|
The R-Gear is one of the four playable crafts in the HD Version of the 1996 shoot 'em up RayStorm (alongside the R-Gray 1, the R-Gray 2, and the R-Gray 0). It is a prototype spacecraft developed by the turncoat Barca Section prior to their production of the "RAY" technology utilized in the later R-Gray crafts. It is sent to prevent the Secilia Federation from destroying the Earth as part of a mission codenamed Operation: RayStorm.
History[]
Early design of R-Gear
In 2119 A.D., humanity finally achieves the ability to travel into the outermost reaches of space. Each and every one of Earth's nations collaborated with each other to expand their colonial reach into the rest of the solar system, establishing various space colonies on newly-discovered planets. In addition, Earth established the Star Federation, a governmental body which would control the smaller local governments of the colonies. One century later in 2219 A.D., Earth's colonies had managed to expand to reach the constellation of Orion. But problems soon emerge, as with the ever expanding reach of the colonies, the Star Federation found it increasingly harder to maintain its authority across all twenty established colonies. As a result, they declared martial law on all the colonies. In response, one planet called Secilia, which was home to the strongest of the twenty colonies formed a rebel organization called the Secilia Federation in an attempt to mutiny against the Star Federation. They launched a number of battles against the Star Federation and ultimately won, defeating its fleet during the battle of LaGrange 4.
Following their victory, Earth's government surrenders and the Secilia Federation orders the expulsion of Earth's inhabitants to other colonies before announcing their true plan: to destroy the planet Earth. They proceed to quell the opposition before sending out a special strike force to destroy the planet. But all hope wasn't lost, hidden deep in Earth was the Barca Section, a secret organization created by the Secilia Federation that was expelled to Earth at unknown point in time for no reason, feeling betrayed by the Federation, the Barca Section chooses to side with Earth and launches a special series of starfighters codenamed "R-GRAY". Built from the remains of thirteen previous Secilia ships, the experimental fighter is launched in order to stop the Secilia Federation by destroy it in order to save the Earth from its inevitable doom, thus beginning Operation: RayStorm. Alongside them is an early prototype spacecraft called the R-Gear.
The R-Gear, alongside its successors travel across Earth's surface in order to locate the Secilia Federation's special strike forces scattered across the planet, finding them occupying Albion D.U., Old Gual City, and Palmyra Valley. In each zone, the fighter ultizies its unique weaponry and technological systems to destroy these forces before confronting a commanding unit leading the enemy units, where they proceed to eliminate it.
Once Earth's surface is secured from the Secilia Federation, the R-Gear and the other two fighters leave the planet's atmosphere to fly towards planet Secilia in an attempt to bring the fight to the aggressors. After fighting through Secilia forces in space, the fighters manage to reach Secilia, where they proceed to launch a counterattack on its capital Etruria. From there the fighters proceed into the near network of the planet called the Juda Central System, where it navigates its defenses to locate and destroy the central computer system known as Spartacus. Once Spartacus is destroyed, the R-Gray fighters travel deeper and locate the true leader of the Federation: Yggdrasil. The supercomputer attacks the fighters using a vast array of lasers, energy shots and drones. Despite the difficulty, the fighters endure the battle and target the enemy's main weak point, the central core. Upon crushing the core, Yggdrasil explodes, causing the entire central system to self-destruct. In the process, the R-Gear manages to escape through an escape route just as the exploding system destroys Secilia, bringing an end to the Federation and its plans to destroy the Earth.
In the aftermath of the Juda system's destruction, Secilia losses 30% of its mass and 70% of its population almost instantly. The remaining 30% of the population is believed to also perish when it is revealed that the colony is blown out of orbit due to the resulting explosion, where it drifts towards a planet called Seraphim, a planet covered in volatile gases which will ignite upon Secilia's collision. As a result, the Secila Federation ceases to exist. The R-Gear, having barely survived the explosion, flies backs to Earth's coordinates, tragically unaware of the grim fact that the planet Earth also did not survive Secilia Federation's wrath and thus no longer exists. In addition, the Barca Section which developed the "RAY" spacecrafts perished with the Earth. Following this, the R-Craft technologies disappear in the empty void of space where it as well as the other R-Gray crafts are never seen nor heard from since.
Weapons[]
The R-Gear is a notably unique spacecraft. Unlike the other R-Gray crafts, it utilizes different weapons towards both its primary and secondary arsenal, while also lacking a Hyper Laser. Its Special Attack is also different, taking on a more defensive purpose. These mechanics make the craft more difficult to use in combat, so it is more suited for expert players. The fighter is available in two versions: Type A (Auto), which enables a computer-assist Lock-On Laser system, and Type M (Manual) which enables the Laser Pods into the pilot's interface, but is more difficult to use. All weapons can be upgraded by means of differently colored diamond-shaped power-ups: collecting three red diamonds or one yellow diamond will upgrade the Homing Missiles, whilst each green diamond obtained will add a lock-on laser to the targeting system. There is also a blue star power-up which will automatically max out the "Special Attack" gauge displayed at the top-right of the HUD.
- Homing Missiles - the primary weapon of the R-Gear differing from the Laser Cannons used by its counterparts, it fires a pair of rapid-fire missiles which will track down nearby enemies on the upper plane, making it useful for destroying smaller enemies in the process. It however has a slower fire rate, and the missiles can be difficult to concentrate as they will target destructible projectiles in addition to standard enemies. When upgraded, the movement speed and accuracy of the missiles increases.
- Lock-On Laser - the signature secondary weapon of the R-Gear, unlike the other crafts, which utilize the Cybernetics Link System, this craft instead utilizes two Laser Pods flanking its sides to fire the weapon. The weapon utilizes a gauge located on the HUD to use this weapon, allowing it to fire a finite amount of times before it depletes; the gauge however can recharge if the pilot stops firing the weapon for a time. The laser meanwhile locks onto a variable number of enemies with impeccable accuracy and speed. When upgraded, the number of enemies the gauge can handle targeting will increase.
- Force Field - the special attack of the fighter that is indicated by the namesake gauge on the HUD. This gauge slowly increases when destroying enemies with the Lock-On Laser. When full, a force field will be deployed around the entire body of the craft, making it invincible for a limited duration.
Trivia[]
- The R-Gear is named after a cancelled sequel to RayForce called R-Gear. It was cancelled in favor of developing RayStorm.
- The craft is loosely based on the WR-03, as both crafts utilize unorthodox weaponry and mechanics to their in-game performance.
[]
| Ray | ||
|
Rayforce / Layer Section / Gunlock | ||