GNX-704T/AC Ahead Sakigake (aka Ahead Close Combat Type, Ahead Close Combat Type (Sakigake), Sakigake, Mr. Bushido's Ahead) is a customized GNX-704T Ahead piloted by Mr. Bushido in season 2 of Mobile Suit Gundam 00.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The A-Laws' Ahead is a highly versatile mobile suit and thus used as the testbed for custom machines as well as to search for various developmental directions.[1][2][3][4] Although this versatility also resulted in the Ahead having high performance, some of the custom machines derived from it had adopted an opposite approach, focusing on specialization.[4][5][6] This is to better counter the Gundams, whose potential lies in their specializations, causing them to remain a viable threat in certain situations.[4] An example of a custom Ahead with specialized specifications is the Ahead Sakigake.[5][6][7][8] As implied by its official name, the "Ahead Close Combat Type", this mobile suit is specialized for close combat, and it is commonly known by its development codename of "Sakigake".[1][2][5][9]
The Sakigake was developed with A-Laws' pilot Mr. Bushido in mind and modified accordingly.[1][2][3][5] Its combat style and armored, samurai-look were the results of taking his preferences and opinions into account during development.[1][3][5][7] Additionally, the mobile suit's operating system and armament placement were designed to accommodate the left-handed Mr.Bushido.[2][4][5][6] The data of one of Mr. Bushido's previous mobile suit, the SVMS-01X Union Flag Custom II, was also utilized in the Sakigake's development.[10][11] Since the Sakigake was designed for close combat, its main armament is a large, high-output GN Beam Saber, while its ranged armaments are limited to the low firepower GN Vulcans and GN Short Beam Cannons that are mainly for restricting enemy movements.[1][2][5][6] Other armaments include a backup saber, the GN Short Beam Saber, and a unique GN Shield for defense.[1][2][3][9]
To avoid interfering with the arms when the sabers are used, the pair of main thrusters on the Sakigake's back are mounted vertically instead of horizontally like the normal Ahead's.[2][5][9] Another thruster-related change is that the rear waist thruster's vents are split into left and right sections, allowing for finer maneuverability.[5] The Sakigake also has enhanced chest, shoulder and head armor, and its GN Drive Tau has a higher output setting than the normal Ahead's, hence the color of the emitted GN Particles have become closer to orange.[4][5] The horns on Sakigake's head is said to contain mechanisms for controlling GN Particles, and the cable on the back of its head is for supplying power to added equipment.[1][2][3][5] The Sakigake's data was later used in the development of Mr. Bushido's next mobile suit, the GNX-U02X Masurao, and the Ahead's successor, the GNX-Y802T Neo-Hed.[10][11][12][13]
Armaments[]
- GN Beam Saber
- The primary close combat weapon of the Sakigake, it is a custom, large-sized GN Beam Saber designed to be wielded using both hands.[2][4][9][14] It has high destructive power, but also consumes more GN Particles.[2][3][6] As the amount of particles supplied by the Sakigake is insufficient, a GN Condenser for charging the GN Beam Saber rapidly is installed on the mobile suit's GN Shield.[2][3][6][9] The beam blade emitted by this weapon resembles the blade of a samurai's sword. The GN Beam Saber is able to slice apart the GN-0000 00 Gundam's GN Shield, and with Mr Bushido's skills, it can also be used to block beam shots.[15][16] When not in use, it can be stored on the underside of the GN Shield or on either thighs.[2][5][6][7]
- GN Short Beam Saber
- A small, spare GN Beam Saber stored in a rack under the Sakigake's left chest, it emits a short beam blade and is easy to wield.[2][3][5][15] This Kodachi-like weapon also has a short operating time, but its power rivals that of a normal beam saber.[2][9] Similar to the GN Beam Saber, Mr. Bushido can use the GN Short Beam Saber to parry beam shots.[16]
- GN Short Beam Cannon
- A pair of small beam cannons built into the front of the main thrusters on the Sakigake's back.[2][5][6][9] The GN Short Beam Cannons are smaller than the GN Beam Rifle and have inferior attack power, but they have higher rapid-fire capability.[2][5] They are used for restricting enemy's movements when the Sakigake is closing in for melee combat.[2][5][6][16]
- GN Shield
- Like the GN Shield used by the normal Ahead, the Sakigake's GN Shield is made of E-Carbon and a GN Field effect is applied to its surface, allowing it to achieve high defensive capability.[2] Additionally, it has a Defense Rod mounted centrally on its surface and a dedicated GN Condenser for charging the GN Beam Saber rapidly is located at the top.[2][3][5][9] The Sakigake's GN Shield is mounted on the right forearm as its pilot, Mr. Bushido, is left-handed.[2][5][6][14]
- 30mm GN Vulcan
- As with the normal Ahead, the Sakigake has a pair of 30mm caliber beam guns built into its head.[2][3][6][9] These GN Vulcans have low firepower, but can be rapid-fired intermittently and have high utility value.[2] They are used for restricting enemy's movements, creating a barrage, intercepting missiles, etc.[2]
Special Equipment & Features[]
- Energy Cable
- A cable extending from the back of the Sakigake's head, it can connect to and provides power to added equipment.[2][3][8][9] Although capable of powering the mobile suit's GN Beam Saber, this energy cable is not used with the weapon as it can be unhandy.[2][5] The energy cable is retractable and stored inside the head prior to launch.[7][9] This power supply system is later inherited by Mr. Bushido's next mobile suit, the GNX-U02X Masurao.[5][17]
History[]
Please see Mr. Bushido's page for the combat history of Ahead Sakigake.
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
.png "Ahead Sakigake Rear 01 (00 S2,Ep4).png (3.55 MB)")
.png "Ahead Sakigake Close-Up 02 (00 S2,Ep6).png (3.17 MB)")
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The word "Sakigake" has multiple meanings in Japanese including forerunner, pioneer, charging ahead of others, etc.
- The Sakigake is the first known non-Flag or Flag-like mobile suit that Graham has ever piloted.
- The inclusion of "/AC" to the Ahead Sakigake's model number compared to the base Ahead's model number mirrors that of the close combat use GNX-607T/AC GN-XII Sword and its base GN-XII's model number.
- The Ahead Sakigake's GN Shield is similar to the one used by the MSN-04 Sazabi, both have a similar shape and are used to store their primary beam sabers. This is interesting as Mr. Bushido is considered a Char Clone and the Sazabi is used by Char Aznable.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Gundam 00 Official Website Profile
- ↑ 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 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 HG00 1/144 GNX-704T/AC Mr. Bushido's Ahead model kit manual
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 'Dengeki Data Collection - Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season' Book
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Mechanics 2nd book; Sakigake info translated by calubin_175 in Gundam 00 Forums
- ↑ 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 5.18 5.19 The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol. 21– GNX-704T/AC Ahead Close Combat Type / GNX-704T/SP Ahead Quantum Brainwave Type Mechanic File
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Data Archives' Book
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 'Veda ~Mobile Suit Gundam 00~ "Ultimate" Art Works II' Book
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Archives Second Season' Book
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 Linearts and Details image in References Gallery
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 MS development chart from 'Gundam Weapons - Mobile Suit Gundam 00V Special Edition' book
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 MS development chart from 'Dengeki Data Collection - Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Sidestory' Book
- ↑ Gundam 00V Official Website Mechanic Page
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 00V Vol.021 GNX-Y802T Neo-Hed
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 29, A Reason to Fight
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Episode 32, Reunion and Separation
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Special Edition 2: End of World
- ↑ HG00 1/144 GNX-U02X Masurao model kit manual
External links[]