The CB-002/GD Raphael Gundam Dominions (aka Raphael Gundam Dominions, Dominions) is a variant of the CB-002 Raphael Gundam introduced in Mobile Suit Gundam 00V: Battlefield Record.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The CB-002 Raphael Gundam is primarily intended for space combat, and its most notable feature is the mounting of the GN-008RE Seravee Gundam II on top of its body as additional equipment.[1][2][3][4] While this design has its advantages, such as being able to deploy Seravee II quickly, it also caused Raphael to be top-heavy and difficult to balance under gravity, making the machine unsuitable for ground combat.[1][2][3][5] There are other variations of Raphael, including a ground combat form called "CB-002/GD Raphael Gundam Dominions".[1][2][3][5] Instead of Seravee II, the Dominions is equipped with the unmanned mobile suit GN-00802 Sera, which splits into various parts for mounting onto different body sections of the basic Raphael.[1][2][3][5] As a result, the balance of the Dominions was improved, and its defensive capabilities were also enhanced as Sera's parts doubled as additional armor.[1][2][3][5]
The improved weight balance not only allowed Dominions to operate under gravity, it also enabled the mobile suit to properly absorb the recoil when firing the pair of back-mounted GN Bazookas, resulting in stable shooting performance.[1][2][3][5] Other than the back-mounted GN Bazookas, the Dominions is armed with a different, handheld GN Bazooka equipped with its own GN Drive Tau.[1][2][3][5] The Dominions obtained high firepower thanks to these three GN Bazookas, and it is also capable of launching precise long-range beam shots, especially with the back-mounted GN Bazookas.[1][2][3][5] The design of the Dominions did not alter the performance of the basic Raphael itself[5], and when required, all of Sera's part can detach from Dominions and recombine into its mobile suit form for independent operation.[2][3][5][6]
Armaments[]
- GN Bazooka
- The CB-002/GD Raphael Gundam Dominions is equipped with three GN Bazookas, two mounted on the back and one held in hand.[1][2][3][5] The pair of back-mounted GN Bazookas resembled the ones equipped by the CB-002 Raphael Gundam[5], and Dominions can fire them stably under gravity as its improved weight balance enabled it to absorb the recoil properly.[1][2][3] These two GN Bazookas have high firepower and can also be used for long-range precision shooting.[1][2][3] The handheld GN Bazooka is an improved version of the one used by the GN-005 Gundam Virtue, with a GN Drive Tau installed in its rear that greatly increased its power.[1][2][3][5]
Special Equipment & Features[]
- When activated, this system releases at once all the compressed high-density GN Particles accumulated in a machine, enhancing its thrust and defensive capabilities as well as allowing it to perform at three times its normal output for a limited time.[7][8][9][10] Additionally, the entire machine will glow red and afterimages are generated during movements.[7][9][10][11] This system was installed in the CB-002 Raphael Gundam and utilized during the ELS crisis in AD 2314.[4][11] Since the CB-002/GD Raphael Gundam Dominions is a variant of the Raphael, with a different unmanned mobile suit attached to it while keeping the performance of the basic Raphael unchanged[1][2][3][5], it presumably has this system as well.
History[]
Mobile Suit Gundam 00V: Battlefield Record Mission 017 "Dominions"[]
Following humanity's successful dialogue with the alien species "Extraterrestrial Living-metal Shape-shifter", there was a rapid increase in the numbers of humans awakening as Innovators, and those who opposed them began taking up arms. Despite losing several members and machines, the paramilitary organization Celestial Being continued to exist and obtained new capabilities. At the same time, there were a few eyewitness reports of Gundams, but these Gundams do not fit the ones known to be operated by Celestial Being. Most of these reports were due to the eyewitnesses mistaking other machines for Gundams, but this signified that the Gundams remained a symbol of eliminating conflict. Meanwhile, the Earth Sphere Federation and its military, the Earth Sphere Federation Forces, were generally pro-Innovators, but a minority in the military were anti-Innovators and they broke away, forming an armed rebel group.
Despite its small size, the rebel group could not be ignored as they were using the same weapons as the Earth Sphere Federation Forces. This meant that only the Earth Sphere Federation Forces and Celestial Being could stop them. During a skirmish between the Earth Sphere Federation Forces and the rebels in the mountainous region of South America, Amy Zimbalist and his GNX-604T Advanced GN-X came up against three GNX-805T/CF GN-XIV Core Fighter Loaded Types. The GN-XIV Core Fighter Loaded Type operated by the rebels was the latest model in the GN-X series, and on the other hand, Amy's Advanced GN-X was an old model. As a result, even though Amy had impressive piloting skills, he was in a disadvantageous position due to his mobile suit's inferior performance. Amy was soon cornered by the enemy machines, and closed his eyes to escape reality, but the fatal blow never arrived.
Hurriedly opening his eyes, Amy saw the three GN-XIV Core Fighter Loaded Types shot down by long-range beam fire. These beam shots were also very precise, deliberately avoiding hitting the enemy machines' Core Fighters, enabling their pilots to escape unharmed. Amy quickly turned the Advanced GN-X's sensors and cameras towards the direction where the beams were coming from. Despite being very far away, Amy was able to roughly identity the source of the beam shots as being a Gundam. From the beginning, Amy had suspected a Gundam was involved, as no other machines was capable of such powerful and precise long-range attacks. Amy flew his Advanced GN-X towards the Gundam to get a clearer look at it, but the Gundam quickly activated its thrusters and disappeared from Advanced GN-X's sensors.
After the battle, Amy began telling others he saw a Gundam, but no one believed him. With no options left, Amy turned to Robert Spacey, a MS development historian, and his perceived love rival. He showed Robert the recorded footage from his Advanced GN-X, but Robert flatly denied that it was a Gundam. As a disappointed Amy left, wondering if he did indeed make a mistake, Robert heaved a sigh of relief. He was certain Amy had encountered a Gundam, and guessed that it was a variation of the CB-002 Raphael Gundam. However, Robert lied to Amy as Veda, which was linked to this new mobile suit's development, did not reveal the machine's existence, so he felt he should also keep it a secret. While Robert did not know the identity of the Gundam's pilot, he believed the mobile suit would contribute to the future of humanity. For humanity's sake, he was willing to tell a white lie. Furthermore, deflating Amy's ego was a nice bonus and a mischievous smile appeared on Robert's face.
Gundam EXA Episode 12: Gundam Meister[]
Leos Alloy arrived in the virtual replica of the Anno Domini world, sometime after the battle with the Innovades who falsely claimed to be Innovators and before the encounter with ELS, to collect combat data on the true Innovators. However, his arrival and actions altered the timeline data, causing the CB-002/GD Raphael Gundam Dominions to appear much earlier than it should. Piloted by Tieria Erde, Dominions intervened in the fight between Setsuna F. Seiei's GN-001REIII Gundam Exia Repair III and Leo's Extreme Gundam Type Leos Xenon Phase, enabling Setsuna to escape.
Gallery[]
Linearts[]
Illustration & Artwork[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The power source of Raphael Gundam Dominions was never published in official materials.
- The mobile suit profile published in Mobile Suit Gundam 00V: Battlefield Record Mission 017 "Dominion" wrongly stated that the Seravee Gundam is mounted on top of the Raphael Gundam instead of the Seravee Gundam II. This error in naming continued when the profile mentioned that Sera is a replacement for Seravee Gundam.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Mobile Suit Gundam 00V: Battlefield Record Mission 017 "Dominions"
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 'Gundam Weapons Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Special Edition IV MG 00 Qan[T] & MG 00 Raiser/Mobile Suit Gundam 00V Battlefield Record' Book
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Raphael Gundam Dominions related content in 'Gundam Mobile Suit Bible Vol. 147 – GN-010 Gundam Zabanya' book
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 HG00 1/144 GB-002 Raphael Gundam model kit manual
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 167 – CB-002/GD Raphael Gundam Dominions Mechanic File
- ↑ Gundam EXA Episode 12: Gundam Meister
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 23, Stop the World
- ↑ RG 1/144 GN-001 Gundam Exia model kit manual
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 42 World Guide: GN Particles & GN Drive
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Trans-Am System related content in 'Gundam Mobile Suit Bible Vol. 94 – GN-001 Gundam Exia' Book
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie -A Wakening of the Trailblazer-
External links[]