Caduceus

Mobile Suit Gundam: LIFELINE

Annona Colony - Grand Dock

---

Gilbert didn’t know how things could have gone so wrong.

There were plenty of excuses he could probably fall back on. That the colony’s guard force was inadequately trained in interception and area-control tactics. That he wasn’t the actual commander of the colony fleet, only a special advisor with limited authority to dictate plans. That there were systemic issues in the Empire leading to an ineffective and hole-ridden early-warning network around Venus. That a missile or small vessel with such excessive mobility parameters appearing out of the black was something that couldn’t be accounted for even in contingency plans one step removed from reasonability. That he was a specialist in hunting-killing, not defense, even if each relied heavily on understanding the other.

If only he was the kind of man to take things easy like that. His life would be far more relaxed.

. . . he would probably also be married to a noblewoman of his parents’ choosing, safely nestled in a desk-bound posting on Mars.

It was those kinds of thoughts that almost made him shudder in disgust.

And now he was watching one of his handpicked, personally-requested men throw away all sense of propriety and regulation and jump headfirst into a sticky situation. The spectacle of Signifier Galahad briefly scuffling with one of his security officers was one that couldn’t be missed. Nor was the subsequent dash to the edge of the hangar, where a line of Tommies stood watch. Whispers were running through the crowd — most clueless, but the dreaded word was already falling from more vicious lips.

He scowled. Despite this, Galahad was still too useful for him to leave to those vipers.

@vietmyke
"This is hangar control. Officer, you are not cleared for launch. Please stand down."

This wouldn’t do. What Galahad had already done couldn’t be undone, but the consequences could be mitigated. Not if the younger man was forced out of the Tommy into the hands of a crowd more than willing to arrest — or worse — an "upstart" who dared to hijack a Mobile Suit in the presence of royalty. But if he made any contribution at all towards the neutralization of the unknown, Gilbert could possibly try to brush things away . . .

He brought a hand up. "This is König. I’ll authorize it."

". . . understood. Unlocking inner airlock gate." Though reluctant, the officer knew better than to try to argue it at this time.

Gilbert’s earpiece chirped again, and he turned away. "Status update."

"Target has diverted from original path. Now approaching the opposite pole. Schwarzchild and Lorenz teams remain in pursuit. An unidentified mobile weapon has also launched from the Venue."

He would have preferred news of its destruction. But at least it wasn’t on course for this pole of the colony anymore. The Princesses would no longer be in immediate danger, especially once they were properly behind the thick bulkheads of the colony’s walls.

"Alright. Continue and keep me notified."

There was little more he could do now but applaud politely for the procession of princesses as they strode elegantly down the red carpet towards the awaiting floats and escorts. Depending on how things would shake out with the intruder, he might leave the festivities at first opportunity and deal with the threat more directly . . .

---

Maximilian Eckhardt Lorenz

Annona Colony — Rear, Near Aerospace

---

The distance to the unknown dropped precipitously with each second. The smirk on Max’s face only grew. A lesser being would’ve lost consciousness by now — the blood in their body being forced into their legs despite the compression support of a normal suit, depriving their brain of much-needed oxygen — but for the superior body of a Martian, this wasn’t even near his limit. A sizeable portion of fuel had been expended on this rapid burn, but it was worth it to maximize the delta-V within a limited amount of time. He might have been bottom of the class in the mathematics of flight and orbital mechanics, but he at least understood that much.

The interception course that the Schwartzschild team was taking had been well-planned — despite the evident disparity in performance parameters, it seemed that they would be able to catch up to it if it continued to approach Annona. Even if he was only supposed to be providing backup — Max shook his head in feigned disappointment as he saw notifications of retreating allies on the monitor. Lost limbs and damaged torsos, leaving to the pilots only the option of heading back for repairs. Fools who can’t shoot down a missile or even lay their own bodies and lives on the line to protect the Empire, was his contemptuous evaluation.

But now there was another strange blip on the monitor. The IFF tagged it as a friendly, but there was no other information available — something that he’d usually only associated with the Frankenstein’s-Monster-esque cobbled-together junks that pirates favored.

With a shrug, he kicked it up the ad-hoc chain of command. "Lady Schwartzschild, looks like we’ve got a mystery man joining the hunt. What’s the plan?" @GreenGoat

Mobile Suit Gundam: LIFELINE

???

Annona Colony — Planetside Approach — 4th Defense Line

---

The brave men and women of the Zern Empire's mobile suit forces stood proudly in their Tommies. Shields raised in front, machine guns braced and rockets armed, they prepared to receive the charge of whatever that high-velocity object was with an embrace of bullets and explosives. As the second-to-last line of mobile defense for the colony cylinder, it would be their honor to prevent this intruder from advancing any further.

While the pilots of the second and third lines hadn't been able to offer any proper resistance — the unidentified device had crossed through their range limits too early and too quickly for them throw anything more than potshots — the fourth line had immediately scrambled to assemble into a proper firing formation after receiving their orders. The result was that the "cone" projecting from the unknown towards the colony — representing the field of probable routes based on limited observations and with a hefty margin for error, and narrowing with each second — had been designated as a "kill zone" that would be saturated with projectiles. Few of them would be tracking the interloper itself; their role was simply to fill the space all around it and hope for numbers and statistics to carry the day. An old anti-missile defense tactic that had been retooled after the advent of mobile suits.

"Target is changing direction! Groups Delta through Eta, adjust position! All other groups, prepare to engage!"

The teams furthest from the object's new trajectory would move back, repositioning themselves where they would be more useful.

"Be advised, support from the escort fleet will be limited. Firing arcs have begun to intersect the colony. Reinforcements are on their way as well."

A few of the pilots swore lightly, but most hadn't expected aid from that direction anyway. Annona's own vessels were closer to begin with, even if many of them had been pulled to the docks and the Venue. But even those ships couldn't mobilize so rapidly, so only the vessels that were already nearby could be counted on.

"Hauer, Zerben, and Glauston are almost in range. Don't get in their way!"

They had to destroy this intruder. If they failed, there would be little more than the colony's own anti-meteoroid countermeasures remaining between them and the Princesses . . .

---

Maximilian Eckhardt Lorenz

Annona Colony — Docks, Near Aerospace

---

"Sir Lorenz, there is an unidentifiable object approaching the colony. The fourth defense line has been mobilized and the Schwarzchild group is already en route. You are to follow them and provide assistance as necessary."

The man’s face split into a shark-like grin. "Oi, oi. Don’t tell me some idiot is actually trying something?" Not that he would complain. Playing the role of the guard dog was always such a chore — he preferred being the hound. "Sounds interesting. Just point me where."

"Transferring data now. And please, do hurry."

He whistled as the info window popped up. That was fast — there wasn’t much time left, and he’d have to really push to avoid being too late.

"Bäumler, Vogt, Rossiwall, with me! We’re gonna smoke this fool!"

With a whoop of excitement, he threw open the throttle. Three Tommies, kitted with additional thrusters like their commander, followed in his wake — four bright stars streaking across the heavens.

@GreenGoat
Of course, he made sure to notify the Schwarzchild’s flagship as he passed them, slowly closing the gap on the mobile suits up ahead. While he didn’t like having only second pickings at his prey, it wouldn’t do to be too rude about it. "This is Signifier Lorenz, colony security forces. We’re backing you up." His true meaning should be clear though — give us any excuse, and we’re stepping in ourselves.

Mobile Suit Gundam: LIFELINE

???

Annona Colony - Planetside Approach - Outer Perimeter

---

He scanned the area again, sweeping the Tommy’s sensors across an 180-degree sector of space. But for the yellow-tan face of Venus filling up most of the field there was nothing there, just as it had been for the last four hours.

With a drawn-out sigh of boredom he pressed the button that would finish logging the “all clear” entry in his duty record. Over a hundred similar entries populated the rest of the list, stretching all the way back to the beginning of his shift.

Such was the occupation of the novice pilot. Hours upon hours of boredom, and then you’d go home and let the next poor sod take his shot at fighting the siren song of sleep. Missions in the simulators would be the highlights of your week, and if you were really lucky you’d be able to see some action in a mock battle. Though lately he’d heard that was starting to change — something about the guys down in the Habitats and spacelanes running into more terrorists and pirates lately.

But that didn’t really affect them at Annona. You’d have to be an idiot of the highest caliber to try to attack the well-defended seat of the local Zern government, especially now that two of the Princesses and an entire fleet had come to visit.

He opened a channel to his partner. “Yo, Paste. I’ve got nothing over here. How about you?” It wasn’t the proper phrase to use, but it was just the two of them right now and the higher-ups weren’t going to check over the hours and hours of audio logs without a good reason.

“Same over here, Toast.”

They fell into a comfortable silence for a few seconds. Six hours was a long time to stand around doing almost nothing, but having a friend there made it much more bearable.

He cast around for a new conversational topic. “Yo. Did you watch the Adders game last weekend?”

“Man, you know I don’t watch that Venusian shit.”

“C’mon, dude! Just see Salas play once and I’ll swear you’ll be hooked! He’s, like, the Ed Gallagan of handling balls and scoring goals.”

“You know that sounded pretty gay, yeah?”

“Fuck off, I know you’ve got a pinup of Wellesley in your locker!”

“It’s an autographed poster, nothing wrong with that.”

“He’s shirtless, it doesn’t get more — what’s that?” His eyes shot back to the monitor. He could’ve sworn he had just seen something moving that wasn’t the clouds of the planet below.

“What’s what?”

A few button-taps had the optical sensors zoom in Venus. His tired eyes haven’t tricked him, right? He slowly panned the camera, looking for that . . . there! A small dot in the distance, silhouetted against the planet — that’s something that shouldn’t be there, right?

“You see that, right? I’ll highlight it for you . . .” he looked away from the screen to press a few more buttons. But when he looked back, he almost jumped and shouted in his seat — the dot’s grown much larger! “Oh shit!” he exclaimed as the IFF flagged it as an unknown, and his finger slammed onto a big red button with an exclamation point on it.

“I see it!” The next of his partner’s words came across an open comms channel. “Halt! I order you to halt and — FUCK!”

Whatever it was, it moved far too quickly for them to even see. There was only a blur of red-and-white and the glare of thruster wash as it zoomed between them. The severed hand and ruined Heckler rifle of Paste’s Tommy spun away into the darkness, while sparks and suppressant foam spilled out of the gash in its right flank.

“Paaaaaste!” He screamed, turning and pointing his own rifle at the receding thruster-glow. But the cylinder of the colony was behind the intruder, and even a rookie like himself knew not to shoot a Screwdriver in the general direction of any inhabited station. Even if he didn’t think he’d miss . . . better safe than sorry.

His heart was hammering in his chest, but his partner’s voice coming over the radio was like a bucket of refreshing water dumped over his head. “I’m fine, don’t worry about me! Throw a flare!”

Right. Just in case the patrol vessels didn’t get their signal . . . he flipped a switch and pulled the trigger. The topmost tube in his Tommy’s waist launcher launched its payload, which burst two seconds later into a brilliant star of blue-white light that would have seared his eyeballs if not for the filtering of the mobile suit’s cameras.

There was nothing more he could do about the intruder. But he could at least help his friend . . .

---

Annona Colony - Grand Dock

---

Gilbert held his breath as the Venue connected to the colony’s transfer bridge. They couldn’t feel or hear it from here — even as massive as the flagship was, its mass was still dwarfed when put next to a colony — but the announcement had been relayed from the operators and the honor guard in the extension.

The Princesses were almost here.

Everyone in the docks stood at rapt attention. Only unified perfection, the disciplined might of the Zern Empire, could be permitted to greet royalty. There were almost none gathered here who could tolerate the slightest cough or misstep tarnishing the majesty of this day. Gilbert suspected that neither Asallia nor Sheena would have actually cared about having a flawless reception — of all the royal siblings that he’d been acquainted with, most of them seemed to care less for the games and pretense of the nobility than those puffins might have hoped — but, again, this was as much about satisfying the pride of the Annonan nobles as it was about the Princesses.

But these next few minutes would still be a hell for himself. The transfer bridge was the most dangerous part of this maneuver, being a fixed and poorly-armored structure that could be taken out with a few well-placed projectiles. He’d wanted to transfer the Princesses and their entourage into a smaller vessel or shuttle, but that had offended some of the other nobles’ delicate sensibilities . . .

His earpiece chirped, and he found that his fears were about to be realized.

“Commander, there’s an alert from sector ee-oh-eight-twenty-five. Outer perimeter has been breached by a rapidly-moving object.” Victoria’s voice paused for a moment, and Gilbert bit down a violent swear that would have greatly offended the Marquess in front of him. “Schwartzschild group is already moving to intercept.”

Right. Lady Freya had arrived with the Venue’s escort. He knew that she was as reliable as they came, and her Axes were a force to be feared, but with the Princesses’ lives at stake there was no such thing as being too safe. “Have the fourth line prepare to engage as needed. Focus on suppressive fire.” He did a quick calculation in his head, figuring out which other assets he could move in time. “Tell Lorenz to take his squad in as well. Offer to back up whomever Schwartschild has sent out.”

He didn’t care if any of those around him were giving him the stink-eye. If they couldn’t figure out what was going on from the words he’d said, they weren’t worth considering anyway.

Mobile Suit Gundam: LIFELINE

Annona Colony - Grand Dock

---

The minutes rolled on.

It might almost have been painful, how slowly the fleet was proceeding. Gilbert, however, had no complaints. Safety was paramount — he'd looked over the regulations and plans himself, and had found no fault with them beyond the degree of ostentation that had been baked-in. Yet it was these little displays and rituals that helped maintain the aura of mystique and awe around the nobility and royalty, and he accepted that as a necessity despite the compromises elsewhere. Image was just as important as martial might — if not more so.

Which, again, was why he was here instead of out there.

A low murmur swept through parts of the assembled crowd as the side doors opened and the last stragglers to the welcoming brigade entered. Without turning his head, his eyes flicked to the side to watch a parade of mostly-familiar faces stream onto the dock. He saw mainly captains and commanders from the incoming escort fleet — those sufficiently highly-placed or well-connected to avoid major responsibilities in the defensive screen, so that they could be a part of the first set of ceremonies. Many he recognized, if not from past operations than from their personnel files, and as for those he did not he trusted the guards posted at the doors and throughout the nearby halls to have done their duty.

One man among the bunch met his eyes across the dock. Even if he had not been able to resolve every detail of his face, the light-mocha complexion and large scar comprised a highly distinctive appearance among those present. It was not unexpected that Signifier Galahad would have been looking for him, given that a common purpose had brought them both to this toxified planet. Gilbert inclined his chin a fractional degree — the most miniscule of nods, easily dismissable as a random movement to those not on the lookout. It could be taken as acknowledgement, or perhaps even an invitation.

Seeing the man (and a young lady who might have been his adjutant) approaching, Gilbert slowly melted towards the back of the formation. It wouldn’t do to force the Signifier to wade through a packed block of nobles and commanders, some of which might very well take offense at being made to rub shoulders with lower-ranked commoner soldiers. The reputation of the “Lion of Gibraltar” could only go so far, and even the little disturbance he himself made as he moved garnered a few quick frowns and tightened smiles. Where he would receive the two would be among the junior officers (on assignment in Annona, and so accorded higher honors today than their rank would otherwise warrant) towards the rear of the block, close to where he thought Galahad would have been assigned to stand.

The younger officer’s salute was returned in a more formal manner than usual, owing to the severity of the mood hanging over the docks. Galahad’s words were very welcome as well. Though Gilbert hadn’t been notified of any obstacles to his request, it still pleased him to hear a sort-of confirmation in person. “Welcome to Annona, Signifier,” he replied. “I hope you found the journey to be pleasantly boring.” His tone was edging on droll, nor did he expect a real answer. Boring was good for the princesses, but many soldiers would have been itching for a skirmish.

He then turned his eyes on the young lady. As he’d thought, hers was a face that he’d never seen in person before. On a personnel dossier, certainly. The memories were on the cusp of recall; he’d have to review the 5th Carrier’s files in depth once the festivities were concluded. For now, just her name and the pips on her uniform were enough. “Charmed, Avocatus,” he stated, more an acknowledgement of her presence than anything else.

“If there’s nothing else that requires immediate attention . . . ?” But that and a few gestures concluded these courtesies, and his assigned position in the formation was soon filled once again with a pair of well-shined boots. Confirming with Victoria and the other lieutenants that the spaceways were still clear of any threats, he settled back into the wait.

Mobile Suit Gundam: LIFELINE

Gilbert König

Annona Colony

---

The primary receiving dock of Annona Colony had been completely redecorated in honor of the Venue's arrival. Normally a hub of activity that saw cruisers and supply ships coming and going multiple times every hour, for the past several days all this traffic had been rerouted to allow the decorators to lay down their fluffiest red carpets and hang their most bombastic flags and drapes, and for the band to conduct their dress rehearsals. Nothing but the best for the Royal family, after all — anything less than adoring perfection would be regarded as a grave insult. And this was only the first stop; the true reception would be within the colony proper, with all the pomp and ceremony of a full parade and speeches from multiple dignitaries.

For Gilbert, this whole affair was quickly becoming the source of all his headaches. His entire reason for being posted to Venus was that those blasted Mekon insurgents were making a stink that could no longer be handled by the local forces, with one particularly-irksome thorn in the Empire's foot also being sighted in the vicinity. Hosting this Exposition here rather than in the Martian sphere was a move that he saw as unnecessarily risky and compromising a military objective for the sake of a political objective — foolish and potentially fatal, if he could choose stronger words. But Princess Asallia had pushed, and it was the prerogative of royals to get their way, and so he'd taken it upon himself to personally oversee the security around Annona in the weeks leading up to the Venue’s arrival.

The knowledge of his involvement had disseminated through the echelons of the nobility — not that he’d been trying to keep it hidden — and so of course it was expected of him to be personally present rather than outside in his Tommy, as he would have preferred. Thus, he now stood on a raised platform facing the innermost airlock gate, slightly uncomfortable in his neatly-pressed gules-en-argent dress uniform and shoulder-to-shoulder with a number of other high-ranking officers and nobles who had paid heavily for the privilege of being among the first to see the Princesses, and have (in theory) the greatest chance of making an impression. Governor Engan was present as well, standing at the very front of their little formation. As the recently-appointed head of state for the Venusian sphere, it would be the older man’s honor to be the first seen by the descending royals, and the first to welcome them aboard.

"Vanguard is commencing final approach." His earpiece burst to life with the sound of a woman’s voice. In the fold of proper infrastructure, the signal quality was much higher than he’d been accustomed to in wilder space. "Venue and close escorts are prepared to dock.”

"Thank you, Victoria." His whispered voice was lost in the greater murmuring of the crowd, the buzzing excitement of a nation enamored with their royals. "They’ll be most vulnerable at this time. Maintain vigilance."

"Always, commander."

There was no such thing as being too paranoid where the safety of the Royal family was concerned, not after the near-successful assassination of the Emperor. Gilbert had pulled a few vessels and MS teams from Gaspra to supplement Annona’s garrison, and his own 8th Rapid Response Group was watching over the Venue as well. The Kokytos and two of his Seytons had participated in the welcoming maneuvers earlier, and were now embedded among the augmented escort fleet; the others were part of the defensive "net" that had been scattered around potential approaches to the Venue and Annona. This was all in addition to the Venue’s own formidable guns and escort, Mars sending some of their best to keep the pride of the Imperial Navy intact. The new Caliban-class would be making its debut here, if he remembered correctly, commanded by a veteran whom he’d had the pleasure of working with in the past, and whose HR dossier was buried somewhere in his office. He hoped the new assault carrier performed as well as Sharp had claimed — otherwise, the one currently being torn open and refitted in a private berth elsewhere in the colony would be wasted.

Annaliese would also be hovering around Princess Sheena. He wasn’t sure whether that made him feel more or less worried, but he was certain that there would be numerous unhappy letters from his father waiting in his mailbox.

As for the dock . . . it was an enclosed environment where only members of the military, nobles, and carefully-vetted technicians could be, and the walls and surrounding shafts had been thoroughly combed for structural defects and planted devices, but beyond those bulkheads the two Princesses would be exposed to the entire population of the colony — Martians one and all, but he knew well that was no guarantee of loyalty. Agents had been seeded throughout the parade grounds and snipers were on the rooftops, keeping a careful lookout on vantage points along the route. The parade floats were armored, but that wouldn’t help as much if the Princesses stood out in the open, and of course they would for the publicity and to reward the loving adoration of the masses.

He took another look around the dock — exchanged minute nods with a few of his security officers — and brushed the pistol at his hip. All he could do now was wait and look too preoccupied for anyone to dare strike up a conversation.

Mobile Suit Gundam: LIFELINE

Gilbert König

The Eye of the Styx - Centurion

b. 471 RC║Zern Empire║Martian║Male

Physical Appearance

A graceful man with an elegant and refined appearance, the product of precise genetic engineering and years of strict training. He stands 183cm tall, exactly as his parents ordered, with a strong and athletic build. His blue-black hair is kept shorter in the back and longer in the front, with the bangs parted asymmetrically with one long strand on the left and more swept on the right. He will never grow facial hair, and his complexion is light but healthy and without imperfections. Pale grey eyes gaze out from behind narrow spectacles ⁠— a fashion statement, as his eyesight is engineered to be 20/10. He is every bit a specimen of the superiority of Martian genetic engineering, and projects a demeanor of absolute assurance and dignity.

Personality Traits:

Aesthetics of an Elegant Noble
Monster of Calculation
Cool Under Fire
Humor as Dry as a Desert
Familial Loyalty
Cooking Enthusiast

Biography:

The König family, as their name hints, is a branch off the Royal lineage — and one fairly close to the tree at that. They have always prided themselves on their loyalty and devotion towards the Imperial throne, and have a close relationship with the military as a result. Gilbert Andreas was born in 471 RC, the third son of General Johannes König and Lady Liselotte König née Eisenach, in a luxurious hospital on Martian soil. Growing up there was nothing more that he could have asked for — except for perhaps some free time, as his days were filled with lessons and sports and even his “playtime” was scheduled with the children of allied families (it was through such “playdates” that he first became acquainted with his distant cousins, the royal children). He had an easy temperament and learned quickly, to the delight of his governess, tutors, and parents — not that this last pair cared much, as a third son tends to be more disposable than anything else. Following in the footsteps of his father and older brothers, he attended a military preparatory school for Martian elites and eventually matriculated at the Deimos Military Academy in 486.

To his parents, his performance at the Academy in his first year would be described dispassionately as “meets all expectations” — high praise from and to anybody else, but for Gilbert this was simply the natural consequence of the advantages that he was born into. Lacking enthusiasm for most of the subjects covered in the classes, unable to enjoy even the thrill of intellectually crushing his classmates — but how was that any different from the rest of his life? It was not until the field simulations in second year that he first felt the thrill of excitement — the melody of the battlefield singing in his blood, the edge of putting your (simulated) life on the line. Defying the preferences of his family, he declined the invitation to join the naval command track in favor of “dirtying his hands with wetwork” — intelligence, espionage, and small-team tactics, to name a few. In his later years as a student, when Mobile Suit training was added to the curriculum, he discovered a certain romance to these machines that allowed a human to enter a battlefield that was once reserved for only ships.

With his pedigree, competence, and loyalty to the empire all being unquestionable, and the rising tensions on Venus and Luna plus the ever-boldening pirates creating a need for manpower, the Military Intelligence Bureau had had an eye on him throughout his last two years at the Academy. The day after graduation, he formally joined a special operations group under the MIB’s auspices and entered a grueling three-month training program to prepare him (and the other new recruits) for the true battlefield. While his first few missions involved investigating the nascent Mekon movement on Venus, the attempted assassination of the Imperial family turned the MIB’s attention firmly on the pirates.

For the next several years, Gilbert and his fellow operators were tasked with sniffing out the haunts of pirate scum and either wiping them out or setting them up for a proper battlegroup to exterminate. Infiltration, reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, assassination, sabotage — so long as it furthered the goals of the Zern Empire, there was no task too dirty for these men and women who valued loyalty to nation and people above all else. Their work also provided invaluable assistance for the prevention of surprise pirate attacks on Zern battlegroups, and to the setting up of ambushes and interceptions on pirate fleets and convoys.

As the conflict with the pirates began to decline, Gilbert was given command of his own special forces group and assigned to be part of the “sweep-up” effort to hunt down the last of the pirates — the ones too savvy, or too secretive, to have been wiped out in the major conflict. Given broad leeway to act semi-independently of the military proper, his mission took him across the inner solar system — from Venus, to Luna, to even the dead Earth.

Eventually it was deemed that his talents would be better utilized elsewhere, and his group was placed at the disposal of the Royal family and a number of high-ranking Nobles for whatever tasks and investigations they needed to be carried out. Most recently, his group has been “gifted” to Venus’s planetary governor in order to help him combat the growing Mekon movement. With the upcoming Expo also being held on Venus, Gilbert’s workload has grown to an almost unmanageable amount . . .

Skills and Abilities

Refined Human: Gilbert is one of those top-of-the-line models called “Refined”. His physical and mental capabilities are greater than baseline humans’, and he is more resistant to illness and disease. As a Refined he is capable of entering into a state of heightened physical performances known as "Overclocking". When in this state he is temporarily able to react, move, and process information at a considerably faster rate, enhancing his ability to fight inside and outside the cockpit. The state is difficult and exhausting to maintain. As a sniper, this state augments his already-prodigious ability to calculate movement patterns and trajectories.

Ace Sniper: Gilbert is an Ace with numerous kills to his name and many years of experience hunting down pirates on the battlefield and in their hidey-holes. It can be said that he’ll never miss a shot as long as the target doesn’t dodge in an unpredictable manner. Nor has anyone managed to get the drop on him in recent memory. He considers the hardware of the Mobile Suit to be a hindrance to his sniping abilities, as the responsiveness and feedback are lacking compared to good old flesh and bone.

Special Operations: even without a mobile suit, Gilbert is still a frightfully-effective soldier. Investigation, infiltration, and execution are his unit’s bread and butter, and they go wherever there is a need for their specialized skillset.

Pedigree: chivalry, politics, diplomacy, music, art, literature, poetry, cuisine. These are the skills and attitudes expected of a high Noble, even if he seldom has any desire to use most of them. Yet keeping a finger on the pulse of Martian high society is necessary for anyone with a famous name who wants to stay alive and untarnished, moreso for one with connections to the MIB.

Amateur Chef: who would have thought that he would find enjoyment in the skills employed by the servant class, moreso than any of the typical hobbies of the aristocracy? The palate and dexterity of a Refined Human are nothing to scoff at, and though he lacks experience some of his dishes can match or even exceed what is typically served in Martian restaurants.

Personal Items and Equipment

8.58mm Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle: his preferred weapon outside of a Mobile Suit, the round it fires is more than powerful enough to penetrate plate glass and body armor. It accepts a 10-round magazine.

Smart Glasses: a recent trend in wearable technology, similar to a concept once introduced by a monolithic corporation on ancient Earth. These look like normal spectacles, but they can connect to the internet, record, transmit, and play back video and audio, and provide annotations akin to “augmented reality”.

Strengths and Weaknesses

A true member of the Martian elite, he can draw on his connections among the nobility if he feels the need, though he greatly prefers not having to lean on his family name. A veteran of almost ten years, he is skilled at sniffing out and corralling insurgent and outlaw operations and is a feared combatant both inside and outside of the Mobile Suit cockpit. As one of the foremost snipers in the Zern military, he understands their tactics and playbook intimately.

His loyalty to the Empire sometimes blinds him to the very real faults within the system, though he on occasion admits that a certain amount of carefully-considered change can be helpful. He understands on an intellectual level the problems that the Venusians and Lunarians often face, but finds it impossible to truly empathize with their plight. He was raised within a worldview that looks down upon mutated Venusians and implanted Lunarians, and though he personally bears no animosity towards them this bias sometimes slips out in his words or behaviors.

Chosen Mobile Weapon

ZIMS-02Sc Tommy Sniper Custom

ZIMS-02Sc Tommy Sniper Custom

2nd Generation Long-Range Use Custom Mobile Suit

Limited Production || Gilbert Andreas König

Unit Appearance

The Tommy Sniper Custom is based on the Tommy Commander Type frame, but discards the big-and-blocky aesthetic for something sleeker and lighter — sacrificing some of the armor in exchange for theoretically-improved acceleration and handling (though, in reality, the mass of extra equipment and downgrade of the overclock booster system means that overall performance is worsened). The head is extensively modified to support extra sensors and cameras. A navy-gray-black muted color scheme keeps the mobile suit unobtrusive against the backdrop of space and debris.

Technical Details

Accommodation: Pilot only, enhanced six-screen cockpit in upper torso.
Dimensions: 18 meters
Powerplant: Improved medium-output Wilberforce Reactor; essentially, intermediate between a medium-output and high-output reactor
Equipment and Design Features:

•Minor Modifications
The Tommy Sniper Custom has many of the features of the standard Tommy Commander Type, with modifications geared towards reducing unnecessary mass, compensating for compromised mobility, and improving electronic performance and heat dispersal. The hardened Liten armor has been made thinner in strategic locations, decreasing mass at the cost of only a little real protection. Additional verniers have been placed across the shoulders and legs, allowing greater fine control of the mobile suit and improved reverse velocity.

•Limited Booster System
Limited in the Tommy Sniper Custom, with the majority of the power draw being dedicated to its MAG weaponry. Its functionality is essentially limited to one or two emergency boosts to keep one’s distance from an approaching foe, but continuous use is essentially impossible.

•Enhanced Sensor Suite
Mounted on the head of the Tommy Sniper Custom is an array of improved sensors and communications systems capable of longer-range detection and limited electronic noise suppression, replacing the original ‘feather plume’ of the Commander Type with something more closely resembling the face and beak of a hawk. There is also an additional visual sensor that can “slide” over the normal optics, further extending the range at which the pilot can see.

•Capacitor Packs
Optional parts that can be equipped to the Tommy Sniper Custom to improve its sniping performance. Essentially a scaled-up version of the capacitor concept pioneered in the H-VIPER, these packs can be charged from the MS reactor or support craft during ‘downtime’. Each pack, over half the size of a Tommy backpack, can provide power for twelve Greyhound shots at standard power. When dry, they can be jettisoned to reduce weight.

Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Handheld Armaments

•Holdovers
The Tommy Sniper Custom can use any of the weapons and equipment the ZIMS-02 Tommy and ZIMS-02 Tommy Commander Type can.

•H-VIPER Extended-Range Custom
With the extension of the barrel, the addition of a small scope, and a minor improvement in power throughput to match the higher output of the Sniper Custom’s generator, the H-VIPER becomes an adequate mid-range anti-MS weapon.

•“Greyhound” 180mm Anti-Ship Rifle
A testbed scoped bolt-action MAG rifle intended to combine the most desirable traits of the Whiskey, Screwdriver, and H-VIPER arms — firepower, precision, and fire-rate, respectively (the debate on whether it performs as advertised is ongoing). The integrated capacitors function similarly to those on the H-Viper, allowing a greater rate of fire than other MAG rifles for the first volley (though there is not enough power supply to shoot while recharging the capacitors once the initial charges are expended). This generates tremendous heat stress on the barrel, however, and an external cooling system has been installed to compensate. Overall, it’s an extra-heavy rifle with a high energy requirement. As continuous fire will eventually overwhelm even the aggressive cooling system, the barrel must be periodically inspected and replaced in extended engagements. Although the process of opening the cooling jacket, ejecting the barrel, and installing the new barrel has been streamlined as much as possible, this is still a period of time during which the MS is not shooting. Usually uses a twelve-round magazine.

•Braunen-H2 120mm Heavy Machine Gun
A conventional "powder-type" quad-barreled machine gun, usually fed from box magazines, with a hybrid anti-MS and anti-aircraft role. The bullet velocity and penetration are greatly superior to the Heckler, at the cost of greatly increased recoil. It must be fired from a braced position or, ideally, a bipod or tripod mount. As a support weapon, it is typically used in a defensive capacity or to suppress an area.

Fixed Armaments

•Flashbang Launcher
The Tommy Sniper Custom sacrifices one of the Tommy Commander Type’s flashbang launchers to make more room for its enhanced sensor suite.

•Variable-Payload Launcher
Multi-tube launchers that can be loaded with a variety of materiel, from flashbangs to smoke grenades to HE warheads. The Tommy Sniper Custom mounts one two-tube launcher in its left forearm compartment, and up to two three-tube launchers in place of the thigh grenade racks.

•Nanocarbon Knife
A last-resort close combat weapon produced by the Sharp Workshops. The blade is thicker and sturdier than that of the Saber, reflecting its intended use as a thrusting, armor-penetrating weapon. Due to being difficult to parry with and unsuitable for slashing its popularity has suffered; however, its reduced weight makes it an appropriate accessory for the melee-aversive Sniper Custom. The sheath is typically attached to either the shoulder or calf, but can be jettisoned if needed.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The ZIMS-02Sc Tommy Sniper Custom has superior sensors/communications and power generation then the baseline Tommy Commander model, at the cost of reduced mobility and protection. The downgrade of the booster system means that it lacks the close-range performance of the Commander Type, and would struggle in a theoretical where it is forced to engage in a brawl with an MS on par with the Commander Type. However, as a long-range use MS it makes up for this seeming deficiency by being as far away from the targets as possible, taking out targets of opportunity and maintaining distance as the battle progresses.

Technical History

With the success of the ZIMS-02R Tommy Commander Type, some enterprising minds turned towards the problem of designing a dedicated Tommy variant for elite sharpshooters. Using the already-improved Commander Type frame as their base for their line of test models, the engineers stripped away everything that they thought that a unit filling a sniper role would not need — resulting in a high-performance long-range combat mobile suit that they dubbed the “Tommy Commander Sniper Mod”. With the success of the test-type concept, in part due to a stunning exhibition with Gilbert as the test pilot, the ZIMS-02S Tommy Sniper Type was registered and the design was simplified to be cheaper and easier to produce, using the original Tommy as a base instead.

Waste not want not, however, and the pieces left over from the experimental program were cobbled into a mobile suit given to Gilbert for his personal use. After additional adjustments to tool it to his personal style and taste, the Tommy Sniper Custom was born.

ZIMS-02S Tommy Sniper Type

2nd Generation Long-Range Use Mobile Suit

Mass Production || Zern Empire

Unit Appearance

The Tommy Sniper Type is based on the standard Tommy frame, but discards the big-and-blocky aesthetic for something sleeker and lighter — sacrificing some of the armor in exchange for theoretically-improved acceleration and handling (though, in reality, the extra mass of extra equipment means that performance is essentially the same). The head is modified to support extra sensors and cameras.

Technical Details

Accommodation: Pilot only, standard three-screen cockpit in upper torso.
Dimensions: 18 meters
Powerplant: Medium-output Wilberforce Reactor
Equipment and Design Features:

• Minor Modifications
The Tommy Sniper Type has many of the features of the standard Tommy, with modifications geared towards reducing unnecessary mass, compensating for compromised mobility, and improving electronic performance and heat dispersal. The hardened Liten armor has been made thinner in strategic locations, decreasing mass at the cost of only a little real protection. Additional verniers have been placed across the shoulders and legs, allowing greater fine control of the mobile suit and improved reverse velocity. The backpack has been made larger to accommodate the ICE.

• Improved Sensor Suite
The Tommy Sniper features moderately improved sensors compared to the Tommy, with longer-range detection and limited electronic noise suppression. There is also an additional visual sensor that can “slide” over the normal optics, further extending the range at which the pilot can see.

• Integrated Capacitating Extender
Part of the modified backpack, and where the bulk of the additional mass on the Sniper Type comes from. Essentially a scaled-up, cheaper version of the capacitor concept pioneered in the H-VIPER, it can be charged from the MS reactor or support craft during ‘downtime’ and allows for improved charge time for up to fifteen Whiskey Neat shots at standard power. Thanks to this system, the Whiskey Neat can slightly exceed the Screwdriver’s fire rate for that first volley.

• M4 Entrenchment Shield
Additional optional defensive equipment to accommodate the Tommy Sniper’s relative lack of mobility while firing. The M4 Entrenchment Shield comprises Liten plates over a plasteel frame and is large enough to protect the Tommy Sniper’s legs and chest while it is kneeled down, and has magnetic spikes on its lower edge to stabilize it in an earthy/rocky surface as well as against ship hulls. The top edge is grooved and padded to provide a brace for a marksman rifle. Overall, the shield provides decent protection against conventional bullets and shrapnel, but MAG shots and direct hits from rockets will cause heavy damage.

Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Handheld Armaments

• Holdovers
The Tommy Sniper Type can use any of the weapons and equipment the ZIMS-02 Tommy can. In particular, whether it carries the Whiskey, the Screwdriver, or the Whiskey Neat depends on numerous factors including individual preference and mission objectives.

• “Whiskey Neat” 200mm Anti-Ship Rifle
An unofficial ‘update’ to the Whiskey rifle, made by replacing some of the Whiskey’s electronics to increase the power throughput and charge time, and removing the pile driver. With the Greyhound still in the early testing stages, and the Screwdriver having an ‘anemic’ feel, some marksmen have requested this modification in order to bring the aging Whiskey up to the new standards set by the 2nd generation of Mobile Suits. Thanks to these modifications, the Whiskey Neat’s fire rate is intermediate between the Screwdriver and the original Whiskey, and closer to the former than the latter. When connected to the Sniper Type’s ICE system, the Whiskey Neat can even temporarily exceed the Screwdriver’s fire rate.

• Braunen-H2 120mm Heavy Machine Gun
A conventional "powder-type" quad-barreled machine gun, usually fed from box magazines, with a hybrid anti-MS and anti-aircraft role. The bullet velocity and penetration are greatly superior to the Heckler, at the cost of greatly increased recoil. It must be fired from a braced position or, ideally, a bipod or tripod mount. As a support weapon, it is typically used in a defensive capacity or to suppress an area.

Fixed Armaments

• 30mm Vulcan
The Tommy Sniper Type sacrifices one of the Tommy’s vulcans to make more room for its enhanced sensor suite.

• Mills Bomb x3
Identical to the equipment of the standard Tommy.

• Electric Pike
With reduced need for a dedicated melee weapon, the Sniper Type instead carries a collapsible liten pike clipped to its rear. It has a small nanocarbon point as well as the same electrical discharge system as the Tommy’s truncheon, serving mainly as a last-resort weapon to keep a charging enemy from closing.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The ZIMS-02S Tommy Sniper Type has superior sensors, fine mobility, and MAG-firing capability than the baseline Tommy model, at the cost of reduced acceleration and protection. In a one-on-one shooting match with a Tommy, it would emerge the victor seven out of ten times. However, it suffers at close range and in melee.

Technical History

Following the successful demonstration of the Tommy Sniper Test Type, which proved the viability of a dedicated long-range use variant for the Tommy, the accountants of the Zern Empire demanded that the cost be brought down as low as possible while retaining its long-range functionality. The result was the ZIMS-02S, which uses the cheaper Tommy as a base and forgoes the expensive and “unnecessary” Commander and experimental equipment that was on the Test Type. Featuring increased pilot visibility, more maneuvering verniers, lighter armor, better sensors, and a “backpack battery” that can store up power, all at around double the cost of a Tommy, the Sniper Type met the military’s expectations for a marksman/support Mobile Suit that could be mass-produced.

SPEC-T3r

2nd Generation Special Operations Mobile Worker

Limited Production || Zern Empire - Military Intelligence Agency

Unit Appearance

From the outside, the SPEC-T3r greatly resembles the COOL-Te. The inside, however, is radically different, reflecting the unit’s extensive modification for secretive military work.

Technical Details

Accommodation: Pilot only, standard 3-screen torso
Dimensions: 16 meters
Powerplant: Medium-output Wilberforce Reactor
Equipment and Design Features:

• COOL-Te Base
Unless otherwise noted, the SPEC-T3r has the same features as a COOL-Te.

• Extensive Modifications
The SPEC-T3r has multiple improvements oriented towards an infiltration role as well as allowing it to hold its own against pirate Mobile Workers and MS, increasing its chances at escaping if a mission goes south. Full military-grade sensors on the front and back of the head (the latter hidden by a retractable panel) allow a full 360 degrees of vision and targeting. Additional thicker Liten plating gives it some protection against MS-scale weaponry. The single engine thruster and verniers of the COOL-Te are restored to the original specs of the Redcoat, and the joints and servos are strengthened to accommodate combat maneuvers. Retractable spikes in the feet improve its grip and stability. With the overall reduction in mass compared to the Redcoat, the SPEC-T3r comes out faster and more maneuverable than the 1st-generation MS.

Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Handheld Armaments

• Holdovers
The SPEC-T3r can use any of the weapons and equipment the COOL-Te can. Notably, it is capable of safely using weapons such as the Screwdriver, or modded tools like the D-IJ Plasma Cutter.

• Splat Gun
A modified Sealant Sprayer. It accepts a container of “splat balls”, rather than a tank of sealing solution, allowing it to deliver the balls’ payload at close-to-mid-range. The young engineer who designed this modification was apparently a paintball enthusiast, and saw the utility in being able to gum up a MS’s joints or sensors, or deliver napalm, at a distance.

Fixed Armaments

• Arm-Mounted Tool Ring
A multi-purpose attachment, similar to the COOL-Te’s, but more suitable for infiltration, demolitions work, and combat. The following six tools are included:
• a drill with a reinforced bit, capable of boring through a ship’s Liten armor.
• a nanocarbon-tipped pile bunker
• a hydraulic cutter with nanocarbon blades
• a red-spectrum VSL with improved output
• a small sub-arm for fine-scale work
• an electric discharge system

• Breach Mines x6 [Optional]
Superficially similar to the demolition charges carried by ordinary Scutsons, these shaped-charged high-explosive weapons are capable of a more-controlled, higher-yield blast.

• Directional Mines x6 [Optional]
Superficially similar to the demolition charges carried by ordinary Scutsons, these shaped-charged high-explosive weapons contain numerous embedded metal balls. When the mine detonates, a spray of force and shrapnel is directed outwards in the indicated direction.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The SPEC-T3r, unlike the COOL-Te, is a Mobile Worker that can be expected to survive a small skirmish. Yet its main purpose is not to actively engage in battle, but to plant explosives, disable ships in harbor, and record data for the MIA. In the hands of a skilled operator it can be surprisingly nimble and dangerous in close combat, but its fragility despite the additional armor means that it’s suited for little more than hit-and-run tactics.

Technical History

The Military Intelligence Agency soon realized that they needed something less obtrusive than a Mobile Suit for certain kinds of work, as the presence of a Tommy or a Redcoat was often a sign to criminals and pirates that the Zern Empire had an interest in the area. A Mobile Worker, on the other hand, was a common-enough sight to rouse less suspicion. Thus they ordered the development of what would eventually become the Special Projects Extraneous Capabilities Type-3 (refit), or SPEC-T3r for short — a heavily-modified COOL-Te taking inspiration (not that the engineers would admit it) from the illegal modifications that pirates undertook to make the COOL-Te combat-worthy.

In the latter years of the pirate conflict, the SPEC-T3r saw extensive use by undercover agents to infiltrate work sites and outposts. Some commanders even used them for forward reconnaissance, taking advantage of their speed and maneuverability to outrun enemy fire. With how few of them have been manufactured to date, and with none lost intact, the idea that the MIA has a specially-designed spy MS is mere unsubstantiated rumour.

Scroop-Class Modified Stealth Destroyer

HMS Lethe

Stealth Destroyer

MIA||497 RC||Zern Empire - MIA

Vessel Appearance

Greatly-resembling the standard Scroop-class in external construction, the Lethe improves its evasion detection by breaking up the Scroop’s large, flat panels with a greater number of smaller, angled panels. More communications and sensor equipment are also visible on the surface. The color scheme is also in Gilbert’s favored muted navy-gray-black pattern to make it difficult to discern against the background of space or debris.

Technical Details

Crew Size: Small
Dimensions:

• Height: 50 meters
• Length: 140 meters
• Width: 90 meters

Weight Class: Light
Equipment and Design Features:

• Smaller Hangar
A small internal hanger at the rear of the destroyer carries enough room for 3 to 4 mobile suits depending on the size. It was specifically designed to be a rather minimal hanger as its purpose was only to carry some mobile suits, as opposed to a proper squad or fighting units worth.

• Nanocarbon β Plating
The Destroyer’s hull is made of a very minimally armored Liten hull. By itself this would make the Scroop-class a glorified paper boat. However the additional of nanocarbon plating on the exterior significantly boosted its defense while keeping its weight relatively low.

• Electronic Warfare Array
Furthering its hunter-killer role, Gilbert’s Scroop-class destroyers have been refitted with superior sensors, communicators, and jammers. Extra-hardened against Wilberforce particle interference and capable of shutting down pirate signals at long range.

• Quiet Cruising
Small modifications to the reactor, engines, and radiators minimize the vessel’s heat signature and disrupt its particle emission pattern, making it more difficult to detect outside of visual range.

Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Fixed Armaments

• 200mm MAG Cannons x2
The Scroop-class employs two single barrel MAG cannons loaded with solid 200mm shells. Though relatively low in caliber these guns have long range and very high penetration, allowing the destroyer to damage even heavily armored vessels. Their low rate of fire due to charging is made up for by their accuracy.

• 75mm CIWS x6
Multi-barrel rotary chainguns allow the destroyer to shoot down incoming projectiles and ward off enemy mobile suits, mostly due to the sheer rate of fire the guns are capable of.

• MAG Assisted Missile Launchers x4
Internal launcher tubes positioned at the front nose of the ship fire missiles via magnetic charges. Though taking longer to fire than traditional missile systems these ensure the Scroops missiles leave the tubes at high speeds, before their own propulsion systems even ignite.

Technical History

The resounding success of Sharp Workshop’s Scroop-class destroyer led the Military Intelligence Agency to commission a modified version for more discreet, delicate work. Their private contractors replaced the electronics and retooled the exterior — an expensive and time-consuming process, but one that was worth the high price tag. The end result being a vessel that could slip in and out of an area of interest with a low chance of being detected, or could sneak up behind a pirate ship and ambush them without warning.

The missions that this stealth-modified Scroop series have completed remain classified, but it’s fair to say that they have been heavily involved in the tracking and extermination of pirates and rebels. The HMS Lethe was one of the first in the series to be launched, and has served as Gilbert’s command vessel for nigh on three years now. The HMS Kokytos and HMS Acheron, completed in 497 RC, were added to his command as he rose in rank and responsibility. These three destroyers, as well as four Seyton-class frigates, form the core of Gilbert’s battlegroup.

Mobile Suit Gundam: LIFELINE

ZIMS-02S Tommy Sniper Type

2nd Generation Long-Range Use Mobile Suit

Mass Production || Zern Empire

Unit Appearance

The Tommy Sniper Type is based on the standard Tommy frame, but discards the big-and-blocky aesthetic for something sleeker and lighter — sacrificing some of the armor in exchange for theoretically-improved acceleration and handling (though, in reality, the extra mass of extra equipment means that performance is essentially the same). The head is modified to support extra sensors and cameras.

Technical Details

Accommodation: Pilot only, standard three-screen cockpit in upper torso.
Dimensions: 18 meters
Powerplant: Medium-output Wilberforce Reactor
Equipment and Design Features:

• Minor Modifications
The Tommy Sniper Type has many of the features of the standard Tommy, with modifications geared towards reducing unnecessary mass, compensating for compromised mobility, and improving electronic performance and heat dispersal. The hardened Liten armor has been made thinner in strategic locations, decreasing mass at the cost of only a little real protection. Additional verniers have been placed across the shoulders and legs, allowing greater fine control of the mobile suit and improved reverse velocity. The backpack has been made larger to accommodate the ICE.

• Improved Sensor Suite
The Tommy Sniper features moderately improved sensors compared to the Tommy, with longer-range detection and limited electronic noise suppression. There is also an additional visual sensor that can “slide” over the normal optics, further extending the range at which the pilot can see.

• Integrated Capacitating Extender
Part of the modified backpack, and where the bulk of the additional mass on the Sniper Type comes from. Essentially a scaled-up, cheaper version of the capacitor concept pioneered in the H-VIPER, it can be charged from the MS reactor or support craft during ‘downtime’ and allows for improved charge time for up to fifteen Whiskey Neat shots at standard power. Thanks to this system, the Whiskey Neat can slightly exceed the Screwdriver’s fire rate for that first volley.

• M4 Entrenchment Shield
Additional optional defensive equipment to accommodate the Tommy Sniper’s relative lack of mobility while firing. The M4 Entrenchment Shield comprises Liten plates over a plasteel frame and is large enough to protect the Tommy Sniper’s legs and chest while it is kneeled down, and has magnetic spikes on its lower edge to stabilize it in an earthy/rocky surface as well as against ship hulls. The top edge is grooved and padded to provide a brace for a marksman rifle. Overall, the shield provides decent protection against conventional bullets and shrapnel, but MAG shots and direct hits from rockets will cause heavy damage.

Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Handheld Armaments

• Holdovers
The Tommy Sniper Type can use any of the weapons and equipment the ZIMS-02 Tommy can. In particular, whether it carries the Whiskey, the Screwdriver, or the Whiskey Neat depends on numerous factors including individual preference and mission objectives.

• “Whiskey Neat” 200mm Anti-Ship Rifle
An unofficial ‘update’ to the Whiskey rifle, made by replacing some of the Whiskey’s electronics to increase the power throughput and charge time, and removing the pile driver. With the Greyhound still in the early testing stages, and the Screwdriver having an ‘anemic’ feel, some marksmen have requested this modification in order to bring the aging Whiskey up to the new standards set by the 2nd generation of Mobile Suits. Thanks to these modifications, the Whiskey Neat’s fire rate is intermediate between the Screwdriver and the original Whiskey, and closer to the former than the latter. When connected to the Sniper Type’s ICE system, the Whiskey Neat can even temporarily exceed the Screwdriver’s fire rate.

• Braunen-H2 120mm Heavy Machine Gun
A conventional "powder-type" quad-barreled machine gun, usually fed from box magazines, with a hybrid anti-MS and anti-aircraft role. The bullet velocity and penetration are greatly superior to the Heckler, at the cost of greatly increased recoil. It must be fired from a braced position or, ideally, a bipod or tripod mount. As a support weapon, it is typically used in a defensive capacity or to suppress an area.

Fixed Armaments

• 30mm Vulcan
The Tommy Sniper Type sacrifices one of the Tommy’s vulcans to make more room for its enhanced sensor suite.

• Mills Bomb x3
Identical to the equipment of the standard Tommy.

• Electric Pike
With reduced need for a dedicated melee weapon, the Sniper Type instead carries a collapsible liten pike clipped to its rear. It has a small nanocarbon point as well as the same electrical discharge system as the Tommy’s truncheon, serving mainly as a last-resort weapon to keep a charging enemy from closing.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The ZIMS-02S Tommy Sniper Type has superior sensors, fine mobility, and MAG-firing capability than the baseline Tommy model, at the cost of reduced acceleration and protection. In a one-on-one shooting match with a Tommy, it would emerge the victor seven out of ten times. However, it suffers at close range and in melee.

Technical History

Following the successful demonstration of the Tommy Sniper Test Type, which proved the viability of a dedicated long-range use variant for the Tommy, the accountants of the Zern Empire demanded that the cost be brought down as low as possible while retaining its long-range functionality. The result was the ZIMS-02S, which uses the cheaper Tommy as a base and forgoes the expensive and “unnecessary” Commander and experimental equipment that was on the Test Type. Featuring increased pilot visibility, more maneuvering verniers, lighter armor, better sensors, and a “backpack battery” that can store up power, all at around double the cost of a Tommy, the Sniper Type met the military’s expectations for a marksman/support Mobile Suit that could be mass-produced.

SPEC-T3r

2nd Generation Special Operations Mobile Worker

Limited Production || Zern Empire - Military Intelligence Agency

Unit Appearance

From the outside, the SPEC-T3r greatly resembles the COOL-Te. The inside, however, is radically different, reflecting the unit’s extensive modification for secretive military work.

Technical Details

Accommodation: Pilot only, standard 3-screen torso
Dimensions: 16 meters
Powerplant: Medium-output Wilberforce Reactor
Equipment and Design Features:

• COOL-Te Base
Unless otherwise noted, the SPEC-T3r has the same features as a COOL-Te.

• Extensive Modifications
The SPEC-T3r has multiple improvements oriented towards an infiltration role as well as allowing it to hold its own against pirate Mobile Workers and MS, increasing its chances at escaping if a mission goes south. Full military-grade sensors on the front and back of the head (the latter hidden by a retractable panel) allow a full 360 degrees of vision and targeting. Additional thicker Liten plating gives it some protection against MS-scale weaponry. The single engine thruster and verniers of the COOL-Te are restored to the original specs of the Redcoat, and the joints and servos are strengthened to accommodate combat maneuvers. Retractable spikes in the feet improve its grip and stability. With the overall reduction in mass compared to the Redcoat, the SPEC-T3r comes out faster and more maneuverable than the 1st-generation MS.

Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Handheld Armaments

• Holdovers
The SPEC-T3r can use any of the weapons and equipment the COOL-Te can. Notably, it is capable of safely using weapons such as the Screwdriver, or modded tools like the D-IJ Plasma Cutter.

• Splat Gun
A modified Sealant Sprayer. It accepts a container of “splat balls”, rather than a tank of sealing solution, allowing it to deliver the balls’ payload at close-to-mid-range. The young engineer who designed this modification was apparently a paintball enthusiast, and saw the utility in being able to gum up a MS’s joints or sensors, or deliver napalm, at a distance.

Fixed Armaments

• Arm-Mounted Tool Ring
A multi-purpose attachment, similar to the COOL-Te’s, but more suitable for infiltration, demolitions work, and combat. The following six tools are included:
• a drill with a reinforced bit, capable of boring through a ship’s Liten armor.
• a nanocarbon-tipped pile bunker
• a hydraulic cutter with nanocarbon blades
• a red-spectrum VSL with improved output
• a small sub-arm for fine-scale work
• an electric discharge system

• Breach Mines x6 [Optional]
Superficially similar to the demolition charges carried by ordinary Scutsons, these shaped-charged high-explosive weapons are capable of a more-controlled, higher-yield blast.

• Directional Mines x6 [Optional]
Superficially similar to the demolition charges carried by ordinary Scutsons, these shaped-charged high-explosive weapons contain numerous embedded metal balls. When the mine detonates, a spray of force and shrapnel is directed outwards in the indicated direction.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The SPEC-T3r, unlike the COOL-Te, is a Mobile Worker that can be expected to survive a small skirmish. Yet its main purpose is not to actively engage in battle, but to plant explosives, disable ships in harbor, and record data for the MIA. In the hands of a skilled operator it can be surprisingly nimble and dangerous in close combat, but its fragility despite the additional armor means that it’s suited for little more than hit-and-run tactics.

Technical History

The Military Intelligence Agency soon realized that they needed something less obtrusive than a Mobile Suit for certain kinds of work, as the presence of a Tommy or a Redcoat was often a sign to criminals and pirates that the Zern Empire had an interest in the area. A Mobile Worker, on the other hand, was a common-enough sight to rouse less suspicion. Thus they ordered the development of what would eventually become the Special Projects Extraneous Capabilities Type-3 (refit), or SPEC-T3r for short — a heavily-modified COOL-Te taking inspiration (not that the engineers would admit it) from the illegal modifications that pirates undertook to make the COOL-Te combat-worthy.

In the latter years of the pirate conflict, the SPEC-T3r saw extensive use by undercover agents to infiltrate work sites and outposts. Some commanders even used them for forward reconnaissance, taking advantage of their speed and maneuverability to outrun enemy fire. With how few of them have been manufactured to date, and with none lost intact, the idea that the MIA has a specially-designed spy MS is mere unsubstantiated rumour.

Stroop-Class Modified Stealth Destroyer

HMS Lethe

Stealth Destroyer

MIA||497 RC||Zern Empire - MIA

Vessel Appearance

Greatly-resembling the standard Scroop-class in external construction, the Lethe improves its evasion detection by breaking up the Scroop’s large, flat panels with a greater number of smaller, angled panels. More communications and sensor equipment are also visible on the surface. The color scheme is also in Gilbert’s favored muted navy-gray-black pattern to make it difficult to discern against the background of space or debris.

Technical Details

Crew Size: Small
Dimensions:

• Height: 50 meters
• Length: 140 meters
• Width: 90 meters

Weight Class: Light
Equipment and Design Features:

• Smaller Hangar
A small internal hanger at the rear of the destroyer carries enough room for 3 to 4 mobile suits depending on the size. It was specifically designed to be a rather minimal hanger as its purpose was only to carry some mobile suits, as opposed to a proper squad or fighting units worth.

• Nanocarbon β Plating
The Destroyer’s hull is made of a very minimally armored Liten hull. By itself this would make the Scroop-class a glorified paper boat. However the additional of nanocarbon plating on the exterior significantly boosted its defense while keeping its weight relatively low.

• Electronic Warfare Array
Furthering its hunter-killer role, Gilbert’s Scroop-class destroyers have been refitted with superior sensors, communicators, and jammers. Extra-hardened against Wilberforce particle interference and capable of shutting down pirate signals at long range.

• Quiet Cruising
Small modifications to the reactor, engines, and radiators minimize the vessel’s heat signature and disrupt its particle emission pattern, making it more difficult to detect outside of visual range.

Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Fixed Armaments

• 200mm MAG Cannons x2
The Scroop-class employs two single barrel MAG cannons loaded with solid 200mm shells. Though relatively low in caliber these guns have long range and very high penetration, allowing the destroyer to damage even heavily armored vessels. Their low rate of fire due to charging is made up for by their accuracy.

• 75mm CIWS x6
Multi-barrel rotary chainguns allow the destroyer to shoot down incoming projectiles and ward off enemy mobile suits, mostly due to the sheer rate of fire the guns are capable of.

• MAG Assisted Missile Launchers x4
Internal launcher tubes positioned at the front nose of the ship fire missiles via magnetic charges. Though taking longer to fire than traditional missile systems these ensure the Scroops missiles leave the tubes at high speeds, before their own propulsion systems even ignite.

Technical History

The resounding success of Sharp Workshop’s Scroop-class destroyer led the Military Intelligence Agency to commission a modified version for more discreet, delicate work. Their private contractors replaced the electronics and retooled the exterior — an expensive and time-consuming process, but one that was worth the high price tag. The end result being a vessel that could slip in and out of an area of interest with a low chance of being detected, or could sneak up behind a pirate ship and ambush them without warning.

The missions that this stealth-modified Scroop series have completed remain classified, but it’s fair to say that they have been heavily involved in the tracking and extermination of pirates and rebels. The HMS Lethe was one of the first in the series to be launched, and has served as Gilbert’s command vessel for nigh on three years now. The HMS Kokytos and HMS Acheron, completed in 497 RC, were added to his command as he rose in rank and responsibility. These three destroyers, as well as four Seyton-class frigates, form the core of Gilbert’s battlegroup.

Mobile Suit Gundam: LIFELINE

Gilbert König

The Eye of the Styx - Centurion

b. 471 RC║Zern Empire║Martian║Male

Physical Appearance

A graceful man with an elegant and refined appearance, the product of precise genetic engineering and years of strict training. He stands 183cm tall, exactly as his parents ordered, with a strong and athletic build. His blue-black hair is kept shorter in the back and longer in the front, with the bangs parted asymmetrically with one long strand on the left and more swept on the right. He will never grow facial hair, and his complexion is light but healthy and without imperfections. Pale grey eyes gaze out from behind narrow spectacles ⁠— a fashion statement, as his eyesight is engineered to be 20/10. He is every bit a specimen of the superiority of Martian genetic engineering, and projects a demeanor of absolute assurance and dignity.

Personality Traits:

Aesthetics of an Elegant Noble
Monster of Calculation
Cool Under Fire
Humor as Dry as a Desert
Familial Loyalty
Cooking Enthusiast

Biography:

The König family, as their name hints, is a branch off the Royal lineage — and one fairly close to the tree at that. They have always prided themselves on their loyalty and devotion towards the Imperial throne, and have a close relationship with the military as a result. Gilbert Andreas was born in 471 RC, the third son of General Johannes König and Lady Liselotte König née Eisenach, in a luxurious hospital on Martian soil. Growing up there was nothing more that he could have asked for — except for perhaps some free time, as his days were filled with lessons and sports and even his “playtime” was scheduled with the children of allied families (it was through such “playdates” that he first became acquainted with his distant cousins, the royal children). He had an easy temperament and learned quickly, to the delight of his governess, tutors, and parents — not that this last pair cared much, as a third son tends to be more disposable than anything else. Following in the footsteps of his father and older brothers, he attended a military preparatory school for Martian elites and eventually matriculated at the Deimos Military Academy in 486.

To his parents, his performance at the Academy in his first year would be described dispassionately as “meets all expectations” — high praise from and to anybody else, but for Gilbert this was simply the natural consequence of the advantages that he was born into. Lacking enthusiasm for most of the subjects covered in the classes, unable to enjoy even the thrill of intellectually crushing his classmates — but how was that any different from the rest of his life? It was not until the field simulations in second year that he first felt the thrill of excitement — the melody of the battlefield singing in his blood, the edge of putting your (simulated) life on the line. Defying the preferences of his family, he declined the invitation to join the naval command track in favor of “dirtying his hands with wetwork” — intelligence, espionage, and small-team tactics, to name a few. In his later years as a student, when Mobile Suit training was added to the curriculum, he discovered a certain romance to these machines that allowed a human to enter a battlefield that was once reserved for only ships.

With his pedigree, competence, and loyalty to the empire all being unquestionable, and the rising tensions on Venus and Luna plus the ever-boldening pirates creating a need for manpower, the Military Intelligence Bureau had had an eye on him throughout his last two years at the Academy. The day after graduation, he formally joined a special operations group under the MIB’s auspices and entered a grueling three-month training program to prepare him (and the other new recruits) for the true battlefield. While his first few missions involved investigating the nascent Mekon movement on Venus, the attempted assassination of the Imperial family turned the MIB’s attention firmly on the pirates.

For the next several years, Gilbert and his fellow operators were tasked with sniffing out the haunts of pirate scum and either wiping them out or setting them up for a proper battlegroup to exterminate. Infiltration, reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, assassination, sabotage — so long as it furthered the goals of the Zern Empire, there was no task too dirty for these men and women who valued loyalty to nation and people above all else. Their work also provided invaluable assistance for the prevention of surprise pirate attacks on Zern battlegroups, and to the setting up of ambushes and interceptions on pirate fleets and convoys.

As the conflict with the pirates began to decline, Gilbert was given command of his own special forces group and assigned to be part of the “sweep-up” effort to hunt down the last of the pirates — the ones too savvy, or too secretive, to have been wiped out in the major conflict. Given broad leeway to act semi-independently of the military proper, his mission took him across the inner solar system — from Venus, to Luna, to even the dead Earth.

Eventually it was deemed that his talents would be better utilized elsewhere, and his group was placed at the disposal of the Royal family and a number of high-ranking Nobles for whatever tasks and investigations they needed to be carried out. Most recently, his group has been “gifted” to Venus’s planetary governor in order to help him combat the growing Mekon movement. With the upcoming Expo also being held on Venus, Gilbert’s workload has grown to an almost unmanageable amount . . .

Skills and Abilities

Refined Human: Gilbert is one of those top-of-the-line models called “Refined”. His physical and mental capabilities are greater than baseline humans’, and he is more resistant to illness and disease. As a Refined he is capable of entering into a state of heightened physical performances known as "Overclocking". When in this state he is temporarily able to react, move, and process information at a considerably faster rate, enhancing his ability to fight inside and outside the cockpit. The state is difficult and exhausting to maintain. As a sniper, this state augments his already-prodigious ability to calculate movement patterns and trajectories.

Ace Sniper: Gilbert is an Ace with numerous kills to his name and many years of experience hunting down pirates on the battlefield and in their hidey-holes. It can be said that he’ll never miss a shot as long as the target doesn’t dodge in an unpredictable manner. Nor has anyone managed to get the drop on him in recent memory. He considers the hardware of the Mobile Suit to be a hindrance to his sniping abilities, as the responsiveness and feedback are lacking compared to good old flesh and bone.

Special Operations: even without a mobile suit, Gilbert is still a frightfully-effective soldier. Investigation, infiltration, and execution are his unit’s bread and butter, and they go wherever there is a need for their specialized skillset.

Pedigree: chivalry, politics, diplomacy, music, art, literature, poetry, cuisine. These are the skills and attitudes expected of a high Noble, even if he seldom has any desire to use most of them. Yet keeping a finger on the pulse of Martian high society is necessary for anyone with a famous name who wants to stay alive and untarnished, moreso for one with connections to the MIB.

Amateur Chef: who would have thought that he would find enjoyment in the skills employed by the servant class, moreso than any of the typical hobbies of the aristocracy? The palate and dexterity of a Refined Human are nothing to scoff at, and though he lacks experience some of his dishes can match or even exceed what is typically served in Martian restaurants.

Personal Items and Equipment

8.58mm Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle: his preferred weapon outside of a Mobile Suit, the round it fires is more than powerful enough to penetrate plate glass and body armor. It accepts a 10-round magazine.

Smart Glasses: a recent trend in wearable technology, similar to a concept once introduced by a monolithic corporation on ancient Earth. These look like normal spectacles, but they can connect to the internet, record, transmit, and play back video and audio, and provide annotations akin to “augmented reality”.

Strengths and Weaknesses

A true member of the Martian elite, he can draw on his connections among the nobility if he feels the need, though he greatly prefers not having to lean on his family name. A veteran of almost ten years, he is skilled at sniffing out and corralling insurgent and outlaw operations and is a feared combatant both inside and outside of the Mobile Suit cockpit. As one of the foremost snipers in the Zern military, he understands their tactics and playbook intimately.

His loyalty to the Empire sometimes blinds him to the very real faults within the system, though he on occasion admits that a certain amount of carefully-considered change can be helpful. He understands on an intellectual level the problems that the Venusians and Lunarians often face, but finds it impossible to truly empathize with their plight. He was raised within a worldview that looks down upon mutated Venusians and implanted Lunarians, and though he personally bears no animosity towards them this bias sometimes slips out in his words or behaviors.

Chosen Mobile Weapon

ZIMS-02Sc Tommy Sniper Custom

ZIMS-02Sc Tommy Sniper Custom

2nd Generation Long-Range Use Custom Mobile Suit

Limited Production || Gilbert Andreas König

Unit Appearance

The Tommy Sniper Custom is based on the Tommy Commander Type frame, but discards the big-and-blocky aesthetic for something sleeker and lighter — sacrificing some of the armor in exchange for theoretically-improved acceleration and handling (though, in reality, the mass of extra equipment and downgrade of the overclock booster system means that overall performance is worsened). The head is extensively modified to support extra sensors and cameras. A navy-gray-black muted color scheme keeps the mobile suit unobtrusive against the backdrop of space and debris.

Technical Details

Accommodation: Pilot only, enhanced six-screen cockpit in upper torso.
Dimensions: 18 meters
Powerplant: Improved medium-output Wilberforce Reactor; essentially, intermediate between a medium-output and high-output reactor
Equipment and Design Features:

•Minor Modifications
The Tommy Sniper Custom has many of the features of the standard Tommy Commander Type, with modifications geared towards reducing unnecessary mass, compensating for compromised mobility, and improving electronic performance and heat dispersal. The hardened Liten armor has been made thinner in strategic locations, decreasing mass at the cost of only a little real protection. Additional verniers have been placed across the shoulders and legs, allowing greater fine control of the mobile suit and improved reverse velocity.

•Limited Booster System
Limited in the Tommy Sniper Custom, with the majority of the power draw being dedicated to its MAG weaponry. Its functionality is essentially limited to one or two emergency boosts to keep one’s distance from an approaching foe, but continuous use is essentially impossible.

•Enhanced Sensor Suite
Mounted on the head of the Tommy Sniper Custom is an array of improved sensors and communications systems capable of longer-range detection and limited electronic noise suppression, replacing the original ‘feather plume’ of the Commander Type with something more closely resembling the face and beak of a hawk. There is also an additional visual sensor that can “slide” over the normal optics, further extending the range at which the pilot can see.

•Capacitor Packs
Optional parts that can be equipped to the Tommy Sniper Custom to improve its sniping performance. Essentially a scaled-up version of the capacitor concept pioneered in the H-VIPER, these packs can be charged from the MS reactor or support craft during ‘downtime’. Each pack, over half the size of a Tommy backpack, can provide power for twelve Greyhound shots at standard power. When dry, they can be jettisoned to reduce weight.

Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Handheld Armaments

•Holdovers
The Tommy Sniper Custom can use any of the weapons and equipment the ZIMS-02 Tommy and ZIMS-02 Tommy Commander Type can.

•H-VIPER Extended-Range Custom
With the extension of the barrel, the addition of a small scope, and a minor improvement in power throughput to match the higher output of the Sniper Custom’s generator, the H-VIPER becomes an adequate mid-range anti-MS weapon.

•“Greyhound” 180mm Anti-Ship Rifle
A testbed scoped bolt-action MAG rifle intended to combine the most desirable traits of the Whiskey, Screwdriver, and H-VIPER arms — firepower, precision, and fire-rate, respectively (the debate on whether it performs as advertised is ongoing). The integrated capacitors function similarly to those on the H-Viper, allowing a greater rate of fire than other MAG rifles for the first volley (though there is not enough power supply to shoot while recharging the capacitors once the initial charges are expended). This generates tremendous heat stress on the barrel, however, and an external cooling system has been installed to compensate. Overall, it’s an extra-heavy rifle with a high energy requirement. As continuous fire will eventually overwhelm even the aggressive cooling system, the barrel must be periodically inspected and replaced in extended engagements. Although the process of opening the cooling jacket, ejecting the barrel, and installing the new barrel has been streamlined as much as possible, this is still a period of time during which the MS is not shooting. Usually uses a twelve-round magazine.

•Braunen-H2 120mm Heavy Machine Gun
A conventional "powder-type" quad-barreled machine gun, usually fed from box magazines, with a hybrid anti-MS and anti-aircraft role. The bullet velocity and penetration are greatly superior to the Heckler, at the cost of greatly increased recoil. It must be fired from a braced position or, ideally, a bipod or tripod mount. As a support weapon, it is typically used in a defensive capacity or to suppress an area.

Fixed Armaments

•Flashbang Launcher
The Tommy Sniper Custom sacrifices one of the Tommy Commander Type’s flashbang launchers to make more room for its enhanced sensor suite.

•Variable-Payload Launcher
Multi-tube launchers that can be loaded with a variety of materiel, from flashbangs to smoke grenades to HE warheads. The Tommy Sniper Custom mounts one two-tube launcher in its left forearm compartment, and up to two three-tube launchers in place of the thigh grenade racks.

•Nanocarbon Knife
A last-resort close combat weapon produced by the Sharp Workshops. The blade is thicker and sturdier than that of the Saber, reflecting its intended use as a thrusting, armor-penetrating weapon. Due to being difficult to parry with and unsuitable for slashing its popularity has suffered; however, its reduced weight makes it an appropriate accessory for the melee-aversive Sniper Custom. The sheath is typically attached to either the shoulder or calf, but can be jettisoned if needed.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The ZIMS-02Sc Tommy Sniper Custom has superior sensors/communications and power generation then the baseline Tommy Commander model, at the cost of reduced mobility and protection. The downgrade of the booster system means that it lacks the close-range performance of the Commander Type, and would struggle in a theoretical where it is forced to engage in a brawl with an MS on par with the Commander Type. However, as a long-range use MS it makes up for this seeming deficiency by being as far away from the targets as possible, taking out targets of opportunity and maintaining distance as the battle progresses.

Technical History

With the success of the ZIMS-02R Tommy Commander Type, some enterprising minds turned towards the problem of designing a dedicated Tommy variant for elite sharpshooters. Using the already-improved Commander Type frame as their base for their line of test models, the engineers stripped away everything that they thought that a unit filling a sniper role would not need — resulting in a high-performance long-range combat mobile suit that they dubbed the “Tommy Commander Sniper Mod”. With the success of the test-type concept, in part due to a stunning exhibition with Gilbert as the test pilot, the ZIMS-02S Tommy Sniper Type was registered and the design was simplified to be cheaper and easier to produce, using the original Tommy as a base instead.

Waste not want not, however, and the pieces left over from the experimental program were cobbled into a mobile suit given to Gilbert for his personal use. After additional adjustments to tool it to his personal style and taste, the Tommy Sniper Custom was born.