MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame

General and Technical Data

Model number: MBF-P02
Code name: Gundam Astray Red Frame
Unit type: prototype general purpose mobile suit
Manufacturer: Morgenroete, Inc
Operator: Junk Guild
Rollout: 10 January C.E. 70
First deployment: 25 January C.E. 71
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 17.53 meters
Weight: max gross weight 49.8 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown
Optional equipment and design features: flight unit; Power Loader mecha unit
Fixed armaments: 2 x "Igelstellung" 75mm multi-barrel CIWS, fire-linked, mounted on head; 2 x beam saber, power rating unknown, mounted on shoulders, hand-carried in use; "Gerbera Straight" katana, mounted on left hip, hand-carried in use
Optional hand armaments: Type 71 beam rifle, power rating unknown; shield

Technical and Historical Notes

When the Earth Alliance begins a project to build its own mobile suits, the initial work is done in conjunction with the Morgenroete research facility on the Orb space colony Heliopolis. While Orb assists in the research, they have an ulterior motive: steal the data from the Alliance to build their own mobile suits. From the stolen data, Orb constructs three prototype Gundam Astray units: the P01 Gold Frame, the P02 Red Frame and the P03 Blue Frame. While Orb is able to copy the Alliance's beam saber and beam rifle technology, they are unable to duplicate the Phase Shift armor and compensate by making the Astrays light and maneuverable. As with the Alliance suits, the Astrays are equipped with hand plugs to exchange energy and data with its carried weapons. The Alliance and Orb use different hand plugs, and only weapons designed for the Astray can be used without any modifications. However, the Red Frame is capable of emitting beam energy from its hand plugs for use as an emergency weapon.

The development of the Astray project is interrupted when ZAFT attacks Heliopolis on 25 January C.E. 71. Orb desires to keep the Astray project secret and destroys the Astray factory. However, a Coordinator named Rondo Ghina Sahaku is determined to save the three units. To that end, he downloads the data from all the Astray units into the Red Frame, including the latest version of the Astray operating system. The latest version of the Astray OS allows a Natural to pilot the suit, similar to the OS developed later on by Kira Yamato for the mass-produced MBF-M1 M1 Astray. Following the destruction of the Astray factory, the Red Frame is discovered by Junk Guild merchant Lowe Guele. Although the Red Frame comes armed with a beam saber and beam rifle, Lowe refrains from using these weapons because they drain energy from the Red Frame's battery. Instead, he prefers to use the "Gerbera Straight" katana, which is created for him by an eccentric old man named Un No.

After Lowe discovers the Red Frame, several parties make various attempts to capture the unit. In one such attempt, Orb test pilot Juri Wu Nien briefly steals the Red Frame to test if its operating system allows a Natural to pilot a mobile suit. In his travels, Lowe also encounters the Gold Frame, piloted by a female Coordinator named Rondo Mina Sahaku. In one encounter, the Red Frame is damaged and forced to enter Earth's atmosphere. Lowe repairs the destroyed right arm by replacing it with the Gold Frame's right arm. At Orb's Morgenroete facility, Lowe acquires a flight pack designed for the M1 Astray. Later on, Lowe creates further upgrades for his suit.

Miscellaneous Information