Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray

Gundam SEED Astray is a collection of gaiden (side-stories) set in the Cosmic Era of Gundam SEED.

Whereas the main story of Gundam SEED focuses on the struggles between the Earth Alliance, ZAFT, and Orb Union, the Astray series is focused on the three MBF-P0x mobile suit prototypes and their respective pilots and organizations, who mainly exist on the outskirts of the main SEED storyline. The MBF-P02 Astray Red Frame is piloted by Lowe Guele of the Junk Guild, and the MBF-P03 Astray Blue Frame is piloted by Gai Murakumo of the mercenary group Serpent Tail. The third Astray, MBF-P01 Astray Gold Frame, is piloted by the primary antagonist of the Astray story, Orb nobleman Rondo Ghina Sahaku, and later by his twin sister Rondo Mina Sahaku. Astray R follows the adventures of the Red Frame's pilot Lowe and his Junk Guild associates. It is in manga format, and is set to be released in the US early 2005. Astray B follows Gai Murakumo and his fellow Serpent Tail mercenaries. It was released in Dengeki Hobby modelling magazine as a "photo novel" (illustrations using custom-built plastic models accompanied by text), and it is highly unlikely it will make it over to the US.

In addition to Astray R and Astray B, there are three other Astray manga series. Gundam SEED Astray follows both stories, but primarily focuses on Lowe and the Junk Guild. Gundam SEED X Astray is about Canard Pars, who is a failed experiment from the Ultimate Coordinator program. Canard is searching for Kira Yamato, the successful Ultimate Coordinator, so that he can defeat him and prove he was not a "failure". During his search, he fights anyone he comes across. This brings him into conflict with Lowe Guele and the Junk Guild, who finds a young boy named Prayer Reverie. Prayer has with him a powerful ZAFT prototype mobile suit, the YMF-X000A Dreadnought, which was built on a heavily modified GuAIZ frame and was the testbed for the DRAGOON (Disconnected Rapid Armament Group Overlook Operation Network) System of the ZGMF-X13A Providence.

The sequel to this series is Gundam SEED Destiny Astray.