Yggdrasil

The Yggdrasil is a vessel from Xenogears. It is a sand submarine used by Bart and the Sand Pirates and acts as the main base of operation for the party throughout the game.

Description
The predecessor to the Yggdrasil was designed by the first king of Aveh, Raganbart I, and was tentatively named C-Kaiser (using German lettering). The vessel type was officially called Sigrid, after the wife of Raganbart, but this had been changed by the days of Bart's father Edbart IV. At that time it was drydocked away with a second ship and sealed away. During the chaos that occurred when Shakhan launched his coup against the Fatima dynasty, both ships became missing. The first became the first Yggdrasil as seen in the game. After its the destruction the second Yggdrasil was used as its replacement for the remainder of the game. Both ships were equipped identically until modifications were made to the Yggdrasil II.

The Bart Missile was equipped as a large scale anti-aircraft assault weapon aboard the Yggdrasil II. It was set up to be able to be used during both air and sea battles. Its predecessor was the Gungnile Missile which was part of the Aveh artillery. Bart did not change the design or set up of it, but rather just the name. Due to its great destructive power, two thirds of the commanding officers on the ship are supposed to be in agreement (which is ignored by Bart during the game).

The Yggdrasil is made up of five interior modules, the command center (bridge), the engine section (center), the weapons division (upper), the supply division (lower fore decks) and the final one which was made up of the sand granulators, flow pumps, outer ring propulsion and other sundry machinery (aft). Each of these modules is capable of functioning independently. While the command center and weapons divisions lack support facilities, they can separate themselves.

Eventually the second Yggdrasil would be upgraded and restructured at Shevat, being renamed the Yggdrasil III. It was equipped with a series of giant boosters in its tail, as well as large scale propulsion wings. As such, it had the ability to fly at great speeds. Its booster is unable to activate during flight. When the Yggdrasil IV is in Gear form, the Yggdrasil III acts as a large cannon for it. The booster changes shape and develops a rifle stock that is held during firing. While linked with the Yggdrasil IV, the Yggdrasil III has an energy charge similar to Seibzehn's Gravity cannon.

Analysis
The Yggdrasil is utilized by Bart and the Sand Pirates as they commit piracy against various Aveh crafts in the desert of Ignas. One such attack occurs while Fei and Citan are held prisoner aboard an Aveh Sand Cruiser. Bart aggressively launches an attack on the cruiser, causing it to sink, then attacks Fei in his Gear Brigandier. While the two of them sink beneath the sand into the Stalactite Cave, Citan meets up with Maison, Sigurd and the other Yggdrasil crew members and they eventually reconnect with Bart and Fei. They head to Bart's Lair, but following an attack by Gebler forces, the Yggdrasil flees and acts as the primary base of operations of the Sand Pirates going forward. Following the rescue of Margie in Bledavik, the Yggdrasil heads north to Nisan where it is temporarily stationed. It then takes part in an attempted coup against Shakhan, although this results in failure. The Yggdrasil is destroyed at the Aveh - Kislev Border when it is lifted by Weltall-Id and thrown at Brigandier.

The Sand Pirates are able to survive the Yggdrasil's destruction and occupy the second Yggdrasil, which is named Yggdrasil II. While the original Yggdrasil primarily traveled across the desert sands of Ignas, the Yggdrasil II acts as a traditional submarine in the Aquvy region where Bart uses it to shoot down the Goliath. The party continues to utilize it during their time in Aquvy and it is forced to fight off several attacks from Gebler as well as an attempted destruction of its engine by a hypnotized Elly. The party leaves the Yggdrasil as they ascend Babel Tower, but upon aligning with Shevat, it is upgraded with a flight module and is renamed the Yggdrasil III. The Yggdrasil remains the primarily vessel used to travel the world by the party through the remainder of the game, including in the air, sea and desert. It is temporarily used as a cannon for the Yggdrasil IV, a separate transformable craft that had lied dormant in Nortune.