Apsalus Project

The Apsalus Project was a series of projects by Principality of Zeon scientists to create a powerful Mobile Armour in the anime series .

After Operation British failed to destroy the Earth Federation Forces military headquarters in Jaburo, South America, the Zeon began to pursue other, more direct ways, of trying to destroy the subterranean base. The "Apsalus Project", directed by Zeon scientist Ginias Sahalin, was perhaps one of the most feasible of the plans to destroy Jaburo, and so it was given funding priority. The main idea of the plan involved getting a mobile armor to fly over Jaburo and destroy the base with a powerful beam weapon. The Apsalus units were mostly assembled from spare MS parts, as a result, all of them use the head from a MS-06 Zaku II.

Apsalus I

The first phase of the Apsalus Project involved creating the massive mobile armor that could operate in the upper atmosphere or low-Earth space orbit. To achieve atmospheric flight the Apsalus used the Minovsky Craft System, which created a highly concentrated cushion of Minovsky Particles between the mobile armor and the Earth, providing lift.

The Apsalus I, built in a Zeon mountain base in Southeast Asia, served as the test-bed for the Minovsky Craft System. Built with many spare parts from old Zakus (even featuring the head and its monoeye instead of a larger, MA style monoeye), the Apsalus required a very powerful generator to run its Minovsky Craft System. Built under the direct supervision of Ginias Sahalin, the Apsalus I would be piloted by his sister, Aina Sahalin, on its test flight. During flight tests the Apsalus I was proved to be flight capable, but the generators output was not sufficient enough to keep the Apsalus I at a stable height. Due to its role as a test unit the Apsalus I had no armaments, but it was able to manipulate the Minovsky Craft System to release powerful energy pulses over a short area that could be used as a defensive ability.

During one test flight the Apsalus I lost altitude and was severely damaged when it came under attack from the Earth Federation Forces 08th Mobile Suit Team, which was on a routine patrol through the area. Heavily damaged, the Apsalus I later crash landed in a small village where it stayed until it was repaired and was flown back to the Zeonic mountain base.

Apsalus II

After test results proved that the Minovsky Craft System could work, Ginias Sahalin started work on the second phase of the Apsalus Project, which was to create the powerful beam weapon which would destroy Jaburo as the Apsalus flew in the upper atmosphere high above the base. The Apsalus II fine-tuned the Minovsky Craft System, which granted the mobile armor much more stable atmospheric flight capabilities. The Apsalus II was also used to begin the testing of a powerful mega particle cannon, which was capable of blasting large swaths of destruction through anything it fired on, even solid rock.

The Apsalus II was tested in the deserts of Southeast Asia, but information of these tests were leaked to the Earth Federation by the local population of the area. The 08th Mobile Suit Team was dispatched to ambush, and attempt to capture, the Apsalus II and after lying in wait for several days they were able to spring their trap. The Apsalus II was severely damaged by Federation pilot Shiro Amada, and the unit fled with Shiro's Gundam Ground Type still clinging to its hull. The Apsalus II crash landed in the Himalayan Mountain Range and was later self-destructed by Aina Sahalin to prevent the Earth Federation from capturing the unit intact.

Apsalus III

After the Apsalus II was lost Ginias began work on the final version of the Apsalus Project, the Apsalus III. However, not long after the Zeon lost Operation Odessa the Apsalus Project was ordered to be halted. Ginias Sahalin, driven by a mad determination to see his project completed, demanded the work on the Apsalus to continue despite the orders that Zeon prepare moving all of their available resources and supplies to space, and he went so far as to murder anyone who he felt stood in his way.

The Apsalus III would be the culmination of all of the test data of the previous two Apsalus units and it was over twice the size of the original two units. To compensate for balance problems in flight the Apsalus III mounted two Minovsky Craft Systems, one on each side of its body located on spider-like legs that could be lowered away from the main body to anchor the unit in place when firing close to the ground. Also, to overcome the problem of insufficient energy the Apsalus III mounted three Rick Dom II generators instead of one.

However the Apsalus III was never able to carry out its intended purpose. The massive mobile armor was destroyed in the skies over the Zeonic mountain base (after being heavily damaged by GM Snipers and getting its cockpit smashed by Shiro Amada's Ez8) where it was designed and built when the base was discovered and sieged by the Earth Federation Forces.

pecifications

Apsalus I

Manufacturer: Principality of Zeon
Operator: Principality of Zeon
Unit type: experimental base attack use mobile armor
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1400 kW
Armament: Minovsky craft system energy pulse
Pilot: Aina Sahalin

Apsalus II

Manufacturer: Zeon Duchy
Operator: Zeon Duchy
Unit type: experimental base attack use mobile armor
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1400 kW
Armament: mega particle cannon; Minovsky craft system energy pulse
Pilot: Aina Sahalin

Apsalus III

Manufacturer: Principality of Zeon
Operator: Principality of Zeon
Unit type: base attack use mobile armor
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
Powerplant: 3 x Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1220 kW each, total output rated at 3660 kW
Armament: mega particle cannon
Pilot: Aina Sahalin, Ginias Sahalin

References

* [http://www.mahq.net/MECHA/GUNDAM/08thmsteam/apsalus.htm Apsalus I] at mahq.net
* [http://www.mahq.net/MECHA/GUNDAM/08thmsteam/apsalus2.htm Apsalus II] at mahq.net
* [http://www.mahq.net/MECHA/GUNDAM/08thmsteam/apsalus3.htm Apsalus III] at mahq.net

Trivia

The Apsalus is named after apsaras, the Hindu goddess of fertility. This is a somewhat appropriate name, considering Ginias built the Apsalus as a Maternal Surrogate.