Model
number: MSZ-006 Code name: Zeta Gundam Unit type: prototype attack use transformable mobile suit Manufacturer: Anaheim Electronics Operator: AEUG (Anti-Earth Union Group) First deployment: UC 0087 Accommodation: pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear
seat cockpit in torso Dimensions: mobile suit mode: overall height 19.85 meters,
head height 18.7 meters; waverider mode: overall length 24.32
meters, wingspan 18.61 meters Weight: empty 28.7 metric tons; max gross 62.3 metric tons;
mass ratio 1.70 Armor materials: gundarium alloy Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor,
output rated at 2020 kW Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 5 x 12200 kg, 2 x 10600 kg,
4 x 7600 kg; vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 8 Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 1.81 G Equipment and design features: sensors, range 14000 meters;
bio-sensor system; birdlime launchers in hands Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, 600
rounds per gun, mounted in head; 2 x 2-tube grenade launcher,
2 rounds per tube, mounted in forearms; 2 x beam saber, power
rated at 0.65 MW, stored in recharge racks in hip armor, hand-carried
in use, sabers double as fire-linked beam guns in waverider mode
with power rated at 1.3 MW total for both Optional fixed armaments: grenade launcher cartridge, 18+1
rounds, serves as extended ammunition magazine for grenade launcher;
shield, mounted on left forearm Optional hand armaments: (BOWA) XBR-M87A2
beam rifle, power rated at 5.7
MW, powered by replaceable e-pac, doubles as large beam saber,
can be mounted on storage rack on back to use in waverider mode,
2 spare e-pacs stored in shield; hyper mega launcher, power rated
at 8.3 MW, powered by replaceable e-pac, doubles as large beam
saber
Technical
and Historical Notes
The
Gryps Conflict saw the introduction of many new experimental mobile
suit technologies. Anti-Earth Union Group pilot Kamille Bidan,
being a mobile suit design hobbyist, began designing a next-generation
mobile suit for himself. With the aid of AEUG chief mechanic
Astonage Medosso, Kamille's design so impressed the engineers
at Anaheim Electronics that they volunteered to build the suit
for him under the flag of the AEUG's "Z Project." Called the
MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam ("Z" being read as the Greek "zeta"), this
unit represented many of the changes in mobile suit design philosophies
occuring at the time.
Inspired by the RX-178 Gundam Mark II's
"movable frame" design, the Zeta Gundam was also built around
a movable frame capable of transforming the mobile suit into
a fighter-like form called a "waverider." This VMSAWRS (Variable
Mobile Suit and WaveRider System) unit not only gave the Zeta
Gundam added speed and mobility in waverider mode, but also
allowed the Z to make an atmospheric re-entry from space on
its own without the aid of ballute packs or other external re-entry
systems. Part of the waverider mode's form was composed of "wing
binders" - which had already seen experimental use in another
Z Project design, the MSN-00100 Hyaku
Shiki - and a "tail binder," all of which not only served
as control surfaces for the waverider in atmospheric flight,
but also contained extra thrusters and worked as additional
"balancing limbs" in mobile suit mode.
The Zeta Gundam's armament was fairly standard, composed of
head vulcan guns, a beam rifle and a pair of beam sabers which
doubled as forward-firing beam guns in waverider mode. However,
the Z had an additional edge with its bio-sensor - a device
developed by Anaheim in an attempt to build a smaller-scale,
more economical psycommu system. Though the exact nature of
the bio-sensor is unknown, its primary purpose was to allow
a Newtype pilot to more easily interface with his mobile suit.
The bio-sensor could also have a rather surprising side effect
when the pilot was mentally and emotionally focused enough (usually
when angry or upset) to cause the bio-sensor to amplify the
power, speed and strength of the mobile suit for a short period
of time. Kamille 's strong emotions created this effect on more
than one occasion - turning the Zeta Gundam into a truly unstoppable
force when the Newtype pilot was mad enough.
The Zeta Gundam was delivered to the AEUG flagship carrier Argama
in mid-UC 0087, where it would serve as a frontline assault
unit in the AEUG's war against the corrupt Titans. Following
the end of the Gryps Conflict, the Zeta Gundam remained in service
for another year, as the AEUG immediately found itself plunged
into the Neo Zeon War and fighting for its very survival. Though
Kamille was mentally incapacitated at the end of the Gryps Conflict,
the Zeta Gundam found itself in other hands, operated by the
AEUG's various new pilots - including the equally powerful Newtype
youth Judau Ashta. When
inexperienced Judau used the Zeta Gundam in a space battle with
Mashymre Cello's AMX-103 Hamma Hamma,
the result was that the Zeta Gundam got its head blown off.
With no replacement head available, Judau's friend Iino Abbav
decided to use the head of an old MS-06
Zaku II salvaged in space by Judau. This strange field modification
earned it the nickname 'Zeta Zaku.' This field repair was used
only once in battle until a replacement head could be built.
The Zeta Gundam remained
in service until the end of that war when it was critically
damaged during a battle inside the Neo Zeon asteroid base Axis.
