The PMX-000 Messala is a transformable mobile armor introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The Messala is the first of five mobile weapons personally produced by the powerful Newtype Paptimus Scirocco on board the transport ship Jupitris. As the Messala was originally used to fly in the atmosphere of Jupiter, it is equipped with powerful thrusters to counter the planet's high gravitational pull. Because of this, when used under Earth’s atmosphere, it is extremely fast and agile. The Messala is heavily armed with a pair of mega particle cannons, two missile pods, two beam sabers, two arm claws containing grenade launchers and vulcan guns, and two leg claws. Thanks to these weapons, the Messala is a deadly enemy in both close and long range combat. While the total thrust of the Messala is frequently stated to be 96,000 kg, this value is only derived from the combined thruster outputs of the six main thrusters in the backpack, and does not include the output of the tail and leg thrusters.[1][2][3] As such, the mobile suit's actual total thrust is unknown, with given figures ranging from a minimum of 196,000 kg to at least 200,000 kg.[1][2][3]
Armaments[]
- Beam Saber
- The Messala has two beam sabers stored in its wrists and their grips extend when in use.
- Mega Particle Cannon
- Each of the large back binders house a mega particle cannon along with the majority of the Messala's thrusters. Powered directly by the Messala's generator, its destructive power is comparable to those of a battleship.
- 9-tube Missile Pod
- Mounted in each shoulder, they are unobstructed in both of the Messala's forms. The micro missiles housed within have high accuracy due to the seeker mounted in their tips.
- Arm Claw
- Attached to each of the wrists of the Messala is a set of three-fingered claws that acts as sub-arm unit. Capable of crushing enemy units, the two sets of arm claws are also armed with grenade launchers and vulcan guns.
- Grenade Launcher
- Inside each arm claw is a 3-round grenade launcher, the claw has to open for the grenade to be fired.
- Vulcan Gun
- On the sides of each arm claw are two vulcan guns, which are likely used against missiles or other lightly armored targets.
- Leg Claw
- The feet of the Messala can function as claws for capturing and crushing enemy unit.
History[]
The Messala was first used by Scirocco to attack the shuttle Temptation under the command of Bright Noa. During this attack, it had a short battle with the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II piloted by Kamille Bidan, and the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki piloted by Quattro Bajeena. Scirocco later used the Messala to act as a vanguard for the Titans' fleet during the AEUG's orbital drop operation to attack Jaburo. With the Messala's incredible speed and power, Scirocco sunk a number of the AEUG's Salamis Kai-class cruisers. He then fought Kamille's Gundam Mk-II, Quattro's Hyaku Shiki, and a RMS-099 Rick Dias piloted by Emma Sheen, and the Messala's speed enabled him to avoid attacks from the three AEUG pilots. Scirocco eventually retreated in the Messala to avoid being pulled by Earth's gravity.
The Messala was subsequently piloted by young Scirocco follower Sarah Zabiarov, and later by AEUG defector Reccoa Londe. Towards the end of the Gryps conflict, with Scirocco piloting PMX-003 The O, Sarah piloting the PMX-002 Bolinoak Sammahn and Reccoa piloting the PMX-001 Palace Athene, the Messala was left without any pilots, forcing it to sit the final battle of Gryps 2 out. The Messala was not seen after that and its fate is unknown.
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
.png "Messala First Transformation 01 (Zeta Ep11).png (2.66 MB)")
.png "Messala Head 01 (Zeta Ep28).png (2.17 MB)")
.png "Messala MA-Mode Front 02 (Zeta Ep41).png (3.58 MB)")
.png "Messala Beam Saber 03 (Zeta Ep11).png (3.24 MB)")
.png "Messala Mega Particle Cannons Firing 01 (Zeta Ep40).png (4.41 MB)")
.png "Messala Missiles Firing 01 (Zeta Ep41).png (4.45 MB)")
.png "Messala Beam Saber Stored 01 (Zeta Ep41).png (4 MB)")
.png "Messala vs Zeta Gundam 01 (Zeta Ep41).png (3.9 MB)")
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Messala is the first-ever transformable mobile weapon to appear on-screen in Gundam animation history.
- The Messala shares its name with one of the primary antagonists in the novel, Ben-Hur. Messala in the novel is Judah Ben-Hur's former childhood friend who betrays Judah by falsely accusing him of an attempted assassination of the Roman governor, which leads to his family's enslavement. Messala reappears later in the story as an accomplished chariot racer, whom Judah must defeat to free his family.
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Episode 10, Reunion
- First Appearance
- Episode 11, Entering the Atmosphere
- Episode 40, Activation of Gryps
- Episode 10, Reunion
- Movies
References[]
External links[]