Of all the Gundams in the Universal Century, the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam best embodied the hope of an era. Also, four beam sabers.
Only one line of Gundams is Gundam enough to have earned the designation of being the pinnacle of the Universal Century. Created as the final part of the EFSF’s grand UC Project, the Unicorn Gundam project was a revolutionary Gundam among revolutionary Gundams. With the most advanced technology the Earth Federation could pull together, including a prototype anti-Newtype system designed to defeat the next level of human evolution, as well as being entirely constructed of Psycho-Frame material, the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam was meant to be the best of both machine and pilot blended together.
The RX-0 Unicorn Gundam – Design And Capabilities
First and foremost is the design of the Unicorn Gundam. Its sleek frame stood at around 19.7 meters (in its primary mode), and only capped out at 42.7 metric tons when fully kitted out, the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam was lithe and agile. Especially since its Gundarium Alloy armor was built around a neurally receptive Psycho-Frame, allowing for unprecedented performance.
The Psycho-Frame material meant that the unit’s responsiveness was second to none, operating as an extension of its pilot. Other Mobile Suits had deployed Psycho-Frame technology before, but the Unicorn was the first “full psycho-frame” model. It was reportedly so responsive that it could act merely on impulse without action from its pilot.
The Newtype-Drive
The specialized frame paired with a custom operating system known as the NT-D, or Newtype-Destroyer (or Newtype-Drive depending on who you ask), an OS that allows even an Oldtype pilot to fight with the acuity of a Newtype. Engaging the NT-D put the Unicorn Gundam into “Destroy Mode” making it taller as systems unfold from armored plating, and revealing more thrusters as the whole suit emits a Psycho-Field glow.
The NT-D also gave the Unicorn the ability to take control of an enemy’s psycommu-equipped weapons. Meaning that anything relying on the Psycho-Field was subject to being hijacked by the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam, though at considerable risk to the pilot’s mental stress.
Even without the Psycho-Frame and NT-D, the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam was loaded for bear. It’s standard kit included a 60mm Vulcan Gun; a “Beam Magnum” energy pistol that could put out the equivalent firepower of four beam rifle shots in a single blow; a Hyper Bazooka, which fired 280mm rockets, but could also be configured with a grenade launcher, missile launcher, or scattershot type rounds; a shield, and of course four Beam Sabers stashed in various points around its body.
The RX-0 Unicorn Gundam could also be “unchained” allowing the Unicorn to act without interference from its pilot, allowing it to attack enemy Psycommu units. Though this was considered a last resort – the berserk mode would put the Unicorn’s pilot at considerable risk, as it fought purely as a combat machine.
Here And Gone Like A Unicorn
The Unicorn Gundam played a significant role in the tail end of the Universal Century. First deployed in UC 0094, the RX-0 was activated to grant its pilot, Banagher Links, passage to an object known only as Laplace’s Box. This secret box was said to be able to bring down the Earth Federation, though few knew what it actually contained.
In pursuit of the box, Links and the Unicorn Gundam engaged in a series of running battles with the organization known as Full Frontal. Proving itself to be an extremely Gundam type Gundam, the Unicorn actually stopped an attack that would worsen the war – an act for which the Earth Federation immediately ordered it to be disassembled.
Of course, the RX-0 Gundam was not destroyed. Instead it was sealed away in secret. From there, later iterations were developed, but they were only seen in visions. The fate of the RX-0 is unknown – but if it is out there, and the later variants follow in its stead, perhaps there is hope for peace in the UC after all.
War bad, but cool robot? Cool robot good!
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