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The AV-98 Ingram is a second generation Patlabor manufactured by Shinohara Heavy Industries (SHI). The type was extremely advanced at the time of its rollout in 1998, and remained in frontline service until the early 2000s. It would be succeeded in the Original Animated Timeline by the AV-02 Valiant.
Design & Development[]
Rationale[]
When the first construction labors hit the market, the need for specialized police units to counter them became immediately apparent. Early patlabors were little more than repainted construction types, and as labor technology rapidly advanced, they became increasingly obsolete. SHI recognized the need for a highly advanced labor that would not only stand up to the machines of its time, but also remain effective against future types. Sparing no expense, the company developed the AV-98 Ingram to fill this role.
Mechanical Systems[]
The Ingram's mechanical systems were designed from the ground up specifically for special police operations. The machine's motors and actuators are rated at very high outputs, allowing it to move quickly and exert large amounts of force. These mechanisms are suitable for restraining and pinning down most labors, and the Ingram is even capable of briefly raising a labor above its head.
The AV-98 has more than mere raw strength at its disposal. Due to the often sensitive and delicate nature of police labor operations, precision movement is essential. To that end, the Ingram is equipped with a system that allows the pilot to directly control the movements of the machine's humanoid manipulators. While this does require a significant degree of focus and skill, the ability to finely control each finger of the Ingram allows the pilot to perform actions no other labor can.
Electronics Systems[]
In order for the Ingram to make full use of its advanced mechanical systems, a complex electronic and computer system is required. The machine features a control computer that was state-of-the-art at the time of its rollout, greatly enhancing the capabilities of the machine. The computer aids the pilot in coordinating the movements of the powerful motors while maintaining precision control. Certain processes, such as weapon retrieval and carrier docking, are completely automated, and the Ingram even features a basic autopilot capable of limited movement.
Armor and Weapons[]
The AV-98's armor plating is made of a lightweight but extremely strong carbon fiber reinforced plastic. This provides a great deal of protection from many physical threats, while maintaining the agility required of a high-performance police labor. Everything about the armor was intentionally designed, even down to its physical appearance. SHI engineers paid close mind to the looks of the Ingram, designing it to appear heroic enough to instill a sense of hope and assurance in the public, and strong enough to instill a sense of fear in criminals.
Enhancing the type's versatility is its weapons loadout. The machine features built-in storage for a 37mm Revolver Cannon and an Anti-Labor Stun Stick, as well as a shield mounted on its left forearm. The revolver cannon was, at the time, the highest-caliber gun equipped by a patlabor, and is capable of disabling most construction labors with a single well-placed shot. At ranges where the cannon is unnecessary, the electromagnetic stun stick can be utilized to incapacitate a labor with minimal damage. When the standard revolver cannon is not enough, the Ingram is capable of utilizing a 90mm riot cannon (shotgun) that can fire a wide spread of small projectiles or large-diameter solid slugs. Additionally, for special operations, the type can equip an explosive-reactive armor system, which provides greater protection from explosive projectiles than the standard armor.
Reception[]
The Ingram was tentatively adopted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, assigning three units to the Special Vehicles Section 2, Division 2 in order to assess its effectiveness. Although Division 2 would soon gain a poor reputation, the Ingrams were initially welcomed by the public, who were weary of rampant labor crimes. The machine was highly effective, especially in the hands of a capable pilot, but this effectiveness came at a steep price, preventing the type from seeing mass adoption by the police. The three units sent to Division 2 were the only Ingrams to see active frontline use.
Further Development[]
The AV-98 Ingram would continue to see development into the early 2000s. Division 2's unit 3 would be retrofitted with a modified sensor array for field testing, but the greatest advancement came with the model AV-H98 Ingram Kai. The name "Ingram Kai" refers to any AV-98 model patlabor equipped with the neural network-based operating system found on the AV-0 Peacemaker. While the Kai models feature identical appearances, outputs, and weapons systems, the enhanced performance allowed by the new control system grants them an undeniable advantage over the base model.
Operational History[]
Original Animated Timeline[]
The Ingram was first deployed in 1998 as a replacement for the outdated ASUKA-MPL-96. The type would mostly be used for standard police work, but saw some notable action.
During the 1999 military coup, which saw Tokyo occupied by radical JGSDF elements, an AV-98 Ingram piloted by Noa Izumi was deployed during the final operation to stop the launch of nuclear missiles from ferries approaching Tokyo Bay.
Later that year, when it was discovered that the Hyper Operating System (HOS) was intended to be used to cause a mass berserk labor incident, Ingrams piloted by Izumi and fellow Division 2 officer Isao Ohta were ferried to the Babylon Project construction site in Tokyo Bay, where they faced off against rogue labors, among them the highly advanced AV-X0 Prototype. The operation was successful, but saw the total destruction of the main structures of the Babylon Project, as well as severe damage to the Ingrams.
In 2000, a series of labors were damaged or destroyed by an unknown culprit. The investigation led to a biological weapons project, and its result, a fearsome monster. Once the monster was cornered, Ingram units were deployed to stop the string of destructive attacks.
In 2002, some time after the Ingram's retirement, rebellious elements of the JGSDF once again staged a coup, and in the process disabled the police's main patlabor units. An AV-98 was secretly pulled out of storage and equipped with explosive reactive armor to provide support during the operation to end the military coup.
Television Timeline[]
Like in the Original Animated Timeline, the Ingram was first used in 1998 as a replacement for the ASUKA MPL-96 patlabor. It would also be used for regular police work, but would be involved in some significant operations as well.
In 1998, Two AV-98 Ingrams were deployed as part of a police detachment sent to investigate reports of a large creature attacking labors. The culprit was discovered to indeed be an actual monster, so the labors were sent to capture or destroy it.
Later in 1998, the same Ingrams of Division 2 were sent to Mount Fuji to intercept a rogue military labor, a highly advanced HAL X-10 unmanned attack labor. The team was ultimately able to stop the X10 from attacking civilians.
Also in 1998, Division 2 labors were sent to the Tower City Project construction site, where foreign diplomats and media reporters were trapped inside due to a fire. The fire department had located the survivors, but was ill-equipped to rescue them from the hazardous structure and its heavy fire-resistant doors. After pilot Isao Ohta's Ingram was taken out by complications during the rescue, Noa Izumi used her labor to venture into the structure and free those trapped inside.
Late in 1998, Japanese authorities caught wind of terrorists attempting to steal Soviet military labors while a Russian ship was docked in the country to refuel. Division 2's Asuma Shinohara and Noa Izumi were sent to intercept the terrorists, and were able to apprehend a Soviet labor and its officer pilot.
On Christmas Eve, 1998, after Section 2, Division 1 went silent after investigating strange happenings around the Tokyo Port Tunnel, Division 2 was deployed to check things out. Upon arrival, the division discovered Division 1's damaged MPL-97S Python labors, but not the crews. The division deployed the Ingrams, which were soon met by Military labor type 7B "Brocken" labors, which they engaged in combat. Soon, they came face-to-face with the Type-R13EX Phantom labor, which quickly dispatched Ohta's machine. After a grueling battle and a miraculous save by Kanuka Clancy, Izumi sent the Phantom into Tokyo Bay, where it was presumed destroyed.
When the Tokyo Geo-City Project came under a terrorist bomb threat, Division 2's personnel and Ingrams arrived on the scene to assist with the location and defusal of the explosives.
During a combat exercise between Holly Security Services (HSS) and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), the Phantom labor appeared once again, destroying a Hishii Heavy Industries AL-97 Atlas military labor. Division 2's Ingrams were sent to the scene as military units attempted to subdue the Phantom. After Isao Ohta was beaten in combat, Noa Izumi was able to successfully defeat the Phantom and the SR-70 Saturn labor that had been supporting it. It was quickly discovered that HSS had been a mere front for Schaft, and was not an ordinary private security company.
Division 2 was on-hand at the 1999 Tokyo International Labor Show to provide security. After the event had concluded, a cargo truck drove onto the lot where the division was located, dispensing a smokescreen. The Type J-9 Griffon labor suddenly emerged from the truck, quickly attacking Isao Ohta's Ingram. Asuma Shinohara, who was piloting an AVS-98 Economy Ingram at the time, moved in to assist. Both pilots and labors proved no match for the advanced labor. After both were defeated, Noa Izumi entered the battle, moving into close range and attempting to capture the labor. However, the Griffon activated its flight mode and escaped the battle before she could subdue it. The Griffon appears to have crashed into a nearby mountainside, where it was assumed destroyed by the police higher-ups.
After being tracked down by Schaft Security System (SSS, or Three-S), Utsumi ordered the Griffon to engage their forces. SSS' Type M-5 Abraham labors proved no match for the Griffon, and were quickly dispatched. Division 2 arrived on scene with only one functional Ingram, Noa's Unit 1, with Ohta and Hiromi Yamazaki manually wielding Ingram Unit 2's revolver cannon. An intense slugfest of a battle ensued, with both labors taking heavy damage. Eventually, the Griffon was defeated and thrown into the ocean, leaving the Ingram badly damaged.
At the Babylon Project Conference, two terrorists botched their attack plan and wound up in the restaurant at the top of the hotel. The tower-top structure had been damaged by their explosives and was liable to fall, which would have led to their deaths as well as that of the bartender they'd taken hostage. What's more, the hotel sat on a jet fuel line supplying critical resources to the airport, and a sudden impact could have caused a massive explosion. Division 2's Ingrams arrived on scene, scaling the building and successfully preventing disaster.
Operators[]
- Formerly operated as a test unit.
- Used the AV-98 chassis as the base for the AVS-98 Economy Ingram
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
- Special Vehicles Division, Section 2 Division 2 operates three Ingrams, two of which are frontline units. The third is kept in reserve for emergencies and for spare parts.
- Operated two Ingrams as frontline patlabors until the Mega Iron incident.
Specifications[]
Empty Weight: 6.02 tons
Maximum Operating Weight: 6.62 tons
Maximum Lifting Capacity: 2.40 tons
Minimum Revolving Radius: 3.90 meters
Armor Material: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics
Armaments[]
Standard Equipment[]
- Anti-Labor Electromagnetic Riot Baton x1 (Stored in Left Forearm Shield)
- 37 Millimeter Vulcan Revolver Cannon x1 (6 Rounds, Stored in right Leg)
- Forearm Mounted Riot Shield x1
Optional Armaments[]
- 90mm Riot Cannon (Shotgun) x1
- Explosive Reactive Armor system
- Sniper Rifle
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Revolver Cannon the Ingram uses is based on the real life Colt Python Revolver specifically the 4-inch barrel variant
- The Riot Cannon the Ingram uses is based on three different real life shotguns. On Television and Patlabor: The Movie use the Franchi PA8 while Patlabor 2: The Movie uses a hybrid design between the Remington 870 and Franchi SPAS-12
- In the manga Ingram unit 1 goes without being named "Alphonse" unlike the anime and films
References[1] [2][]
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