Zoids Index

Hound Soldier (Ken Spec.) Technical Data ハウンドソルジャー

	Name Note:	"Ken Spec." is not an official name, it's only used to distinguish from the normal Hound Soldier.
	Alignment:	Jin Commando Squad
	Rollout:	Unknown
	Type:	Shepherd Dog Type
	Length:	23.0m
	Height:	7.4m
	Weight:	68.5t
	Max Speed:	330km/h

Equipment Information
Weapons:	Equipment:
Cross Sworder (Neck, Right) Hind Buster (Back) Pursuit Missile Pod x2 (Legs) Vermillion Spear "Murakumo" (Neck, Left)	Active Radar x2 (Ears) Collective Sensor Unit "Tootsutsumi" (Throat) Power Connector (Upper Back) Smoke Discharger x2 (???)

Story Information
Pilots:	Introduction:
Ken	This particular Hound Soldier, piloted by Ken, appeared in Zoids Generations with similar colors to the Genesis-release Hound Soldier. It sported a custom Metal-Zi spear for slaying Bio Zoids and a special barrel (a sensor unit) around its neck. KS is not an official name, but for the sake of distinguishing it, we went with "Ken Spec." ^[1]

- Military History

Chapter 1, Introduction

The Hound Soldier was first seen as a scout who intercepted Midori's Liger Blue, Souga, on radar. However, when its pilot, Ken tried to stick to protocol and read out warnings rather than act decisively, it took a hit from Souga's claws and was damaged. After the misunderstanding was cleared up and the commander revealed that they were there to see Hakukuu, Midori's grandfather, they took the Zoid back for repairs. It later aided Midori in intercepting a Bio Zoid.

Chapter 3, Battle For Survival

After hearing explosions in the nearby forest, Ken and Midori went to investigate. At the scene they discovered a gruesome battle between Bio Zoids and civilian Zoids. Though they tried to intervene, the numbers on the enemy side were even greater. The Bio Zoids fought their new intruders, and Ken kept busy trying to protect Midori and Souga, sustaining injuries himself. In the end, Jin arrived and scared their enemies away, but Souga left the battle badly poisoned by the Reaper who'd been among the swarm. In order to get an antidote they sought out a Zoid doctor named Senka, who was piloting a runaway Brastle Tiger. Ken had to work with Midori and the doctor's young assistant, Yuu, to disable the Brastle Tiger long enough for it to be sedated. Thankfully this was successful, and after Souga was cured, Ken and the others greeted Midori as the newest official member of the Jin Commando Squad.

Chapter 5, Festival

During the Sunlight Festival in the city of Enya, Ken and his Hound Soldier participated in a special celebratory match welcoming them to the city. They jousted the city's champion and won. Immediately after, Ken was challenged by the mayor's daughter, Shion, to a game of Zoids Fried Rice, where, as the name entails, Zoids competed to cook rice. Little did he know, the most treasured prize of the city that he was competing for was Shion's hand in marriage. When she insisted they get married right away, Ken and the Hound Soldier turned and fled.

Chapter 7, Volcano Battle

After going to a sacred temple it was learned that Midori and Seki were the descendants of the heroes' bloodline and that only they, and their Zoids, could seal the Bio Zoids away and end the scourge that was overtaking the world. To do this, they had to fight their way to the volcano of the Tatara Highlands, said to be the origin point of the invasion. They reached the summit, and Ken and Midori saw the Zoid that Ken had feared, Mother Bio. Recognizing her as the Zoid of legend, "She who crawled out from the depths of the earth", Ken and Midori worked together to fight her, Ken knowing that she, as the source of this calamity, could never be allowed to escape the volcano. They quickly realized that Metal-Zi was ineffective against this new threat, and withdrew so that Raete could bomb the caldera's edge and knock her back into its depths.

Chapter 8, The Final Battle

Ken joined his group in their descent to the depths of the volcano. Through the thick fog most combat was limited to close range, and his Hound Soldier fought fiercely against the surrounding Bio Zoids. While Midori and Jin handled the Reaper, Ken scoped out their surroundings, killing any Bios that were sneaking in and taking note of the footsteps he heard approaching in the fog, including the giant beast, Mother Bio.

Once Mother Bio arrived, nearly killing Souga in the process, Ken and Jin rushed to distract the giant beast so that Midori could prepare the seal. Unkillable, their only chance was for Mother Bio to be sealed. So, again and again, they'd get up from the ground and charge Mother Bio, hoping they could last long enough for her to be sealed. This proved successful, with Mother Bio once more becoming imprisoned in the volcano.

- Notable Facts

Ken's Hound Soldier is said to have particularly keen senses compared to average Zoids of its type, with exemplary diligence, obediance, and loyalty.
Perhaps because of its keen senses, the Hound Soldier was said to be more nervous than usual, as well, to the point that both the Zoid and its pilot fell ill with autotoxaemia the day before a match attended by the royal family. Nowadays, the Zoid has mostly gotten over its nerves.
Because of the intense obediance of Hound Soldiers, Ken's Zoid will allow other people to pilot it. However, there's a huge difference in its abilities when working under another pilot, Vs. working with Ken.

- Equipment Information

- Collective Sensor Unit "Tootsutsumi"

Collective Sensor Unit "Tootsutsumi": 集合センサーユニット「トヲツツミ」

As Ken and his Hound Soldier trained together, they began focusing on detection and reconnaissance so that they could always look out for the unit. To this end, the Hound Soldier was installed with the sensor unit "Tootsutsumi", which dramatically increases its detection abilities.

- Fishing Pole

In an effort to catch a rumored lake monster, the Hound Soldier was equipped with a fishing pole, complete with giant fish hook. This was suspended from the Cross Sworder.

- Vermillion Spear "Murakumo"

Vermillion Spear "Murakumo": 朱槍「ムラクモ」

While the right lance on Ken's Hound Soldier still remains the Cross Sworder from the standard Zoid, the left was later upgraded. The Vermillion Spear "Murakumo" is the result. The weapon was specially crafted for him by famous blacksmith Masakuni, and the weapon itself is made of Metal-Zi, finally enabling the Hound Soldier to not just fight, but actually kill Bio Zoids.

- Merchandise

Model Kits

ZGe-003 Hound Soldier & Hebby Rhimos Set

- Media Appearances

- Zoids Generations

Ken's Hound Soldier is primarily featured in Zoids Generations, a story from Dengeki Hobby Magazine that was later compiled into an art book. Within the scope of the story it serves an integral role in combat and also goes on regular scouting missions, ensuring that enemies don't sneak up on the team during their travels. It's also regularly portrayed as Souga's travel buddy, Souga accompanying it during scouts.

Other Media Appearances

Book Media: Zoids Generations

Game Media: Zoids Saga M

- Notes

1. All information, unless stated otherwise, comes from the Zoids Generations book or the associated Generations kit boxes.