F98 Lathyrus

Heroic Vehicle
Full Name	F98 Lathyrus
Alias	Lathyrus
Origin	Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth
Transportation	Starfighter
Creation	Special Interception Air Force
Location	Simulator Pacific Ocean Space port Mars outpost Derelict space station Mars surface Past space Jupiter Zeograd stronghold The Earth
Users	Unnamed Pilot (player)
Usage / Powers	Flight Space Travel Speed adjustment Backblast afterburner Defensive rolling maneuver Armaments Laser Gun Raid-firing capability Mega Laser (2 forms)
Purposes	Destroy the Zeograd Army
Status	Determinant
Type of Heroic Vehicle	Hard-hitting Spacecraft

The F98 Lathyrus is one of three protagonists of the 1998 shoot 'em up Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth (alongside its counterparts the F98 Venidium and the F98 Wisteria). It is one of three starfighters built by the Special Interception Air Force to succeed the F92 Soldier Blade after it was rendered inoperable following the events of Soldier Blade. The Lathyrus focuses on heavy firepower for its primary weapon.

History

In the year 2098 A.D., the Zeograd Army returns to seek retribution for its defeat six years earlier by invading Earth once more. Initially at a disadvantage following the loss of its iconic starfighter the F92 Soldier Blade, the Special Interception Air Force recovers the spacecraft's black box and recovered its combat data; there they learned a disturbing truth: that the Zeograds were not an ordinary alien race, but rather a race of highly advanced sentient robots. With this vital data, the SIA proceeds to use the data to construct a series of three starfighters to replace the F92 Soldier Blade: the F98 Series.

Following their completion, Lathyrus along with the other two spacecrafts are launched against the Zeograds in order to defend Earth. They travel to various environments, where they battle numerous waves of Zeograds, destroying their forces whilst eliminating their commanders. Eventually after decimating their entire army, only one persistent enemy remains: the Duoss Core, who had somehow survived its defeat against the F92 Soldier Blade. Having been defeat twice by the fighters over the course of the game, it refuses to yield and instead creates a warp to escape towards Earth, but the three fighters following right behind it and proceed to duel the Zeograd leader above the Earth. Despite putting up an intense battle, the three starfighters manage to destroy the Duoss Core, this time for good, however in final twist, it releases a bomb that is designed to destroy the Earth!

Depending on whether or not the Lathyrus destroys the bomb in time, one of two endings will occur:

In the bad ending, the bomb will activate, destroying not only the Lathyrus, but also the Earth in the process.

In the good ending, with the Zeograds finally destroyed Lathyrus and the two sister spacecrafts return to Earth, having finally brought peace to the planet for the foreseeable future. In a post-credit Duoss Core, thought to have been destroyed, appear and praise the player as an excellent pilot.

Specification

Wingspan	9.0 m
Length	12.1 m
Weight	11400 kg
Crew	1
Drive	Thrusters 7600 kgx6
System	Vanguard
Armament	Laser Gun
Ex-Arms	Mega Laser

Weapons

Unlike most starfighters in the Star Soldier series, the F98 Lathyrus only has one primary weapon. In this case it is the Laser Gun, a weapon based on weapons obtained by blue power-ups in previous installments. The laser has rapid-fire capabilities, and is able to penetrate small enemies, whilst dealing high damage on larger enemies and bosses, however the laser has the narrowest spread of all the primary weapons. It can be upgraded up to three times to increase the number of shots fired, as well as the width of the two main shots. At max power, it fires a total of six laser shots: two main shots and four thinner shots in a horizontal spread.

In addition, the F98 Lathyrus has a bomb-like Ex-Arms called the Mega Laser. The weapon comes in two forms:

• Ex-Arms 1 - fires a very thick and powerful laser beam straightforward that deals tremendous damage to everything it hits, as well as penetrates them. It behaves similarly to the blue Smart Bomb used by the F92 Soldier Blade in Soldier Blade.

• Ex-Arms 2 - fires a series of lasers in all directions, destroying all small enemies and projectiles, whilst severely damaging larger ones simultaneously.

For defense, Lathyrus can perform Backblast Thruster (similar to OF-1 Daedalus' thruster blast); this activates when Lathyrus' speed is adjusted every time. This emits an afterburn flame from Lathyrus' engine thrusters for a brief period of time. It can singe and damage enemy crafts attempting to approach Lathyrus from behind. Lathyrus' second defensive maneuver is a defensive roll activated to temporarily dodge incoming enemy fire. After which a short cooldown period initiates before it can be performed again - but there is a secret trick to utilize Rolling continuously...

Gallery