| MA-?? Apsaras III |
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| Information Model Number: MA-?? Name: Apsaras III Unit type: Perfected base-attack use MA Armament: Improved Large MP Cannon Weight: Unknown Armor: Multiple-layered High-tensile steel Thruster acceleration: unknown (fast) Height: unknown Sensor range: unknown Operator: Duchy of Zeon Cockpit: Dual-seater below head |
| After the failure of the original Apsaras and Apsaras II, Ghinius Sanklain, now nearly insane with his dream of destroying Jaburo, created the third and final incarnation of the Apsaras, Apsaras III. Apsaras III was much larger than its predecessor, now shaped in an oblong, rectangular shell rather than a somewhat spherical design. Apsaras III mounted two large M-Craft compressors in its fuselage now, making it much more stable and allowing smoother operation when compared to the original Apsaras. Like its predecessor, the Apsaras III was lightly armored and heavily armed. Although only armored with multiple layers of high-tensile steel, exactly like a Zaku, Apsaras III's offensive power made up for it. Mounting a single, massive mega particle cannon, Apsaras III's attack capabilites were also boosted. Although its actual, approximate dimensions are unknown, the Apsaras III still uses a recycled Zaku head for its main optical sensor, and the size of the Zaku head on the mobile armor's frame helps describe its gargantuan size. Once again, the Zaku head is mounted directly above the large mega particle cannon, with the cockpit being sandwiched between the head and the cannon. A cockpit hatch is located at the top of the particle cannon's barrel. Although the Zakuish spikes are still present in the Apsaras III, these are mostly for design purposes, rather than to intimidate mobile suits attempting to attack it from above. However, the three large, gray spikes do serve a purpose. These actually form part of a landing tripod so that the Apsaras III can fire accurately at long range. Although landing with the tripod allowed Apsaras better accuracy, it also made the large armor extremely vulnerable to mobile suits which could get close enough to fire from the ground. This design proved to be fatal, as it incorporated the Apsaras III's all-important M-Craft compressors. Apsaras III is truly the paragon of Ghinius Sanklain's deteriorating sanity: Total loss of battlefield reality for his dream of destroying Jaburo. |
