstable even now, suddenly lost speed as its engine output unexpectedly dropped. Melville was sandwiched between the two other Snipteras.
"H-here we go again, showing this instability, even in a situation like this... Sniptera, please listen to me."
Perhaps Melville's pleas had born fruit, as suddenly her line of communication was restored. Right before her Sniptera's eyes, the AZ Wing Swords from the Sonic Bird, which had just Evo Blasted deployed for its Sky Slash Maneuver as it rapidly approached them.
"This is the end! Imperial Guard!"
Maninov's Sniptera dove in front of Melville, seeing that she'd been driven into a corner.
"Melville! Get out of the way!"
Maninov slammed his machine into her Sniptera, which had found itself in a desperate situation, flinging it aside. At the same time, he activated his Machine Blast, firing the AZ Sniper Rifle right at the Sonic Bird!
His precision shot pierced the Sonic Bird's torso. He'd shot down one of them, and at the same time, in a brilliant move, he flipped his position by a considerable margin and again moved into attack position against another one.
Section 3
"I told you, Melville! I told you that I'd protect you... If my student dies before me, I wouldn't be able to get a good night's sleep for the rest of my life."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Maninov..."
Melville, having been knocked aside and now spiraling out of control, grabbed the controls of her aircraft to regain control of it. She checked Maninov's Sniptera from the cockpit of her own, but in the next instant, she witnessed an incredible sight.
Maninov's Sniptera turned and locked on to the one remaining Sonic Bird...
His Sniptera, which was supposed to be in an attack position, was struck by a red flash that'd come out of nowhere, and plummeted to the ground, billowing smoke.
The Blue Stratagem - Part 2
Ark's Sniptera's slammed into Maninov's machine from behind as it chased after the Sonic Bird.
"Lieutenant Maninov! Lieutenant Maninov!!"
Melville, stunned, received a transmission from Ark.
"I told you to withdraw... I didn't want to have to kill you either, but you wouldn't listen to me... So... this is what happens..."
She saw Maninov's Sniptera falling to the ground with its shredded wing.
"Ha ha ha, well done! It was a close call, but your improvised maneuver worked!"
Melville had no idea who Jager was talking to.
"I was hoping to buy us a little more time..."
"Hmph! Just be glad it went as well as it did. You've got some good pilots there, you know. Now, let's take that machine back to the Republic, Captain Ark!"
The Republic's informant was Ark.
He was preparing to defect to the Republic with his new Sniptera as a souvenir. He planned to leak information about the tests going on in this area, and would use the Snipteras, which had launched in response to the Republic's attack, as his escape strategy to return to the Republic.
However, Ark hadn't expected that Maninov and Melville would join the battle instead of going off on their own.
During the communication failure, Ark had informed Jager of his plan to have Maninov attack the Sonic Bird, then shoot him from behind.
The failure had been Ark's work all along. Melville finally understood the situation.
"Captain Ark... No, Ark! Did you betray the Empire!? Why would you commit such a shameful act as an Imperial soldier... Why, why did you take out Lieutenant Maninov! He admired you. You think you can get away with this!!?"
Melville started ascending with her Sniptera, which had previously almost been knocked out of the air.
However, its output was still unstable, so it lacked maneuverability.
Her Sniptera was mercilessly shot by the Sonic Bird's 2-Barrelled Rapid-Fire Machine Gun.
"I'm sorry, Sniptera... It wasn't your fault that the communication cut out. It's my fault, for being so immature..."
Her voice trembled with sadness and frustration at this betrayal, and most of all, with anger at her own worthlessness.
"... but I'll never let that guy beat me!! Sniptera, please, lend me your strength!!"
Melville gripped the controls.
At the same time, the engine of Melville's Sniptera ignited at its maximum output and accelerated into the sky.
"This Zoid!? It's moving differently from before! It just improved all of the sudden!"
The Republic soldiers couldn't hide their surprise when they saw the Sniptera soar into the sky with instantaneous acceleration.
The same could be said for Melville in the cockpit.
"Sniptera... Let's go!"
Section 5
Melville shot into the air and aimed at the Sonic Bird. However, missiles fired from Ark's Sniptera got in the way, preventing her from locking on.
"Damn... He just keeps getting in the way. I'll never let you escape!!"
"Melville, stop this pointless battle! Let me slip away quietly... That'll be the end of it."
But Melville shouted in response to Ark's transmission.
"What exactly are you referring to as pointless here!? Do you mean the pointless loss of Lieutenant Maninov when you shot him down!?"
Melville accelerated her Sniptera as her anger rose, but, for just a moment, what Maninov had said to her during her time at the military academy crossed her mind.
"Melville, you have a surprisingly easy-to-understand personality, immediately apparent from the look on your face..."
"Well, it's the same for Zoids! They know what their rider is thinking and feeling in that moment... You know? At least, sometimes I think so, and one day you'll understand that too. They're not just machines, that's why we ride together."
As she suddenly remembered Maninov's words, Melville got a hold of herself and regained control in the cockpit.
"That's right... You understand it, too. My anxiety, and my impatience."
When she spoke to her Sniptera, a calm expression returned to her face.
"That move... The Sniptera's maneuvers have changed! Melville, you..."
Melville started her counterattack with a brilliant maneuver, dodging the attacks of the Sonic Bird and Ark's Sniptera, as if she were only playing with the two other aircrafts.
The Captain's Sonic Bird, seeing the movement of Melville's Zoid, determined that further action would be dangerous, so began to retreat from the area at maximum speed. Afterwards, Melville caught up with Ark, who tried to turn around.
Section 6
The two machines faced each other, hovering.
"Please stop resisting and surrender, Ark! I don't want to kill you either!"
"Tell me... what do you know! The Empire, Land, they treated us like objects, and put us on board these Zoids! I've seen so many test pilots treated like garbage!"
"There's no point in wasting any more lives in the Empire! You understand that, right? That's why you're piloting that machine right now. Even the doctor wants to end this war as soon as possible... Just like you do."
"We have to finish what Land started! Melville!!"
"...You don't understand."
Melville steeled her nerves and tightly gripped the control stick.
Both Ark and Melville shouted at the same time.
"Machine Blast!!"
The two Absolute Shots fired, their red flashes intersecting. The Absolute Shot aimed at Melville's machine, which had hesitated just slightly, struck her A-Z Sniper Rifle and destroyed it.
Melville's Zoid was covered with the thick black smoke that was billowing out of its mouth.
"Melville, this is the end!"
A rain of shells fired from the Force Barrel Gatling towards the back of the smoke.
"Don't feel bad, Melville..."
There was a huge explosion of black smoke, and the rain of bullets stopped.
"There's no way you could compete with me..."
Ark tried to accelerate after the Sonic Bird, but the smoke that'd been caused by the large explosion filled the area, blocking his vision.
"Damn, there's too much smoke... No... Not at this amount, something's strange. No way!?"
"Ark!!"
Melville's machine was above him.
When her aircraft had been shrouded by the black smoke, she'd made the split-second decision to fire off the Smart Bomb, then accelerate at maximum speed in aerobatic flight to capture Ark from above.
By the time Ark looked up, it was already too late to dodge the missiles and the gatling fire.
"Damn it!!!!"
Ark's Sniptera was destroyed and fell to the ground. Melville quickly searched for the other enemy machine, but the Republic's Sonic Bird had already flown from the battlefield and was out of radar range.
Her Sniptera flew through the still sky.
Her machine flew steady, gliding through the air just as she wanted.
"Thank you... Sniptera."
Dr. Land, who was checking out the Sniptera returning to the base from the ground, said to the engineer.
"I told you... Melville could handle it. That's the kind of kid she is..."
Section 7
"Lieutenant Maninov, it's all over."
Melville, standing in front of a gravestone sitting upon a hill recalled her last flight with Lieutenant Maninov and how her Sniptera, which had been briefly designated as scrap after its Machine Blast was destroyed, had been modified to take advantage of its high flight performance and returned to her.
"Its been two years since then... A lot has happened, Sniptera. I wonder if you'll continue to fly through the sky with me..."
As if in response to Melville's emotions, the Sniptera's screech echoed across the sunset sky.
Hannah Melville
Although she's a new recruit, she's an excellent Zoid Rider and Dr. Land's assistant. She was originally an orphan, and when she was a child, she was taken in by the Doctor, and since then has been raised as his daughter. As she continued to receive education regarding Zoids, she became good at repairing and maintaining them. She's actually the daughter of the previous Emperor (and the half-sister of the current Empress Fiona), and she has the special power to control Zoids, which she inherited from the previous Emperor.
- Notes
In this story there were a couple of confusing scenes where it seems like the same character was talking twice in a row. I went back and checked the original text and that did indeed seem to be the proper order, but to make things less confusing, I merged paragraphs that I felt were probably said by the same character without any interruption in between. This may be inaccurate to the original text.