The RMS-108 Marasai (also known as the MSA-002 Marasai) is a second-generation mobile suit introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
Based on and developed as an all-around improvement of the RMS-106 Hizack, the RMS-108 Marasai was one of the earliest second-generation mobile suits ever created. Designed around principles utilized by the Principality of Zeon, the Marasai featured several characteristics of the Zaku Series, including external power pipes around the head and torso, and a mono-eye sensor. The Marasai featured several new technologies pioneered by the Earth Federation, including a Movable Frame[1] and Gundariam Alloy, which greatly improved its overall defense, maneuverability, and sensor range. The Marasai also featured a new large backpack with high-power thrusters, granting it increased acceleration, as well as atmospheric flight under gravity for a short period of time.[1] The primary feature of the Marasai over the Hizack was the inclusion of a more powerful Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor, which allowed it to utilize Beam Weaponry far more regularly than its predecessor.
Alongside its technological improvements, the Marasai is also several tons lighter than Hizack when measuring its empty weight. The Marasai did not have as large a weapon selection as the Hizack however, because the Hizack was often equipped with older weapons used by Zakus, such as machine guns and heat hawks, while the Marasai used only advanced beam weapons. The Marasai's standard weapons are a beam rifle, two beam sabers, and two head mounted Vulcan guns. It also possessed a spiked pauldron on the left shoulder, and a large shield equipped on the right. These factors led to the Marasai's performance being equal to that of the MSA-003 Nemo and rivaling the RMS-099 Rick Dias.
Armaments[]
- Vulcan Gun
- A pair of vulcan guns are mounted on the Marasai's head. These shell-firing weapons have a high rate of fire but little power and are generally ineffective against mobile suits, though they can damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors. They are also ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles or small vehicles.
- BR-87A Beam Rifle
- A standard hand carried ranged beam weapon is the beam rifle. The beam rifle used by the Marasai is the same model as the Hizack's. It is powered by a replaceable e-pac and is power rated at 2.2 MW.
- Shield
- Shields are simple in their design, being essentially thick slabs of armor that the equipped mobile suit use to absorb impact from attacks that, for whatever reason, cannot be dodged. Mounted on the right shoulder, it serves as the Marasai's primary means of defense and has a storage rack for its beam sabers.
- Beam Saber
- The beam saber is a small device held in the mobile suit's hands when deployed and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. It emits high-energy Minovsky particles to form a blade-shaped I-field (via manipulation of electromagnetic fields), and then fills this I-field shell with superheated Minovsky particle plasma to produce an effective cutting blade. The Marasai carries two beam sabers stored on the shield when not in use, this particular model used by the Marasai has a longer handle compared to others.
- Fedayeen Rifle
- Equipped by one of the Zeon Remnants' Marasai, it is the same weapon as used by the RX-139 Hambrabi and RX-110 Gabthley. This long and powerful beam rifle is power rated at 6.6 MW, and charged by a rechargeable energy cap. Additionally, a beam blade can be emitted from the rear end of the rifle, enabling it to be used as a long beam saber.
- Sea Serpent
- Another weapon originating from the Hambrabi, it was used by one of the Zeon Remnants' Marasai during the attack on Torrington Base. It is a handheld, wired grappling weapon capable of delivering crippling electrical shocks to enemy mobile suits. Its tip contains verniers that helped in controlling its trajectory.
- Hand Grenade
- The same weapon used by the MS-09F/trop Dom Tropen and MS-09G Dwadge, it can be thrown like regular grenades and set to detonate upon impact with the target or timed to explode after a preset time. In the manga Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn - Bande Dessinee, one of the Zeon Remnants' Marasai attempted to destroy the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee using hand grenades.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- Ballute System
- An atmospheric entry device designed to be used by a Mobile Suit. As the mobile suit enters the atmosphere, a bowl-shaped ballute (balloon parachute) deploys to protect it from the friction heat of atmospheric entry. The balloon then detaches, leaving the mobile suit with chest and leg hover units which ease its descent to the ground. If the mobile suit reaches the ground without expending all the fuel in the leg units, these devices can also be used for hovering and high-speed strike missions. The equipment was designed and mass produced between the years UC 0083 and 0087 and is designed to be used by a multitude of different mobile suit models.
History[]
Gryps Conflict[]
The Marasai was originally developed by Anaheim Electronics for the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG) as the "MSA-002". However, due to pressure from the Titans, Anaheim presented them with the design when the Titans started to turn their attention towards Anaheim's support of the AEUG. It was formally adopted and put into mass production as the "RMS-108", being the eighth machine developed at the Granada base.[1] Many Earth Federation and Titans pilots used the Marasai following its introduction, most famously Kamille Bidan's rival, Jerid Messa. While defending the Earth Federation base Jaburo, Jerid's Marasai fought against the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II before being destroyed. Other pilots of the Marasai included Kacricon Cacooler and Sarah Zabiarov. Kacricon was killed by Kamille, who destroyed his Marasai's Ballute, causing him to burn up in the atmosphere. As the Gryps Conflict continued, Marasais were fielded by the Titans as a frontline machine. Near the end of the war, the RMS-154 Barzam begun replacing the Marasai as the Titans' main mobile suit.
First Neo Zeon War[]
After the Gryps Conflict, the Earth Federation sought to distance itself from the Titans and abandoned numerous mobile suit designs that were used by the latter, no matter how effective they were. The abandoned Marasais were picked up by the first Neo Zeon, who would use the machines to fill their ranks. During Glemy Toto's rebellion, some units were used by his faction and were painted in a gray color scheme.
Third Neo Zeon War[]
In U.C. 0096, several Marasais painted in a distinctive green color scheme were used by Zeon remnants to attack the Federation's Torrington Base. One of these units was later destroyed by the RX-160S Byarlant Custom. Another unit was destroyed by regrouping Earth Federation forces during the Federation's counterattack.
Other Media[]
Gundam Build Fighters[]
In the fourth episode of Gundam Build Fighters, a Marasai equipped with a Hyper Mega Launcher was defeated by the GAT-X105B/FP Build Strike Gundam Full Package.
Variants[]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
.jpg "Rms-108 (Evolve).jpg (30 KB)")
Anime[]
.png "Marasai Beam Rifle Firing 01 (Zeta Ep45).png (3.49 MB)")
.png "Marasai Sea Serpent 01 (Unicorn 0096 Ep12).png (1.34 MB)")
.png "Marasai Sea Serpent Deployed 01 (Unicorn 0096 Ep12).png (1.63 MB)")
Manga[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
.jpg "Marasai (3).jpg (288 KB)")
Game[]
Gunpla[]
![1/144 HGUC RMS-108 Marasai [Unicorn Ver.] (2012): box art](/wiki/File:145345NZMRS32.jpg "145345NZMRS32.jpg (242 KB)")
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Episode 12, The Winds of Jaburo
- Episode 9, A New Bond
- First Appearance
- Episode 10, Reunion
- Episode 11, Entering the Atmosphere
- Episode 43, Haman's Victory
- Episode 45, Coming From the Heavens
- Movies
References[]
External links[]