Operation Star One, also known as the Battle of A Baoa Qu, was the final battle of the One Year War. During this battle, the Earth Federation Forces attacked the space fortress A Baoa Qu, one of the Principality of Zeon's last remaining strongholds. However, Zeon fired the superweapon Solar Ray at the Federation fleet while they were en route to A Baoa Qu, destroying one-third of the fleet.
The remaining Federation fleet continued with the attack as planned, leading to a prolonged fleet and mobile suit battle at A Baoa Qu. In the end, the fortress fell to the Earth Federation Forces and both Gihren Zabi and Kycilia Zabi were killed. With the death of most of the Zabi family and their last line of defense broken, Zeon was forced to sign a peace treaty with the Earth Federation, ending the war.
Prelude
Gihren watching his father leave Side 3
The Revil Fleet leaving Confeito
Following the Battle of Solomon, the Earth Federation Forces captured the space fortress Solomon. The fortress was renamed "Confeito" and became a forward base for the next phase of the operation. In preparation for a Federation attack on the Zeon homeland, Gihren Zabi prepared a final line of defense between the lunar base Granada and the space fortress A Baoa Qu.[1]
At the time, Zeon's number of vessels was less than one-fifth that of the Federation Space Force, making a direct confrontation extremely disadvantageous. However, knowing that the Federation could only take three routes toward the line, Gihren planned on annihilating the Federation Fleet using the Solar Ray, a massive laser cannon converted from one of Side 3's colonies.[1][2]
In order to power the Solar Ray, the Principality government placed an order to limit the use of electricity in Side 3. In preparation for the final battle, all men above the age of 15 were mobilized as cadet soldiers. Seeing that his nation was heading toward destruction and desperate to stop Gihren's plans, Zeon Sovereign Degwin Sodo Zabi decided to discuss peace terms with the Federation himself, departing Side 3 in his Gwazine-class battleship Great Degwin with two Musai-class escorts. This did not escape the eyes of Gihren, who remarked that his father had grown old and was far too late.[1][2]
On December 26, the Federation 1st Combined Fleet led by General Johann Abraham Revil arrived at Confeito. Three days later, on December 29, as the 1st Combined Fleet departed Solomon, Revil announced the commencement of Operation Star One, an attack on the Zeon stronghold codenamed "Star". However, to prevent intelligence leak, he did not reveal whether "Star" referred to Granada or A Baoa Qu.[2][3] In addition, the fleet split up and headed for the destination separately to confuse the enemy.[4] However, two MS-06S Zaku II Patrol Type sighted a Federation fleet departing from Confeito, one of which reported that the Federation Fleet was heading for A Baoa Qu and not Granada before being shot down by the RGM-79C GM Type C accompanying the fleet.[5]
The destruction of the Phoebe and the Great Degwin
Earlier, a Mobile Assault Force fleet led by Rear Admiral Kycilia Zabi had positioned itself in a space sector between A Baoa Qu and Granada. This fleet encountered the 1st Combined Fleet and engaged its left flank. During this battle, the Kycilia Fleet's advance element was wiped out and Zeon Newtype pilot Lalah Sune was killed in battle, the rest of the fleet continued toward A Baoa Qu. Because of this skirmish, the SCV-70 White Base and several other Federation vessels were separated from the 1st Combined Fleet.[1][4]
On December 30, the Revil Fleet gathered at the third battle line leading toward A Baoa Qu, where Revil revealed that the goal of the Operation was to invade the Zeon homeland through A Baoa Qu. At 0820 hours, Revil's flagship, the Magellan-class battleship Phoebe, received a transmission from the Great Degwin asking to discuss peace. At 0900 hours, the Great Degwin came alongside the Phoebe.[1][2]
However, at 0905 hours, Gihren ordered the Solar Ray to be fired at the Revil Fleet. The massive laser vaporized the Great Degwin, the Phoebe, and a third of the entire Federation attack force.[1][2]
Battle
Zeon Defenses
A Baoa Qu's fields and defenses
On December 31, at 0117 hours,[6] Gihren gave a speech to the Zeon soldiers at A Baoa Qu in order to boost morale.[1][2]
| “ | My brave and loyal Zeon soldiers! Half of the Earth Federation Forces' fleet has been blasted to stardust by our Solar Ray. Its light was the light of Zeon's righteousness! No matter how much power the Federation Forces may still have, after this fatal blow, they are but a few pathetic remnants! I say now that so weak a force could not possibly defeat us here at A Baoa Qu!
Humanity, under the care and guidance of we Zeon, the chosen, superior nation will, at last, gain immortality. If this war drags on, all mankind may be destroyed! We must make the incompetent minions of the Federation pay! We Zeon must arise, for the sake of all our tomorrows! |
” |
—Gihren Zabi | ||
Roused by the speech, the cries of "Sieg Zeon!" from the Zeon soldiers shook A Baoa Qu.[2]
The Zeon fleets gathered at A Baoa Qu
In this space sector, Zeon gathered more than 4 battleships, 30 heavy cruisers, and 80 light cruisers - nearly 70% of all operational Zeon vessels. In addition, the defending mobile suits consisted of more than 1500 MS-06 Zaku II, 1200 MS-09R Rick Dom, and 200 MS-14 Gelgoog - Zeon's latest mobile suit. Many of the soldiers were poorly trained cadets and conscripts. However, knowing that the war would reach the homeland should A Baoa Qu fall, their morale was extremely high.[2]
The space around A Baoa Qu was divided into four sectors, with A Baoa Qu at its center: N Field (north), S Field (south), E Field (east), and W Field (west), with south being the direction of the sun. N Field was the side facing the Zeon homeland, S Field was the side facing Earth, and E Field was the side facing the dark side of the moon.[7]
Federation Regrouping
The Solar Ray wiped out more than half of the 1st Combined Fleet, which accounted for roughly one-third of the Federation vessels participating in the attack on A Baoa Qu. However, the Federation leadership decided to continue with the operation so as to not give Zeon any more time to prepare. While this decision was strategically sound - had the operation been delayed by one week, Zeon may have had the chance to fire the Solar Ray once again - it was a reckless decision for the soldiers on the front, since the command system was now in tatters.[2]
At 0550 hours, the Federation's remaining fleet finished regrouping. The remaining fleet consisted of elements from the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th mobile fleets, with the White Base and the Magellan-class battleship Luzal at the core.[2]
First Wave
The Federation missile barrage at A Baoa Qu
At 0810 hours, the Federation Forces launched its first wave of attack.[2] After launching a massive barrage of missiles and beams at A Baoa Qu,[1][6] the 2nd and 3rd Fleets deployed Public-class assault boats, space fighters, and minesweepers towards the N Field. As with the opening stage of the Battle of Solomon, these were intended to create an anti-beam barrier using specialized missiles. The anti-beam barrier disabled long-range beam cannons for both sides. However, Zeon had learned from Solomon and increased the number of missile launchers on A Baoa Qu.[2] Gihren calmly ordered his forces to respond with anti-air missiles, shooting down many Federation craft.[1]
Public-class assault boats attempting to create an anti-beam barrier
Seeing the fierce attack on N Field, Gihren ordered half of S Field's defense fleet to be redirected to N Field. Unbeknownst to him, the attack on N Field was a ruse intended to concentrate Zeon forces there. At around the same time, the Kycilia Fleet arrived at E Field.[1][2][4]
An RGM-79C GM Type C launching into battle
At 0840 hours, unable to wait any longer, Federation mobile suits and vessels began their attack. Though this was a reckless move, the Federation Forces were left with no other choice, having lost the Solar System during the Solar Ray attack.[2] In response, the A Baoa Qu defenders launched satellite missiles at the approaching Federation fleet, sinking numerous Federation vessels.[6]
Fierce mobile suit combat and fleet combat at close-quarters soon erupted around A Baoa Qu. Against the superior number of the Federation Forces, Zeon responded with mobile fleets centered around two Dolos-class carriers - the Dolos stationed in N Field and the Dolowa stationed in S Field.[2] Though the battle in N Field was still fierce, Zeon forces seemingly had the advantage.[1][4]
Turning Point
The Luzal Fleet launching the attack on S Field
The Zeong deploying into battle
However, the situation soon changed when the Luzal Fleet, made up of remnants from the 1st Combined Fleet, attacked S Field. In response, Kycilia deployed the 34th Mobile Suit Team, led by Captain Char Aznable in the unfinished Newtype-use mobile suit MSN-02 Zeong, to S Field. Despite its incomplete nature, the Zeong proved to be formidable, sinking multiple Federation vessels before being locked in combat with the RX-78-2 Gundam.[1][4]
At around this time, Fuji-class civilian transport SCRT-229 Suruga, which had departed from Confeito, carrying space immigrants and Colony Public Corporation employees to Side 6 in L4, was attacked and sunk by Zeon forces in L2. Suruga captain Henken Bekkener ordered the civilians aboard to be evacuated in an escape shuttle. The shuttle soon came under the protection of the Jack the Halloween Team, a mobile suit team from the Federation 7th Fleet's 24th Patrol Unit, which consisted of two GMs pilotted by Adam Stingray and Jack Bayard. In order to avoid the chaotic battle around them, the two GMs carried the escape shuttle through Dolowa, and then into A Baoa Qu itself.
Gihren's death at the hands of Kycilia
At 0925 hours, an unexpected development occurred within A Baoa Qu's command center: Kycilia Zabi shot and killed Gihren for intentionally firing the Solar Ray at their father's ship. After Kycilia assumed command and her subordinate Twanning announced that Gihren had died in battle, Zeon's chain of command was thrown into chaos and Zeon defenses began weakening.[1][4] By this point, the Luzal fleet, which originally consisted of 25 ships, had already lost 15 ships, including the Luzal.[1][3]
At 0940 hours, the tide of battle began turning. After a grueling battle, the Dolos was sunk, greatly reducing the fighting strength of Zeon forces in N Field.[2][3][6]
Close Combat
Federation and Zeon forces in combat outside the fortress
The White Base Corps' Guncannons attempting to breach A Baoa Qu
Between 1000 hours and 1100 hours, the battle grew increasingly chaotic.[2] At 1010 hours, the Dolowa was sunk by the Earth Federation 3rd Fleet (6th Fleet by another account) led by Vice Admiral Douglas Vader.[2] Using the sunk Dolowa as shield, mobile suits from the Luzal Fleet successfully boarded A Baoa Qu.[3] Following the breakthrough in S Field, Federation mobile suits also began breaking through in N Field. Meanwhile, due to most of Zeon's pilots being inexperienced cadets, the defending MS-14A Gelgoog and MS-09R Rick Dom mobile suits failed to achieve the expected battle results. [1][3]
Delaz's fleet retreating from A Baoa Qu
At some point after the Dolowa sunk, then-Captain Aiguille Delaz learned of Gihren's death. Realizing that he had been killed by Kycilia, Delaz, a Gihren loyalist, evacuated from A Baoa Qu with his entire fleet. He also took Zeon ace pilot Anavel Gato with him.[8]
At this point, Kycilia decided to switch to a new strategy: luring the enemies into A Baoa Qu and destroy them one by one. While this was an extremely passive strategy, it was the best way to maximize the combat potential of the inexperienced Zeon pilots. However, with no Zeon reinforcements coming, the fall of A Baoa Qu had become inevitable by this point.[1][3]
The White Base crash landing into A Baoa Qu
Since the Federation's mobile suits had destroyed many of A Baoa Qu's anti-air emplacements, Federation vessels that were incapable of self-propulsion, including the White Base, began boarding A Baoa Qu to engage in close combat. Notably, after Vice Admiral Vader's battleship, the Hyperion, boarded the fortress, Vader himself joined the battle with an anti-MS recoilless rifle, becoming the first vice admiral in history to do so. In addition, the Salamis-class cruiser Philadelphia overloaded its reactor to clear the way for other vessels.[2]
Meanwhile, after a prolonged battle, the Gundam had destroyed the Zeong's torso. While Char escaped in the Zeong's head and continued to engage the Gundam, its IFF signal was lost, causing Kycilia to believe that Char had died. With both S Field and N Field now silent, Kycilia prepared her escape. She transferred command over to Twanning, instructing him to surrender the fortress 15 minutes after her escape, confident that she could continue the war with the forces at Granada and the homeland.[1][3]
The Gundam's pilot, Amuro Ray, abandoned it after setting it to autopilot. The autonomous Gundam and the Zeong's head each fired one last shot at the other, destroying them both.[1] At around the same time, the Jack the Halloween Team, lost in A Baoa Qu, found themselves inside the chamber of a massive beam weapon - the Mini Solar Ray.[9]
Fall of A Baoa Qu
A Baoa Qu exploding
At 1205 hours, Kycilia attempted to escape from A Baoa Qu aboard a Zanzibar-class cruiser. However, just as the ship was launching, Char, having survived the destruction of Zeong's head, assassinated Kycilia by shooting the Zanzibar's bridge with a bazooka, instantly killing her. Immediately after, the Zanzibar was sunk by a Salamis-class cruiser.[1][2]
At roughly the same time, Adam Stingray opened fire at the Mini Solar Ray, causing a series of explosions. However, his GM was ambushed by a Zaku II that responded to his attacks, and he was caught in the explosion while Jack escaped with the shuttle, guided by the telepathic voice of Amuro. Because of the Mini Solar Ray's destruction, a series of explosions erupted from the inside of A Baoa Qu and began spreading, eventually destroying the immobilized White Base.[9]
A Zeon fleet retreating from E Field
At 1215 hours, a fire broke out in the missile factory at the center of A Baoa Qu. Since the core of A Baoa Qu's power cable network was located below the missile factory, this fire caused most of A Baoa Qu to lose power, essentially meaning the fortress had lost all combat capabilities.[1][2]
Approximately ten minutes after outside Zeon forces lost communications with A Baoa Qu, a large Zeon fleet, including one Gwazine-class battleship, began retreating from the battlefield through E Field. Shortly after, A Baoa Qu Defense Command Center sent out an emergency transmission to all vessels.[6]
| “ | We no longer possess the ability to command. All ships participating in the operation are to immediately cease fighting and act according to your own judgment. | ” |
Defense of E Field
Zeon forces begin retreating from N Field through E Field
Following the de facto cease-fire order from A Baoa Qu, Zeon forces from N Field began retreating toward Side 3 through E Field, whose defense was still holding, in part thanks to the efforts of the Kuspen Combat Battalion and the 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit. However, Jotunheim captain Martin Prochnow estimated that this safe route could only be maintained for 30 more minutes.[6]
Despite the cease-fire order from the Zeon side, many enraged Federation soldiers in E Field continued to attack the Zeon forces. In order to protect the retreating Zeon fleets, the Kuspen Combat Battalion and the 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit fought desperately to hold back the Federation forces. During the battle, Kuspen Combat Battalion leader Herbert von Kuspen sacrificed himself protecting a MP-02A Oggo. After confirming the retreat of the last ship, the surviving members of the Battalion and the 603rd returned to Side 3.[6]
Aftermath
Char aboard a Gwazine-class battleship heading for the Axis
Zeon fleets gathering at Karama Point
The Federation fleets cotinued with the rescue of survivors and the mop up of enemy remnants for the rest of the afternoon. Meanwhile, with the death of most of the Zabi family, the Zeon homeland was thrown into chaos. Eventually, the Principality of Zeon Assembly was reorganized into the Republic of Zeon government following the assassination and arrest of many Zabi family loyalists. Through the neutral Side 6, the Republic of Zeon government offerred to sign a peace treaty with the Earth Federation government. On January 1, U.C. 0080, at 1500 hours, the Earth Federation and the Republic of Zeon ratified the peace treaty at Granada, finally putting an end to what would later be known as the One Year War.[2]
However, approximately half of the Zeon space force present at A Baoa Qu refused the Republic of Zeon's order to disarm.[10] On January 15, two weeks after the signing of the peace treaty, these forces escaped to a space sector known as Karama Point to decide their future. Most of them decided to escape to the asteroid base Axis, but Delaz decided to stay in the Earth Sphere to continue the war.[11][12] Char Aznable also departed for Axis aboard a Gwazine-class battleship.[1] According to one account, the last survivors of the Zabi family, Zenna Zabi and Mineva Lao Zabi, were also aboard the same ship.[13]
Gallery
Notes & Trivia
- Some sources, notably Entertainment Bible 39, stated that "Operation Star One" was the codename for the Federation's space counterattack as a whole, and included the Battle of Solomon. However, dialogue in Episode 40 of the TV series and Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space explicitly referred to Operation Star One as an upcoming operation even after the Federation captured Solomon, so this interpretation was incorrect.
Appearances
- OVAs and ONAs
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
- Episode 1, Gundamjack
- Flashback
- Episode 1, Gundamjack
- Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079
- Episode 3, Spirits Returning to the Cries of Thunder
- Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt
- Episode 4, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Episode 4
- Episode 5, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Episode 5
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 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space
- ↑ 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 (1991-11-01) 機動戦士ガンダム 戦略戦術大図鑑~1年戦争全記録 [Mobile Suit Gundam Big Book of Strategy and Tactics ~ One Year War Complete Collection] ENTERTAINMENT BIBLE.39 (in Japanese). Bandai, pp. 118-129. ISBN 9784891891770.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Gundam Officials (2001), p.615-621
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 The Official Gundam Perfect File Vol.45, p.25
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 Episode 2, Cross the Path of Light
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 Episode 3, Spirits Returning to the Cries of Thunder
- ↑ Gundam Officials (2001), p.33-35
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Episode 1, Gundamjack
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 (2013-01-22) THE OFFICIAL GUNDAM PERFECT FILE 68 (in Japanese). DeAgostini, pp. 21-22. JAN 4910205340138.
- ↑ (1992-02-29) 機動戦士ガンダム MS大図鑑【PART.6 デラーズ紛争編 上】 [Mobile Suit Gundam MS Encyclopedia 【PART.6 Delaz Conflict, Part 1】] ENTERTAINMENT BIBLE.42 (in Japanese). Bandai, p. 52. ISBN 9784891892159.
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Mayfly of Space
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Battle of Lunga Point
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Deleted Affair: Portrait Of Young Comet
| One Year War Conflicts and Events | |
| January, 0079 UC | |
|---|---|
| One Week Battle (Operation British) | Battle of Loum | |
| March, 0079 UC | |
| Earth Drop Operations (First Landing Operation | Second Landing Operation | Third Landing Operation) | |
| September, 0079 UC | |
| Attack on Side 7 | |
| November, 0079 UC | |
| Operation Odessa | Battle of Jaburo | |
| December, 0079 UC | |
| Attack on the Arctic Base | Operation Rubicon | Operation Christmas | Operation Cemballo (Battle of Solomon) | Operation Star One (Battle of A Baoa Qu) | |