CAT1-X3/3 Hyperion Gundam Unit 3

Template:Infobox/Mobile Weapon Ver.2The CAT1-X3/3 Hyperion Unit 3 is a mobile suit from the photonovel Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray B. It is first used by Eurasia Federation and after its repair, it is used by the "Hero of Eurasia", Ivan Zamboise.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The last Hyperion Gundam, its paint scheme is identical to the Hyperion Gundam Unit 2 but without the stars on the left shoulder. Like Unit 1 and 2, Hyperion Gundam unit 3 also also features the "Armure Lumiere" Mono-phase Lightwave Shield System, an improved version of the "Umbrella of Artemis".

The "Armure Lumiere" is nearly impervious to solid or beam based weaponry and with sufficient emitters can produce a 360° barrier. However it is very energy intensive and to ensure that the suit's operation time is not affected as much as possible, all the beam weapons used by Hyperion are powered by their own independent batteries. Unit 3 is also armed with CIWS guns, beam knives, beam cannons and a beam sub-machine gun, the same as Unit 1 and 2.

After the battle with Gai Murakumo, the damaged Unit 3 is salvaged by an unknown organization and given to Ivan Zamboise. This repaired version seems to have additional batteries as it can deploy the 360° "Armure Lumiere" barrier for more than 5 minutes.

Armaments

• Multi-barrel CIWS

Like most other mobile suits, the Hyperion series features two head mounted multi-barrel CIWS guns to shoot down incoming missiles or enemies at close range. These guns are the only shell-firing weapons on the suit.

• RBW Type 7001 "Romteknica" Beam Knife

For close combat, the Hyperion features five RBW Type 7001 "Romteknica" beam knives. One is stored on each limb and one on the sub-machine gun. The knives are powered by their own independent batteries, drawing no power from the suit's battery and can thus be also used as throwing weapons.

• RFW-99 "Zastava Stigmate" Beam Sub-machine Gun

The main ranged combat weapon of the suit is the "Zastava Stigmate" beam sub-machine gun. The beam sub-machine gun's battery is stored in a "clip" which can be quickly and easily replaced, and while its shots are weaker than those of standard beam rifles, its rate of fire is much greater. The sub-machine gun also mounts a "Romteknica" beam knife below the sensor, allowing the suit to engage in close combat quickly without changing weapons. The beam knife can also be ejected to hit incoming enemy unit.

• "Forfanterie" Beam Cannon

The strongest weapons of the Hyperion are the two "Forfanterie" beam cannons mounted in the backpack binders. These cannons fold over the shoulders when in use and are powered by their own batteries, which are ejected after each shot.

• "Armure Lumiere" Mono-phase Lightwave Shield

The main feature of the Hyperion series is the "Armure Lumiere" mono-phase lightwave shield system. Hyperion has in total 7 lightwave shield emitters, 1 on each arm, 1 on the back of the backpack and 2 on each backpack binder. The 2 arm-mounted emitters can generate triangular beam shields, and the 5 backpack-mounted units can project an energy barrier similar to the "Umbrella of Artemis" that completely surrounds and protect the mobile suit when they are used together. However, this barrier can only last for 5 minutes due to its heavy energy consumption. The repaired Unit 3 overcomes this limitation by using additional batteries. The Hyperion itself can attack through the lightwave shield system, including throwing its beam knife.

The beam emitted by the lightwave shield system can also take on other shapes and be used as an offensive weapon that is capable of penetrating other lightwave barriers, positron barriers and possibly beam shields. The latter two which are in fact developed based on the lightwave barrier. Lightwave barriers aren't without weakness however as weapons with anti-beam properties have been known to be able to penetrate the barrier.

History

In mid CE 71, the Earth Alliance's Eurasian Federation cooperated with Actaeon Industries to create three of its own advanced prototype mobile suits based on the latter's prototype mobile suit Gel Finieto, separate from the EA's GAT-X series. These were the CAT1-X1/3 Hyperion Unit 1, CAT1-X2/3 Hyperion Unit 2, and CAT1-X3/3 Hyperion Unit 3. The three units were identical, except for their coloration. Actaeon Industries later created a trial-type ground combat variant of the Hyperion Series, called the CAT1-XG Hyperion G to improve their sales result.

Hyperion Unit 3 was severely damaged near Artemis by MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame Second L pilot Gai Murakumo, who had used his Tactical Arms' sword form to penetrate the "Armure Lumiere" barrier and fired at it from close range. It was later repaired by an unknown organization and handed to Ivan Zamboise, who was then manipulated into using it to fight on behalf of those in Western Eurasia who want freedom from the Alliance. Ivan's fortunes took a turn for the worse when his mysterious backer suddenly disappeared and he challenged Elijah Kiel to regain his lost fame. The repaired Unit 3 was defeated when Elijah used the anti-beam coated blade on the head of his customized ZAKU to penetrate the beam barrier and Ivan was accidentally killed during the attack.

Gallery

Alternate color lineart

Notes & Trivia

• The submachine gun "Zavasta Stigmate" quite possibly derives its name from the Serbian corporation Zavasta, which manufactures weapons among other things.

References

External links

• CAT1-X3/3 Hyperion Gundam Unit 3 on MAHQ.net