Post-Disaster World
It is now the Post Disaster era, roughly 300 years have passed since the end of the great conflict known as the "Calamity War".
The Earth Sphere had lost its previous governing structure, and a new world was created under new systems of government. While a temporary peace had arrived, the seeds of a new conflict were being sown in the Mars Sphere, far away from Earth.
History
The Calamity War (厄祭戦 Yakusai-sen?) refers to the interplanetary conflict between humanity and the out of control, autonomous Mobile Armor prior to the adoption of the Post Disaster calendar. It is the largest war in history, claiming the lives of 1/4 of the world's total population, and destroyed untold number of cities. Led by Agnika Kaieru and the original ancestors of Gjallarhorn's Seven Stars, humanity eventually won this long-running war about 300 years ago. This disastrous event had a great impact on the future world.
The beginning of the Calamity War was the result of AI-equipped, self-sustaining weapon systems going out of control. Before the outbreak of the Calamity War, automated machinery was a symbol of wealth and abundance, and humans were actively promoting the automation of wars. With the risk of losing valuable soldiers reduced as the weapons were AI operated, and the introduction of the semi-permanent Ahab Reactor as a power source, Mobile Armors became the ideal weapon that can fight efficiently and persistently. However, this eventually led to tragedy. It's unclear when the war came to be called the Calamity War, but the intensifying fighting led to excessive evolution of AI, resulting in further large-scale wars.
Critically, AI that specialized in destroying enemy soldiers eventually expanded its target to all humankind, regardless of friend or foe. It is unclear if this was due to man-made changes or a result of AI-driven evolution. Eventually, Mobile Armors gained additional abilities to self-proliferate by creating, strengthening, and developing varied Mobile Armors on their own. It has also become possible for the Mobile Armors to independently produce unmanned sub-units (e.g., Hashmal's Pluma) that does not have an Ahab Reactor.
To stop the threat of the Mobile Armors, humanity worked together regardless of nationalities to develop various countermeasures. Notable examples included 'Nanolaminate Armor' that rendered Mobile armors' beam weaponry ineffective, destructive electromagnetic projectile launcher called 'Dáinsleif', and humanoid weapon known as 'Mobile Suit'. Among them, Mobile Suit became the humankind's main weapon during the war, and remained synonymous with mobile weapons even after the war. The Mobile Suit has a humanoid form and is operated by humans as a reflection on the fact that the Mobile Armor went out of control as it was a self-sustaining weapon, and to bring the war to an end using humanity's own power. The Mobile Suit can be thought of as simply a magnified projection of the power of a human being.
Mobile Suits such as those using the famous Rodi Frame and Hexa Frame have been in use since the middle stages of the war, but even then, they have difficulties fighting on equal terms with the Mobile Armors, especially the newer ones. Additionally, the Mobile Armors had somehow acquired Nanolaminate Armor technology, possibly through information leakage, making them difficult to destroy.
Development of Mobile Suits shifted to a new phase in the late stages of the war. Notably, the newly developed Gundam Frame did not simply aim for high performance, but promoted further integration of humans and machines with the 'Alaya-Vijnana System', which can be called the ultimate human-machine interface. This system, which pursued the idea of "ending the Calamity War with human power", directly connects the human pilot to the Mobile Suit, enabling the pilot to control the machine as if it is part of their body.
Another feature of the Gundam Frame is that it is powered by two Ahab Reactors, granting it excessive output that was used for a burst of power during the few opportunities available to land a clean hit on the highly mobile Mobile Armor. From this, it can be seen that the Gundam Frame is extremely specialized for battle against Mobile Armor[1]. However, due to the difficulties faced in manufacturing two Ahab Reactors operating in parallel, only 72 Gundam Frames were rolled out. This number was considered insufficient to stop the Mobile Armors that had self-proliferation capabilities, and it was thought that cooperation with other Mobile Suits and the use of Dáinsleif played an important role in the war.
Dáinsleif was one of the few weapons capable of penetrating Nanolaminate Armor However due to its destructive power, it was not used on Earth considering the post-war reconstruction, instead the Dáinsleif was used against Mobile Armors on the Moon, leading to heavy damages that altered the shape of the Moon. It is probable that the banning of the use of Dáinsleif in the post-war period is a reflection of the destruction inflicted on the Moon.
The unit formation deployed against the Mobile Armors depended on where the battlefield was. On Earth and Mars, the Gundam Frames served as the main fighting units, and they destroyed the Mobile Armors one by one with assistance from other Mobile Suits and supporting units. In space, the Dáinsleifs were used as the main weapon, and were assisted by Mobile Suits, including Gundam Frames, and other supporting units. On the Moon, Mobile Suit teams like the one deployed on Earth and Mars were also used in addition to the aforementioned use of the Dáinsleif. Even with these powerful weapons and tactics, it still took some time for humanity to bring the Calamity War to an end.
Among the Mobile Suit pilots who fought in the war, none was more famous than Agnika Kaieru, who operated the ASW-G-01 Gundam Bael, the first Gundam Frame. Since the Gundam Bael had no special weapons, Agnika was undoubtedly an overwhelmingly talented person when it came to combat. He was then viewed as a spiritual pillar in the post-war reconstruction period. Agnika was also one of the founders of the peacekeeping organization known as Gjallarhorn. Gjallarhorn is managed by the Seven Stars - family clans of seven Gundam Frames pilots who fought alongside Agnika during the war.
In P.D. 001, the "Vingólf Declaration" made by Gjallarhorn officially brought the Calamity War to an end, and humanity created a new social framework upon reflecting on what led to the war. As a result, the nations of the Earth was divided into four economic blocs; Arbrau, Strategic Alliance Union (SAU), African Union, and the Oceanian Federation, with Gjallarhorn using its military power to keep an eye on the blocs and prevent the tragedy of Calamity War from repeating again.
Additionally, restrictions and bans were placed on weapons that could be the decisive factor in a war. Examples included limiting the construction of new Ahab Reactors to Gjallarhorn, thereby effectively limiting the development of new mobile suits; banning the Dáinsleif because it can be used for mass murder; Gjallarhorn would manage the Gundam Frames belonging to the Seven Stars, while Gundam Frames that could not be recovered would be abandoned after their cockpit, which contained the linkage part for the Alaya-Vijnana System, was destroyed; and making it a taboo to implant mechanical devices into the human body so as to prevent widespread use of the Alaya-Vijnana System.
These prohibitions were also meant to enable Gjallarhorn to carry out its duties smoothly, in other words, this is an arrangement to create a world where the organization can respond to any accident with its military power. However, if the situation goes out of control, Gjallarhorn has the ability to lift these prohibitions immediately so as to bring things under control.
Gjallarhorn also carefully pursued the whereabouts of Mobile Armor after the war, even seeking out and destroying units that have became dormant. Despite this, since the Calamity War was fought in countless battlegrounds throughout Earth, Moon, Mars, and space, there is a possibility that a Mobile Armor may be found in unexpected places in the future.
Timeline
P.D. 001
The nations of Earth and Mars accept the "Vingolf Proclamation" issued by Gjallarhorn. The interplanetary war that has spread destruction through the Earth Sphere and the Outer Sphere comes to an end. This conflict, which has produced more casualties than any other war in history, is described in the proclamation as the "Calamity War" and is thereafter known by that name.
With the cooperation of Gjallarhorn, Earth is organized into four economic blocs in order to reconstruct the divided Earth Sphere. These are the African Union, the Oceanian Federation, SAU and Arbrau. Earth begins its post-war recovery under this new world order.
P.D. 002
At the "Malta Conference" the four economic blocs conclude a treaty to divide and rule Mars. At their request, Gjallarhorn dispatches a large force to recreate the Martian governmental structure from scratch.
P.D. 003
Gjallarhorn redraws Mars's national borders, and each city is placed under the control of one of Earth's economic blocs. The four economic blocs force to recreate the Martian governmental structure from scratch. The blocs begin wholeheartedly interfering in Martian affairs, and Mars enters a lengthy colonial period.
P.D. 123
The Montag Company is founded by Clive Montag and enters the infrastructural business, which is still in the process of reconstructing infrastructures damaged by the Calamity War.
P.D. 205
Arbrau's government grants limited autonomy to its martian territories.
P.D. 208
The Oceanian Federation also recognizes limited autonomy of its Martian territories.
P.D. 236
Last of all, the African Union also recognizes Martian autonomy. However, as Mars remains subject to harsh economic agreements, it is in effect entering an era of puppet governments.
P.D. 312
On Mars, a movement begins to protest economic disparities with Earth.
P.D. 314
In her speech at the "Noachis July Assembly", Kudelia Aina Bernstein calls for economic independence from Earth, and cooperative movements emerge in every city.
P.D. 323. October 31st
Gjallarhorn attacks the Mars-based security company CGS's headquarters in an attempt to assassinate Kudelia Aina Bernstein. Their attempts were thwarted due to actions of CGS's Third Group.
P.D. 325
SAU and Arbrau engage in a month long border war. Tensions first rose after a bombing of Togonosuke Makanai's office and escalated as the two blocs amass their forces at the Balfour Plain. Hostilities erupted after an SAU reconnaissance plane crashed due to accidental Ahab Wave interference from Arbrau's Mobile Suits. The war was not resolved until Makanai recovered from his coma.
Earth Organizations
Arbrau
Arbrau (アーブラウ Āburau?) is a nation featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS television series. Arbrau's territories include Russia, Canada and Alaska. They also had a territory on Mars, home to the city Chryse, but following the McGillis Fareed Incident, the territory was granted to the newly formed Martian Union.
Arbrau appears to be a parliamentary democracy, led by a Prime Minister and a parliament which is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Russia: The bulk of Arbrau's territory.
Canada: The capital and parliament of Arbrau are located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Following the McGillis Fareed Incident, the parliament building was renamed Makanai Memorial hall to honor Makanai and how he devoted his final years to freeing and abolishing use of Human Debris, it was where Rustal and Kudelia both signed a treaty regarding such.[2]
Alaska: The first area within Arbrau's Earth territories that Tekkadan went to during their mission to Edmonton was the port at Anchorage, Alaska. There is a train running from Anchorage to Fairbanks.[3]
Martian Territories: After the Calamity War, Mars was divided up into territories, each of which were ruled by Earth's factions. The Arbrau Territory (アーブラウ領 Āburau-ryō?) includes the city of Chryse which the government of Arbrau later gave limited autonomy to.
History
P.D. 205: Arbrau's government had given limited autonomy to its Martian territories.
P.D. 323: Following Kudelia Aina Bernstein's speech to the Earth Sphere, Ms. Henri Fleurs, Member of Parliament, visited the Arbrau Central Parliament Building (アーブラウ 中枢議会議事堂 Āburau Chūsū Gikai Gijidō?) where she met journalists who had heard rumors about ex-prime Minister Togonosuke Makanai, relating to bribery allegations and the potential return to his former position. With the plenary session taking place in two months afterwards, she was asked if she'd also run. She answered that there'd be an official announcement and wished a good weekend to her small audience before returning to her car. Upon returning to her car, she asked the other occupant, Iznario Fareed of the Seven Stars of Gjallarhorn, if Makanai was still at the Oceanian Federation. Iznario told her not to worry as they were tracking his movements and gives her a tablet featuring news about Kudelia. She asked if Makanai called upon the girl. Iznario stated that people always seek an idol, or rather a fictitious figure without caring about the truth. Ms. Fleurs had the backing of Gjallarhorn whereas Mr. Makanai believed he could win again with the backing of Tekkadan. Eventually Makanai won the election and proceeded talks with Kudelia.
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| Prime Minister Togonosuke Makanai |
Senator Henri Fleurs |
Parliament Member Lasker Alesi |
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Gjallarhorn
Gjallarhorn is a peacekeeping organization established by Agnika Kaieru and the nations of Earth, and its origin can be traced back to the Calamity War era. To prevent humanity from facing extinction due to the Calamity War, a group of like-minded individuals from across all nations and power blocs gathered together to end the fighting. To that end, they developed the Alaya Vijnana System and the Gundam Frames to possess the decisive edge necessary to end the war. They later became the organization known as Gjallarhorn. Gjallarhorn successfully ended the Calamity War and used their military power to maintain peace, and keep an independent eye on the four economic blocs; Arbrau, the Strategic Alliance Union, African Union, and Oceanian Federation, that they established with the cooperation of Earth leaders.
In recent times, however, Gjallarhorn will use the means of violence to maintain peace. They possess many mobile suits and monopolized the technology required to produce Ahab Reactors. Unfortunately, the organization became corrupt with many leaders and officers now willing to use bribery and intimidation, and they interfere in affairs beyond their jurisdiction to remain in power.
The Commander of the Mars Branch, Major Coral Conrad staged an assault on the CGS base to kill Kudelia Aina Bernstein so the tensions between Earth and Mars thicken and help him gain favor with the Earth Branch. After failing, he sent Crank Zent to eliminate the CGS base leaving no evidence about their defeat, but this also failed. McGillis Fareed and Gaelio Bauduin arrived at the Gjallarhorn Mars Branch headquarters for inspection. Coral attempted to bribe them but wad rebuffed by McGillis. During a sortie around Mars' orbit, Coral was defeated by Tekkadan.
Despite this, to maintain the status quo, Gjallarhorn continued to harass Kudelia and her escort, Tekkadan, and attempted to wipe them out through intermediates and tried to capture her on the Dort Colonies. However, thanks to the machinations of McGillis Fareed, Gjallarhorn failed to prevent Kudelia from reaching Arbrau; instead, Gjallarhorn's attempt to interfere with Arbrau's prime minister election was exposed, leading to its neutrality among the economic blocs being questioned. This led to all four economic blocs deciding to develop their own military forces.
Two years following the Battle of Edmonton, Gjallarhorn enters into a period of instability. With their shield of neutrality gone, the organization lost much of its respect and trustworthiness in the eyes of the world. The situation eventually devolves into a full-blown civil war, with McGillis Fareed and his allies rising in revolt against the Seven Stars. He is opposed by the Arianrhod Fleet and its commander, Rustal Elion. Despite capturing Gjallarhorn headquarters, taking a number of the Seven Stars hostage, as well as claiming Gundam Bael for himself, McGillis' forces are defeated by the Arianrhod Fleet, and McGillis himself is killed by Gaelio Bauduin.
In the years following the "McGillis Fareed Incident", Gjallarhorn was reformed into a more democratic organization with Rustal Elion as its new leader. Working together with the Martian Union, both groups hope to keep the peace and prevent further exploitation of the weak by signing the Human Debris Abolishment Treaty.
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| Fleet Commander Rustal Elion |
2nd Fleet Commander Iok Kujan |
Colonel Carta Issue |
Specialist Major McGillis Fareed |
Specialist Major Gaelio Bauduin |
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| Major Coral Conrad |
First Lieutenant Orlis Stenja |
First Lieutenant Crank Zent |
Second Lieutenant Corlis Stenja |
Second Lieutenant Ein Dalton |
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| Mars Branch Chief Arae Proto |
Warrant Officer Julietta Juris |
Warrant Officer Isurugi Camice |
Chief Technician Yamazin Toka |
Sergeant First Class Liza Enza |
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Gjallarhorn Structure
Gjallarhorn is a powerful organization with substantial influence both on Earth and in Space, controlling the Ariadne communications network that makes long-distance space travel and communication possible in spite of the interference caused by Ahab reactors. Gjallarhorn has four known departments: Inspection, Regulatory, General Affairs and Police.[1] The Inspection Bureau is an elite group consisting of the organization's top executives and those who have blood ties to the Seven Stars, and its primary function is to conduct internal inspection of other departments.[1] It has its own battle cruisers and mobile suits, and can use them without requiring permission from the Regulatory Bureau.[1] McGillis Fareed and Gaelio Bauduin were introduced as officers of the Inspection Bureau.
The Regulatory Bureau is the organization's military unit and is directly involved in peacekeeping operations through the use of battle cruisers and mobile suit teams.[1] When people refer to Gjallarhorn, they are usually referring to the Regulatory Bureau.[1] The Regulatory Bureau has several fleets including the powerful, moon-based fleet known as Arianrhod Fleet.[1] Otherwise known as the Outer Lunar Orbit Joint Fleet, it is the Gjallarhorn's largest fleet and is dedicated to protecting the Earth Sphere.[1] There is also the Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet, which is tasked with defending the Earth's orbit but it is viewed by some as just being around for show.[1] In fact, due to the rapid response of the Arianrhod Fleet to any threats to Earth, the Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet had little to no sortie record.[1] The Mars Branch is also a part of the Regulatory Bureau.[1] Coral Conrad was the commander of the Mars Branch, while Ein Dalton, Crank Zent and Orlis Stenja were officers in the Mars Branch.
The General Affairs Bureau is responsible for accounting and personnel affairs, while the Police Bureau is responsible for police operations.[1] Each department have their own ranks, which are given based on the roles performed.[1] There seems to be some mistrust within Gjallarhorn, especially between the Mars and Earth branches, as Earth soldiers consider Martian soldiers inferior. According to Naze Turbine, the Gjallarhorn forces in the Earth sphere (which includes the space colonies) are much better trained and motivated than those of the Mars and Jupiter branches.
Gjallarhorn has a rank structure not based on insignia but by uniform and colors. In the Mars branch, the officers wear a light gray uniform, while the branch commander wears a red uniform. For the Earth branch and the Inspection Bureau, the officers wear a blue and white uniform, while inspectors like McGillis Fareed and Gaelio Bauduin wear a blue and white uniform with a cape over the left side and a small sword on the left as well. Meanwhile, members of Arianrhod wear a teal variation of the uniform. Carta Issue, as commander of the Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet, wore a white-and-green commander's uniform, while her close subordinates wore green uniforms, with the earth-based part of the fleet wearing the blue and white uniform. Once the unit was assigned to the command of McGillis Fareed, they adopted blue uniforms, while McGillis wears a slight variant of his previous white-and-blue uniform. The higher the ranking, the more lines a soldier will have on his/her cuffs and his/her shoulders, which are of gold color for all uniforms. A higher ranking commander will also have the front flap of the uniform folded back to the left in a triangle. For foot soldiers, there are two uniforms; one consists of a plain blue and white uniform with a visored helmet while the other is a black and gray sealed suit with body armor and a closed helmet intended for heavy combat.
The Seven Stars
The Seven Stars (セブンスターズ Sebun Sutāzu?) is a group of seven family clans that have managed Gjallarhorn for years. A family's rank within the Seven Stars is closely related to the "Order of the Seven Stars", a medal given to those who defeated a Mobile Armor.[2] Interestingly, the family of the famous Calamity War mobile suit pilot and one of Gjallarhorn's founder, Agnika Kaieru, is not in the Seven Stars.[2] It has been suggested that this was because all members of the Kaieru family died during the Calamity War, or that the war caused irreparable damage to the family.[2] The top-ranked families in the Seven Stars were believed to be second only to Agnika during the war, and they maintained their influence even after 300 years have passed since the end of the war.[2]
In P.D. 323, the leading family in the Seven Stars is the Issue family. The head of the Fareed family, Iznario Fareed, tried to gain more power by turning himself into the legal guardian of Carta Issue (the Issue family's lone daughter), and by arranging the marriage of his adopted son, McGillis Fareed, to the Bauduin family's daughter, Almiria Bauduin. He also had a secret pact with Henri Fleurs, and supported her election campaign to be the prime minister of Arbrau. However, his plans were foiled by McGillis, who was also trying to gain more power so as to fulfill his own goals of reforming the Gjallarhorn that he felt had become corrupted. Iznario was then forced into exile, and McGillis became the new head of the Fareed family. To achieve his goals, McGillis also sacrificed the life of his friends and comrades including Gaelio Bauduin (Bauduin family's heir and Almiria's brother) and Carta. All these have caused a disruption in the power balance within Gjallarhorn and allowed McGillis to rise to power.
The ranking within the Seven Stars and the "Order of the Seven Stars" medal, which has naturally became difficult to obtain in the post war era, became an issue in P.D. 325, when the Mobile Armor known as Hashmal was discovered in Mars by Tekkadan. McGillis was close to the Tekkadan, and the head of the Elion family, Rustal Elion, and Kujan family, Iok Kujan, suspected that he was after the medal so as to enhance the Fareed family's rank within the Seven Stars. This led to Iok's reckless action on Mars that awakened the dormant Mobile Armor, which was then defeated by the Tekkadan. The Seven Stars ruling system is eventually disbanded after the losses of the Issue, Fareed, and Kujan families.
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| Rustal Elion | Carta Issue | Iznario Fareed | Gallus Bauduin | Iok Kujan |
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| Nemo Baklazan | Elek Falk |
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Arianhod Fleet
Led by Rustal Elion, it is an elite moon-based unit tasked with intercepting any threats to the Earth Sphere and noted as being more efficient than the fleets of the Outer Sphere. It is also involved in the day to day monitoring of the various space colonies and keeping the peace within them. Gaelio Bauduin was unable to pursue Tekkadan into the Dort Colonies due to the presence of the Arianhod Fleet, showing that the fleet's influence is greater than the individual families of the Seven Stars.
The Arianrhod Fleet is first encountered by Tekkadan during the Dort Colony riots. After the workers' protest turned violent, which was actually a setup by Gjallarhorn, the fleet engaged and quickly subdued the workers. The fleet also engaged Tekkadan when they intervened, but were forced to lay down arms when Kudelia Aina Bernstein made her broadcast.
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| Fleet Commander Rustal Elion |
Second Fleet Commander Iok Kujan |
Vidar | Warrant Officer Julietta Juris |
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Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet
The Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet is the last line of defense in Earth's orbit, and is headquartered in a satellite base on geostationary orbit called 'Gladsheimr 1'.[1][2] But it is viewed by some as just being around for show. In fact, due to the rapid response of the Arianrhod Fleet to any threats to Earth, the Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet and their Graze Ritters had little to no sortie record and thus have no discernible combat experience. As a result, they suffered dearly in their pursuit against the less armed, outnumbered, but more experienced Tekkadan pilots. After Carta Issue's death, the Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet is assigned McGillis Fareed as their commanding officer and has been transformed into a competent fighting force as seen during their performance during the Arbrau-SAU border war.
Montag Company
Founded approximately 200 years ago, the Montag Company has been based on Earth since its establishment by Clive Montag. They began doing business during the middle of reconstruction after the Calamity War, with their goal being to raise people's standard of living through the steady and honest trading of goods. Thus the company has built a positive reputation with the public, expanding their business with all colonies in the Earth Sphere.
Originally dealing with raw materials and foodstuffs, they have also entered the infrastructure industry. They also enforce a policy of maintaining a fixed number of employees in the company. The company has never made any new business ventures or large capital investments, with their business model staying the same (and stable) over the years.
In Post Disaster 323, the company sparks an interest in Tekkadan's conflict against Gjallarhorn and Kudelia's fight for Mars' independence. They sent McGillis Fareed (under the alias of "Montag") as their representative to form an alliance with Tekkadan and Teiwaz. Their reason for doing this is to obtain rights to Mars' half-metals, as Nobliss Gordon and Teiwaz leader McMurdo Barriston would gain the same right should Mars become independent, while McGillis' agenda is to reform the corrupted Gjallarhorn. With the deal signed, McGillis sent Tekkadan several gifts in the form of weapons and mobile suit parts, much of which were later used by the ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos. With Tekkadan's success in their mission, the Montag Company gain the half-metal mineral rights they sought to obtain.
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| Montag McGillis Fareed |
Todo Mirconen |
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Mars Orgnizations
Chryse Autonomous Region
The Chryse Autonomous Region (クリュセ独立自治区 Kuryuse Dokuritsu Jichiku?, or simply Chryse) is a city featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS television series. Located on Mars, it was once part of the Arbrau Territory, following the McGillis Fareed Incident, it became part of the Martian Union, led by Union Chairperson, Kudelia Aina Bernstein, who's also the daughter of Chryse's representative during Arbrau's rule, Norman Bernstein.
Following the Calamity War, Mars was divided up with territories each being controlled by factions from Earth, Chryse was located in the territory belonging into Arbrau. Following several riots and protests, Chryse was given limited autonomy by Arbrau.
Haba's Store: A grocery store owned by Haba. Atra Mixta once worked there where she would deliver goods to the boys at CGS. After CGS became Tekkadan, Atra changed her occupation to being their cook. Atra and Kudelia later both sought refuge in the store when Tekkadan's HQ came under Gjallarhorn's attack.
Sakura Pretzel's Farm: A corn farm owned by Sakura Pretzel and her grandchildren.
Leader's Office: The leader's office (首相官邸 shusōkantei?, lit. Prime Minister's Office) is the building of the Chryse Autonomous Government (クリュセ独立自治政府 kuryuse dokuritsu jichi seifu?). It was where representative Norman Bernstein worked and was also the Bernstein home.
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| Norman Bernstein | Tomomi Bernstein | Kudelia Aina Bernstein | Fumitan Admoss | Haba |
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| Sakura Pretzel | Cookie Griffon | Cracker Griffon |
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Chryse Guard Security
Chryse Guard Security (CGS) was a private military company located in the Chryse region of Mars before being replaced by Tekkadan upon its formation. They take on jobs that are requested by third parties. There were two known divisions: The First Corps and the Third Group. It was led by Maruba Arkay at the start of the series, and eventually Orga Itsuka after Maruba fled and the Third Group took over.
While there are a lot of adults employed by CGS, they also use a lot of children.[2] When the children grow up they are divided into different task types.[2] If they grew up to be strong, they are used as soldiers who operate mobile workers.[2] If not, then they would be assigned miscellaneous tasks such as cleaning the ground or piling up sandbags.[2] The kids that are sent to the battlefield usually gets exhausted and die so the CGS regular buys more of them in order to help prop up the front lines.[2] Because they cost around the same price as scrap iron, this becomes an affordable proposition.[2] Some of the children are also forced to undergo the Alaya-Vijnana implant surgery, which is both very painful and potentially fatal but allows them higher spatial awareness and the ability to directly interface with certain mobile weapons.
From a financial perspective, the CGS pales in comparison to the likes of Gjallarhorn. They only possess obsolete mobile workers with no mobile suits in deployment. This is because mobile suits are prohibitively expensive for a small group.[3] Even if CGS were to have sold all of their mobile workers, they will not be able to afford buying a working mobile suit of their own.[4] As a result, if a large military organization were to ever attack them with mobile suits, they would stand little chance with just their mobile workers.
In truth however, they possess a Gundam Frame-type mobile suit that was placed inside a secret hanger. It was found a long time ago in the Martian desert by a former chief of the company.[5] The Gundam Frame was missing its cockpit, so it was useless as a weapon.[5] However, since its Ahab Reactors were still functioning, it was used as a power reactor for the company's base.
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| Maruba Arkay | Haeda Gunnel | Sasai Yankus |
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Tekkadan
Chryse Guard Security's Third Group consisted mainly of "Human Debris" and orphaned drifting children with little to no formal education.[1] These children were divided into different task types; the physically fit ones became Mobile Worker pilots while the rest were assigned to pile sandbags or install and remove landmines for practice.[1]
In Post Disaster 323, CGS was hired to escort Kudelia Aina Bernstein to Earth, but on the night of Kudelia's arrival, Gjallarhorn assaulted CGS' base. In the midst of the attack, members of the Third Group discovered that the First Group had deserted them. Prepared for this treachery, Third Group's leader Orga Itsuka had planted remote flares on First Groups' Mobile Workers beforehand, and launched them to lure away Gjallarhorns' Mobile Workers and reduce Group Three's casualties, only to have three Gjallarhorn's Grazes arrive on the battlefield. After Third Group's Mikazuki Augus overwhelmed the Gjallarhorn forces in Gundam Barbatos and killed the Grazes' team leader, the survivors of First Group returned to HQ to punish Third Group for selling them out to Gjallarhorn, and to re-organize themselves in the wake of CGS' president Maruba Arkay disappearing during the commotion. Angry over the pointless deaths and constant mistreatment of the personnel in CGS, Orga instigated a mutiny by having the First Group drugged during dinner and tied up. After waking up, Mikazuki shot and killed First Group's leader Haeda Gunnel and officer Sasai Yankus. Orga then gave everyone else in the First Group the option to either stay and pledge loyalty to the new management or leave with a severance pay. The decision on giving out severance pay was to keep the group's reputation intact. After that, the remaining members formed the current "Tekkadan".[2]
With analysis from CGS' accountant Dexter Culastor, it was discovered that Maruba ran off with majority of the organization's funds, leaving them with less than three months of financial support. Kudelia offered to continue supporting them financially through Nobliss Gordon, one of her sponsors. Aside from the Gundam Barbatos, a Graze Custom, and a handful of Mobile Workers, Tekkadan acquired the CGS' armored assault ship Will-O'-the-Wisp and rechristened it Isaribi. To help Tekkadan get to Earth safely, they hired a local transit company: Orcus Company, but were unaware that the latter were planning on betraying Tekkadan to Gjallarhorn for their own shipping lane protection.
During their journey to escort Kudelia to Earth, Tekkadan was ambushed while in-transit from Mars to the Isaribi by Gjallarhorn inspectors McGillis and Gaelio, Tekkadan was successful in repelling the attack thanks to the efforts of Mikazuki and Akihiro and their Mobile Suits before docking with the Isaribi. Without Orcus Company, Tekkadan was left with little-to-no-way of safely delivering Kudelia to Earth past Gjallarhorn unless they found a way to appease another such delivery company: Teiwaz, stationed in the Jupiter Sphere and holding a great influence on Earth and possessing weaponry that rivaled Gjallarhorn. While deciding a way of negotiating with Teiwaz; Isaribi was hailed by Maruba Arkay; the defunct president of the original CGS who demanded the return of his property. Maruba was shown to be working with Naze Turbine, the manager of the transport branch of Teiwaz and was high-up in the organization. Naze promised Maruba to solve his Gjallarhorn problem along with re-acquiring his ship and property taken by Tekkadan, and refused to negotiate around helping Tekkadan in their current job on the basis of stealing from CGS, leading to Orga and Naze initiating a sortie with Mobile Suits.
While Mikazuki in the Barbatos and Akihiro in the Graze Custom to intercept Nazes' MS force, Tekkadan took the next step: Eugene, in control of the ship, provided smoke screen to allow Orga, Shino, and Dante, to board Naze's ship the Hammerhead and confront Naze and Maruba in person. Arriving on the bridge, Orga walks towards his former employer, ready to kill him for justice on his comrades dying pointlessly by Gjallarhorn, before Orga pulls the trigger Naze says that he has re-considered his deal with Maruba (earlier Maruba told him that he forced all the children in his employ to undergo the life-threatening surgery required to operate the Alaya-Vijnana System, showing little concern for their well-being despite the life-threatening nature of the process), and is now willing to listen to what Orga and Tekkadan have to say, cancelling the sortie between his MS Pilots and recalling them to the Hammerhead for discussions with Tekkadan. This eventually placed Tekkadan in contact with the leader of Teiwaz, and after a Sakasaki ceremony with Naze, made Tekkadan an affiliate of Teiwaz through Naze. This also allowed Tekkadan to receive equipment resupply and upgrades, including a further refinement for the Graze Custom and restoration of Gundam Barbartos to its state during Calamity War.
Tekkadan then made its way to Earth through the Shoal Zone. In there, they encountered Brewers, a pirate organization. After a grueling battle between the two forces, Tekkadan eventually boarded and captured the Brewer's ship, and receive the spoils of all their ships and mobile suits. While the majority of the spoils were sold for profit, Tekkadan retained the ASW-G-11 Gundam Gusion and refined it to ASW-G-11 Gundam Gusion Rebake.
When Tekkadan arrived at Earth Sphere, they stopped at the Dort Colony to deliver a shipment as well as resupply. Due to mechanization of Nobliss and Giliahorn, they were forced to defend their client and themselves as riots broke out, while Gjallarhorn attempted to wipe them out and capture Kudelia, manipulating the media to paint them as villians. Fortunately, Kudelia is able to conduct a broadcast, which forced Gjallarhorn to back off, except for Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet, whose leader, Carta Issue, decided to pursue Tekkadan.
Making their way to where Makanai, the former Prime Minister of Arbaru, was exiled, Tekkadan received an additional mission: delivery of both himself and Kudelia to Edmonton, the capital of Arbrau. Their mission was made difficult by the hounding of Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet, which results in the death of Biscuit Griffin, one of the inner circle of Tekkadan. Still, they successfully chased Issue's force away from the island, allowing Tekkadan to arrive at Alaska, where they continued their journey on trains. En route, they were further stopped by Issue and her remaining forces, but Tekkadan succeed in destroying her force and killed Issue.
Arriving at Edmonton, they entered a battle of attrition with the Gjallarhorn force stationed there for three days. Although they were outnumbered by Gjallarhorn, Tekkadan managed to hold their grounds, but they are running out of time as the election for the next prime minister is to take place at the afternoon of their third day of battle. In desperation, Tekkadan decided to take a convoy of mobile workers straight into Edmonton, while using the remaining forces and the withdrawing troops as bait. With the mobile suit engaging the Gjallarhorn's Graze, the remaining force engaged Gjallarhorn on the bridge that leads to Edmonton. Help later came in the form of Eugene and Chad's mobile worker group, allowing Orga's convoy to sneak into the city through the dried river bed. A cause celebre emerged when EB-AX2 Graze Ein entered the city limit, allowing Barbatos to follow it and engage it, ending with destruction of Graze Ein, while Gaelio Bauduin was defeated by Montag in his V08-1228 Grimgerde. With the successful delivery of Makanai and Kudelia to the parliament, the two were able to bring about a political victory that caused a lost in trust in Gjallarhorn, while making Tekkadan a respected company.
After two years, Tekkadan expanded significantly; they became a direct affiliate of Teiwaz. An Earth branch was also created, which served as the military advisor for Arbrau. Tekkadan was eventually hired by Kudelia to protect her during a half metal mine visit. During the mission, they fought with the pirate group, Dawn Horizon Corps, hired by Terra Liberionis, whose leader was upset with Kudelia's refusal to help him. Although the attack was repealed, Tekkadan had became the target of the pirate group. Tekkadan then went into space and fought with the pirate group. WIth help from a Gjallarhorn force lead by McGillis Fareed's subordinate, Isurugi Camice, Tekkadan defeated the group and captured its leader. When McGillis went to Mars later, he proposed an alliance with Tekkadan, and Orga agreed.
The Earth branch was then dragged into a war between Arbrau and SAU, which was secretly instigated by Gjallarhorn's Lord Rustal through Galan Mossa, a mercenary that worked for him, in order to weaken McGillis' power base. The situation was made worse as the Earth branch auditor Radice had colluded with Galan, and interfered with communications between Tekkadan's Mars HQ and the Earth branch. Eventually, Radice's betrayal was exposed by the arrival of Mars HQ's force, leading to his execution by Substitute Commander Takaki. Following the conclusion of the SAU-Arbrau War, Orga had decided to temporarily disband the Earth Branch and withdraw all assets, mobile suits, and personnel to Mars. After being offered complete control of Mars in return for supporting him, Tekkadan joins in McGillis Fareed's revolution against the ruling system of Gjallarhorn.
Tekkadan Members
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| Orga Itsuka | Dexter Culastor | Nadi Yukinojo Kassapa | Biscuit Griffon | Mikazuki Augus |
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| Akihiro Atland | Norba Shino | Eugene Sevenstark | Chad Chadan | Dante Mogro |
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| Derma Altland | Atra Mixta | Ride Mass | Takaki Uno | Yamagi Gilmerton |
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| Hush Middy | Zack Lowe | Dane Uhai | Todo Mirconen |
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Spatial Organizations
Teiwaz
A huge conglomerate based in the Jupiter sphere, it is involved in the development of Jupiter and the asteroid belt. Headed by McMurdo Barriston, it has a number of subsidiaries, and its vast range of activities encompasses heavy industry, manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, financing, medical care, education, agriculture, private military work, and transportation. Their culture is similar to that of the Japanese yakuza, and there is a custom of sealing bonds between members by drinking sake in Japanese dress.
With its own proprietary transportation routes between Jupiter and Mars, and between Mars and Earth, it had maintained the largest share in an industry where countless rival companies are continually entering the marketplace.
By P.D. 323, pirate attacks had become frequent, but as the damage to the transportation industry reached twice the previous year's level, the Teiwaz Group alone had been strong enough to reduce its losses year-to-year.
This situation was expected to continue for the next few years. Because of Teiwaz's large influence, Gjallarhorn was incapable of meddling with their business and thus creating an opening in the smuggling business at a certain price.
Following Tekkadan's success in sending Kudelia Aina Bernstein to Earth and Togonosuke Makanai to the Arbrau parliament, Teiwaz were one of the affected companies whom received the mineral rights to Mars' half-metal. With the unprecedented arms race in the wake of Gjallarhorn's scandal, Teiwaz is also one of the companies positioned to profit from the anticipated arms race; no less thanks to having Tekkadan as their associate.
By P.D. 325, Teiwaz had partnered with Admoss Company to run a new half-metal mine outside Chryse on Mars. As a reward for defeating the Dawn Horizon Corps, who had interfered with Teiwaz' trading routes, Tekkadan was given a new half-metal mine which is also possibly the largest in Chryse to operate and defend. In addition, Teiwaz had begun mass-production of Io-frame mobile suits, along with developing newer machines based on their own frame.
When Teiwaz's top executives learnt of Orga Itsuka's deal with McGillis Fareed to make Tekkadan ruler of Mars, a few of them, including Jasley Donomikols, voiced their concerns, but McMurdo Barriston is fine with it as long as Teiwaz could take a cut of all transactions on Mars. To keep Tekkadan in line when they become Mars' ruler, McMurdo planned to promote Naze Turbine to Underboss of Teiwaz's HQ. However before that could occur, Jasley, who not only disliked Tekkadan but Naze as well, colluded with Gjallarhorn's Iok Kujan to frame Naze and the Turbines for transporting illegal weaponry.
In the aftermath of Gjallarhorn's assault on Turbines and the the latter's disbandment, McMurdo made a deal with Iok's guardian, Rustal Elion: Gjallarhorn would leave Teiwaz alone in return for Teiwaz forgetting about the attack. McMurdo also abandoned Jasley and his JPT Trust, as he is aware that Jasley had planned to betray him to Gjallarhorn. As a result, JPT Trust was destroyed by Tekkadan, who had broken ties with Teiwaz to avenge the crew of Turbines.
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| McMurdo Barriston | Naze Turbine | Amida Arca | Lafter Frankland | Azee Gurumin |
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| Merribit Stapleton | Eco Turbine | Jasley Donomikols |
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Turbines
A subsidiary of Teiwaz, the Turbines manages the organization's transportation department. Originally formed by Naze Turbine and Amida Arca to protect women workers of the lower classes, it later joined Teiwaz and grew to a large organization of over 50,000 members after establishing its own large transportation network, with the most representative being the "Crete Corridor".
Members of Turbines are all women without relatives who were taken in under the guise of being Naze's wives, and are bound together by a family-like bond. After Naze and Orga Itsuka became sworn brothers, the Turbines form an alliance with the Tekkadan and assisted in the latter's mission to escort Kudelia Aina Bernstein to Earth. After the mission, Turbines and the Tekkadan continue to have a good relationship.
The Turbines was eventually blacklisted as an illegal organization by Gjallarhorn after being framed by Jasley Donomikols and Gjallarhorn's Iok Kujan. It was then attacked by Iok's fleet, resulting in Naze and Amida's death, and the dissolution of the organization. Sometime later, the surviving members resumed their transportation business under the aegis of McMurdo Barriston, led by Azee Gurumin.
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| Naze Turbine | Amida Arca | Lafter Frankland | Azee Gurumin | Eco Turbine |
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| Bilt Turbine | Chloe Turbine |
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Brewers
They operate mainly in the shipping lanes between Earth and Mars. Like CGS, they use Human Debris and forced them to undergo surgery for the Alaya-Vijnana System despite the operation's high failure rate. The group's treatment of the children is harsh, with physical and emotional abuse being commonplace. They are hired by Gjallarhorn to abduct Kudelia Aina Bernstein from the Tekkadan. As a result, the Brewers twice attempt to abduct a Tekkadan member in order to trade for Kudelia. After their defeat by Tekkadan and the Turbines, their assets are reduced to one assault ship while their second vessel, the surviving Human Debris, and the remaining mobile suits are claimed by Tekkadan.
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| Brooke Kabayan | Kudal Cadel | Masahiro Altland | Aston Altland | Derma Altland |
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Dawn Horizon Corps
The Dawn Horizon Corps were a pirate group led by Sandoval Reuters. They operated around the Mars sphere, and on shipping routes between Earth. They had a large force comprising around 2,500 members including Human Debris, with ten ships, numerous mobile workers and mobile suits at their disposal. They primarily assaulted merchant vessels, much like the Brewers, and also occasionally worked as mercenaries for high paying clients. Due to their large size, they even attacked Teiwaz's ships, becoming a nuisance to Jupiter's biggest conglomerate. Despite Gjallarhorn's attempt to stamp them out, they remained ellusive due to mostly operating outside the Earth sphere, allowing them to operate largely unhindered and unchallenged.
The Dawn Horizon Corps were hired by Allium Gyojan, the leader of activist group Terra Liberionis, after Kudelia Aina Bernstein refused to help him save the group from financial ruin. The Corps were ordered to kill Kudelia, who was currently on Mars, in return for a substantial payment. The pirates subsequently attacked the half-metal mine Kudelia was at, but was repelled by Tekkadan's forces and the timely arrival of the new ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Lupus
Tekkadan then went into space to hunt down the pirate group, with help from a Gjallarhorn force lead by McGillis Fareed's subordinate, Isurugi Camice. After some searching, three of the Corps ships were traced and attacked with a small force for speed's sake, thinking the pirates forces were split. However, this was a trap set up by Reuter, where the other seven of the ships in the flotilla were towed by the three, masking their signatures. Now vastly outnumbered, Tekkadan had little choice but to hold out until the rest of McGillis's reinforcements could arrive, managing to briefly blind the pirate fleet's sensors with nano mirror chaff and disabling several of their ships.
However during the battle, a group led by Iok Kujan who is from a rival Gjallarhorn fleet, the Arianrhod fleet, arrived intent on getting the prestige for capturing the pirates. This developed into a three way fight, with Tekkadan and the Arianrhod competing to detain Reuter first. Mikazuki Augus was ultimately the first to subdue Reuter, and the pirates were ordered to surrender and disarm, effectively disbanding the group indefinitely.
The Dawn Horizon Corps mostly operated out of their flotilla of ten armoured warships. It is unknown and it isn't revealed whether they had a static base of operations for resupply and to make more extensive repairs to their ships and Mobile Weapons.
Technology
Ariadne: A large network of relays that serve as a navigation assist system pointing ships to the correct direction to their destination, and it can also facilitate long range communications.[1][2][3] Each relay in the network is known as a "Cocoon" and is given its own four digit identification number.[4] The relays have also been casually referred to as "transponders".[1] Each cocoon is equipped with an Ahab Reactor, and they are akin to autonomous space floating lighthouses.[3] They are place at around 1 million kilometer intervals and an interlocking devices uses them as signposts.[3] As the cocoon is always generating a specific wavelength of the Ahab Wave, a travelling ship would always be able to sense the Ahab Wave and knows the specific location of the cocoon.[3] At the same time, each cocoon can also sense the positioning of neighboring cocoons from their Ahab Waves, and know their own coordinates.[3] If there is a deviation for some reason, it would be able to adjust its positioning using its Ahab Thrusters.[3] In addition, by utilizing the mechanism that the cocoons use to relay their position, it can also be used as relay points for communications.[3] Via cocoons, by using continuous/multiple short distance communications, long distance communications is possible.[3] Because of the jamming effects of Ahab Waves, it is impossible to communicate at long distances without the Ariadne.[1] The Ariadne was originally made with technology prior to the Calamity War, but the routes decreased due to the battles of that event.[3] After the war, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Gjallarhorn, and continued to function thanks to continuous repairs and maintenance.[3] The Ariadne routes are available by paying a predetermined toll fee.[3] By using the Ariadne's outer circumference route that was abandoned after the war, and where Gjallarhorn's surveillance is limited, pirates and illegal merchant ships can use the cocoons for navigation.[3] An outsider with the correct expertise can also infiltrate and use the network for their own purposes.[4]
LCS/WCS: Laser Communication System (LCS) is a short distance communication system that is frequently used to facilitate direct audio and video communications between multiple parties.[3][5][6] It works by using a light wavelength that is close to visible light, as visible light can't be easily disrupted by Ahab Waves.[3] However, if something gets in between it and the communication target, the line will disappear.[3] It can be said to be akin to a yarn phone, and by using Ariadne, long range communication is possible.[3] Its communication range can also be extended with the use of LCS drones.[7] LCS can be disrupted by Nano Mirror Chaff.[5] A variant/similar system called WCS is also sometimes used, but is not seen as often.
Nano Mirror Chaff: An ancient type of chaff that can be used to disrupt communications and sensors including LCS and optical sight.[5] It is actually a powdered form of the Nanolaminate Armor, and is always released mixed with pink smoke.[3][5][10] While effective in a narrow manner, especially around Ahab Reactor-equipped MS and battleships, it is thought to be too impractical for use in actual combat and can be easily erased by using missiles.[3][5] Some communication methods such as light signals are unaffected and can be used to coordinate a quick counterattack to re-enable normal communications.
Quantum Cryptography Communication System (QCCS): A quantum encryption communications protocol.[9] Much like LCS, it has been used to facilitate real time video conversations as well as to send messages.[9][11] Aside from from the fact that the QCCS is known to make use of quantum encryption methods,[9] any other specific differences between the two protocols as well as their strength and weaknesses is not known. It has been observed that QCCS seems to be preferred for long distance telecommunications.
Artificial Gravity: Ships like the Isaribi as well as space stations like Ares have been seen to possess some type of artificial gravity mechanism.[8][1] When entering combat, they can be turned off in order to preserve power.[8] It is generated by Ahab Particles created within the Ahab Reactors, and may even remain active even after a ship's destruction.[12] In addition to generating artificial gravity, the Ahab Particles can also used to reduce G-forces within mobile suit cockpits.[13][14] In addition, Artificial Gravity technology is advanced enough to control the inertia of objects and passengers inside ships and Mobile Suits to a reasonable extent.
Improved Life Expectancy: Advanced medical technology have produced medicine that makes it possible for humans to live up to 200 years.[15] However, this is only accessible to the wealthy as the average lifespan for people of the lower classes is only around 50 to 60 years old.
Medical Nanomachine: An advanced piece of medical technology, it consists of a semi-enclosed sarcophagus to hold a patient inside. The patient seems to be naked and is exposed to a liquid or gel contained within the sacrophagus that enables nanomachines to repair the wounds/injuries. The machine also comes with a life support display to show the patient's condition along with an oxygen mask.[16] Unfortunately, not all wounds/injuries can be treated with the device if they are too severe (e.g. necrosis has set in on major organ systems).[17] The device is also portable to enable patients to be treated behind the front lines.
Mobile Weapon Technology
Ahab Reactors: High output reactors invented by a scientist named Ahab Balaena and named after him, they are commonly used as power-plants in mobile suits and ships. They are also known to be used in some infrastructures.[20] Ahab reactors are constructed on a plant near a fixed star, and generates enormous energy via transforming artificially generated vacuum elements. They are thought to have been the cause of the Calamity War, but are still being widely used in spite of that. Since they're physically indestructible, once one is manufactured, it will produce energy semi-permanently. Thus, reactors made during the Calamity War are still active and functioning. They possess a sleep mode that will cease their power production and will require a manual rebooting for it to become operational. The reactors also generate a special type of particle called Ahab Particles when a phase transition occurs inside the reactor's vacuum device. In addition, the Ahab Waves are generated/emitted from the Ahab Particles. The Ahab Particles are used for creating artificial gravity and inertial control, while Ahab Waves are able to disrupt radio waves, communications and guided weapons. Thus, machines using Ahab Reactors are not allowed to be operated in cities, as they can disrupt the city's infrastructure (such as traffic lights). Even though they are mass-produced, each Ahab Reactor is a unique item and contains unique properties despite having the same structure. Particularly, the Ahab Waves produced by each reactor possess their own unique natural frequencies and this is used by sensors to identify machines. In space, gravitational effects of the Ahab Particles from the operational reactors in damaged mobile suits and military ships from the Calamity War can attract other debris, leading to the formation of high density debris belts. As these reactors are still active, it is possible to use them, but recovery in the debris belt is very dangerous.[3] Currently, the technology has been monopolized by Gjallarhorn to maintain security.[20][25] As as result, other factions like Teiwaz have to resort to other means to acquire them, such as recovering old pre-Post Disaster reactors or salvaging reactors from other mobile suits that have been disabled.[25][26] This monopolization also limited the number of new Ahab Reactors constructed, helping to suppress the disruptions caused by the Ahab Waves and restricting the number of new mobile suits.[20] The restriction is also promoted by how the Mars' Half Metal, which could resist the reactor's negative effects, had became precious after the war.[20] The combination of limited reactor production and the preciousness of Mars' Half Metal also resulted in the Ahab Reactors not being used as commonly in various living infrastructures as before the Calamity War.
Ahab Particles: Particles produced within the Ahab reactor, it is also used as anti-G system in mobile suits and as a pseudo-gravity generator in ships.[3] These particles are harmless to the human body.[3] Its period of existence is really short, as it collapses in less than one millionth of a second after its occurrence and then it changes into elementary particles like neutrinos, mu particles, etc and diffuses as an Ahab Wave.[3] As it exists only in the core of the Ahab Reactor, decrease or increase of the gravity generated can be done based on the reactor output.[3] However for the small reactors in mobile suits, it is a level that is not noticeable.[3] Within a spacecraft carrying a large reactor, the shipboard environment can be arranged by controlling the direction of the microgravity inside the ship by circulating the liquid metal inside the reactor containing the Ahab Particles around/within the ship.
Ahab Waves: Ahab Particles collapsing into a myriad of elementary particles scatters these particles, producing an ultra high-speed magnetic storm.[3] This Ahab Wave affects a maximum radius of tens of kilometers.[3] Thus, there is lots of interference with elementary particles around an operating Ahab Reactor, and electronic devices such as radio communication and radar become difficult to use.[3][20][27] Operating Ahab Reactors in urban areas is therefore prohibited.[3] Ahab wave also affects guided weapons like missiles and makes remote control of drones impossible, contributing to melee combat by mobile suits being the main battling method.[3][20] Ahab Wave detectors display the waves' numerical values in color, with spacefarers remarking the waves' intensity to resemble sea waves (i.e. calm, high, etc) even though nearly all of them have never seen Earth's seas.[3] When the Ahab Reactor is in standby mode, almost no Ahab Waves are generated.
Ahab Thrusters: Thrusters that generate propulsion by discharging with direction some of the elementary particles that constitutes the Ahab Waves.[3] Although it is not possible to obtain a higher output than the thermal phase transition thrusters, it is very energy efficient and doesn't require propellants.[3] It is mainly used for inertial flight in space and attitude control.
Alaya-Vijnana System (阿頼耶識システム（アラヤシキシステム Araya Shiki Shisutemu?): An organic device system, it is an old type of man-machine interface.[28][1] Apparently, the system was developed during the Calamity War to maximize the abilities of mobile suits,[4] hence most mobile suits from that era, like the Gundam Frames which require the system to operate at full potential, are compatible with it.[19] It is possible to modify these mobile suits so that they can be operated without the use of the system. As it is part of the excessive mechanization that was thought to be the cause of the Calamity War, Gjallarhorn abandoned the system after the war's conclusion.[29] To prevent leakage of the system's technology, Gjallarhorn destroyed the cockpits of the Gundam Frame machines that were not or could not be recovered.[20] A taboo on mechanical implants in the human body was also started to prevent wide spread use of the system.[20] However as the system's performance is too great, Gjallarhorn continued researching it in secret.[29] Aside from mobile suits, the system can also be used with mobile workers and ships.
The Alaya-Vijnana system consisted of two parts: one part is installed in the mobile weapon, and the other part is implanted into the pilot's spine. After the implantation, the person has an interface on the back for physical connection to the Alaya-Vijnana system connector in the mobile weapon's cockpit. The Alaya-Vijnana System creates a pseudo-brain lobe in the pilot's body using nanomachines, allowing the pilot's brain to directly process mobile suit data fed through the physical connection.[30] As the pseudo-brain lobe also governs spatial awareness, the pilot's spatial awareness is enhanced.[19] The more implants a pilot has, the higher the information transfer rate through the system.[13] The system also allows the pilot (even illiterate ones) to operate the mobile weapon without requiring instructions or reading a manual.[30] As the pilot's brain is continuously under the influence of the Alaya-Vijnana System, it is unwise to physically disconnect the pilot from the mobile suit following a loss of consciousness, doing so may lead to severe physical disabilities in the pilot later on.[31][32] Furthermore, this continuous link can cause consciousness to be forcibly maintained even in situations where the pilot is supposed to faint or even die instantly.[31] As the system works by linking the pilot's senses with the mobile weapon, it would become more effective if the mobile weapon is designed to be as close to a human as possible.[29][33] For this reason, mobile suits like the Gundam Frames and the Graze Ein were designed with such emphasis in mind.[29][33] At the request of the pilot, the system can improve their linkage with the mobile weapon, and although this enhances the mobile weapon's performance, it comes at a cost of losing some bodily function such as loss of sight in an eye, loss of use of an arm, etc.[34] However, these lost functions would return when the pilot reconnects with the system.[34] In the Gundam Frame, the Alaya-Vijnana system has a safety mode that automatically activates when the mobile suit is too close to a mobile armor.[35] This protects the pilot from being overloaded by too much data feedback, but it also caused the Gundam Frame to stall.[35] The pilot can override this safety mode, unleashing more of Gundam Frame's capabilities, but again it comes at the cost of losing some bodily function.[35] These adverse side effects occur as the Alaya-Vijnana system was originally designed for surpassing human limitations to fight against the mobile armor, and as a result, it exceeds the limits of the human body and causes great strain on the brain.[36] During the Calamity War, the implantation surgery for the pilot had no age restriction, but as technical capabilities fell 300 years after the war, the age at which surgery is possible and the success rate both decreased.[37] Furthermore, the Alaya-Vijnana system technology often used in the current era in the Outer Sphere areas (such as Mars and Jupiter) is a leaked, incomplete version.[20] Thus, the implant surgery can currently only be done at a young age to let implant fuse as they grow. The surgery is also dangerous and should it fail, there maybe extremely grotesque cell growth around the implantation area, as well as loss of other bodily functions, such as being unable to move one's legs, and even death.[19][38] In the Outer Sphere, those with the implants are sometimes derogatorily called "Rats", and the Alaya-Vijnana system interface on their back is informally referred to as "Whiskers".[30][8] In P.D. 325, Gjallarhorn's McGillis Fareed managed to recreate the original Alaya-Vijnana system after conducting research and tests using the Graze Ein and its pilot, Ein Dalton.[36][20][39] Thus, although an adult, McGillis was able to successfully undergo the implantation surgery and use the system.
Alaya-Vijnana Type E: A pseudo Alaya-Vijnana System developed around P.D. 325, and used by Gaelio Bauduin and his mobile suits, the ASW-G-XX Gundam Vidar and ASW-G-66 Gundam Kimaris Vidar.[36] Like the original, the Alaya-Vijnana Type E has two parts, one in Gaelio, and the other in the mobile suit. The mobile suit's part contains the remaining brain of Ein Dalton, a deceased Alaya-Vijnana System user, and his Alaya-Vijnana is also installed as a support system.[36] When the Alaya-Vijnana Type E is used during combat, cables connect to an implant on the back of Gaelio's neck and links him to the counterpart in the mobile suit's system, which then takes over his body and controls the mobile suit in his stead.
In this manner, it has the same strength as the true Alaya-Vijnana system, with Gaelio still in charge of picking the target.[36] Thanks to Ein's brain in the Alaya-Vijnana Type E, Gaelio can use his Gundam to its full potential without endangering his own body.[36] The system is most effective in 1 on 1 battle, but faces some difficulties during a battlefield melee.[20] Due to injuries Gaelio suffered in P.D. 323, he has difficulties walking, and the Alaya-Vijnana Type E system implant has a function that assisted him in walking.[37] After defeating McGillis Fareed, the device is removed as Gaelio is determined not to pilot MS anymore.
Thermal Phase Transition Thrusters: Mobile suits' high powered propulsion system.[3] By utilizing the ultra high heat generated within the Ahab Reactors, thrust can be achieved by ejecting the heated and expanded hydrogen from the nozzle.[3] Aside from mobile suits, these are also used as the main propulsion of a large ship.[3] Since hydrogen is used as the catalyst of the propellant, a propellant tank is needed.
Nanolaminate Armor: A special metal paint that reacts to Ahab Particles is vapor-deposited onto the surface of the armor of Mobile Suits and ships.[3][14][22][33] This defensive paint forms a multilayer molecular arrangement capable of handling impact from the outside, but it can break or peel off, requiring repainting.[3][22][33] At first glance the armor seems hard, but in principle it's like a very thin cushion with several layers.[3] It was one of the technologies developed as a countermeasure against the mobile armors, and is capable of rendering mobile armors' beam weaponry ineffective by diffusing and deflecting the fired beam, minimizing the damage done.[20][37] However, the nanolaminate armor does not absorb the beam's energy or weaken it.[37] Although developed to be used against them, mobile armors eventually acquired the technology, possibly via leaked information.[20] The nanolaminate armor is also effective against physical projectiles as its energy-bearing molecules can absorb the impact from live ammunitions and explosive charges, thereby protecting the machine's body from damage.[33][3] As a result, ranged firearms are unable to score decisive hits against them and may only shave off small pieces of it unless at close range.[23][40] Because of its strength and widespread usage, anti-mobile suit weapons are usually in the form of melee weapons as they are best at dealing damage to the armor.[19][25] It is also known that continuous hits from Napalm missiles can melt the armor. [8] The armor's strength is positively influenced by Ahab Particles, and the gravitational field generated has an effect on the armor's multi-layered molecular arrangement.[3] Thus if the Ahab Reactor shuts down, the armor's capability will also drop.[33] However as the foundation is strong, the drop is minimal.
It is also possible for the nanolaminate armor from one part of a mobile suit to be taken and painted over another section or even be mixed together with nanolaminate armor of another color to create a different color.[41][42] Among the colors available, white is the cheapest, followed by reddish colors such as red, orange and pink, while blue, green, and purple are more expensive, with the most expensive being black and other dark shades such as dark blue, dark green and dark brown. There is no discernible performance gap between the colors, and prices are determined mainly by visibility on the battlefield, with white being generally considered to be more disadvantageous.
Mobile Suits: Large humanoid-shaped mobile weapons that are around 18 meters tall, they were first developed as a counter to the mobile armors during the Calamity War.[14][20] The foundation of humanoid weaponry was established during the early to middle stages of the war.[20] Even in the middle stage, mobile suits still had difficulty fighting on equal terms with the mobile armors.[20] It was only in the late stage that mobile suits became more effective against the mobile armors.[20] Since then, mobile suits have been the most powerful weapons available to mankind.[14] Mobile suits are usually equipped with Ahab Reactors and nanolaminate armor, which are the main reasons why they are considered powerful machines.
Mobile suit usually make use of an internal humanoid frame, to which parts and systems are installed on top of it.[43] This mobile suit frame is made out of a rare type of metal with incredible strength which is also used to construct mobile suit-class melee weapons.[19][44] In addition, mobile suit frames are extremely durable and can endure centuries of exposure to the environment while still remaining operational once the frame is refurbished.[21] A single frame type can be used for multiple mobile suit designs, and mobile suits can be grouped according to the frame types. However, mobile suits are expensive due to their high construction and maintenance costs.[40] Because of this, they are rarely seen or used in the current era, and even for the larger military factions having or building them in great numbers is prohibitively expensive.[40][43] Despite this, mobile suits are used by various groups, including civilians for industrial purposes.
Currently, the development of new mobile suits is primarily dominated by Gjallarhorn, which had monopolized mobile suit development technologies as it is fearful that mobile suits in the wrong hands would became the roots of rebellion.[14][37] Gjallarhorn achieved this through monopolizing Ahab Reactor technology, and closely guarding the secrets of the precision technology needed to process the high hardness rare metal alloy used in mobile suit frames.[20] However, in the Outer Sphere areas (such as Mars and Jupiter) that are outside of Gjallarhorn's surveillance, factions such as Teiwaz have overcame these huddles and acquired mobile suit development capability.[14][20][37] The Outer Sphere is also at the center of routes that sell the junks parts of mobile suits, etc., with debris of mobile suits used during the Calamity War still scattered across various areas.[45] These markets for mobile suit junk parts are tolerated, and they are monitored by Gjallarhorn.
With the world's military powers consolidated in Gjallarhorn in the post-war era, the organization pursued mobile suit development in a different direction from that during the Calamity War.[20] While mobile suits during the war emphasized the power of prominent individuals, Gjallarhorn's mobile suits were developed to be highly versatile, high performance machines that could be piloted by any soldier of the organization, enabling each of them to be a deterrent.[20] In other words, Gjallarhorn's mobile suits were for efficiently controlling the world rather than as specialized anti-mobile armor combat weapons.
Mobile Workers: Small mobile weapons that can be used for combat, transporting materials or other daily work.[46] They are much smaller than mobile suits and their performance in general is far inferior, but they are more common due to being cheaper.[40] Due to a lack of Ahab Reactors in mobile workers, they can be used within city limits without violating rules of engagement. They are usually fitted with smaller caliber weaponry, which is usually unable to do much damage to mobile suits as they possess nanolaminate armor.[40] They are usually powered by hydrogen engines.
Mobile Armors: A series of terrifying colossal non-humanoid mobile weapons, larger than even mobile suits. They are forbidden due to their sheer terror - they killed hundreds of millions and ruined civilization during the Calamity War.[47] They are controlled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and as a result of little to no programmed ethical conduct, are capable of unrestrained violence.[47] Heavily employed during Calamity War, the mobile armors self-evolved thanks to their AI's learning capabilities, becoming better, stronger and gaining the ability to self-propagate.[20] They were infamously known to have wiped out cities, and were ultimately responsible for wiping out a quarter of the world's population.[47][48] They were eventually eradicated by the founder of Gjallarhorn, Agnika Kaieru, and the ancestors of the Seven Stars.[47] It is said that mobile suits were developed to defeat them and that they are essentially arch-enemies.[47] Other technologies developed as a countermeasure to the mobile armors include nanolaminate armor, Dainsleif, etc.[20] However, mobile armors somehow managed to acquire nanolaminate armor technology, possibly via leaked information.[20] After the Calamity War ended, knowledge of their existence was eventually erased from the general populace's knowledge.
Unmanned Weapons: Weapons that function by themselves via Artificial Intelligence (AI) without the need for human input. Prior to the outbreak of the war between mobile armors and humans, the automation of machinery was considered to be a symbol of wealth for the people.[49] In their pursuit of efficiency, humanity promoted the automation of warfare which led to the creation of mobile armors.[49] However, the mobile armors eventually evolved into excessive weapons of destruction that could not be controlled by humanity.[49] A major factor for this is their AI somehow expanded their intended targets from enemy soldiers to all of mankind.[20] After the end of the war under the newly created Gjallarhorn, a new socio-political climate formed that called for the end of unmanned weapons as well as the contraindication of mechanization.[49] As a result of this, the idea of mobile weapons that could operate by themselves is practically unheard off and treated as ludicrous in the present era.[47] Known examples of unmanned weapons that has appeared so far include mobile armors and Plumas.
Reactive Armor: A special type of expendable armor, it was born from the philosophy of "losing a battle in order to win the war".[50] The armor is designed to absorb an enemy's attack (including fatal melee ones) once, and is purged immediately after.[5][50] This not only render the attack useless, but also make the enemy vulnerable to a counterattack.
Railgun: Designed for super long-distance shooting, a railgun is an electromagnetic launcher that accelerate projectiles to extreme speeds by harnessing power from the Ahab Reactors.[51][52] The railgun's barrels can wear out with extended use, rendering them unusable.[52] Some railguns have superior mechanism that allow them to fire special projectiles made from the rare alloy used in the construction of mobile suit frames.[20][51] These types of railguns were developed during the Calamity War as a countermeasure against the mobile armors, they have the ability to pierce even nanolaminate armor and were heavily deployed during the war.[20][51] Such railguns are known as 'Dáinsleif', and its projectile can come in various shape and sizes.[20][51] After the Calamity War, under the system built by Gjallarhorn, the Dáinsleif was viewed as an inhumane weapon and thus banned.[51] However, if the Dáinsleif is used with a conventional warhead it is not strictly against the rules, leading to a gray area in terms of the ban.[51][53] Although powerful, the Dáinsleif had numerous drawbacks.[20] One, its projectile has no guided or homing capabilities, thus a single shot is unlikely to hit a highly mobile target like the mobile armor.[20] Two, to overcome the above problem, it is necessary to prepare a large numbers of projectiles for targeting a large area, and a decoy is also needed to stop the target's movements.[20] However, doing all these still does not guarantee a hit on the target.[20] Three, if the firing point is specific, the attack is very likely to be evaded.[20] Lastly, the extreme force of the projectile's impact deals serious damage to the surface, for example, the heavy damage to the moon is caused by the reckless usage of the Dáinsleif during the Calamity War.[20] Thus, in situations where reconstruction is considered, attack on the surface might be limited.[20] However, this is not the case during an emergency situation.
Even for mobile suits and their pilots, evading the Dáinsleif is not impossible if they know its launch point and nature of the Dáinsleif itself[20]. Such evasion of the weapon was said to be an easy task for ace pilots, since the Dáinsleif moves only in a straight line[20][54]. This was demonstrated during the "McGillis Fareed Incident" by McGillis Fareed, who was aware of both information, and therefore could evade the weapon[20]. However, due to the banning of the Dáinsleif and the long passage of time, there is a change in the mentality of mobile suit pilots, who now tend to have little idea of avoiding long-range weapons due to views such as "long-range weapons are useless against nanolaminate armor", or that "ranged weapons are useless against mobile suit, being hit by them is thus harmless"[20][55]. Such views and the lack of knowledge about Dáinsleif can result in failure to evade the weapon, and this will cause the pilot and their mobile suit to be defeated by the Dáinsleif, as seen with Amida Arca's last battle.
Beam Weapon: An ancient but highly destructive direct energy weapon, it was once the main armament of most mobile weapons, but the invention and use of nanolaminate armor made it less popular.[20][48] Despite this, mobile armors still used it as part of their destructive armaments for slaughtering humans.[49] Beam weaponry is not normally used against mobile suits and mobile armors, as their nanolaminate armor is capable of diffusing and refracting beam weapons, minimizing the damage done to the target.[49] However, the nanolaminate armor does not absorb the beam weapon's energy or weaken it.[37] While the unit with the nanolaminate armor may not take much direct damage when hit, the deflected beams can still cause serious damage to the area around the unit.
Mars' Half-Metal: A rare, special type of metal from Mars. It is widely used on electronics aboard mobile suits and ships that use Ahab Reactors due to its shielding capability against the negative effects of the Ahab Waves. Large amounts of it can prevent Ahab Reactors from being detected.
High Hardness Rare Alloy: Also known as "Extremely Hard Rare Alloy", it is a metallic substance with high strength that is used in mobile suit frames, armor and weapons.[20][22] It can resist corrosion and does not weaken even over hundreds of years.[20] It is thanks to this material that mobile suits can have a lifespan of hundreds of years.
Rare Metal: A material with higher strength than the high hardness rare alloy, it can thus destroy objects made from the latter when fashioned into a weapon.[20] This material is not very common due to its rarity and as it is difficult to process.[20] Despite its strength, it can still be destroyed by attacks that exceed its tolerance or damages accumulated over time.
Trivia
- Orphans, Tears