The Gleipnir was a giant combat aircraft created by the Democratic Republic of Leasath.
History
Creation
The Gleipnir was developed in the aftermath of the Leasath Civil War, under Diego Gaspar Navarro's direction. It was developed jointly with the Fenrir, being designed with the ability of obtaining battle data to refine the fighter.
The Gleipnir was the second giant aircraft created by Leasath, followed by the Gandr, its own prototype. A week prior to the invasion of Aurelia, Navarro personally designated Captain Frank Burlington as the commander of the ship.
Leasath-Aurelia War
Leasath deployed the Gleipnir in the opening stages of the invasion of Aurelia in 2020. The firepower of the ship allowed Leasath to conquer most of the territory in ten days, unopposed by the Aurelian military. Leasath stationed troops at the captured city of Santa Elva, turning it into a front base for the aircraft.
In the eleventh day of the invasion, it was deployed to destroy Aurelian forces defending Aubrey Air Force Base. It fired a single Shock Wave Ballistic Missile at the base, destroying most of the 207th Tactical Fighter Squadron before retreating. Ever since the Aubrey attack, the ship continued to sporadically engage Aurelian troops in their counteroffensive.
Destruction
Towards the end of the war, the revitalized Aurelian army decided to carry out an operation to destroy the Gleipnir. Gryphus One, the leading ace of the Aurelian Air Force, attacked the ship while it was rearming at Santa Elva, forcing it to make an emergency launch.
Gryphus single-handedly destroyed the ship's on-board weaponry, eventually rendering it defenseless. Struck by desperation, the captain ordered the Shock Cannon to be fired at Santa Elva. The Gleipnir lost control and plunged into the river, miraculously avoiding any damage to the city. Some of the ship's passengers survived the impact, and were arrested by Aurelian forces.
Trivia
- The Gleipnir is named after a magical bind from Norse mythology, which restrained the legendary wolf Fenrir. The name matches the aircraft's link with the Fenrir.