The Vanadis Incident (ヴァナディース事変 Vanadīsu Jihen?) [2], is a conflict featured in Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury PROLOGUE [3][1].
Background[]
On the 20th of the month in which the attack occurred, the Front 3rd Autonomous Sector had approved a budget to purchase Gundam-type mobile suits manufactured by Ochs Earth. Ochs Earth's weapon system had raised major concerns regarding bioethical issues for its pilots, and the accountability of the company as well as the Mobile Suit Development Council had been called into question [3].
The attack was upon the Vanadis Institute's laboratory at Fólkvangr. On that day, tests were being conducted on one of the aforementioned Gundams, the XGF-02 Gundam Lfrith (LF-03). The Lfrith had not yet managed to meet the conditions imposed by the council. According to a video call between Ochs Earth employees Yamaoka and Nadim Samaya, the higher-ups/their sponsors were in a rush to roll out the Lfrith as the council had set a deadline [3].
In actuality, the council never planned to accept Ochs Earth. The council met at an asteroid, aware they were overstepping the bounds of private enterprise with their plans to mark the end of Ochs Earth. An hour later, they held a press conference. The council announced their decision to suspend all development of Gundam-type mobile suits. In addition, they would forcibly seize Ochs Earth, the company that developed them, under the authority provided by business administrative laws, and to maintain order and ethics in the development of mobile suits, they would establish the auditing organization named Cathedra [3].
Battle[]
The fighting occurred concurrently with the council's press conference. Cathedra troops infiltrated Fólkvangr on the Begavent which the Vanadis Institute believed to be a cargo ship. A traffic controller at Control 173 directed the it to Gate 3. On the surface of the asteroid, a person in a normal suit hacked into Fólkvangr's systems. Under orders from Delling Rembran, Dominicus had deployed the Ulysses to raid Fólkvangr. When Cardo Nabo arrived to watch the broadcast with her colleagues, she realised that the Begavent was a trap. Troops from Cathedra disembarked and killed two employees [3].
Heingra mobile suits launched from the port side of the Ulysses as HQ ordered all Dominicus units to seal off Fólkvangr and its surrounding space. Nyla Bertran noticed smoke grenades in the hallways but was shot dead by Cathedra shortly after warning Wendy Olent to run. Nadim Samaya launched in Gundam Lfrith Pre-Production Model LF-01. At Permet score two, he dodged all beams fired from the Heingras. He then launched GUND-BITs at a Heingra, moving to Permet score three, destroying the suit and its pilot. Thus, the remaining Heingra pilots were ordered not to engage one-on-one due to these "unfamiliar swarm weapons". Wendy, who piloted the other Lfrith Pre-Production model to avenge Nyla, destroyed a Heingra with a beam. The Ulysses detected the second Gundam-type mobile suit to the port side in their travel direction, apparently confirming how many machines existed at Fólkvangr. Kenanji Avery then deployed in the CEK-040 Beguir-Beu [3].
Wendy engaged two Heingras, launching GUND-BITs which destroyed one. The other fired beams back at her which she evaded. She deactivated the launchers as the side-effects of GUND took hold such as markings on her face and rapid breathing. She had raised her score to dangerous levels but was still no match for the Beguir-Beu which uses Non-Kinetic Pods to disable the GUND-BITs she had launched. With the GUND Format link suppressed, Wendy couldn't move her Gundam. Kenanji secured his Beguir-Beu by grabbing Wendy's beam rifle with his right Foot Unit and stabbing his left bayonet's Sword Unit into the torso of the Gundam, firing the Double Beam Gun twice. In her office, Dr. Cardo Nabo reached for a firearm in her desk drawers when the assault unit commander of Cathedra entered to execute her. After stalling them with a speech on the GUND Format, she aimed a pistol at them [3].
With Wendy killed in action, the Beguir-Beu chased Nadim's remaining Gundam around the asteroid. Inside the laboratory, flames began to engulf the Gundam Lfrith (LF-03) that Ericht Samaya was still inside of. Fortunately, Elnora Samaya found her and closed the cockpit hatch. Upon booting up the Lfrith, it intercepted a message that the enemy had successfully neutralized the lives of Cardo Nabo and all key members, and that they were to retreat as soon as preparations to blow up the front were complete. The Lfrith then had a successful callback from layer 33 with Ericht Samaya's name on the monitor. The Ulysses detected the unregistered Permet identification code as strong electromagnetic waves from within Fólkvangr; realising there was a third machine they weren't aware of. The last Gundam Lfrith launched into space and deployed Bit Staves which combined into the Compo GUND-BIT Shield. Eri touched three targets on the monitor whilst her normal suit was connected to the port for her mother's prosthetic arm. The shield separated into Bit Staves, destroying two of the Heingras that Eri had locked onto. A surviving Heingra briefly wielded a beam saber but a Bit Stave quickly docked into the Lfrith's Receiver Gun, forming the GUND-BIT Rifle, destroying the Heingra in a single shot [3].
The Compo GUND-BIT Shield formed again to block incoming beams from the Beguir-Beu. The Receiver Gun became the Beam Blade as the Beguir-Beu faced the Lfrith head-on with its bayonet's Sword Units. Kenanji deploys his Non-Kinetic Pods to disable the Gundam, but one was destroyed when Nadim entered firing Beam Vulcans. Nadim rammed his Gundam into the Beguir-Beu. While Nadim held onto the Beguir-Beu, Elnora and Eri flee as the Ulysses fired beams at them. Nadim leveled up to Permet score four. Rapidly breathing, he whited out. Still holding the Beguir-Beu, he sung Happy Birthday to Ericht until his last breath. The Beguir-Beu pushed away the motionless Lfrith Pre-Production Model and retreated. Ericht finished the song alone as her father's Gundam exploded [3].
Aftermath[]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury
- Episode 7, Shall We Gundam?
- Mentioned only
- Episode 16, Cycle of Sin
- Mentioned only
- Episode 7, Shall We Gundam?
- Movies
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 (2023-01-26) "機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女 第1クールファイナルブック", 月刊ガンダムエース 2023年3月号 No.247 (in Japanese). 角川書店 [Kadokawa Shoten], p. 4. JAN 4910124010334.
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Episode 7, Shall We Gundam?
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury PROLOGUE