Gundam Frame - Tumblr Posts
Alright, considering I spent the last two points gushing about how much I like Mcgillis, I should probably do a post on the other great power in Gjallarhorn.
Rustal Elion, the Man Who Rules the Moon.
And I’m gonna pick apart that title before anything else. He is in charge of the Arianrhod fleet, in charge of directly safeguarding Earth, which obviously affords him a lot of power. Him being “the man who rules the moon” also puts him in the same league as Nobliss Gordon and McMurdo Barriston “the man who rules Jupiter”. It also shows his, at least at first, disconnection with the other events going on around him. Or rather the fact that he essentially just shows up, this massive power unrelated to much of the others going on around him, like he’s come down from another world. Which is fairly accurate.
His tactical excellence really goes without much saying, but the recent Iron-blooded orphans MSV has revealed a new detail I want to talk about.
ASW-G-48 Gundam Haagenti, the Gundam frame owned by the Elion family, currently stored at Vingolf with (presumably) the rest of the Seven Stars Gundam frames (which is a topic for another day).
Now we know that members of the families are able to take out and deploy Gundam frames, as Gaelio does with Kimaris, so why wasn’t the Haagenti deployed? It would have surely been a great boon to their forces, and even might have been able to match Barbatos.
Rustal even has a pilot for it in the form of Julieta Juris, so why was it just left in Vingolf?
Because Rustal chooses not to. The Gundam frames are legendary relics of a bygone age, and Rustal wishes to crush Tekkadan and Mcgillis without using them. He could even risk playing into Mcgillis’ hands by using the same “power” that Mcgillis does. So instead he uses the Reginlaze Julia.
He rejects the ancient power of the calamity war, instead choosing a machine based off the brand-new Reginlaze frame. He embraces the future, while Mcgillis and Tekkadan wield weapons of the past.
(Okay yes he also uses Dainsleif’s, but those don’t have as much of a mythic aspect in-universe as Gundam frames do).
It just adds to his character, with him possessing the power needed to enact change, but also the wisdom to recognise that some powers he probably shouldn’t use.
(And yes I know the out-of-universe explanation is “well it didn’t exist yet, so of course he couldn’t have used it”, don’t @ me.)
Also (less relevant to the above points but I just want to kinda gush about Haagenti (and Gamigin) for a bit) ever since we saw the hangar in Vingolf in episode 43, I’ve really been looking forward to seeing what the other Seven Stars Gundam’s are. Haagenti and Gamigin are utterly gorgeous, but I’m particularly interested in the Issue, Kujan and I suppose Fareed families (I always forget that the Fareed family exists as a separate entirety to Mcgillis, since he was adopted into it).
Huh, actually that does throw Mcgillis’ plan in a new light, since he (presuming it’s still around) essentially already had a Gundam as his birthright as head of the Fareed family, but still went for Bael. Maybe the colour didn’t match or something, I don’t know.
Anyway, I’m reasonably sure that the Kujan family Gundam’s no longer around, since you just know Iok would’ve deployed it, Rustal or no. But that still leaves the Issue, Fareed and Baklazan families still to go.
Just for fun, let’s think up a list of reasons as to why Mcgillis chose not to use the Fareed Family Gundam.
It was destroyed/lost in the calamity war.
It reminds him of Iznario, and he wants to reject that connection.
It’s got a very specific way of fighting (like Flauros) and he wants something with a more generalist bent.
He feels a greater kinship with Agnika Kaieru than he does the Fareed family founder.
It was the 72nd Gundam frame built, and was completed postwar, thus running counter to Mcgillis’ ambitions to be like his idol.
It’s been chained up in a similar manner to how Bael eventually will be.
It was scrapped to repair another Gundam frame.
It’s biometrically locker to a blood member of the Fareed family for some reason.
The previous pilot was an amputee, and didn’t so much pilot the Gundam in so much as they were “plugged in”. (Think Gundam Thunderbolt).
Iznario (or a prior member of the Fareed Family) sold it, or parts of it, for bread money (as the Warrens did).
It was stolen by Gundam thieves.
It requires three pilots.
The colours clash horribly with his hair.
Despite their great combat skill, the Fareed family founder was just kind of a prick, and nobody looks on their history with much fondness.
The Fareed family founder was very small by modern standards, and the cockpit’s uncomfortable to sit in for any length of time.
The hands were damaged, and are now in the permanent pose of throwing up gang signs.
Bael’s just, like, so much cooler.
It’s really, really uncomfortable to look at for a significant period of time.
Any time it’s activated, the Fareed family founder’s custom mixtape of post-calamity rap starts playing and nobody knows how to turn it off.
It’s haunted.
Iznario lost it in a poorly conceived bet.
It’s likeness was bought out by a prominent snack food corporation some years back, and as such it legally is not allowed to be viewed by anyone.
The door to it in Vingolf is stuck, and nobody ever noticed until Mcgillis came along.
Somebody spilled drink on the controls, and now they feel weirdly sticky.
The cockpit’s stuffed with body pillows, and nobody can bring themself to clean them out.
It’s lying at the bottom of the ocean after someone took it for a joyride.
It’s got an absolutely awful paint job that Norba Shino would be proud of.
It’s uninsured.
It was mounted on the prow of the Fareed family ship, and it’s exceedingly difficult to remove.
It’s stored in multiple separate locations. All Vingolf has is a pair of legs and the right hand.
It’s currently being used as a soundstage for a prominent punk-rock band on Jupiter, and no-one’s sure when the lease ends.
It has the words “free ice-cream” prominently painted on it somewhere.
It achieved sentience and promptly grabbed some popcorn.
The Fareed family never had a Gundam, and just killed that many mobile armours with conventional tactics.
It’s covered in rust.
It doesn’t have nanolaminate armour for some reason.
It’s being used as a power source for Gjallarhorn’s premier health spa and resort.
The Fareed family threw it into the sun when the war ended, believing they wouldn’t need it anymore.
It’s been repaired really badly, and the duct tape and welding really doesn’t inspire confidence.
It’s off starring in its own, less successful show.
It’s got a hit play on broadway.
It runs off a subscription service, and nobody’s been paying it for the last 300 years.
Mcgillis has really poor gatcha rolls, so he just got 26 common rarity grazes instead.
It’s really a Leo somebody scotch-taped a v-fin to.
The entire Gundam is made of cardboard.
Mcgillis forgot the password to get into the hangar, and he can’t ask Iznario.
Somebody doodled angry eyes and a handlebar moustache on it, and nobody can look at it without cracking up.
It was taken apart, then reassembled incorrectly. (It’s got a leg sticking out of where it’s head should be, and nobody’s sure where the sword ended up)
He can’t activate it without deleting the entire Fareed family’s Doom highscores.
It’s currently being used to hold a massive tv that the rest of Gjallarhorn use to watch the hockey.
It is currently on fire.
When he went to pick it up, two of the engineers were using it to hold a romantic candlelit dinner and he felt awkward interrupting so he hasn’t been back since.
A head of the Fareed family used it as the site of a drunken party and when everyone came round from their hangover it was just gone, and nobody could remember what happened to it.
It looks exactly like the Gundam Dantalion, and records have been lost as to why this is the case.
It’s currently being used as a scarecrow.
Feel free to add any more in the comments!
Huh. So I had a think about this a while ago, with an eye towards putting together a Model Display, but what Gundam Frames look like they did in the calamity war? So if you were gonna put together a display of Calamity-War Era Gundam Frames, what would it look like?
Though this list is mostly focused on Gundam Frames, since they’re the ones we know the most about about in relation to the calamity war, I would like to quickly call out the the base Hugo is explicitly stated as being a thing during the Calamity war, if you wanted some grunts to back up your gundam’s.
Also, as of writing I haven’t seen any of Urdr Hunt, and I’m working mostly of what’s stated in the model kit manuals for suits from those. So if someone offhandedly mentions the calamity war in that, I don’t know about it.
Known - suits that we explicitly know to have existed as they are now during the calamity war.
Bael - piloted by Agnika Kaieru during the calamity war, presumably the first deployed, with Mcgillis explicitly restoring it for his coup.
Flauros (Calamity War Ver.) - explicitly is as it appeared in the calamity war.
Kimaris Vidar - The only version of Kimaris stated to have existed since the calamity war. It’s possible the others did as well, but I can’t say for certain.
Asmoday/Asmodeus - explicitly called out as being the same as it was in the calamity war, and the suit that prompted this whole thought experiment.
Marchosias - explicitly as it was in the calamity war.
Possible - Suits that you could make the argument they look the same as they did in the calamity war, but not explicitly known.
Astaroth Origin - I assume so? Due to the name “origin” and presence of Nanolamiate sword? But honestly it’s only stated that the Warren family recovered it, so they could’ve done some restoration work in the interim. Hence me hedging my bets and putting it here.
Barbatos (1st form) - I’m assuming it’s appearance in the first episode is how it was excavated, I don’t think Maruba would armour it if he was just gonna use it as a generator, and Gundam frames are impressive enough I don’t think he would for a buyer either.
Dantalion - It’s design can’t have changed much since the calamity war, since it’s build around utilising such a wide variety of optional equipment. Another one I’m just uncertain enough about to put here.
Gremory - As with Dantalion, we know it’s design can’t have changed much since it’s built around the Nanolaminate Coat and Battle Anchor. Though you might choose to restore the battle anchor, I don’t think it’s strictly necessary. Another example of me hedging my bets.
No - suits that we explicitly know looked different during the calamity war
Gusion - recovered by the Brewers and armoured with what they had available, ditto when Tekkadan armoured the Gusion Rebake. All we know is that it probably had long-range weaponry (Dainsleif?).
Vual - Recovered by Rosario Leone armourless, later armoured by him and Ville Klassen.
Honestly most of the ones under Possible I’m confident enough about, I just can’t find anything that makes it explicit that they haven’t changed since the Calamity War. I reckon the Astaroth Origin (minus the Warren family markings) and Gremory’d for right in though.
Update!:
Known:
Barbatos (4th Form) - stated to have been restored to its form from the Calamity War (though not it’s performance).
I confess I’ve been having some difficulties placing this one. The 6th Form resembles the original concept design and I kept mixing up its frame design with that of its successor, the Gundam Barbatos Lupus (which has different feet). I couldn’t shake the idea that Maruba might have re-armed or had to repair parts of it (There’s a thought, I wonder if there’s (or will ever be) a Gundam Frame that’s been repaired with parts of another Gundam frame).
Though I will add that this is only the form of the Mobile Suit. We still don’t know if it had any specialist weaponry (who knows, it may still be buried on Mars somewhere).
But I’m reasonably confident that’s Barbatos.
Huh. So I had a think about this a while ago, with an eye towards putting together a Model Display, but what Gundam Frames look like they did in the calamity war? So if you were gonna put together a display of Calamity-War Era Gundam Frames, what would it look like?
Though this list is mostly focused on Gundam Frames, since they’re the ones we know the most about about in relation to the calamity war, I would like to quickly call out the the base Hugo is explicitly stated as being a thing during the Calamity war, if you wanted some grunts to back up your gundam’s.
Also, as of writing I haven’t seen any of Urdr Hunt, and I’m working mostly of what’s stated in the model kit manuals for suits from those. So if someone offhandedly mentions the calamity war in that, I don’t know about it.
Known - suits that we explicitly know to have existed as they are now during the calamity war.
Bael - piloted by Agnika Kaieru during the calamity war, presumably the first deployed, with Mcgillis explicitly restoring it for his coup.
Flauros (Calamity War Ver.) - explicitly is as it appeared in the calamity war.
Kimaris Vidar - The only version of Kimaris stated to have existed since the calamity war. It’s possible the others did as well, but I can’t say for certain.
Asmoday/Asmodeus - explicitly called out as being the same as it was in the calamity war, and the suit that prompted this whole thought experiment.
Marchosias - explicitly as it was in the calamity war.
Possible - Suits that you could make the argument they look the same as they did in the calamity war, but not explicitly known.
Astaroth Origin - I assume so? Due to the name “origin” and presence of Nanolamiate sword? But honestly it’s only stated that the Warren family recovered it, so they could’ve done some restoration work in the interim. Hence me hedging my bets and putting it here.
Barbatos (1st form) - I’m assuming it’s appearance in the first episode is how it was excavated, I don’t think Maruba would armour it if he was just gonna use it as a generator, and Gundam frames are impressive enough I don’t think he would for a buyer either.
Dantalion - It’s design can’t have changed much since the calamity war, since it’s build around utilising such a wide variety of optional equipment. Another one I’m just uncertain enough about to put here.
Gremory - As with Dantalion, we know it’s design can’t have changed much since it’s built around the Nanolaminate Coat and Battle Anchor. Though you might choose to restore the battle anchor, I don’t think it’s strictly necessary. Another example of me hedging my bets.
No - suits that we explicitly know looked different during the calamity war
Gusion - recovered by the Brewers and armoured with what they had available, ditto when Tekkadan armoured the Gusion Rebake. All we know is that it probably had long-range weaponry (Dainsleif?).
Vual - Recovered by Rosario Leone armourless, later armoured by him and Ville Klassen.
Honestly most of the ones under Possible I’m confident enough about, I just can’t find anything that makes it explicit that they haven’t changed since the Calamity War. I reckon the Astaroth Origin (minus the Warren family markings) and Gremory’d for right in though.
Was originally going to comment this until it became too long
Hm. Looking over the Ars Goetia listings again, Of Barbatos; “He breaketh the Hidden Treasures open that have been laid by the Enchantments of Magicians”.
I confess I have little knowledge of demonology or alchemy, however I think there’s more symbolism here. Barbatos (of course) ends up breaking a great many things throughout the series, but it’s the emphasis on hidden treasures that has me thinking. Barbatos’ appearance, and use by tekkadan, directly leads to numerous “hidden treasures” being unearthed over the course of the series. Barbatos’ entrance into battle is it bursting from the underground entrance, being unearthed. It’s battle with Gaelio leads to him taking the Gundam Kimaris out of storage, “unearthing” it for the first time in nearly 300 years. McGillis’ sees it in action, sees tekkadan in action, and while I’m sure he already had plans to move against Iznario (IE Montag Company), this leads to an “unearthment” of his motivations, of his ambitions. And from there, Bael.
While Barbatos isn’t directly involved in their discovery, it’s “Summoner” Tekkadan does unearth both Flauros and Hashmal at the Half-Metal Mine in Chryse. And what happens to both of these hidden treasures of the calamity war? They get broken.
(Though there’s a point, if Tekkadan is being read as their “summoner”, I wonder if that would make Mikazuki a willing sacrifice? There’s probably a read there, since as a child soldier his lot was likely “to be sacrificed on the altar of war”)
“He is of the Order of Virtues, of which some part he retaineth still;”
While to my understanding the Virtues were a classification of Angel (see Gundam Virtue from 00), Barbatos was previously part of a “Virtuous Order” - Gjallarhorn. If we take form 4 to be it’s Calamity War form, then it retains its Katana and possibly a spectre of its pilot from those days. However, I want to point out “of which some part he retainers still”. As Barbatos is upgraded it becomes more and more inhuman, more and more demonic, casting off its “Virtue” is exchange for more power. It’s still recognisable as a Gundam, retaining some aspect of itself, but becoming more demonic in service of Tekkadan. It’s interesting to note that this is directly in response to Mikazuki’s piloting data, the man driving the demon ever forward, making ever more pacts with it.
“and he knoweth all things Past, and to Come, and conciliateth Friends and those that be in Power”
Barbatos conciliateth friends and those that be in power - it’s directly Barbatos’ strength (or rather, the strength it grants Tekkadan) that leads to the Turbines recognising Tekkadan as equals. And it’s that strength that Mcgillis recognises, conciliating him and Tekkadan, and leading to their alliance.
Really stellar analysis, by the way, looking forward to part 3!
IBO reference notes on … the Gundams (part 1)
[Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3]
Or: a spotter’s guide to the Calamity War.
[Note: I tried to post this twice today before figuring out that one of the images was causing it to be consigned to Tumblr oblivion. Apparently a shot of Lt. Crank's gloved hand was too racy for this site. Yeah.]
I said at the time that the fanfic Of Obsessions and Erotemes was written as an alternative to writing an essay expanding on my thoughts regarding the Gundams in Iron-Blooded Orphans. This is probably not strictly accurate, however, and I've been struck by the urge to take a figurative walk through the canonical examples out of the 72 Gundam frame type mobile suits.
I want to focus on the Gundams as they started out during the Calamity War, as far as that is possible, and what this says about the nature of the conflict. I will probably follow up at some point with notes on the mobile armours too, since they are the flip-side of this narrative. As I’ve had cause to mention before, I’m generally content with not knowing too much about the historical event that serves as the basis for IBO’s world-building. I think that adds rather than subtracts from the story. Still, it is fun to play with what we get and piece together an impression of what happened three hundred years prior to the series’ beginning.
For the purposes of not writing a post ten thousand words long, I’ve split the Gundams into three groups based on numerical position in the master list, which is of course taken from the Ars Goetia. Here, I will be drawing on Crowley’s edition.
All images shown here are either borrowed from the Gundam Wiki or are my own screenshots.
As with all my posts like this, spoilers are present for everything.
The Gundam frame
Let’s start with what is under the hood, to whit: the Gundam mobile suit frame.
I covered some of this in my post on the aesthetics of the mobile frame concept, but the most important detail about the Gundam type is how human-like its proportions are, in both limb structure and eye placement. Unlike other frames, this is intended from the start to be used with an Alaya-Vijana system, so designing it to more closely approximate the human form makes a great deal of sense.
At the same time, there is something fittingly demonic about the skeleton, down to the claw-like fingers. However it must be noted that this is specifically Barbatos’ frame; the talons on on the feet are not reflected on the others. Indeed, based on the design work for Kimaris and Flauros, the feet are the part that varies the most from machine to machine.
A Gundam’s power – both in the sense of motive force and superior strength – comes from the twin Ahab reactors making up its torso. It’s the only mobile weapon in Iron-Blooded Orphans confirmed to have multiple reactors, with the implication that this boosts the output beyond simply adding the two together. Indeed, when operating at full capacity against a mobile armour, Barbatos seems barely able to contain its own energies.
Ancillary material states Ahab reactors are made ‘on a plant near a fixed star’, implying a difficult process to begin with (or at least a factory in orbit of the sun). Synchronising the reactors so they run in parallel is adding extra complexity on top of that, which is one of the reasons Gundam construction is a lost art. These things are the peak of mobile suit design and have never been equalled since they quite literally saved the world.
A Gundam, then, is not merely another weapon. It is the maximisation of human capacity, allowing a pilot to exceed their bodily limitations to destroy an inhuman enemy. We don’t know for sure the Calamity War pilots ended up in the same sorry state as Mikazuki (though the taleof Agnika Kaieru’s spirit residing inside Bael carries some interesting implications). But we do know the Alaya-Vijnana places extraordinary pressure on human physiology by its very nature, and the Gundams themselves come with competing limiters as a result. One that disengages in proximity to a mobile armour, allowing the full force of the reactors to be unleashed; another that switches on at that point, to stop this burst of power immediately overwhelming the operator. Only by accepting the danger can the pilot proceed with their attack.
It’s a duality of ultimate strength and ultimate risk that makes the Gundam frames seem like suitably desperate creations. They are the demons that prevented total apocalypse, while consuming their pilots body and soul.
ASW-G-01 Bael
The first king of the Hell, and therefore presumably the first Gundam to have been constructed. From latter machines, there is the suggestion that deployment order did not match the numerical codes, so it isn’t entirely clear if we can solidly say they are numbered in the order they were built. But it seems reasonable to assume that this represents the start of Gundam operational history.
If we can take Bael to exist in the present exactly as it did in the War, it is a relatively simple affair, sporting nothing more flashy than a pair of wing-like boosters (I say wing-like purely because they are not functionally wings; they’re more an elaborate jet-pack). From a design point of view, Bael otherwise matches exactly to the template set by the series’ hero machine, Barbatos: the armour and thruster placement is identical and we may take this to be the default.
The combat philosophy behind this machine appears to be the same too: strike fast and strike sharp. It follows that Agnika Kaieru was the kind to lead from the front. Indeed, kit manual text makes it clear he was self-sufficient in battle, taking down mobile armours solely with his twin swords. Given McGillis holds his own against an entire fleet for a while, this doesn’t feel like a stretch and it certainly explains why the man became such a legend.
The symbol on Bael’s left shoulder is the original Gjallarhorn logo, which more directly presents the source of the organisation’s name: the horn that sounds Ragnarök. This would later be elaborated into the flag used in the present while remaining as a some sort of badge/pin or medal on officers’ uniforms. I find that fitting, that something simple would be built up over time into a grander image, disguising the root truth. In many ways, that sums up Bael’s place in history.
From the Ars Goetia:
The first Principal Spirit is a King ruling in the East, called Bael. He maketh thee to go Invisible. He ruleth over 66 Legions of Infernal Spirits. He appeareth in divers shapes, sometimes like a Cat, sometimes like a Toad, and sometimes like a Man, and sometimes all these forms at once. He speaketh hoarsely. This is his character which is used to be worn as a Lamen before him who calleth him forth, or else he will not do thee homage.
Notably, the sigil used for Gundam Bael’s interface does not simply replicate the 'canonical’ seal from the Ars Goetia but rather reinterprets it.
Clearly OG Gjallarhorn had graphic designers on staff. Also, Bael’s main console screen is of a uniquely narrow design, in a rather elaborate housing. It would seem the cockpits were refined for later models, simplifying things towards a standard pattern seen in Kimaris and Gusion that would itself go on to become the standard for Gjallarhorn 'suits.
ASW-G-04 Gamigin
Pretty much all we know about Gamigin is that it exists, it was originally piloted by Kalf Falk and it made it out of the Calamity War in one piece. Oh and someone in the armoury department was having a laugh the day they issued this Gundam its weapons.
Seriously though, if Bael is the default, this is a heavy-duty model. Gamigin looks a hell of a lot less manoeuvrable, even accounting for the extra thrusters built into its skirt, and its standard-sized arms appear positively weedy compared to the heft of the body and legs. Clearly though, that was a trade-off deemed acceptable for the sake of destructive capacity.
The giant Gatling gun speaks for itself, but the revolver axe is the more interesting item here. As silly as it looks, it’s represents the (presumed) earliest incorporation of Dàinsleif weaponry into a Gundam frame mobile suit.
'Dàinsleif’ is a term used to refer to anything that launches javelin-like projectiles at high speed with the intent of puncturing nano-laminate armour. It’s unclear if the present ban on their use extends to smaller-scale versions like this, which is a point-blank deployment of the technology.
The blunt side of that axe is designed to strike an enemy and fire a spike straight through it. Crude but effective. Or so we can assume given this machine was piloted by one of the first Seven Stars and therefore must have destroyed a great many mobile armours.
From the Ars Goetia (Samigina/Gamigin):
The Fourth Spirit is Samigina, a Great Marquis. He appeareth in the form of a little Horse or Ass, and then into Human shape doth he change himself at the Request of the Master. He speaketh with a hoarse voice. He ruleth over 30 Legions of Inferiors. He teaches all Liberal Sciences, and giveth account of Dead Souls that died in sin. And his Seal is this, which is to be worn before the Magician when he is Invocator, etc.
This is one of several demons with multiple names listed in the Ars Goetia. There doesn’t appear to be any pattern to which was picked as the ID for the corresponding Gundam.
ASW-G-08 Barbatos
Teiwaz are stated to have restored Barbatos to its original state so we can assume the 4th form represents the version that fought in the Calamity War. Given this, it likely used a katana in battle, as the sword Teiwaz provides bears the same logo as the 'suit and we know from their work on Flauros that Gundams store information about their own weaponry (see also Mikazuki’s sudden competence with it when he connects deeper to Barbatos).
Intriguingly, with the retroactive introduction of predecessor designs, it appears Barbatos takes cues from both Bael and Gamigin, which ties these three low-numbered models together nicely. It is also relatively unspecialised in comparison, lacking the features that mark out the previous two. When found, it had a small buckler shield built into a gauntlet on its left forearm, similar to those the 5th form in the series would use. However, there’s no indication if this was used as a mount for mortars like the later version, leaving us with a machine that appears to have been a simple melee combatant.
The absence of gimmicks showcases just how powerful Gundams are in comparison to other mobile suits, at a baseline. In any given fight during Season 1, Barbatos is faster, stronger, and more adaptable than its opposition, and while we see it built up with add-ons over the course of the series, those often seem to get in the way or provide only passing advantages.
Since my focus is on the Calamity War, I’m not going to go into any detail regarding the Lupus and Lupus Rex forms. But I will posit the idea Barbatos’ original pilot was of a different temperament to Mikazuki. If it is indeed their 'ghost’ who comes to his aid in Edmonton – some trace left behind in the system that allows him to understand the katana in the nick of time – they seem to have been a master of that weapon, favouring lethal precision, in stark contrast to Mikazuki’s gradual transformation into an animalistic, living weapon.
(The mace that Mikazuki leads with seems to have been something Maruba bought for possible use if he could ever get Barbatos running, rather than a relic of it previous operations.)
From the Ars Goetia:
The Eighth Spirit is Barbatos. He is a Great Duke, and appeareth when the Sun is in Sagittary, with four noble Kings and their companies of great troops. He giveth understanding of the singing of Birds, and of the Voices of other creatures, such as the barking of Dogs. He breaketh the Hidden Treasures open that have been laid by the Enchantments of Magicians. He is of the Order of Virtues, of which some part he retaineth still; and he knoweth all things Past, and to Come, and conciliateth Friends and those that be in Power. He ruleth over 30 Legions of Spirits. His Seal of Obedience is this, the which wear before thee as aforesaid.
Again, we see a redesign of the seal for Gundam Barbatos’ start-up sigil.
I like the choice to make the lines more dynamic.
ASW-G-11 Gusion
We don’t know if this is what Gusion started out looking like. Gusion was found in a debris zone and passed through various hands before it reached the Brewers, and we know the Brewers’ Man Rodis are custom jobs, more heavily armoured than standard Rodi frame models. On balance, this is probably something they cooked up to fit their requirements.
But gives us an idea of the limits of a Gundam frame’s flexibility. The arms and legs have been stretched outwards from the main body to accommodate the armour load-out. You can see a glimpse of the piston that operates the hip joint under the skirt in the image above, providing a sense of where the legs have been moved. Quite how this works is unclear since we only see the head exposed when the Turbines start deconstructing this form. The fact it does work emphasises just how far the Gundams can be reconfigured. The Turbines even go so far as installing extra arms into the Rebake version given to Akihiro, seemingly with no issues at all.
Gusion also provides an example of the fate suffered by quite a number of the Gundam frames: that of being lost and forgotten after battles during the Calamity War. The figure provided for how many frames are known to have survived is 26, but it’s unclear where that sits in the timeline of IBO canon, throughout which several Gundams are uncovered from previously hidden resting places. Certainly it appears only a minority of such 'suits remain in Gjallarhorn’s custody. While some have most likely been destroyed outright, many may still be drifting among debris fields or buried at the sites of battles from three hundred years ago.
It’s a neat conceit, leaving fertile ground for fanfiction or spin-offs to play on, and underscores that these machines belong to a bygone era most have forgotten about.
From the Ars Goetia:
The Eleventh Spirit in order is a great and strong Duke, called Gusion. He appeareth like a Xenopilus. He telleth all things, Past, Present and to Come, and showeth the meaning and resolution of all questions thou mayest ask. He conciliateth and reconcileth friendships, and giveth Honour and Dignity unto any. He ruleth over 40 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, the which wear as aforesaid.
The connection between the machine or pilot and the Ars Goetia descriptions is somewhat variable throughout this list. In some instances there’s nothing obvious at all. However, I love that Gusion bestows honour and dignity because of how beautifully it ties into Akihiro’s arc. This said … I don’t actually know what a 'Xenopilus’ is. My first thought was 'Xenopus’ and a frog motif certainly would explain Gundam Gusion’s appearance. But I don’t think that’s right? Answers on a postcard, please.
That’s where we’ll leave things for today. I will probably post the next instalment sometime tomorrow.
Other reference posts include:
IBO reference notes on … Gjallarhorn (Part 1)
IBO reference notes on … Gjallarhorn (Part 2)
IBO reference notes on … Gjallarhorn (corrigendum) [mainly covering my inability to recognise mythical wolves]
IBO reference notes on … three key Yamagi scenes
IBO reference notes on … three key Shino scenes
IBO reference notes on … three key Eugene scenes
IBO reference notes on … three key Ride scenes
IBO reference notes on … the tone of the setting
IBO reference notes on … character parallels and counterpoints
IBO reference notes on … a perfect villain
IBO reference notes on … Iron-Blooded Orphans: Gekko
IBO reference notes on … an act of unspeakable cruelty
IBO reference notes on … original(ish) characters [this one is mainly fanfic]
IBO reference notes on … Kudelia’s decisions
IBO reference notes on … assorted head-canons
IBO reference notes on … actual, proper original characters [explicit fanfic – as in, actually fanfic. None of them have turned up in the smut yet]
IBO reference notes on … the aesthetics of the mobile frame
IBO reference notes on … mobile suit designations
Regarding Bael’s Ars Goetia listing; “He maketh thee to go Invisible. He ruleth over 66 Legions of Infernal Spirits. He appeareth in divers shapes, sometimes like a Cat, sometimes like a Toad, and sometimes like a Man, and sometimes all these forms at once.”
Though it’s less about the Mobile Suit and more about Mcgillis, would-be invoker of Bael’s power; Mcgillis concealed his ambitions in Gjallarhorn for years, making himself invisible to everyone, friend and foe alike. He appears in diverse shapes - a Masked Man, a Virtuous Son, a Prospective King. It’s possible that Bael’s listing denotes more about Mcgillis than the suit itself.
IBO reference notes on … the Gundams (part 1)
[Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3]
Or: a spotter’s guide to the Calamity War.
[Note: I tried to post this twice today before figuring out that one of the images was causing it to be consigned to Tumblr oblivion. Apparently a shot of Lt. Crank's gloved hand was too racy for this site. Yeah.]
I said at the time that the fanfic Of Obsessions and Erotemes was written as an alternative to writing an essay expanding on my thoughts regarding the Gundams in Iron-Blooded Orphans. This is probably not strictly accurate, however, and I've been struck by the urge to take a figurative walk through the canonical examples out of the 72 Gundam frame type mobile suits.
I want to focus on the Gundams as they started out during the Calamity War, as far as that is possible, and what this says about the nature of the conflict. I will probably follow up at some point with notes on the mobile armours too, since they are the flip-side of this narrative. As I’ve had cause to mention before, I’m generally content with not knowing too much about the historical event that serves as the basis for IBO’s world-building. I think that adds rather than subtracts from the story. Still, it is fun to play with what we get and piece together an impression of what happened three hundred years prior to the series’ beginning.
For the purposes of not writing a post ten thousand words long, I’ve split the Gundams into three groups based on numerical position in the master list, which is of course taken from the Ars Goetia. Here, I will be drawing on Crowley’s edition.
All images shown here are either borrowed from the Gundam Wiki or are my own screenshots.
As with all my posts like this, spoilers are present for everything.
The Gundam frame
Let’s start with what is under the hood, to whit: the Gundam mobile suit frame.
I covered some of this in my post on the aesthetics of the mobile frame concept, but the most important detail about the Gundam type is how human-like its proportions are, in both limb structure and eye placement. Unlike other frames, this is intended from the start to be used with an Alaya-Vijana system, so designing it to more closely approximate the human form makes a great deal of sense.
At the same time, there is something fittingly demonic about the skeleton, down to the claw-like fingers. However it must be noted that this is specifically Barbatos’ frame; the talons on on the feet are not reflected on the others. Indeed, based on the design work for Kimaris and Flauros, the feet are the part that varies the most from machine to machine.
A Gundam’s power – both in the sense of motive force and superior strength – comes from the twin Ahab reactors making up its torso. It’s the only mobile weapon in Iron-Blooded Orphans confirmed to have multiple reactors, with the implication that this boosts the output beyond simply adding the two together. Indeed, when operating at full capacity against a mobile armour, Barbatos seems barely able to contain its own energies.
Ancillary material states Ahab reactors are made ‘on a plant near a fixed star’, implying a difficult process to begin with (or at least a factory in orbit of the sun). Synchronising the reactors so they run in parallel is adding extra complexity on top of that, which is one of the reasons Gundam construction is a lost art. These things are the peak of mobile suit design and have never been equalled since they quite literally saved the world.
A Gundam, then, is not merely another weapon. It is the maximisation of human capacity, allowing a pilot to exceed their bodily limitations to destroy an inhuman enemy. We don’t know for sure the Calamity War pilots ended up in the same sorry state as Mikazuki (though the taleof Agnika Kaieru’s spirit residing inside Bael carries some interesting implications). But we do know the Alaya-Vijnana places extraordinary pressure on human physiology by its very nature, and the Gundams themselves come with competing limiters as a result. One that disengages in proximity to a mobile armour, allowing the full force of the reactors to be unleashed; another that switches on at that point, to stop this burst of power immediately overwhelming the operator. Only by accepting the danger can the pilot proceed with their attack.
It’s a duality of ultimate strength and ultimate risk that makes the Gundam frames seem like suitably desperate creations. They are the demons that prevented total apocalypse, while consuming their pilots body and soul.
ASW-G-01 Bael
The first king of the Hell, and therefore presumably the first Gundam to have been constructed. From latter machines, there is the suggestion that deployment order did not match the numerical codes, so it isn’t entirely clear if we can solidly say they are numbered in the order they were built. But it seems reasonable to assume that this represents the start of Gundam operational history.
If we can take Bael to exist in the present exactly as it did in the War, it is a relatively simple affair, sporting nothing more flashy than a pair of wing-like boosters (I say wing-like purely because they are not functionally wings; they’re more an elaborate jet-pack). From a design point of view, Bael otherwise matches exactly to the template set by the series’ hero machine, Barbatos: the armour and thruster placement is identical and we may take this to be the default.
The combat philosophy behind this machine appears to be the same too: strike fast and strike sharp. It follows that Agnika Kaieru was the kind to lead from the front. Indeed, kit manual text makes it clear he was self-sufficient in battle, taking down mobile armours solely with his twin swords. Given McGillis holds his own against an entire fleet for a while, this doesn’t feel like a stretch and it certainly explains why the man became such a legend.
The symbol on Bael’s left shoulder is the original Gjallarhorn logo, which more directly presents the source of the organisation’s name: the horn that sounds Ragnarök. This would later be elaborated into the flag used in the present while remaining as a some sort of badge/pin or medal on officers’ uniforms. I find that fitting, that something simple would be built up over time into a grander image, disguising the root truth. In many ways, that sums up Bael’s place in history.
From the Ars Goetia:
The first Principal Spirit is a King ruling in the East, called Bael. He maketh thee to go Invisible. He ruleth over 66 Legions of Infernal Spirits. He appeareth in divers shapes, sometimes like a Cat, sometimes like a Toad, and sometimes like a Man, and sometimes all these forms at once. He speaketh hoarsely. This is his character which is used to be worn as a Lamen before him who calleth him forth, or else he will not do thee homage.
Notably, the sigil used for Gundam Bael’s interface does not simply replicate the 'canonical’ seal from the Ars Goetia but rather reinterprets it.
Clearly OG Gjallarhorn had graphic designers on staff. Also, Bael’s main console screen is of a uniquely narrow design, in a rather elaborate housing. It would seem the cockpits were refined for later models, simplifying things towards a standard pattern seen in Kimaris and Gusion that would itself go on to become the standard for Gjallarhorn 'suits.
ASW-G-04 Gamigin
Pretty much all we know about Gamigin is that it exists, it was originally piloted by Kalf Falk and it made it out of the Calamity War in one piece. Oh and someone in the armoury department was having a laugh the day they issued this Gundam its weapons.
Seriously though, if Bael is the default, this is a heavy-duty model. Gamigin looks a hell of a lot less manoeuvrable, even accounting for the extra thrusters built into its skirt, and its standard-sized arms appear positively weedy compared to the heft of the body and legs. Clearly though, that was a trade-off deemed acceptable for the sake of destructive capacity.
The giant Gatling gun speaks for itself, but the revolver axe is the more interesting item here. As silly as it looks, it’s represents the (presumed) earliest incorporation of Dàinsleif weaponry into a Gundam frame mobile suit.
'Dàinsleif’ is a term used to refer to anything that launches javelin-like projectiles at high speed with the intent of puncturing nano-laminate armour. It’s unclear if the present ban on their use extends to smaller-scale versions like this, which is a point-blank deployment of the technology.
The blunt side of that axe is designed to strike an enemy and fire a spike straight through it. Crude but effective. Or so we can assume given this machine was piloted by one of the first Seven Stars and therefore must have destroyed a great many mobile armours.
From the Ars Goetia (Samigina/Gamigin):
The Fourth Spirit is Samigina, a Great Marquis. He appeareth in the form of a little Horse or Ass, and then into Human shape doth he change himself at the Request of the Master. He speaketh with a hoarse voice. He ruleth over 30 Legions of Inferiors. He teaches all Liberal Sciences, and giveth account of Dead Souls that died in sin. And his Seal is this, which is to be worn before the Magician when he is Invocator, etc.
This is one of several demons with multiple names listed in the Ars Goetia. There doesn’t appear to be any pattern to which was picked as the ID for the corresponding Gundam.
ASW-G-08 Barbatos
Teiwaz are stated to have restored Barbatos to its original state so we can assume the 4th form represents the version that fought in the Calamity War. Given this, it likely used a katana in battle, as the sword Teiwaz provides bears the same logo as the 'suit and we know from their work on Flauros that Gundams store information about their own weaponry (see also Mikazuki’s sudden competence with it when he connects deeper to Barbatos).
Intriguingly, with the retroactive introduction of predecessor designs, it appears Barbatos takes cues from both Bael and Gamigin, which ties these three low-numbered models together nicely. It is also relatively unspecialised in comparison, lacking the features that mark out the previous two. When found, it had a small buckler shield built into a gauntlet on its left forearm, similar to those the 5th form in the series would use. However, there’s no indication if this was used as a mount for mortars like the later version, leaving us with a machine that appears to have been a simple melee combatant.
The absence of gimmicks showcases just how powerful Gundams are in comparison to other mobile suits, at a baseline. In any given fight during Season 1, Barbatos is faster, stronger, and more adaptable than its opposition, and while we see it built up with add-ons over the course of the series, those often seem to get in the way or provide only passing advantages.
Since my focus is on the Calamity War, I’m not going to go into any detail regarding the Lupus and Lupus Rex forms. But I will posit the idea Barbatos’ original pilot was of a different temperament to Mikazuki. If it is indeed their 'ghost’ who comes to his aid in Edmonton – some trace left behind in the system that allows him to understand the katana in the nick of time – they seem to have been a master of that weapon, favouring lethal precision, in stark contrast to Mikazuki’s gradual transformation into an animalistic, living weapon.
(The mace that Mikazuki leads with seems to have been something Maruba bought for possible use if he could ever get Barbatos running, rather than a relic of it previous operations.)
From the Ars Goetia:
The Eighth Spirit is Barbatos. He is a Great Duke, and appeareth when the Sun is in Sagittary, with four noble Kings and their companies of great troops. He giveth understanding of the singing of Birds, and of the Voices of other creatures, such as the barking of Dogs. He breaketh the Hidden Treasures open that have been laid by the Enchantments of Magicians. He is of the Order of Virtues, of which some part he retaineth still; and he knoweth all things Past, and to Come, and conciliateth Friends and those that be in Power. He ruleth over 30 Legions of Spirits. His Seal of Obedience is this, the which wear before thee as aforesaid.
Again, we see a redesign of the seal for Gundam Barbatos’ start-up sigil.
I like the choice to make the lines more dynamic.
ASW-G-11 Gusion
We don’t know if this is what Gusion started out looking like. Gusion was found in a debris zone and passed through various hands before it reached the Brewers, and we know the Brewers’ Man Rodis are custom jobs, more heavily armoured than standard Rodi frame models. On balance, this is probably something they cooked up to fit their requirements.
But gives us an idea of the limits of a Gundam frame’s flexibility. The arms and legs have been stretched outwards from the main body to accommodate the armour load-out. You can see a glimpse of the piston that operates the hip joint under the skirt in the image above, providing a sense of where the legs have been moved. Quite how this works is unclear since we only see the head exposed when the Turbines start deconstructing this form. The fact it does work emphasises just how far the Gundams can be reconfigured. The Turbines even go so far as installing extra arms into the Rebake version given to Akihiro, seemingly with no issues at all.
Gusion also provides an example of the fate suffered by quite a number of the Gundam frames: that of being lost and forgotten after battles during the Calamity War. The figure provided for how many frames are known to have survived is 26, but it’s unclear where that sits in the timeline of IBO canon, throughout which several Gundams are uncovered from previously hidden resting places. Certainly it appears only a minority of such 'suits remain in Gjallarhorn’s custody. While some have most likely been destroyed outright, many may still be drifting among debris fields or buried at the sites of battles from three hundred years ago.
It’s a neat conceit, leaving fertile ground for fanfiction or spin-offs to play on, and underscores that these machines belong to a bygone era most have forgotten about.
From the Ars Goetia:
The Eleventh Spirit in order is a great and strong Duke, called Gusion. He appeareth like a Xenopilus. He telleth all things, Past, Present and to Come, and showeth the meaning and resolution of all questions thou mayest ask. He conciliateth and reconcileth friendships, and giveth Honour and Dignity unto any. He ruleth over 40 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, the which wear as aforesaid.
The connection between the machine or pilot and the Ars Goetia descriptions is somewhat variable throughout this list. In some instances there’s nothing obvious at all. However, I love that Gusion bestows honour and dignity because of how beautifully it ties into Akihiro’s arc. This said … I don’t actually know what a 'Xenopilus’ is. My first thought was 'Xenopus’ and a frog motif certainly would explain Gundam Gusion’s appearance. But I don’t think that’s right? Answers on a postcard, please.
That’s where we’ll leave things for today. I will probably post the next instalment sometime tomorrow.
Other reference posts include:
IBO reference notes on … Gjallarhorn (Part 1)
IBO reference notes on … Gjallarhorn (Part 2)
IBO reference notes on … Gjallarhorn (corrigendum) [mainly covering my inability to recognise mythical wolves]
IBO reference notes on … three key Yamagi scenes
IBO reference notes on … three key Shino scenes
IBO reference notes on … three key Eugene scenes
IBO reference notes on … three key Ride scenes
IBO reference notes on … the tone of the setting
IBO reference notes on … character parallels and counterpoints
IBO reference notes on … a perfect villain
IBO reference notes on … Iron-Blooded Orphans: Gekko
IBO reference notes on … an act of unspeakable cruelty
IBO reference notes on … original(ish) characters [this one is mainly fanfic]
IBO reference notes on … Kudelia’s decisions
IBO reference notes on … assorted head-canons
IBO reference notes on … actual, proper original characters [explicit fanfic – as in, actually fanfic. None of them have turned up in the smut yet]
IBO reference notes on … the aesthetics of the mobile frame
IBO reference notes on … mobile suit designations
No fucking way.
Ahahahahahahahahahaha
Ahhhhhh……
Just for fun, let’s think up a list of reasons as to why Mcgillis chose not to use the Fareed Family Gundam.
It was destroyed/lost in the calamity war.
It reminds him of Iznario, and he wants to reject that connection.
It’s got a very specific way of fighting (like Flauros) and he wants something with a more generalist bent.
He feels a greater kinship with Agnika Kaieru than he does the Fareed family founder.
It was the 72nd Gundam frame built, and was completed postwar, thus running counter to Mcgillis’ ambitions to be like his idol.
It’s been chained up in a similar manner to how Bael eventually will be.
It was scrapped to repair another Gundam frame.
It’s biometrically locker to a blood member of the Fareed family for some reason.
The previous pilot was an amputee, and didn’t so much pilot the Gundam in so much as they were “plugged in”. (Think Gundam Thunderbolt).
Iznario (or a prior member of the Fareed Family) sold it, or parts of it, for bread money (as the Warrens did).
It was stolen by Gundam thieves.
It requires three pilots.
The colours clash horribly with his hair.
Despite their great combat skill, the Fareed family founder was just kind of a prick, and nobody looks on their history with much fondness.
The Fareed family founder was very small by modern standards, and the cockpit’s uncomfortable to sit in for any length of time.
The hands were damaged, and are now in the permanent pose of throwing up gang signs.
Bael’s just, like, so much cooler.
It’s really, really uncomfortable to look at for a significant period of time.
Any time it’s activated, the Fareed family founder’s custom mixtape of post-calamity rap starts playing and nobody knows how to turn it off.
It’s haunted.
Iznario lost it in a poorly conceived bet.
It’s likeness was bought out by a prominent snack food corporation some years back, and as such it legally is not allowed to be viewed by anyone.
The door to it in Vingolf is stuck, and nobody ever noticed until Mcgillis came along.
Somebody spilled drink on the controls, and now they feel weirdly sticky.
The cockpit’s stuffed with body pillows, and nobody can bring themself to clean them out.
It’s lying at the bottom of the ocean after someone took it for a joyride.
It’s got an absolutely awful paint job that Norba Shino would be proud of.
It’s uninsured.
It was mounted on the prow of the Fareed family ship, and it’s exceedingly difficult to remove.
It’s stored in multiple separate locations. All Vingolf has is a pair of legs and the right hand.
It’s currently being used as a soundstage for a prominent punk-rock band on Jupiter, and no-one’s sure when the lease ends.
It has the words “free ice-cream” prominently painted on it somewhere.
It achieved sentience and promptly grabbed some popcorn.
The Fareed family never had a Gundam, and just killed that many mobile armours with conventional tactics.
It’s covered in rust.
It doesn’t have nanolaminate armour for some reason.
It’s being used as a power source for Gjallarhorn’s premier health spa and resort.
The Fareed family threw it into the sun when the war ended, believing they wouldn’t need it anymore.
It’s been repaired really badly, and the duct tape and welding really doesn’t inspire confidence.
It’s off starring in its own, less successful show.
It’s got a hit play on broadway.
It runs off a subscription service, and nobody’s been paying it for the last 300 years.
Mcgillis has really poor gatcha rolls, so he just got 26 common rarity grazes instead.
It’s really a Leo somebody scotch-taped a v-fin to.
The entire Gundam is made of cardboard.
Mcgillis forgot the password to get into the hangar, and he can’t ask Iznario.
Somebody doodled angry eyes and a handlebar moustache on it, and nobody can look at it without cracking up.
It was taken apart, then reassembled incorrectly. (It’s got a leg sticking out of where it’s head should be, and nobody’s sure where the sword ended up)
He can’t activate it without deleting the entire Fareed family’s Doom highscores.
It’s currently being used to hold a massive tv that the rest of Gjallarhorn use to watch the hockey.
It is currently on fire.
When he went to pick it up, two of the engineers were using it to hold a romantic candlelit dinner and he felt awkward interrupting so he hasn’t been back since.
A head of the Fareed family used it as the site of a drunken party and when everyone came round from their hangover it was just gone, and nobody could remember what happened to it.
It looks exactly like the Gundam Dantalion, and records have been lost as to why this is the case.
It’s currently being used as a scarecrow.
Feel free to add any more in the comments!
A twofer today, just some general impressions on the ASW-G-16 Gundam Zepar (left) and the AWS-G-61 Gundam Zagan. I still haven’t watched Urdr hunt unfortunately, so I’ll be mostly talking about Zagan’s design, as opposed to anything that goes on in-series.
Another reason I’m pairing these together is because they’re both Post Disaster Gundam units, that have a two-syllable name beginning with a Z and a serial number that has a 6 in it. I’ve been able to remember them by the fact that the Zepar is Zippy. And that the Zagan has nothing to do with Carl Sagan.
Moving on from naming conventions, what do I think of them? Starting with the Zagan, I like the weight it brings to the table, it feels like it could compete with other heavyweights without much difficulty, essentially functioning as a giant can-opener to the mobile armours. It should be noted that with the possible exception of Agnika Kaeru himself, the Issues were the most prolific killer of Mobile Armours during the Calamity War. Presumably some of that was by dint of its pilot, but the Zagan cannot be discounted. It’s possible the apparent focus on defence aided in its survivability, enabling it to cope with battles of attrition better, functioning as an anvil to the other Gundam Frames’ hammer. It’s also possible that it’s missing some armament, since the hands are free. I know there’s precedent for knuckledusters in IBO, but it only being armed with the shields feels a little odd.
The design specifically reminds me of the Gremory (most likely the armour) and the Abyss Gundam from Seed Destiny (colouration and bulk, though I always remember it bigger than it actually is)
The Zepar I have considerably less to say on - it’s a nice design, agile and suited to closing the distance and stabbing things, but I do want to talk about it in relation to House Kujan, Specifically Iok Kujan.
Iok is……hm. He’s essentially a perfect example of somebody you don’t want in command. He’s a twit, and furthermore, he’s a dangerous twit, since his actions have a tendency to backfire on literally everyone besides himself. But let’s walk back a little. Who is Iok in relation to the story?
Iok Kujan is the heir to House Kujan of Gjallarhorn’s Seven Stars, the Seven Noble Families that wield the most power in Gjallarhorn, as McGillis, Gaelio, Carta and Rustal are to each of their houses (and of course Nemo, Elek and Gargin, but they’re less focused on). He only ascended to the position fairly recently, but everyone has high hopes for him since his late father was beloved.
Unfortunately, he’s really bad at it. He’s reckless, callous of those he’s fighting against and is absolutely unable to recognise his own failures.
@wordsandrobots has done an excellent analysis on Iok which I’m just going to link to here, since it’s very good:
But the crux of Iok is that he represents a great many of the failings of nobility - he’s incompetent, he’s unqualified and he displays a lack of care for how his actions effect others - not out of malice, but out of stupidity. He is a walking talking, killing example of how promoting based on blood rather than ability is such a poor idea.
But then look at the Zepar. Look at how it stands, how it moves. There’s a poise to it, an elegance, a sense of nobility. It’s armed with a sword and shield - simple, yes, but something that focuses on defence, on protection. Even the way it fights seems to be in pushing the enemy away from something, protecting it. So I would say that if Iok is representative of the realities of nobility - the incompetence and disregard for others, then the Zepar is the romanticisation of it - of a noble, red-armoured knight who would protect the people. It also represents how far the Kujan family has come since the Calamity War - Once a great and loved pilot who fought at the frontlines using a Gundam Frame, to a lacking and foolish one who fights from the rear and has to be bailed out at the cost of his subordinates lives. (I know Iok’s father didn’t pilot the Zepar, but it ties in with the theme of Iok being the end result of a lineage, rather than the beginnings).
It also draws attention to the Gjallarhorn’s meritocratic roots - Embrilla Kujan was able to slay multiple mobile armours using this machine, whereas Iok is too blinded by his own self-importance to recognise the threat that they pose, to the point he severely underestimates what it will take to kill one.
