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The XVX-016 Gundam Aerial (ガンダム・エアリアル Gandamu Eariaru?) is a mobile suit introduced in Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury. It is the main mobile suit of the 1st Season piloted by the protagonist Suletta Mercury.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The MS that Suletta Mercury brought to the school.[5] Its basic structure, in which Joints that imitate the human body are driven by EMTs (electric motors), is based on the same existing standards as mobile suits produced by other companies.[5] Although it is a machine that can be handled by ordinary pilots, it displays a performance that sets it apart from the norm when Suletta is boarding it.[5] Its powers are mediated by a new mineral called Permet, being very similar to the characteristics of the forbidden machine GUND-ARM, popularly known as "GUNDAM", which employed "GUND FORMAT", a system for MS that aimed at human augmentation.[5]
Armaments[]
- Head Beam Vulcan
- Two firing ports are built in the forehead. These are weak rapid firing beam weapons used for checking enemy movement, damaging equipment, etc.
- Escutcheon
- A multi-purpose offensive and defensive platform composed of a next-generation swarm remote-controlled weapon system popularly known as "GUND-BIT", that uses GUND FORMAT to organically links humans and machines.[5] It has anti-beam field properties.
- Bit Stave
- Each bit (Bit Stave) can be detached to be operated as a mobile turret with built-in Beam Cannons or as a shield.[5]
- Beam Saber
- A close combat weapon that makes a beam blade spring forth by the linkage with the grip's sensors. [6]The holder part rotates forward when taking it out from the mount holder on the back.[6]
- Beam Rifle
- This machine's portable firearm.[5] Stored on the backpack's mount when not in use, it detaches and uses built-in thrusters to automatically be equipped on the Aerial's hand.
- Beam Blade
- The Beam Rifle can also be used as a Beam Blade by generating a massive beam edge.
- Long Barrel Beam Rifle
- By connecting the Bit Staves and making it long-barreled, the output boost increases firepower and improves shooting accuracy.[5]
Equipment[]
- Shell Unit
- A control terminal that enables the transmission and processing of vast amounts of information between the pilot and the machine.[5] It emits light when the operating level of the GUND FORMAT reaches a fixed intensity, such as when operating GUND-BITs.[5] A mysterious phenomenon occurred when the Aerial achieved Permet Score 6 where the glow of the Shell Units changed from red to blue.[7]
- PPA
- Acronym for Permet Painted Armor, barrier against beam attacks deployed from the Bit Staves.
- Mirasoul Flight Unit
- A flight unit developed by combining the resources and skills of the Earth House students that replaces the standard backpack for additional propulsion in space to match the FP/A-77 Gundam Pharact's mobility. Originally a defective MS flight unit made by the third-party manufacturer Mirasoul, it has been improved and modified to suit Aerial with changes to propulsion shift timing. It has built-in rotating maneuver thrusters equipped on both sides, they pop-up when in use to shift into a high maneuverability mode with high-mobility speed in three axes. The two Beam Sabers from the standard backpack are retained and stored in a retractable mount in the bottom part of the two main boosters.
Modes[]
- Bit on Form
- By connecting the Bit Staves to the hardpoints throughout the machine, not only is it possible to quickly replenish electric power and propellant to the Bits, but it also improves the mobility and defensive performance of the Aerial itself.[5]
Special Equipment & Features[]
- Override
- While operating at a Permet score of 3, the Aerial was able to deactivate the Gundam Pharact's GUND-BITs.[1] While operating at a Permet score of 6, the Aerial could deactivate "Antidote" attacks[8] and take control of remote weaponry such as GUND-BITs and drones.[9][10] This phenomenon is due to the formation of a unique hyper-dense information system that uses data storms to control enemy systems via Permet links.[9]
History[]
Following the Vanadis Incident, the XGF-02 Gundam Lfrith, piloted by Elnora Samaya escaped to Mercury. It would be upgraded into a more refined and powerful mobile suit, resulting in the Gundam Aerial, and it is now the mobile suit where Ericht Samaya's life resides in. As the only mobile suit in Mercury the Gundam Aerial, piloted by Suletta Mercury, would be used by Suletta growing up to undertake various utilitarian missions, including search and rescue.
The Gundam Aerial would be sent to the Asticassia School of Technology as Suletta's personal mobile suit. After Suletta challenges Guel Jeturk to a sanctioned mobile duel, the Gundam Aerial would see its first combat sortie against Guel's Dilanza, albeit initially piloted by Miorine Rembran who had hijacked the Gundam. After Suletta takes to the field to reclaim the Gundam Aerial, she uses its Bit Staves to destroy Guel's Dilanza, winning the match. A following rematch against Guel sees the Gundam Aerial take on the AI-controlled MD-0064 Darilbalde, and despite interference by the Jeturk house including the use of the school's fire suppression system to weaken ranged beam attacks, the Aerial ultimately prevails.
The next duel the Gundam Aerial would fight would be against Peil Technologies' FP/A-77 Gundam Pharact piloted by Elan Ceres in the space outside of the Academy. Due to the Gundam Pharact's specialty in high mobility space combat, the Gundam Aerial would deploy with the Mirasoul flight pack equipped to match the Pharact's mobility. Despite this upgrade the Gundam Aerial would struggle in the ensuing duel, until it unleashes a data storm that immobilizes the Pharact's remote weapons and distracts Elan long enough for Aerial's Bit Staves to deal the finishing blow.
After a brief respite where the Aerial would be used as the mascot for the fledgling GUND-ARM, Inc.'s commercial pitch, the Aerial would see combat once more against the Grassley House in a 5 versus 5 team battle. To counteract the the Gundam Aerial's abilities the Grassley House's CEK-077 Beguir-Pente' would use their Antidote systems to disable the Gundam Aerial's GUND-Format, preventing it from using its Bit Staves. In turn, Suletta unlocks the Gundam Aerial's Permet Score to level 6, allowing it to override the Antidote system and use its Bit Staves to turn the tide of battle. Even then, the Gundam Aerial sustains heavy damage in its fight against Shaddiq Zenelli's CFK-029 Michaelis, and is only saved from defeat by the intervention of Earth House and Chuchu's Demi Trainer.
With the Gundam Aerial severely damaged, it is sent to Prospera Mercury to be repaired and overhauled into the XVX-016RN Gundam Aerial Rebuild.
Lineart[]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury
- Episode 1, The Witch and the Bride
- Episode 2, Cursed Mobile Suit
- Episode 3, Guel's Pride
- Episode 4, Unseen Trap
- Episode 5, Reflection in an Icy Eye
- Episode 6, A Gloomy Song
- Episode 7, Shall We Gundam?
- Mentioned only
- Episode 8, Their Choice
- Episode 9, If I Could Take One More Step Toward You
- Episode 10, Circling Thoughts
- Recording only
- Episode 19, Not the Best Way
- Recording only
- Novels
- Audio Dramas
Notes & Trivia[]
- The term "escutcheon" in heraldry refers to the shield-like shape that a coat-of-arms is either built around or within.
- In the series' first season trailers and opening song Shukufuku, the Aerial uses blue colored beams, similar to its predecessor, the XGF-02 Gundam Lfrith. These blue beams indicate output intended for actual combat. While the blue beams were included or depicted with early merchandise releases, the Aerial is never seen using blue beams in the anime. That's because the Aerial is depicted with green colored beams that have output abiding to Asticassia School of Technology limits. Such releases include:
- The High Grade the Witch from Mercury Gunpla kit.
- The Full Mechanics Gunpla kit.
- The SD Gundam EX-Standard Gunpla kit.
- The normal release of the Robot Spirits action figure.
- The Chogokin action figure.
- Aside from flashbacks or ending visuals, the original form of the Aerial only directly appears in nine episodes, after which it is upgraded into the Aerial Rebuild.
- The name "Aerial" may be a reference to the character Ariel in Shakespeare's The Tempest.
- References to The Tempest can be seen elsewhere in The Witch from Mercury, such as X-EX01 Gundam Calibarn being named similarly to the character Caliban.
- In Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. 2 OverBoost's popularity poll, Gundam Aerial was voted as the most popular 2000 cost unit.[11]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Episode 6, A Gloomy Song
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Episode 16, Cycle of Sin
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Episode 1, The Witch and the Bride
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Episode 5, Reflection in an Icy Eye
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 High Grade 1/144 Gundam Aerial gunpla manual.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Full Mechanics 1/100 Gundam Aerial gunpla manual.
- ↑ High Grade 1/144 Gundam Aerial [Permet Score Six] gunpla manual.
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Episode 9, If I Could Take One More Step Toward You
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Episode 14, What They Wish For
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Episode 17, Precious Things
- ↑ https://x.com/gundamvs/status/1837038989259186375/photo/1