GAT-01D Long Dagger

The GAT-01D Long Dagger was a high performance mobile suit based on the prototype GAT-X102 Duel Gundam. Originally, the unit was codenamed Duel Dagger, but was redesignated after the Duel Gundam was stolen by ZAFT. Whereas the GAT-01 Strike Dagger was designed for the standard Natural pilot, the Long Dagger was intended for use by artificially enhanced pilots similar to the Extended pilots under the control of Blue Cosmos leader Multa Azrael. The Long Dagger’s design was also influenced by data from GAT-X105 Strike Gundam‘s battles with the Duel Gundam. As such, the Long Dagger was equipped with an armored Fortrestra mode similar to the Assault Shroud that ZAFT designed to upgrade the Duel Gundam. The Fortrestra mode featured armaments comparable to the Assault Shroud and was more powerful, but as a consequence of the extra armor it was less maneuverable.

Because the Alliance was short on enhanced Naturals, testing of the Long Dagger was carried out by Eleven Socius, a combat Coordinator’ from an earlier research project. However, with the outbreak of war with ZAFT, the Alliance suspended testing with Coordinators out of fear of where their loyalties truly where. These fears were proven correct when Eleven’s mental conditioning failed and he escaped with a stolen Long Dagger unit. To rectify the situation, the Alliance contracted the Serpent Tail mercenary group to hunt down Eleven and his stolen Long Dagger. Eventually, this led to a battle between Eleven and Gai Murakumo, pilot of the MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame.