ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam

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. Shinn’s first use of the Destiny Gundam involved a difficult moral choice: shooting down comrades Athrun Zala and Meyrin Hawke, who defected from ZAFT and escaped from the Gibraltar Base in a ZGMF-2000 GOUF Ignited. The Destiny Gundam made its true combat debut in Operation Ragnarok, the ZAFT assault on the Earth Alliance’s Heavens Base headquarters. During the battle, Shinn, along with Legend Gundam pilot Rey Za Burrel and new Impulse Gundam pilot Lunamaria Hawke, destroyed five GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundam units guarding the base, leading to a ZAFT victory. When Logos leader Lord Djibril escaped to the Orb Union, Shinn participated in Operation Fury and engaged Kira’s new ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam and Athrun’s new ZGMF-X19A ∞ Justice Gundam. Soon after, Djibril escaped again to space and fired the Requiem cannon at the PLANTs. Under new orders, the battleship Minerva returned to space and launched an attack on the Alliance’s Daedalus lunar base. During the battle, Shinn raided the base’s dock and single-handedly destroyed several battleships. 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.