Big Core

All information related to the Big Core is non-canon.
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The Big Cores are a series of ships designed by the Bacterian Empire to wage war against the Gradian in people in the Gradius. They first appeared in the first Gradius game and served as the end boss for all but the last two levels of the entire game. Several revisions (Big Core Rev 1.2) and successive designs (Big Cores Mark 2, 3, and 4) have been made.

In Dimensional Eclipse, pirate forces in the alternate chapter 2 story arc have engineered replicas of the Big Core and Rev 1.2 for their own uses. Unlike the original designs, however, they have multiple point defense turrets to cover themselves from flanking attacks going straight for their core. With their mulitrole abilities and numerous variants that handle different situations, Big Cores are dangerous to both strikecraft and capital ships.

The Big Core-class Mobile Armor.

The Big Core T1-05.

The Big Core Rev 1.1.

The Big Core Rev 1.2.

Description:

Tech Room Description (BE GS Big Core)

The Big Core is a medium-sized combat craft first sighted being operated by the ecoterrorist pirates. Unlike traditional strikecraft which have limited operational ranges, the Big Core can operate for extended periods of time due to the powerful energy core embedded in the center of the ship. Capable of operating both unmanned and with a pilot, the Big Core has become one of the pirates' standard gunships. It is unknown where the pirates got such an advanced design, though it is suspected that they based at least its appearance off an old-earth game, much like some of the Alliance's prototype strikecraft.

Tech Room Description (Big Core T1-05)

The Big Core T1-05 appears to be a variant of the original Big Core, created by the engineers aboard the pirate carrier, CRYSTALXMISUZU. Featuring a slightly enlarged hull, additional stabilizers, a rumored experimental track-wheel interface and a shiny white paint job, the T1-05 offers a vast number of improvements over the original Big Core.

Tech Room Description (Big Core Rev 1.1)

A further enlarged Big Core model with its side core vents fully covered, it is larger, better armed, better armored, and much more difficult for strikecraft to destroy. It is less maneuverable however, and serves as a corvette-class ship.

Tech Room Description (Big Core Rev 1.2)

The Big Core Rev 1.2 is an extension to the 1.1 model. The primary addition is of a pair of large rings with numerous inward facing turrets and a force-field projector, allowing it to trap stikecraft attempting to attack its core and destroy them.

Credits

• Models by AndrewofDoom
• BE GS Big Core texture by Droid803
• 1.2 by AndrewofDoom and Droid803

Performance:

Statistics

Name	BE GS Big Core
Type	Mobile Armor
Manufacturer	Bacterian Empire
Maneuverability	Average
Max Velocity	200 - 275 ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	300 ms-1
Max Afterburner Duration	8.0 s
Armor	Very Heavy
Hitpoints	15000 pts
Shields	0 pts
Length	59.94 m
Width	15.08 m
Height	34.50 m
Weaponry
Primary weapons
1st bank	4 guns
Countermeasures
Countermeasure capacity	80 countermeasures
Turrets	4 turrets

Name	Big Core T1-05
Type	Mobile Armor
Manufacturer	Bacterian Empire
Maneuverability	Average
Max Velocity	200 - 275 ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	300 ms-1
Max Afterburner Duration	8.0 s
Armor	Very Heavy
Hitpoints	15000 pts
Shields	0 pts
Length	74.91 m
Width	20.31 m
Height	48.23 m
Weaponry
Primary weapons
1st bank	4 guns
Countermeasures
Countermeasure capacity	80 countermeasures
Turrets	4 turrets

Name	Big Core Rev 1.1
Max Velocity	180 - 275 ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	300 ms-1
Max Afterburner Duration	8.0 s
Armor	Very Heavy
Hitpoints	65000 pts
Shields	0 pts
Length	149.81 m
Width	46.60 m
Height	96.46 m
Countermeasures
Countermeasure capacity	80 countermeasures
Turrets	14 turrets

Name	Big Core Rev 1.2
Max Velocity	120 - 275 ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	300 ms-1
Max Afterburner Duration	8.0 s
Armor	Very Heavy
Hitpoints	650000 pts
Shields	0 pts
Length	654 m
Width	654 m
Height	654 m
Countermeasures
Countermeasure capacity	80 countermeasures
Turrets	32 turrets

Armaments

BE GS Big Core
Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout
1st	4	BC Cannon
Turret Type		Amount
CA-PX60 Assault Rifle		4

Big Core T1-05
Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout
1st	4	BC Cannon
Turret Type		Amount
HA Plasma Gun		4

Big Core Rev 1.1
Turret Type	Amount
CA-WPR90 Proton Gun	10
BC Cannon	4

Big Core Rev 1.2
Turret Type	Amount
SpreadShot	2
CA-WPR90 Proton Gun	2
BC Beam	4
Ion Ring	24

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Download link:

• Dimensional Eclipse:
  • Dimensional Eclipse Release thread