Ravager

The Ravagers are a vicious race of planet eradicators who employ bio-engineered gigantic arthropods as well as robots and ships to wipe out entire worlds. Whether or not they are the ships is unknown.

Known History

 * 2013: The Earth discovered a message from another stellar system, which they deciphered to discover a meaning: they would soon have visitors. Although nearly the entire populace of Earth became excited at the upcoming arrival of an alien race, they should not have — this message was in truth a warning; a warning of the coming of the Ravagers.
 * 2015: Failing several times to contact the sources of the message, the Earth creates the Earth Defense Force as a contingency plan.
 * 2017: The Ravagers arrive on Earth, and are soon discovered to be malicious in intent as they attack and consume everything in their path.
 * 2018: The Ravagers are finally defeated with the destruction of their Mothership. Although more than a million souls lost their lives, the Earth was finally free of their tyranny. But would they return..? No one could be certain.
 * 2027: The Ravagers reveal themselves from subterranean hives, reinitializing their attempt at overtaking the Earth.

The Human-Ravager War of 2017
Below is the mission debriefings given to the Earth Defense Force in 2017, describing how the war played out.
 * 1) Arrival: An extraterrestrial spaceship has appeared above the city. The alien force is so large in number that it covers the entire sky. Negotiations are currently underway, but in case of an emergency, all Ranger Teams and Storm Teams are to report to their designated posts.
 * 2) Invasion: The city is in a state of panic because of the sudden appearance of giant insects. All available Ranger Teams and Storm Teams are to report to the scene at once. You must protect the civilians from the bugs. At this time, we do not know the relationship between The Ravagers and these giant bugs, but we are gathering data as quickly as possible.
 * 3) Melee: There are still a large number of bugs throughout the city. The Ranger Teams are continuing to carry on the fight. All deployable troops are to enter combat at once.
 * 4) Landing: The giant bugs continue to be deployed throughout the city. They are attacking civilians and eating them. This threat needs to be eliminated at all costs. Storm 1 and 2 are to go into battle at once and support the Ranger Teams that are already engaged in combat.
 * 5) Search: From the EDF Commander Center: "We regret to inform you that we have no choice but to officially recognize the Ravagers as a full invasion force." An assault on the Ravagers will begin at once. Air forces around the world will team up to perform a joint strike on their spacecraft fleet. Meanwhile, ground infantry units are to seek out and eliminate the giant bugs on the ground.
 * 6) Airforce: The joint air force has been annihilated by the gunships. Air supremacy is now in the hands of the enemy. The enemy mothership continues above the city, launching a fleet of gunships. The city will be destroyed unless they are stopped at once. Attack the gunships and give the civilians time to evacuate.
 * 7) Takedown: The Ravagers' large UFOs are deploying giant bugs around the globe. It appears these UFOs act as something like aircraft carriers. If we don't stop the UFOs, the giant bugs will continue to cause more damage. These UFOs need to be taken down at once.
 * 8) Mobilization: The UFOs have been successfully destroyed, but the remaining bugs need to be eliminated. However, there are reports of more UFOs heading this way. Despite having taken down the last fleet, it's clear that they still pose a considerable threat. If the reports are correct, you are to join the Ranger Teams in battle and combine your forces.
 * 9) Tsugawa: We have reports of a new type of Ravager soldier, dubbed Walking Arms. They look like giant shiny silver robots. They are currently assembling at the Tsugawa Inlet and Senjogahara. We will split into two units and attack them at both locations. Storm 1 is to take part in the Tsugawa Inlet defense. The enemy is to be destroyed before they reach Japanese soil. Storm 1 and 5 will be our assault teams.
 * 10) Arms: The enemy was successfully prevented from landing ashore at the Tsugawa Inlet. However, our defense forces at Senjogahara were destroyed. A large army of Walking Arms are about to invade the city. The city is in danger. All deployable troops are to converge on the city and intercept the enemy.
 * 11) Infiltration: We've got some terrible news. The giant bugs have begun to build an underground nest. If they begin to reproduce, this planet will be overrun by those bugs. The nest needs to be destroyed at once. We will infiltrate this nest and eliminate the giant bugs from within.
 * 12) Reinforcement: The Ravagers' UFOs are deploying a new type of giant bug. They need to be destroyed before the situation gets out of hand. The Ranger Teams are already engaged in combat. Reinforce them immediately.
 * 13) Retaliation: The UFOs are continuing to deploy giant spiders. They've caused much destruction in the city. These creatures are extremely deadly in battle and the Ranger Teams are having a tough time fighting them. You are to go and aid them in battle.
 * 14) Fortress: We have an urgent report from our intel center. The mothership that was floating over the Atlantic Ocean has changed course and is now heading for Japan. We're gathering the finest men from the Storm Teams to intercept it. Scout 4 is on their way there as well.
 * 15) Blockade: The walking fortress is heading for Tokyo. If we don't stop it here and now, its plasma cannons will destroy the entire metropolitan area. We need to deploy immediately, but there aren't many troops on standby. Having said that, there are several teams that are currently heading for this area.
 * 16) Multiplication: The assault on the walking fortress was a failure. Also, some new intel just came in and the situation keeps getting worse. Giant bugs have been spotted outside eastern Japan and it appears they are coming from beneath the ground. Several bugs have been seen emerging from these holes. The holes need to be blown up to prevent the damage from spreading any further.
 * 17) Nesting: More bad news. It appears the giant bug nests extend into an underground network. The bugs have begun to reproduce within this nest. It's only a matter of time before they take over the planet. Their nest needs to be destroyed at once. We know that entering this nest to combat the bugs is a dangerous mission, but this is all we can do to combat this new threat.
 * 18) Dino-mech: A gigantic alien creature has been spotted! From the looks of it, it's about 120 feet tall. All units are ordered to combine their forces and take down this monster.
 * 19) Umbra: Several large UFOs have been spotted deploying giant bugs in the mountains. Now that we know these bugs build nests, we cannot afford to leave them be. You are ordered to go up into the mountains and destroy those UFOs.
 * 20) Artillery: An army of Hector Walking Arms is advancing. According to our intel, they are a new type equipped with plasma cannons, possibly a support artillery unit. They are reducing everything in their path to rubble. They cannot be allowed to cause any further destruction. You are to head out immediately and destroy them.
 * 21) Crimson: A large number of giant bugs have been spotted along the coast. They are a much tougher species than the ones you've encountered so far. Work with the Ranger Teams to eliminate this new threat.
 * 22) Trapped: The giant bugs were successfully defeated, but on their way back, the teams were ambushed. Our Ranger Teams have been destroyed and surviving Storm Team members are stranded in the mountains, surrounded by enemies. With no way to rescue them, it's only a matter of time until even Storm 1's amazing luck runs out.
 * 23) Expansion: Holes leading to the aliens' underground nest have been discovered inside the city. Giant bugs are pouring out of them. It appears the nest has expanded over time and now extends as far as the city. You are to head out there at once and take out those holes.


 * Interception: Coming Soon
 * Descent 1: Coming Soon
 * Descent 2: Coming Soon
 * Descent 3: Coming Soon
 * Descent 4: Coming Soon
 * Assault: Coming Soon
 * Anchored: Coming Soon


 * Advance: Coming Soon
 * March: Coming Soon
 * Surprise: Coming Soon
 * Breach: Coming Soon
 * Sweep: Coming Soon
 * Thunder: Coming Soon
 * Eruption: Coming Soon
 * Surrounded: Coming Soon
 * Legion: Coming Soon
 * Return: Coming Soon


 * Occupation: Coming Soon
 * King: Coming Soon
 * Spearhead: Coming Soon
 * Extermination 1: Coming Soon
 * Extermination 2: Coming Soon
 * Extermination 3: Coming Soon
 * Uprising: Coming Soon
 * Wrath: Coming Soon
 * Elite: Coming Soon
 * Unknown: Coming Soon


 * Convergence: Coming Soon
 * Inferno: Coming Soon
 * Starship: The mothership has finally shown its true form. It appears it is intent on destroying us and putting an end to our existence. There is nowhere to run. We will gather our remaining troops and conduct one final assault on the mothership.

The Insect Armageddon
The insect armageddon was a second, lesser invasion at some point in time, spanning only 3 known locales (Tokyo, New Detroit, and another unnamed city), However, some new prototypes were employed:

Mecha-Ants

Mecha-Spiders

Mecha-Hornets

Hornets

Dropship v2's

Heavy Dropship v2's

Dreadnaught/Mothership v2

Hector v2's

Hector v2 Mark 2s

Mecha-Mantises

Poison Ant Queen

Whilst the ultimate outcome is uncertain, It is known that all three zones were lost to the Ravager assault.

Bio-Weaponry
The Ravagers are known for using giant, bio-engineered arthropods, reptilians, robots, cyborgs, and starships to battle their foes. With this being said, the true appearance of the Ravagers is currently unknown.

Ant
Types: These are the weakest members of The Ravagers' forces, but their strength comes in numbers. They are an advanced biomech technology that has been made to mimic the ecology and bodily structure of giant ants. The Ravagers are able to deploy these anywhere, almost instantly, making for a very effective surprise attack. They can crush their prey with powerful mandibles or spray acid that eats away at its victim's armor and skin. This acidic substance is being analyzed at EDF headquarters. The Red Terror Ants are more powerful than their black cousins because they are able to take far more damage.
 * Black Terror Ant
 * Red Terror Ant
 * Black Ant
 * Ravager Ant
 * Queen Terror Ant (Immature)
 * Queen Terror Ant (Mature)
 * Queen Ant

Terror Ants are particularly vulnerable to close range fire from shotguns, assault rifles, and flamethrowers. Grenades don't work to badly against them either.

The Queens rule the Terror Ants, and are capable of spreading massive 'acidic winds' in their general vicinity with their wings. Although they are indeed winged, they do not appear to be capable of flight.

Terror Ants are birthed by large, winged Queens, and like the Assault Spiders, live in huge underground hives, which are surprisingly warmer than one might expect.

Terror Ants of all types are capable of scaling walls, and will do so with gusto if given the chance.

Assault Spiders
Types: The Ravager's Assault Spiders were engineered to be high-flying, silk-spinning death machines. They can leap several city blocks in a single jump and their spinnerets produce a sticky, acidic thread that is easily capable of plucking a jet or helicopter from the sky. The silk thread is also effective against ground units because it slows them down on contact.
 * Assault Spider
 * Large Spider
 * King Spider

EDF forces must destroy the source of the thread to break free from its crippling grasp. Assault rifles or rocket launchers are great for taking them down before they get within webbing range.

Ravager Gunships
Types:
 * Gunships
 * Elite Gunships

These are the staple of The Ravager's mechanized forces. These flying nuisances emerge from The Ravager's giant Quadrupedal Fortesses as well as the Mothership itself. While they are not particularly agile, they can maneuver at moderate speeds, giving them an easy way to aim their powerful diffusion lasers at their targets from above. Once locked on, these laser cannons can rip less-fortunate ground based enemies to pieces.

The red Elite Ravager Gunships are far more deadly than their silver counterparts because they deal far more damage and have much thicker armor.

Ravager Gunships are particularly vulnerable to heat-seeking missiles and assault rifle fire, and even Elite Gunships are sitting ducks to certain turrets such as the ZER-Gun.

There is no evidence to support the idea that these ships are piloted, and they are probably another biomech like the rest of The Ravager technology appears to be.

Ravager Flying Saucers
Types:
 * Small UFOs
 * Large UFOs

These massive transport ships are often seen hovering ominously over cities where havoc is being unleashed below. Their underside has a hatch that opens to release Terror Ants, Assault Spiders, or even Walking Arms.

They are invulnerable to all types of fire. EDF rocket launcher squads and snipers are usually dispatched to deal with flying saucers, looking for an opportune moment to attack their weak spot.

It is unknown how many biomech foes a flying saucer can transport, although larger saucers are required for transportation of bigger weapons, such as the Large Hectors. These larger UFOs are also more durable, possibly a necessity considering the more powerful payload they tend to carry.

"Hector" Walking-Arms
Types:
 * Large Hectors
 * Small Hectors
 * Hector Mk I
 * Hector Mk II

These giant bipedal robots, nicknamed "Hectors" by the EDF forces, can lay waste to entire cities from several kilometers away. It is equipped with a pair of lethal arm weapons that come in two varieties. The first is a plasma based Gatling gun that has an extremely high rate of fire. The second is an artillery arm that is capable of lobbing explosive plasma orbs at great distances.

Because of the Walking Arm's height, they are somewhat unstable. Hitting them with a rapid fire assault rifle is a popular EDF tactic to give them time to close the distance and make it possible to employ heavier weapons.

Although initial Hectors were large and seemingly cumbersome, smaller versions were later employed that could be deployed out of Small Flying Saucers. Although smaller and somewhat faster, they were also weaker, and were more easy to take down.

Quadruped Fortresses
Possibly the most devastating ground-based vehicle in The Ravagers' armament. This giant walking fortress is equipped with lasers for close range defense and 2 plasma cannons that are 150 meters long. Its metallic hide is impervious to all types of fire and it has an orange force field that acts as a barrier.

Like the Flying Saucer, the Quadruped Fortress transports other Ravager units to the front lines. But like the flying saucer, it also has a weak point that exposes itself. This spot has to be targeted with something accurate and powerful, like a sniper rifle or a rocket launcher.

Vallak Dino-mechs
A truly awe-inspiring sight. This enormous, dinosaur-like creature has been outfitted with powerful armor that gives it substantial protection from normal weapons. Despite its massive size, this creature can still move with alarming speed. It is capable of destroying massive areas with its fire breath and a devastating smash attack that can level buildings.

No matter what weapons the EDF employs against the giant Dino-Mechs, they seem to soak up the damage. A popular EDF tactic is to try and flank the creature with a vehicle while ground forces draw its fire.

Vallaks stand approximately 120 ft tall.

Unknowns
While similar in appearance to the Dino-Mech, this unknown creature appears to have been biomechanically altered by The Ravagers. Heavier armor has been added to protect the beast's soft spots and its arms have been removed to make room for two massive laser cutting cannons. Tearing through buildings, bridges, and even the heavily armored E551 Gigantes tank is quick work for this massive creature.

Just like the Dino-Mechs, the unknown creature can take massive amounts of damage of all types. EDF forces must stay highly mobile and try to attack the unknown creature from behind to avoid its attacks.

It is easy to assume that the Unknown is one of the dead Vallaks who was resuscitated and then cybernetically enhanced with pieces left over from the destroyed Quadruped Fortress.

The Mothership
Like the rest of The Ravager fleet, the Mothership, too is a biomech. Although any possibly-existing organic components are not visible on the ship, it does in fact breathe, which it uses to charge its weapon systems, as well as sleep.

"Her" weapon systems, when she opts to use them, are extremely devastating, as well as incredibly intimidating. Like other fortresses such as the UFOs and the Quadruped Fortress, the Mothership can deploy biomech units.

Appearances

 * Monster Attack
 * Global Defense Force
 * Global Defense Force Tactics
 * Earth Defense Force 2017
 * Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon
 * Earth Defense Force 2025