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Activation, Section I (始動編 第1話?) is the first chapter of the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin manga.

Plot[]

This section was compiled by reading the primary source available at [3].

The asteroid Luna II orbits the Earth and its Moon. With the Sun in the distance, six Zaku II suits approach Side 7 and its lone colony of Noa. Four of which belong to Denim, Ash, Slender, Gene. The six Zakus descend upon the outside of Noa around an entrance. As Slender's Zaku descends, he aims his machine gun at the lock beside a handle. His Zaku kneels down and he turns it, opening the door. The Zakus enter into the part of the colony still under construction. Gene tells Master Sergeant Denim that there's a siren going off. To calm the others down, a pilot informs them that it's on the other side of the barrier, caused by a ship that just docked at the bay. A pilot asks if Denim thinks it's the "Trojan Horse" and Denim replies that's likely.

Bright Noa Tem Ray Amuro Ray MSGTO ch01 p23

Said "Trojan Horse", the White Base, enters the main gate underneath two berths. It slows down its engines and is now inside the colony. Officers are ordered to close the main gate as their mustached superior arrives. He cannot believe something so unwieldy could escape the Earth's gravitational field. On the ship, Lieutenant Junior Grade Bright Noa enters the room of Dr. Tem Ray to inform him that they've made port at Side 7 and to pass on the request to meet their captain's on the bridge. Dr. Ray asks Bright if he's been on supply duty long, Bright says no as he used to be on the front. As Dr. Ray says that their ship has a crucial mission being at the front, Bright notices a photo of Dr. Ray's son Amuro Ray. Dr. Ray says that his 15-year-old son is still a child compared to a smart young man like Bright and remembered news he heard that children as young as 15 were being drafted. When Bright affirms this fact, Tem Ray responds that it is terrible but states that once they start mass-producing the Gundam, the war would be over, and they could put an end to it without wasting young lives. Dr. Ray and Bright enter the bridge. Capt. Cassius hopes for Dr. Ray to get some rest. While the flight has been relaxing, Dr. Ray is concerned for the Zeon ship at the berth. By treaty, military ships are not allowed to dock at Side 7 so the problem is the White Base's return path. Capt. Cassius does not believe they are foolish enough to attack as White Base is disguised as civilian ship.

Fraw Bow runs to Amuro's house where he is busy hacking to investigate the RX-78 Gundam project. Noticing his door is open, she enters to tell him that the supply ship has arrived. She discovers that he hadn't eaten the sandwiches she made as lunch for him. Meanwhile, Amuro discovers that his dad has data on a Zaku, bringing further doubt to the colony construction cover story. Fraw enters Dr. Ray's study where Amuro is, seeing it a mess and Amuro still in his underwear. Haro greets Fraw good morning. Cleaning up, Fraw wonders if Amuro is even allowed to enter the study. Amuro states it is fine, as he's on an earthside business trip, prompting Fraw to remind Amuro that he is returning on the same supply ship that just docked. Fraw scolds Hayato and tells him his duty as a neighbour to remind Amuro, Hayato begs to differ, accusing Amuro's father of working for the military, but Fraw believes he's only in charge of construction for Side 7. Hayato asks how could she know what they're doing outside the barrier. Hayato leaves, wishing the Rays had ever came. Amuro sits in the drivers' seat eating. Disgusted at Amuro's lack of manners, Fraw gets in. Amuro asks where they're going, Fraw shouts back with the docking bay and tells Amuro to get it together. Fraw was told by her mother to get lots of sugar, flour and detergent, since supplies are low due to construction not making much progress.

Doors open and the Zakus come to a dark area of Noa's construction block. Denim observes the area is pressurized with optimal oxygen concentration. They are 5 km away from the barrier with the completed part of Noa. Sensors are all over the place and the Zaku pilots are told not the trip them. Denim orders Slender to stay behind and should the mission takes a bad turn, he should make a run for it and put a mayday out to Lt. Commander Char on the ship. Gene is ordered to follow Denim whereas Ash's Squad are ordered to scout on the left. Gene asks if they should destroy "the thing" if they come across it. Denim asserts that their mission is recon only as Char only wants information not action. Denim and Gene's Zakus jump down. Denim, seeing that the area has ricochet-proof walls and an observation tower, scoffs at how the colony peacefully presents itself by designating the area as a construction block. A flash of light shines and Gene heads off, spotting an old-model mobile suit, a Guncannon. He says it looks like it was destroyed by a heat-ray weapon and is ordered by Denim to get some photos of the impact plane. Looking elsewhere, Denim also sees a mobile suit he thinks is codenamed "Guntank". Seeing the damage, the pilots suspect it was used as mock target, comparing their discovery to a graveyard for old mobile suits. The Guntanks appeared to have their cannons sheared off by an intense heat ray, and according to Gene, Zeon do not possess beam rifles that strong. Ash sights an enemy and his Zaku is immediately shot at.

RX-78-01 Prototype Gundam MSGTO ch01 p46

Denim and Gene rush to assist Ash whose hyper-rifle fails to damage the bogey; a silhouetted figure in a smoke. Approaching the three Zakus, it reveals itself to be the Federation Forces' new mobile suit, the RX-78-01 Prototype Gundam.

Stats[]

Release Dates[]

  • Gundam Ace August 2001 Issue: June 25, 2001 [1]
  • Kadokawa Comics A Tankōbon: May 29, 2002 [4]
  • Viz Media Softcover: April 28, 2002 [2]
  • Treasury Version Aizōban: May 25, 2005 [5]
  • Vertical Inc. Hardcover: March 26, 2013 [6]
  • ComicWalker Full Color: March 22, 2014 [3][7]

Characters[]

NamePage
Denim09
Ash10
Gene10
Slender10
First Unnamed Zaku II Pilot10
Second Unnamed Zaku II Pilot10
Side 7 Dock Commanding Officer22
Side 7 Dock Officer22
Bright Noa23
Amuro Ray23
Oscar Dublin23
Tem Ray23
Marker Clan23
Paolo Cassius24
White Base Helmsman24
Fraw Bow26
Haro (Origin)29
Hayato Kobayashi30

Mechanic[]

NamePage
Musai-class03
MS-06C-6/R6 Zaku II04
White Base/Origin20
Musai-class25
Hayato's Motorcycle30
Amuro's Car31
RX-75 Guntank37
RX-77 Guncannon/Origin37
RX-78-01 Prototype Gundam43

Quotes[]

Notes & Trivia[]

  • This is the start of the arc corresponding to the first episode of Mobile Suit Gundam, Gundam Rising.
  • Hayato Kobayashi is introduced on a white motorcycle as opposed to an orange two-seater car with an unnamed background character.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 安彦 良和 (2001-06-25). 13年8月号 増刊 ガンダムエース No.001. 角川書店. 雑誌16948-08. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Yasuhiko, Yoshikazu (2002-04-28). Gundam: The Origin 1. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-59-116020-5. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Yasuhiko, Yoshikazu (2014-03-22). MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN -Activation- Section 1 - 無料コミック ComicWalker. Archived from the original on 2016-12-12.
  4. 安彦 良和 (2002-05-29). 機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN (1) (カドカワコミックス・エース). 角川書店. ISBN 978-4-04-713453-9. 
  5. 安彦 良和 (2005-05-25). 愛蔵版 機動戦士ガンダムTHE ORIGIN 1. 角川書店. ISBN 4-04-853809-8-C0979. 
  6. Yasuhiko, Yoshikazu (2013-03-26). MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN I -ACTIVATION-. Vertical Inc.. ISBN 978-1-93-565487-2. 
  7. Loveridge, Lynzee (2014-03-03). Kadokawa's 'ComicWalker' App Will Offer Manga in English - News - Anime News Network.
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This article is part of Project: The Origin

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Project Leader: User:FortressMaximus

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