The GNR-101A GN Archer (aka GN Archer, pronounced "Gun Archer") is a transformable support unit for the GN-007 Arios Gundam introduced in Season 2 of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and is piloted by Soma Peries (Marie Parfacy).
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The GNR-101A GN Archer is a transformable mobile suit developed in the Celestial Being's Lagrange 3 factory as a support unit for the GN-007 Arios Gundam.[1][2][3][4] It was developed with the concept of being an enhanced version of the Tail Booster equipped by the GN-003 Gundam Kyrios during the final battle with the UN Forces.[1][3][5][6] When the GN Archer is in its Flight Form, it can attach to the rear of Arios Gundam's Flight Form, creating the GN-007+GNR-101A Archer Arios.[5][7][8][9] In Archer Arios form, the GN Archer enhances the armament, mobility, and thrust of Arios' Flight Form, like what the Tail Booster did for the Kyrios.[1][4][5][10] Unlike the Tail Booster, the GN Archer was designed to be piloted, enabling it to fight independently and to transform into its Mobile Suit Form (MS Form).[1][6][11][12] However, it is not necessary for the GN Archer to be piloted when in the Archer Arios form, as the Arios' pilot can control this form entirely by himself.[7][9][13]
Rather than being built from scratch, the GN Archer is a modified GNY-0042-874 Gundam Artemie - a third generation Gundam that was about 90% complete when its development was abandoned due to a decision made by its pilot.[1][5][14][15] The transformation mechanism of the GN Archer utilized a simple system because it was added during the modification process, and not part of the original Artemie's design.[9][16] The GN Archer is powered by a large GN Condenser due to a lack of spare GN Drive, and when it is in the Archer Arios form, it utilizes the GN Particles supplied by Arios instead.[1][4][5][9] The GN Archer receives these GN Particles from Arios through the direct linkage of its Flight Form's nose unit to the Arios' GN Drive, which is in the Gundam's pelvic region, and these particles can also be used to recharge the support unit's large GN Condenser.[6][9][17][18] As a result of its development history, the GN Archer has a Gundam face hidden behind its MS Form's head visor.[1][4][5][19]
On its own, the GN Archer's Flight Form functions as a highly mobile fighter-bomber that can follow and support Arios, as well as handle missions such as searching for enemies and raids.[5][9] The Flight Form's weaponry consisted of two nose-mounted GN Vulcans and multiple GN Missiles fired from a pair of containers positioned at the sides.[3][5][6][9] Both weapons remain usable in Archer Arios form, enabling GN Archer to enhance the armament of the Arios.[1][3][5][6] In MS Form, the GN Archer has high versatility and battles using a pair of handheld GN Beam Rifles, a pair of GN Beam Sabers stored in the thighs, as well as the GN Missiles launched from the two containers, which are now positioned to the back.[3][6][20][21] These containers are not only equipped with GN Missiles, they also have a pair of thrusters mounted at the rear, and their bottom sections can store additional weaponry for supporting Arios or to improve the GN Archer's own combat endurance.[3][5][19]
The GN Archer can dock with Arios to form Archer Arios even after the latter was upgraded into the GN-007GNHW/M Arios Gundam GNHW/M.[5][19][22][23] The docking and undocking of the GN Archer and Arios are almost instantaneous and can be executed in the middle of a battle, enabling the two mobile suits to adapt to battlefield condition.[5][9][17][20] Although the GN Archer is not equipped with the Trans-Am System, which enhances a machine's mobility and defensive capabilities as well as increases its output by threefold for a limited time, it gains access to this system's effects when Arios activates its Trans-Am while in the Archer Arios form.[24] With Soma Peries (Marie Parfacy) as its pilot, the GN Archer fully displayed its ability to support the Arios, and showed that it can fight against the A-Laws' GN Drive Tau-powered mobile suits by itself.[5][9][20][22] Celestial Being later used the operational data of GN Archer and Arios to develop a new transformable mobile suit, the GN-011 Gundam Harute.[5][19][25]
Armaments[]
- GN Beam Rifle
- A pair of handheld GN Beam Rifles served as GN Archer's main weapon in MS Form, and they are used only in this form.[3][4][6][9] They have a larger muzzle than the rifles usually used by the Gundams, and fire beams with a wide attack area.[3][4][9] Although capable of damaging and destroying enemy MS, their intended purpose was for stopping enemy forces and to prevent their deployment.[9][17][20] Overall, these GN Beam Rifles are unique to GN Archer, a support machine with the role of protecting its allies rather than attacking enemy units.[3] When not in use during MS Form, the GN Beam Rifles can be mounted on the curved lateral thigh armor.[19][20]
- GN Missile
- The pair of containers that are positioned to the sides of GN Archer's Flight Form, and to the rear when the mobile suit is in MS Form, are equipped with sixteen vertical launch tubes for firing GN Missiles with homing capability.[3][6][9][22] The eight vertical launch tubes in each container are covered by four hatches, with one hatch covering two launch tubes.[3][6][8][20] After hitting their targets, the GN Missiles release GN Particles to destroy the enemy from within.[3] The GN Missiles served as the main weapon of the GN Archer's Flight Form, and can also be used in MS Form, as well as when the GN Archer is docked with the Arios Gundam or the Arios Gundam GNHW/M to form Archer Arios.[6][8][21][22]
- GN Beam Saber
- Used by GN Archer's MS Form, it is a melee weapon that emits a beam blade and is equivalent to those equipped on the Gundams.[3][5][6][20] The GN Archer stores two GN Beam Sabers in its thighs.[3][20] When the weapon is needed, the curved lateral thigh armor pops out to the side, and the GN Beam Saber slides out from the top of the gap for grabbing by the mobile suit's hand.[19]
- GN Vulcan
- A pair of GN Vulcans were built into the nose unit of the GN Archer's Flight Form, one on the left side and another on the right side.[3][5][9][11] These small caliber beam guns have high rate of fire, but weak firepower, and are mainly used for engaging enemy aircrafts during aerial combat, intercepting missiles, and to restrict enemy movements during mobile suit battles.[3][5][9][11]
History[]
The Celestial Being's Ptolemaios Team arrived at the Lagrange 3 factory, which was built into an asteroid, for resupplies and repairs. They were then introduced by Anew Returner to the GNR-101A GN Archer, a support unit for GN-007 Arios Gundam.[2] The GN Archer was later loaded onto the Ptolemaios Team's mothership, the CBS-74 Ptolemaios 2, as the team got ready for an operation to destroy the Earth Sphere Federation's satellite weapon, the Memento Mori. Unfortunately, the A-Laws discovered and attacked the factory before the resupplies for the Ptolemaios 2 could be completed. The pilotless GN Archer was then attached to the Arios, and launched in the GN-007+GNR-101A Archer Arios form.[7] The Archer Arios was tasked with escorting transport ships carrying evacuees to a safe area and completed the mission uneventfully.[7][26]
Subsequently, the Ptolemaios Team successfully destroyed the Memento Mori, but was ambushed by the Innovators and forced to flee to Earth. While the team was repairing the heavily damaged Ptolemaios 2, they were notified of two enemy mobile suits approaching. The pilotless GN Archer was again launched as part of the Archer Arios, which then engaged the Innovators' GNZ-003 Gadessa in an intense aerial battle.[13] The Gadessa later retreated when its companion, the GNZ-005 Garazzo, was destroyed by the GN-009 Seraphim Gundam.[13][27]
After receiving supplies from the European branch of the anti-Federation group, Katharon, the Ptolemaios Team headed towards the coast in the partially repaired Ptolemaios 2 and encountered a large A-Laws team. When the Ptolemaios 2 was at risk of being sunk by the enemy mobile suits, Marie Parfacy volunteered to launch in the GN Archer.[27] However, before she could board the mobile suit, the A-Laws team retreated as they were recalled to deal with the occupation of the Orbital Elevator in Africa by the ESF Coup d'état Faction, which consisted of soldiers of the ESF Forces that opposed the A-Laws.[27][28]
To stop the ESF coup faction, the A-Laws decided to fire the second Memento Mori at the Orbital Elevator. Despite intervention by the GN-0000+GNR-010 00 Raiser, the satellite weapon fired and struck a section of the elevator, triggering the auto-purging of the structure's outer shell sections. On Earth, Arios, GN-006 Cherudim Gundam, and GN-008 Seravee Gundam then tried their best to intercept as much of the falling outer shell fragments as they could. They were soon joined by the GN Archer piloted by Marie. The GN Archer, in its Flight Form, shot down several fragments with its GN Vulcans before transforming into MS Form and using its GN Beam Rifles to destroy more fragments. Afterwards, mobile suits operated by the Katharon, ESF coup faction, ESF Forces, and A-Laws also joined in to intercept the fragments.[11]
As the sun sets following the catastrophe, Marie in the GN Archer witnessed her father figure Sergei Smirnov's MSJ-06III-A Tieren All Region Type battling an A-Laws' GNX-609T GN-XIII piloted by his son, Andrei Smirnov. Marie tried to intervene, but her GN Archer was stopped by the GNX-704T/SP Ahead Smultron. With help from the 00 Raiser, Marie's GN Archer got away from the Ahead Smultron, but it was too late, Andrei's GN-XIII had dealt a critical blow to the Tieren All Region Type, and Sergei was killed when his machine exploded.[11]
Four months later, the Ptolemaios Team launched an operation to destroy the second Memento Mori. While Cherudim and Seravee attacked from below, the Archer Arios approached the satellite weapon from above with the 00 Raiser, and fired a salvo of GN Missiles from its GN Archer section. After that, Soma Peries (Marie's alternate personality who was reawakened due to Sergei's death) detached the GN Archer and charged at the defending A-Laws forces. Worried about Soma/Marie, the Arios piloted by Allelujah Haptism quickly followed behind. The second Memento Mori was then destroyed by the 00 Raiser.[8]
The Ptolemaios Team decided to capture an Innovator to learn the location of Veda, a powerful quantum processing system previously used by the Celestial Being and now in the Innovators' possession. Not long after, the Ptolemaios 2 was attacked by an A-Laws team, which included two Innovators. The GN Archer launched in Archer Arios form to intercept the enemy with the other Gundams.[8] Later in the battle, the Archer Arios and Cherudim were recalled to protect the Ptolemaios 2 from enemy attacks. After firing a barrage of GN Missiles, Soma detached the GN Archer and transformed it into MS Form to hunt for Andrei among the enemy forces, shooting down several enemy mobile suits with the GN Beam Rifles in the process.[20]
Soma eventually found Andrei, now piloting an GNX-704T Ahead, and attacked with the GN Archer's GN Beam Saber. Andrei blocked the strike with the Ahead's own GN Beam Saber and pushed the GN Archer back, but Soma did not give up and managed to reverse the situation. Andrei's Ahead then retreated when Allelujah's Arios arrived to assist Soma. Soma wanted to pursue Andrei, but Allelujah had Arios grabbed onto the GN Archer's shoulder to stop her. The 00 Raiser also arrived, and heartfelt words from its co-pilot, Saji Crossroad, on the futility of revenge caused Soma to give up her chase. The battle ended soon after with the Seraphim capturing the Innovator pilot of the Gadessa, Revive Revival.[20]
The Ptolemaios Team later discovered Revive had allowed himself to be captured so that he could infiltrate the Ptolemaios 2. With help from Anew, who was actually an Innovator sleeper agent, Revive freed himself, but his plan to steal the GN-0000 00 Gundam was thwarted by the Ptolemaios Team. Anew and Revive then escaped, but not before disabling the Ptolemaios 2's systems and wrecking the GNR-010 0 Raiser's cockpit system, rendering the 00 Raiser inoperable. As the Ptolemaios Team worked to repair the ship's system and the 0 Raiser, the Innovators took the opportunity to attack the ship. In response, the Archer Arios, Cherudim, and Seravee were deployed to intercept them.[21]
During the ensuing battle, Soma separated the GN Archer from the Arios so that the two mobile suits could evade the bending beam fired by the mobile armor GNMA-0001V Regnant. Soma then transformed the GN Archer into its MS Form to engage the enemies. The Innovators' Gadessa and Garazzo later broke through the Gundams' defense line and headed straight for the Ptolemaios 2. The GN Archer, Arios, and Seravee tried to stop them, but were caught and immobilized by the Regnant's Egner Whips.[21] Fortunately, the 0 Raiser was repaired in time, and the 00 Raiser quickly dealt with the Gadessa and Garazzo. The GN Archer, Arios and Seravee were then freed by the 00 Raiser, which proceeded to defeat the Regnant as well as the GNZ-007 Gaddess that was dueling with Cherudim.[21][29]
Using the coordinates provided by Celestial Being agent Wang Liu Mei, the Ptolemaios Team found that Veda was hidden somewhere in the dark side of the moon in Lagrange 2. They later detected the A-Laws gathering its fleet there, meaning they had to break through the A-Laws forces to reach Veda. In preparation for this final battle, the Gundams were upgraded with new weaponry, but the GN Archer remained unchanged. Upon reaching Lagrange 2, GN Archer launched with the upgraded GN-007GNHW/M Arios Gundam GNHW/M in Archer Arios form. The Archer Arios then raced ahead of the other Gundams and fired the GN Archer's GN Missiles to divert the A-Laws' advance force. After this, the GN Archer and Arios Gundam GNHW/M separated, transformed into their MS Form, and worked together to destroy the enemies.[22]
However, the GN Archer and the Gundams were soon caught in the anti-field created by the A-Laws, which was filled with special particles that diminished the effects of particle beams, rendering most of their beam weaponry useless. The A-Laws then deployed their main force, consisting of GN-XIIIs and Aheads carrying missile launchers and NGN Bazookas that fire physical projectiles. Despite being at a disadvantage, Soma and the Gundam Meisters continued fighting, with Soma firing the GN Archer's GN Missiles at the enemy mobile suits. The Ptolemaios Team later escaped the anti-field with help from the Katharaon. Additionally, the ESF coup forces also arrived and attacked the ships of A-Laws' main force from behind. The 00 Raiser then rushed towards the A-Laws' flagship and vaporized it with a Raiser Sword attack.[22]
With the A-Laws on the losing end, the Innovators made their move and fired a large and powerful particle beam from their cloaked mothership. The attack destroyed multiple ships and mobile suits regardless of their affiliation, but the GN Archer, the Gundams and the Ptolemaios 2 managed to evade it. Following this surprise attack, the A-Laws retreated, and the Innovators de-cloaked their mothership, the Celestial Being. The Ptolemaios Team rushed towards the large ship, with GN Archer docking once more with the Arios Gundam GNHW/M to form the Archer Arios. The Innovators responded by firing numerous gun turrets on their ship's surface to intercept them. The Archer Arios and the other Gundams retaliated by attacking and destroying the gun turrets.[17]
With the gun turrets proving ineffective, the Innovators deployed a massive number of their new mobile suit, the GNZ-004 Gaga, from their mothership. The Gagas then activated their Trans-Am System and launched a suicide charge at the Ptolemaios 2. The Gundams, including the Archer Arios, and the Ptolemaios 2 tried to intercept the Gagas, but there were too many of them. The Gagas that broke through the defensive fire forced their way through Ptolemaios 2's GN Field and crashed into the ship. The Katharon and ESF coup forces eventually caught up and assisted in repelling the Gagas, enabling the Ptolemaios 2 to escaped from the hordes of Gagas. The ship then charged and landed in one of the Innovators mothership's docking bays. While the other Gundams invaded the mothership, the Archer Arios stayed with the Ptolemaios 2 to protect it from the Gagas.[17]
The GN Archer and Arios Gundam GNHW/M later separated and transformed into their MS Forms to keep the Gagas away from the Ptolemaios 2. Unfortunately, the GN Archer's particle reserve soon dropped to a critical level. Allelujah then suggested Soma docked her GN Archer with his Gundam to recharge, but a Gaga suddenly charged in.[17] Allelujah shot it down with his Gundam, but another Gaga quickly sneaked through and crashed into the GN Archer, damaging the mobile suit and destroying most of its left arm.[17][30] Despite Allelujah's best effort to intercept the Gagas, another unit slipped through and smashed into the damaged GN Archer, further wrecking the support unit. Determined to protect Soma/Marie, Allelujah eventually activated the Arios' Trans-Am and shot down numerous Gagas in an instant.[30]
The terror of the Gagas was put to an end when Seraphim's Trial System was activated, shutting down all the Innovators' mobile suits in the battlefield that were linked to Veda. After that, Allelujah opened GN Archer's cockpit to check on Soma/Marie. By this time, Marie was once again in control of her body and she thanked Allelujah for his concern.[30] The battle later ended with the Innovators' defeat.[31] The fate of the GN Archer after the battle is unknown, but its data was combined with those of the Arios to develop the GN-011 Gundam Harute.[5][19][25]
Variants[]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Illustration & Artwork[]
Games[]
Fan Art[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- There are two conflicting accounts of when the GN Archer was created:
- In chapter 6 of the manga Mobile Suit Gundam 00I, Sherilyn Hyde was working on upgrades for the new Gundams deployed in AD 2312 when she had the idea to create a transformable support unit for GN-007 Arios Gundam. She then remembered the damaged GNY-0042-874 Gundam Artemie in storage and decided to use it as the base unit to build Arios' support machine.
- One of the 'Celestial Being [Krung Thep] Development Reports' that accompanied the chapters of the novel Mobile Suit Gundam 00P depicted a report written by Ian Vashti that suggested the modification of Artemie into the GN Archer took place in AD 2310.
- The Gundam Artemie makes its animated debut in episode 12 of Gundam Build Divers, and in a bit of irony, it is fighting against a GN Archer.
- The GN Archer appears alongside Arios in Gundam Extreme Vs. as its Assist. Unlike other Assists, GN Archer is automatically deployed and follows Arios wherever it goes and is invulnerable to damage, able to act as a shield while being able to fire back. GN Archer also docks with Arios in Flight Mode as well.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Gundam 00 Official Website GN Archer Profile
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 35, Light of Heaven
- ↑ 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 3.14 3.15 HG00 1/144 GNR-101A GN Archer model kit manual
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Archives Second Season' Book
- ↑ 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 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 'Gundam Mobile Suit Bible Vol. 140 – GN-008 Seravee Gundam' Book
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 'Dengeki Data Collection - Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season' Book
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 36, 00's Voice
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 43, Entangled Yearnings
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 151 – GNR-101A GN Archer Mechanic File
- ↑ Gundam 00 G-ROOMS Chapter 9
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 42, Within the Scattering Light
- ↑ Gundam 00 Official Website Arios Gundam Profile
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 39, I Can Hear a Song
- ↑ MS development chart from PG 00 Raiser model kit manual
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00P Chapter 17
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00P Celestial Being [Krung Thep] Development Report – GN Archer
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 48, Flower of Life
- ↑ 1/100 GN-007 Arios Gundam model kit manual
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 'Veda ~Mobile Suit Gundam 00~ "Ultimate" Art Works II' Book
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 44, Shadow of the Innovators
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 45, Anew Returns
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 47, For the Future
- ↑ HG00 1/144 GN-007GNHW/M Arios Gundam GNHW/M model kit manual
- ↑ HG00 1/144 GN-007 Arios Gundam (Trans-Am Mode) model kit manual
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 HG00 1/144 GN-011 Gundam Harute model kit manual
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 37, Wait for Me in Space
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 40, Victory Song of the Resistance
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 41, Prelude to Tragedy
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 46, The Door of Change
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 49, Beyond
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 50, Rebirth
External links[]