Name: Leogator
Alignment: Helic Republic
Family: Lion / Alligator
Registration Number: BZ-020
Crew: 1
Height: 7.2 meters (Lion) / 6.2 meters (Gator)
Length: 15.1 meters (Lion) / 19.9 meters (Gator)
Weight: 40.2 Tons
Top Speed: 300 kph (Lion) / 175 kph (Gator), 100 knots/185 kph (Gator, water)
Weapons: AZ 90mm Laser Cannon, Multipurpose Missiles, Hardened Alloy Claws and Teeth, Strike Laser Claw (Lion), Crush Bite (Gator)
Special Abilities: E-Shield, Swimming, Mode Change
Level: 4

The Leogator was born during a moment of Helic Republic crisis, which may explain why anyone would choose to combine a lion and an alligator into a single mechanical animal. Driven back from key strategic points of the time, engineers found themselves stranded without the manufacturing and development facilities they needed for making bigger, nastier Zoids than the Empire ones causing their problems. And so, they improvised, cramming Blox bits together in unholy ways until they had something perfect for quick hit and run operations with an amphibious flavor: Gator mode to cross the water, Lion mode to get in and take down enemy Zoids with the aid of surprise (and Blox fusions).

Largely forgotten after the Republic retook what they'd lost (can you blame history?), the Leogator found itself revived by a cash-starved group of engineers who'd bought the plans for the design off the grey market. They soon realized why they'd been for sale cheap. A product of desperation, the Leogator's weaponry was difficult to use, and it was less effective as melee fighter in the one on one situations common in competitive battling. Some time and duct tape later, and they'd come to a possible solution involving reworked weapons placement and improved systems across the board. It's best not to ask what else they did to the Leogator to make it stronger than its size suggests; its first test pilot prefers not to talk about his experiences.

When we say stronger than its size suggests, we mean it. The modern Leogator, for all its lack in bulk, is a melee specialist, and is capable of wrestling in a manner worthy of Zoids twice its mass and tonnage. It's still no Blade Liger, but those expecting to bully it around in a Houndsoldier or Ice Blazer will get a nasty, toothy surprise. The Lion mode is agile, capable of holding its own with the aforementioned Blade Liger, and packs laser claws. The Gator mode has all the brute strength you'd expect from an alligator -- it's low to the ground, turns eerily quickly even if it can't maneuver anywhere near as well otherwise (one might compare its maneuverability when not turning to a Horn, to give an idea), and has an enormous set of fanged jaws to drag you down to the ground with it.

The Leogator is fairly armored to match its role, sporting solid coverage and plating similar to the Revenge Trap in strength. Both modes are especially well-protected around the neck, making the old tactic of bite-to-the-ZCC just that little bit extra difficult. The Leogator would much rather be chewing on you.

Weapons:

AZ90mm Laser Cannon:
The Leogator's only regular ranged weapon -- we did mention this was a Zoid designed for melee, right? -- comes in the form of a fairly decent-sized AZ90mm Laser Cannon on its back. Capable of inclining 15 degrees vertically and 45 horizontally, it has a semiautomatic rate of fire (one shot per second).

Multipurpose Missiles:
Perhaps taking a cue from pilots who improvised during the war, the Leogator now comes with a set of eight multipurpose missiles located in two launchers on its back (on either side of its main cannon, four on each side). Standard in strength, they can lock onto targets in the air, land, and sea, but take 1.5 times longer than AGM pod missiles to do so (that is, 4.5 seconds under standard conditions). Note that they can be fired underwater as well, thanks to a special design inspired by the Barigator's systems.

Hardened Alloy Claws and Teeth:
Fairly self-explanatory: hardened alloy sharp bits, designed for doing all the tearing and shredding in close quarters the Leogator was bred for. The Leogator sports wicked claws in both modes, and a strong set of jaws for its size -- though obviously more so in the Gator mode, considering its longer muzzle.

Strike Laser Claw (Lion mode):
Thanks to systems borrowed from the Shadow Fox, all four sets of the Lion Mode's claws can charge with laser energy, greatly increasing their cutting power. The systems are not available in Gator Mode, partially for power reasons.

Crush Bite (Gator mode):
The same odd magnetic systems that facilitate the movement of the Gator jawparts into place during mode changes allow for one hell of a bite, slamming its jaws shut around an opponent with strength pretty much unmatched in regular production Zoids. Its jaws do not lock like the Strike Bull's, however, and this incredible jaw power only goes one way -- assuming you have a fist big enough to hold the Leogator's jaw shut, it'll have the same problem getting it open again as any other Zoid with a long snout.

Special Abilities:

E-Shield:
As is typical of melee specialists, the Leogator carries an energy shield to help it get to close quarters intact. Its generators are various and internal, making it hard to disable. The downside? It's not as strong as your average shield, only 75% the strength of the frontal force shields found on the Shield and Blade Ligers. Like them, it covers only the front and sides of the Zoid, leaving the rear unguarded. Furthermore, it shares their weakness against explosives and takes a full 18 seconds to recharge if downed, so time your shield use wisely.

Swimming (Gator Mode):
As its Gator mode's swimming abilities were more designed for hit and run landing operations than proper combat, the Leogator has poor underwater agility, several degrees below that of specialists like the Warshark. It travels at the speed of 100 knots, and its crush depth is similar to the Stealth Dragon's: 200 meters. Its e-shield also ceases to function, unable to maintain a proper matrix underwater.

On the plus side, the Leogator is fully compatmentalized like a proper aquatic Zoid, and both its cannon and missiles can be used under the water, meaning it can often survive long enough to tangle with foes in its prefered method: up close and personal.

Mode Change:
Much like the Bear Fighter can walk on two legs or four without worrying about the transition, the Leogator can change between Gator and Lion mode on the fly. The exact mechanics are a trade secret, but they happen near-instantaneously, and can even be done with the Leogator in motion. One should keep in mind, however, that going from agile Lion to plodding Gator in the middle of particularly creative or intense maneuvering could have...interesting consequences. And while the Lion mode won't leave you drowning (the cockpit is still airtight), it can't swim.

Available Modifications: