ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam

General and Technical Data

Model number: ZGMF-X42S
Code name: Destiny Gundam
Unit type: prototype assault mobile suit
Manufacturer: ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty)
Operator: ZAFT
First deployment: C.E. 73
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 18.08 meters
Weight: max gross weight 79.44 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: ultracompact hyper deuterion nuclear reactor, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: “Voiture Lumiere” propulsion system, can create wings of light
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; VPS (Variable Phase Shift) armor; Neutron Jammer Canceler
Fixed armaments: 2 x MMI-GAU26 17.5mm CIWS, mounted in head; 2 x MX2351 “Solidus Fulgor” beam shield generator, mounted on wrists; 2 x RQM60F “Flash Edge 2” beam boomerang, mounted on shoulders, hand-carried in use; 2 x MMI-X340 “Palma Fiocina” beam cannon, mounted on palms
Optional hand armaments: MA-BAR73/S high-energy beam rifle; standard shield, mounted on left arm; MMI-714 “Arondight” anti-ship sword, stored on right wing; M2000GX high-energy long-range beam cannon; stored on left wing

Technical and Historical Notes

In the later part of the Second Bloody Valentine War, ZAFT introduced two new advanced mobile suits: the ZGMF-X666S Legend Gundam and ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam. The Destiny Gundam, designed as a multiple combat role mobile suit, combined the weaponry of several of the Silhouette packs used by the ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam. During the design phase, early versions of the Destiny Gundam’s weapons were tested in the ZGMF-X56S/θ Destiny Impulse Gundam. However, the Destiny Gundam was more than just a combination of Impulse Gundam Silhouette packs, as it introduced several new technologies. The Destiny Gundam used a hyper deuterion nuclear reactor to power its systems. This new design stored power in deuterion form, providing a continuous deuterion charge and, in theory, an endless power supply. However, it was possible for the suit’s power to be expended before the reactor could replenish it. Using a variant of the “Voiture Lumiere” propulsion system of the GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam, the Destiny Gundam could generate a pair of wings of light, allowing for high-speed movement. During this high speed movement, the wings of light scattered Mirage Colloid particles to create afterimages of the suit in the surrounding area. Although the Destiny Gundam was produced after the Impulse Gundam, it was assigned a lower model number to disguise the fact that it featured a nuclear reactor in violation of the Junius Treaty. The Destiny Gundam was also equipped with a pair of “Solidus Fulgor” beam shield generators, which were also used by the Legend Gundam. A standard shield could also be equipped, but was rarely used. The Destiny Gundam’s many armaments included a beam rifle, head vulcan guns, a pair of beam boomerangs (which doubled as beam sabers), hand beam cannons, an anti-ship sword and a long-range beam cannon.

The Destiny Gundam was assigned to ace pilot Shinn Asuka in late C.E. 73 by PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Gilbert Durandal after the completion of Operation Angel Down, where Shinn destroyed Kira Yamato’s ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam. The Destiny Gundam participated in multiple major battles, including Operation Ragnarok at Heavens Base and Operation Fury at the Orb Union. There, he engaged Kira’s new ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam and Athrun’s new ZGMF-X19A ∞ Justice Gundam. Under new orders, the battleship Minerva returned to space and launched an attack on the Alliance’s Daedalus lunar base. Later, when an Orb space fleet attacked ZAFT to seize control of Requiem, Shinn once again fought Kira and Athrun. In the end, the Destiny Gundam was heavily damaged by Athrun and crashed onto the Moon’s surface. Soon after, the death of Durandal and the destruction of the space fortress Messiah marked the end of the war. After the war, engineer Erica Simmons of Morgenroete, Inc. secretly repaired and upgraded the Destiny Gundam, which was redesignated it as the ZGMF/A-42S2 Destiny Gundam Spec II. In C.E. 75, Shinn reclaimed his old suit and used it in battle against the independent nation Foundation.