Railway Cannon

The Railway Cannons (列車砲) are large mobile artillery weapons manufactured by the Reinford Group. Their incredible destructive power is a source of controversy both within the company and nations around and including Erebonia.

Background
With the increasingly large manufacturing and industrial capabilities of the Reinford company, ever more increasingly powerful weapons were being developed. It was the creation of the Railway cannon and its subsequent deployment at Garrelia Fortress that was a major factor in the Stepping down of then chairman Gwyn Reinford and the rise of his daughter, Irina Reinford to the head of the company. The Reinford group as a whole had been known for making weapons and tanks for centuries but it was viewed by many, Gywn included that the railway cannons were a step too far.

The cannons themselves are designed to be easily moved over the country's ever expanding railway network, allowing them to be deployed with ease wherever they may be needed. They are said to be powerful enough to level a city and cause significant amounts of civilian casualties.

The guns are placed facing Crossbell at Garrelia Fortress. Although the Erebonian Empire is not formally at war with the smaller city state, it views the state as it's rightful historical territory- a source of conflict with Crossbell's other large neighbour, Calvard. Crossbell serves as a buffer state with the railway cannons serving a constant reminder of Erebonia's Power.

When Crossbell declares its independence and mobilises three Aion units on loan from Ouroboros, The Erebonian garrison at Garrelia decide to fire the cannons following the annihilation of one of their armoured divisions at the hands of the Aion Type-β. The shots are effortless blocked and removed from existence by another Aion, the Aion Type-α which seemingly has the power to control space. The first two cannons are then destroyed by the spatial control abilities of the Aion and the Fortress is wiped out.

The events in Erebonia provide more detail on the deployment of the original two Railway cannons. Alisa Reinford declares her hatred of the weapons and the fact that her company makes things that can be used for such destructive purposes. Class VII have the opportunity to visit Garrelia fortress and witness the two cannons as part of their field study in the Kreuzen Province.

It is revealed that the cannons almost fired upon Crossbell during the events of the West Zemuria Trade Conference. The Imperial Liberation Front launched an assault on the Fortress with the sole intent of taking control over the cannons and using them to fire upon and kill Chancellor Giliath Osborne. Vulcan and Scarlet gain control of them long enough to fire off the blank rounds, but they are ultimately stopped from firing a genuine round by Class VII just in time.

Later, the class and Empire as a whole learn of the destruction of the cannons and the eradication of Garrelia Fortress.

Following the annexation of Crossbell and North Ambria, the empire grows increasingly powerful. New, more powerful railway cannons are produced- the Dragonov class. Several more than the original two are produced and the new versions are capable of being deployed independently of railway tracks. Rean Schwarzer and the new Class VII of Thors Branch Campus witness several cannons being moved through the empire and learn of their deployment in Crossbell. Marquis Ballad also approves the purchase of several cannons in the Lamare Province.

It is these same cannons which are captured by Ouroboros and their allied jaegar corps, including the Red Constellation and remnants of the Northern Jaegers. The Aion Type-α II and its spatial displacement abilities are used to transport the cannons to the nearby canyon where they proceed to bombard the city of Ordis and the surrounding area. The Ordis lighthouse was one structure that was destroyed in the ongoing barrage. Marquis Ballard orders all available troops to retake the cannons, led by Wallace Bardias. They are successful in beating back opposition round the cannons but it was revealed all to be a distraction, allowing Arianrhod, the Stahlritter and Northern Jaegars to storm the Juno Naval Fortress as part of their efforts to 'reclaim the Phantasmal Blaze Plan'

Several Dragonov class cannons are later seen deployed on the front lines in the Great War, particularly on the Crossbell front.

Several armoured units from Erebonia and Calvard are taken over autonomously by Elysium, including a railway cannon. Rean Schwarzer and his allies patrol the Nord Highlands searching for them before they can be used to start a conflict but are unsuccessful in stopping the railway cannon from firing upon the Nomadic Settlement. In a moment of crisis, Rean summons his new Panzer Soldat Tyrfing with which he is able to destroy the shell before it impacts and destroys the settlement.