McGillis Fareed's Coup d'etat later known as the McGillis Fareed Incident (マクギリス・ファリド事件 Makugirisu farido jiken) is a conflict featured in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS. It was first major conflict in the Post Disaster timeline since the end of the Calamity War, providing the first serious threat to Gjallarhorn's control of Earth in over 300 years. The conflict was essentially a civil war between factions of Gjallarhorn: on one side the Arianrhod Fleet led by Rustal Elion, and on the other side the McGillis' faction, comprised of the Revolutionary Fleet commanded by Liza Enza, the Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet led by McGillis Fareed, and Orga Itsuka's Tekkadan.
Outbreak of Hostilities[]
By Post Disaster 325, Gjallarhorn was an organization rife with corruption and excess. From open bribery of local branches to excessive force used by local commanders to outright political conspiracy within the Seven Stars, Gjallarhorn frequently acted against its loftiest ideals. Using this as a justification, McGillis Fareed began to build a power base within Gjallarhorn, succeeding in displacing his father in PD 323.
Rustal Elion was not attached to Iznario Fareed or his policies, admitting that he might have to take action to protect Gjallarhorn from Iznario at some point.[1] However, while he did not care which Fareed represented the family, the insult to Gjallarhorn's reputation concerned him. Soon after a suspicious Elion discovered McGillis' true motives and began trying to discredit him. This cold war continued for two years as each man attempted to sway power away from the other's faction.
Rustal's plans included attempts to weaken the reputation of McGillis' allies Tekkadan, which involved starting and prolonging a proxy war between the SAU and Arbrau and eliminating the Turbines, who served to connect Tekkadan to Teiwaz. While these actions were effective, McGillis was able to obtain proof of the Arianrhod Fleet's involvement in them.
The coup began with a speech by Liza Enza.[1] Enza made public the injustices of the Arianrhod Fleet and declared that the Revolutionary Fleet, made up of young an idealistic Gjallarhorn officers, would return Gjallarhorn to its founding ideals.[1] Despite pledging loyalty to McGillis, the Revolutionary Fleet were not privy to their commander's true goals. McGillis did plan to reform Gjallarhorn, but did not truly believe in their principles, instead convinced by his childhood poverty that Gjallarhorn's power was the only thing that could enforce a just world, whether or not that bore resemblance to Agnika Kaieru's dream.[1]
Elion also believed strongly in Gjallarhorn, but his position was a pragmatic and traditionalist one. Unwilling to sacrifice the security that Gjallarhorn's regime had fostered, he sought to undo McGillis' influence and reinforce belief in Gjallarhorn's necessity amongst the populace, no matter the methods.[1] Though he sought to restore Gjallarhorn's supremacy as a peacekeeping organization, Rustal was not particularly concerned with the origins of his subordinates or the prejudices that Gjallarhorn espoused. He instead focused on achieving pro-Gjallarhorn results, and did not worry about what processes achieved them. Rustal regarded the Revolutionary Fleet as the "common pus in a large organization"[1] and held no faith that they would not damage the peacekeeping framework of Gjallarhorn. Responding to the start of hostilities, the Arianrhod Fleet broadcast that McGillis had been involved in the deaths of Carta Issue and Gaelio Bauduin, damaging his credibility as a reformer and depriving him of the Bauduin family's support.
Already in a strong position within the Seven Stars and the Revolutionary Fleet but advocating for unpopular reforms and damaged by Rustal's allegations, McGillis sought to shut down any and all opposition to his coup. Undergoing the original form of the Alaya-Vijnana surgery, McGillis claimed Agnika Kaieru's Gundam Bael as his flagship mobile suit. Kaieru's legacy held absolute power within Gjallarhorn and it was known that anyone who could pilot Bael would be the supreme leader of the organization. With Bael at his back, McGillis had complete control over Gjalllarhorn.
Or so he thought. Rustal did not stand down and the other members of the Seven Stars, while not willing to side against Bael, declared neutrality rather than supporting McGillis' faction. Rustal, while still offering cursory deference to Agnika Kaieru, believed in Gjallarhorn as an organization, not merely as an outgrowth of Kaieru's authority. It appeared that the edict of Bael's supremacy was viewed by the current regime as a foundational legend rather than a law to be respected[1], as it was on paper, and McGillis' winning stroke wound up impotent, prolonging the coup into an all-out war.
The Conflict[]
Formations during the conflict (Fan translation of images from 'Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Mechanics & World 2' book)
As a result of the other Seven Star families' defection, McGillis was forced to fight the Arianrhod Fleet with only the Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet, Revolutionary Fleet and Tekkadan.[1] The Arianrhod Fleet's strength was more than double that of McGillis' forces and the reform faction was far less experienced, hastily formed and disproportionately made up of young recruits with little combat experience.[1] Outmatched and outgunned, McGillis depended on Tekkadan to help deliver the decisive edge, but Rustal send Julieta Juris and his elite troops to prevent them from influencing the fighting. And he had one more trick to turn the tide in his favor.
Sending a machine in Revolutionary Fleet colors into battle equipped with a Dáinsleif launcher, Rustal engineered a false flag attack on the Arianrhod Fleet. Banned since the Calamity War by Gjallarhorn itself, use of a Dáinsleif was a clear breach of the rules of engagement. However, because the Revolutionary Fleet was seen to use a banned weapon, Rustal had plausible deniability to retaliate, which he did with rain of Dáinsleifs that decimated the enemy. Rustal's strategy of dividing his fleet, stalling Tekkadan, and using the Dáinsleif worked brilliantly. However, he did realize that he was not the only one with a Dáinsleif.
Overwhelmed by the Dáinsleif offensive, Tekkadan put a last ditch plan together. Using the damaged Hotarubi as a shield, Tekkadan maneuvered the Gundam Flauros into position and took aim at Rustal's flagship. The feint nearly worked, however last minute interference from Juris saved Rustal and cost Tekkadan both the Flauros and its pilot, Norba Shino. The failure of the Super Galaxy Bullet plan marked the beginning of the end, not only for the space battle but for the coup as a whole.
The Martian Front[]
The forces of McGillis and Tekkadan, devastated by the clash in space, withdrew to Mars.[1] The revolutionary fleet was nearly annihilated and the majority of soldiers who had continued to view McGillis as their rightful commander after Rustal revoked his authority abandoned him after the defeat.[1] Gjallarhorn's Mars Branch was all that remained in reserve.[1] But Rustal pulls this out from under McGillis as well, initiating diplomacy with the chief of the Mars Branch. Knowing that he could not resist the Arianrhod Fleet, the Mars Branch refused to collaborate with McGillis, however, out of gratitude for appointing him to his position the Branch Chief turned a blind eye to McGillis' descent to the planet.
For Rustal, victory had already been decided at this stage[1], however, he decided to use this situation to restore the power and the authority of Gjallarhorn that McGillis cost the organization two years ago in Edmonton. In order to do so, Rustal collaborated with Nobliss Gordon to frame Tekkadan for war crimes and ensure that the story and the ensuing battle would be widely covered by the press.[2] At the same time, he cut power and communication to the Tekkadan base, ensuring that they could not contest his version of events. Rustal even refused to accept Tekkadan's surrender at Orga's behest. Just as Tekkadan's explosive emergence onto the planetary stage and shocking strength had once delivered Gjallarhorn to McGillis, Rustal reasoned that defeating them would leverage that same reputation towards repairing Gjallarhorn's credibility as an untouchable fighting force. Orga himself would later die following an assassination by Nobliss' hitmen, effectively removing the head of Tekkadan's leadership and leaving the remainder of the group at Gjallarhorn's mercy.
The only problem were the remaining Gundams at Tekkadan's disposal; namely the sheer strength of Mikazuki Augus and the Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex.[1] Even though Tekkadan's supply lines had been cut and Gjallarhorn had the superiority in terms of strength, Rustal feared that the Barbatos could potentially turn the tide of battle on its own.[1] While the Arianrhod Fleet could field enough mobile suits to eventually overwhelm the Barbatos, doing so would undo the propaganda victory of defeating Tekkadan and cost the lives of capable pilots who would be needed to reestablish Gjallarhorn after the coup. The answer, again, was the Dáinsleif. Though the damage to the planet could provoke a moral outcry, Rustal deemed it the only certain way to achieve his goals and lured the Barbatos and the Gundam Gusion Rebake Full City to a firing zone out of the cameras' sight and launched from orbit, ensuring a dramatic finish, and minimal risk of backlash against the use of Dáinsliefs.
The Final Stand[]
Rustal predicted that McGillis would attack alone.[2] McGillis' philosophy was one of extreme individualism and, with most of his allies dead, occupied, or deserted, it was almost certain that he would come after Rustal in Bael. With most of Rustal's forces dedicated to the anti-Tekkadan operation, Rustal bet on Gaelio and his Gundam Kimaris Vidar to act as the last line of defense against McGillis.[2]
In the end Rustal's instincts proved accurate and Bael tore through the remaining Arianrhod mobile suits before engaging the Kimaris Vidar in a final duel. The two Gundams crashed into Rustal's flagship and a desperate McGillis abandoned Bael and attempted to assassinate Rustal on foot. However, Gaelio intercepted him and finally killed McGillis Fareed, ending the coup.
Many of Gjallarhorn's Mobile Suits surrounding Tekkadan's headquarters were outfitted with large shields, rare equipment for a Mobile Suit.[2] This emphasis on defensive capabilities was designed to maximize their ability to impede and corral the two remaining Gundams without losing units. Even so, the attack power of the Barbatos Lupus Rex and the Gusion Rebake Full City exceeded expectations and Rustal's troops suffered more casualties than predicted.[2]
Though the plan worked as intended, the two Gundam Frame mobile suits survived direct hits from the Dáinsleif barrage.[2] However, it is clear that both units suffered severe damage.[2] Julieta led the final charge against the heavily damaged Barbatos and managed to barely keep up with the Gundam. However, eventually the Barbatos Lupus Rex slumped against her machine and she realized that the pilot had died. Though she pitied the Tekkadan pilots, she cut off the Barbatos' head, claiming that Rustal and Gjallarhorn had put down the devil of Tekkadan.
Post-Conflict[]
With the death of McGillis Fareed in battle and the destruction of Tekkadan, the rebellion, later called the "McGillis Fareed Incident," came to an end.[3] Gjallarhorn, which had temporarily lost its credibility after the Battle of Edmonton, regained its strength and authority.[3] Rustal Elion, who led the suppression of the incident, was firmly established in his position within Gjallarhorn and began a major reform of the organization.[3] Ever the pragmatist, Rustal saw that, with three of the seven families eliminated, the Seven Star system that he had defended was no longer viable and capitalized on McGillis' critique of Gjallarhorn to present himself as a reformer. Gaining popularity with those who opposed McGillis' extremism and those who perceived the old regime as corrupt, Rustal was easily swept into power at the top of a new, more democratic Gjallarhorn. The remaining families of the Seven Stars retained a symbolic decoration as "descendants of the heroes of the past", however this was largely ceremonial and they no longer held any real power.
Rustal's Gjallarhorn also reduced its presence on Mars, perhaps based on the belief that the distance between the Earth-based Gjallarhorn and Mars created a volatile, rebellious relationship that did not encourage stability on either planet.[3][4] Gjallarhorn's retreat from Mars helped bolster the Martian indepedancce movement, which succeeded in creating the Martian Union, with Kudelia Aina Bernstein as the first Union Chairperson.[4] Kudelia was an obvious choice, as an accomplished Martian politician and "The Maiden of Revolution", but it was believed that Teiwaz's support of Bernstein played an important role in her nomination. Gaelio Bauduin speculated that there was some kind of agreement between Teiwaz and Rustal are behind the nomination[4] and Rustal and Kudelia would collaborate on the Human Debris Abolishment Treaty
Notes & Trivia[]
Appearances[]
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 1.13 1.14 'Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Mechanics & World 2' Book
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 'Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Mechanics & World 2' Book page 101
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 'Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Mechanics & World 2' Book page 102
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 'Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Mechanics & World 2' Book page 103