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Albion (Gundam)
*** Shopping-Tip: Albion (Gundam)
In the fictional
Gundam universe,
Universal Century continuity, '''''Albion'' (MSC-07)''' is the seventh
Pegasus-class assault landing craft ''Pegasus''-class assault carrier, and the first of the ''Albion'' subclass. The carrier was first designed by
Shoji Kawamori and was eventually refined by
Mika Akitaka. ''Albion''
's debut came in the
1991—
1992 OVA ''
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory'', and was featured in the 1992 movie follow-up ''Last Blitz of Zeon''. Recently the Assault Carrier was featured in the
2003 PlayStation 2 game ''
Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space''.
During the
One Year War, technology advanced quickly, and ships ordered during the war quickly became obsolete as developments in mobile suit technology rapidly outpaced ship weaponry. ''Albion'' was not actually commissioned until three years after the war ended, in UC 0083, though the carrier was commissioned in time to respond to and adequately deal with the final
Principality of Zeon offensive,
Gundam 0083 Operation Stardust. ''Albion'' looks very different from her earlier sisters, such as ''
Gray Phantom'' and ''
White Base''.
Ship history
{{spoiler}}
On
13 October UC 0081, the
Earth Federation passed the "Federation Forces Reconstruction Plan", aimed at get the Earth Federal Forces back into shape. As part of this plan, the "Gundam Development Plan" was secretly started, with the expressed purpose of developing
Mobile Suits that could outperform the Zeonic Company's MS. Included in the Gundam Development Plan were designs for the next generation of the ''Pegasus'' class assualt carrier: The ''Albion''.
''Albion'' was a departure from the original ''Pegasus''-class ships in several ways. Through extensive use of computers and automation, most of her weaponry could be controlled from inside the ship's hull, reducing the risk placed on crewmembers responsible for defending the ship. ''Albion''
's standard
Universal Century Technology Minovsky propulsion system was augmented by an experimental Laser Propulsion System that used mirrored receptors to catch
laser bursts from the moon, which allowed ''Albion'' to escape from the moon
's gravitational hold more easily. But the most drastic change was in ''Albion''
's mobile suit launch procedure: rather than exposing the hangar deck to flight operations and combat conditions, ''Albion'' had a lift system that moved mobile suits topside to the external launch catapult, thereby protecting the MS hangers and field personnel inside. The lift system became an instant hit with the
Earth Federation Earth Federal Space Force, and became standard equipment on refitted
Salamis class cruiser (Gundam) ''Salamis Kai'' class ships.
''Albion'' launched from the lunar city
Universal Century Locations Von Braun on
7 October UC 0083, with
Captain Eiphar Synapse commanding. ''Albion'' received both the RX-78GP01A Gundam Zephyranthes (Unit 1) and the RX-78GP02A Gundam Physalis (Unit 2), and orders instructing Synapse to take his ship to Torrington base in
Australia, where the new suits could be field tested under Earth's gravity. Captain Synapse arrived on
13 October as scheduled, and presented Torrington
's base commander with paperwork instructing him to load both suites with live ammunition — and the paperwork instructing Torrington's base commander to load Unit 2 with an MK-82 tactical
nuclear weapon nuclear warhead.
Shortly after sunset, the
Delaz Fleet commenced
Operation Stardust, beginning with
Anavel Gato's hijack of Gundam Unit 2. Once the terrestrial Zeon remnants confirmed Gato had secured the Gundam, MS-09F/trop Dom Tropens and one YMS-16M Xamel launched a raid against Torrington to help divert the Federation's search parties. Although Gato was pursued by Kou Uraki, who commendered Gundam Unit 1, he managed to escape from Torrington through the aid of a friendly Zeon
submarine. ''Albion'' was heavily damaged in the raid, thanks in part to powerful multi-missiles fired from the same Zeon submarine. While undergoing repairs at Torrington, Captain Synapse received a change in orders: Ascertain the location of the stolen Gundam, and if necessary, destroy it. Along with those orders came a full complement of Mobile Suits and pilots:
Chuck Keith and
Kou Uraki, originally stationed at Torrington, were reassigned to ''Albion'', along with
Bernard Monsha,
Alpha A. Bate, and
Chap Adel. Commanding the newly formed ''Albion'' MS contingent was
South Burning Lt. South Burning.
Following the last known course of the Zeon submarine, ''Albion'' departed from Torrington on
14 October and arrived in
Africa on
16 October. One week later ''Albion'' succeeded in locating the stolen Gundam, but failed to secure it. Zeon's Kiberlite Base MS unit, composed of about six old Zaku IIs and four Doms, engaged ''Albion''
's MS units, buying enough time for Anavel Gato to escape into space aboard a Heavy Lift Vehicle (HLV). Once in space, Gato and the stolen Gundam Unit 2 were caught in the crossfire between two of the Federation's
Salamis class cruiser (Gundam) ''Salamis'' class cruisers and a pair of
Musai class cruiser ''Musai'''s, which included Gato's
flagship, the ''Peer Gynt''. Using the position of this battle as a starting point ''Albion'' proceeded into space and requested additional help with the task of locating the stolen mobile suite. General Kowen granted the request, assigning two ''Salamis'' class cruisers to assist; unfortunately, both were destroyed and the Gundam heavily damaged by
Cima Garahau and her men.
''Albion'' proceeded to
Universal Century Locations Von Braun, where the ship was docked for resupply. During this port call Anaheim Electronics took custody of the damaged Unit 1, upgrading it into the RX-78GP01Fb Gundam Zephyranthes Full Vernian — a version refitted for space combat. Departing Von Braun on
4 November, ''Albion'' proceeded to the Sea of Solomon to resume its search for the missing Gundam Unit 2. Between
4 November and
6 November ''Albion'' supported Gundam Unit 1 as it conducted weapons tests with an experimental beam rifle. On
6 November ''Albion'' detected a
Papua class ''Papua'' class resupply ship and began pursuit of the vessel after it failed to respond a message requesting that the ship identify itself{{ref|roz}}. Believing the ship to belong to the Delaz fleet, Captain Synapse ordered ''Albion'' to begin pursuit and launched mobile suits at the fleeing vessel. During the MS launch a
Chivvay class ''Chivvay'' class ship opened fired on ''Albion'', disabling one of the launch catapults. Despite the damage ''Albion'' and the ''Chivvay''-class ship began to exchanged fire; meanwhile the disabled catapult became funtional and Gundam Unit 1 was launched into battle. Unit 1 opened fired on the ''Chivvay''-class vessel, striking an amunition storage bay and prompting the crew of the ''Chivvay''-class ship to abandon ship; however the vessels was sped up in an effort to make a
kamikaze attack. At the last second, ''Albion'' opened fire with her main gun, destroying the ''Chivvay''-class ship with 1500m to spare. Although damaged during the battle ''Albion'' continued on to the Sea of Solomon to resume her search for the missing Unit 2.{{ref|omit}}
On
8 November Admiral Green Wyatt, the supreme commander of the Earth Federal Space Force, rendezvoused with
Cima Garahau and her men in what was meant to be a covert meeting. Unfortunately, while both parties were meeting ''Albion'' inadvertendly wandered into to the rendezvous area. Unaware of the ongoing secret meeting and believing Admiral Wyatt
's battleship to be under attack Synapse ordered ''Albion''
's MS unit to launch. Cima and her men promptly retreated from the battlefield, but their
Zanzibar class cruiser ''Zanzibar II'' class cruiser ''Lili Marleen'' was unable to outdistance itself from ''Albion''
's MS units, so Cima and her men launched from their ship to provide cover fire. To support the illusion that ''Albion'' was protecting the
battleship Birmingham class battleship ''Birmingham'' Admiral Wyatt ordered ''Birmingham'' to fire her main guns at the retreating ''Lili Marleen'' while making sure that the shots missed. ''Birmingham''
's shot missed ''Lili Marleen'', but did hit one of Cima's ''Musai'' class cruisers, thereby ensuring Cima
's escape. Cima and her MS team engaged Lt. South Burning and his MS team, during which time two MS from ''Lili Marleen'' were lost. During the battle Lt. Burning recovered a suitcase containing valuable information on Operation Stardust, unfortunately while returning to ''Albion'' his Mobile Suit self destructed as a result of damage incurred while battling Cima. The death of Lt. Burning came as shock to those aboard ''Albion'', especialy to the MS pilots Bernad Monsha, Alpha A. Bate and Chap Adel, as they had all served under Lt. Burning in the 04th MS Team during the
One Year War. Following Lt. Burnings death Captain Synapse exercised his command authority and promoted Alpha A. Bate and Kou Uraki one rank.
On
10 November, ''Albion'' was en route to the Naval Review when the missing Gundam Unit 2 was suddenly spotted heading directly toward the Federation fleet. ''Albion'' went into hyperdrive, launching all of her mobile suits in an effort to intercept Unit 2 before it reached the review, but the Mobile Suits failed to catch up in time, and Gundam Unit 2
's MK-82 nuclear weapon was launched into the middle of the Ferderation's fleet. Fully 2/3rds of the Federation's fleet were destroyed or disabled. At the same time, two
Space Colony (Gundam) colonies were hijacked in mid transfer, sending one toward the moon. Captain Synapse ordered ''Albion'' to sail for
La Vie en Rose (Gundam) ''La Vie en Rose'', where he (forcefully) acquired the experimental Mobile Armour RX-78GP03 Gundam Denbrobium, then departed at high speed toward the Delaz Fleet's hijacked colony, which was now headed for Earth. As ''Albion'' aproached the colony Synapse received new orders from
Bask Om to defend the Solar System II deployment with Cima's fleet. Synapse reluctantly complied, and ordered Gundam Unit 3 launched against the Delaz Fleet. Despite heroic effort from Kou Uraki and the Gundam Unit 3, the colony crossed over the point of no return, eventually impacting the American Midwest, none-the-less a heavily damaged ''Albion'' continued fighting until the last.
With the conclusion of
Operation Stardust the Federation opened
courts martial against certain people for actions undertaken during the crisis. For stealing Unit 3, Kou Uraki was sentenced to one year of hard labour, and Synapse was sentenced to death. Since the development of nuclear weapons was in violation of the
Antarctic Treaty of Mobile Suit Gundam Antarctic Treaty, all records of Gundam Unit 2 and subsequent events were deleted from official records, and the sentences likewise suspended.
It is unclear whether the ''Albion'' survived the damages incurred during the Delaz Fleet crisis, as the ship is not seen past UC0083. There is evidence to suggest that the Titans, afraid the A.E.U.G would steal the ship, had orders to destroy ''Albion'' and all remaining ''Pegasus''-class ships.
See also
*
List of Mobile Suits
*
Gundam 0083 Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
*
Minovsky Physics
External links
-
The World-Wide Gundam Informational Network
-
MAHQ
-
Gundam Naval Museum
-
Library of Londonion (ship names & fates)
Notes
#{{note|roz}} Synapse's request for identification was to determine whether the ''Papua''-class ship was part of the legitamite Republic of Zeon fleet or part of the renegade Delaz Fleet. The
Principality of Zeon Republic of Zeon, located at
Universal Century Locations Side 3, had been allowed to maintain their armed service branches at the end of the
One Year War provided that they met all terms and conditions set forth by the Earth Federation in the Treaty of Granada. One of the terms of the treaty provided for the existence of limited armed service branches for the Republic of Zeon that would be subject to periodic inspections by the Federation. Determining whether a zeon ship was with the Republic or with an anti-Federation movement was often difficult to do, especially in light of the fact that the Republic of Zeon operates the same ships that the Principality of Zeon had operated.
#{{note|omit}} This scrimish is known as the Lung Sea Gun Battle (or Lunga Sea Gun Battle), and is covered in the OVA anime version. Information on this battle is from the website [http://side7.gundam.com/rgz/info/lung.html Library of Londenion].
References
*TOKYOPOP books. ''Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory Technical Manual.'' ISBN 1931514062
*Animerica. ''Gundam Official Guide'' ISBN 1569317399
{{Universal Century ship classes}}
Category:Universal Century space vessels
*** Shopping-Tip: Albion (Gundam)
