MOBILE FIGHTER G GUNDAM ENCYCLOPEDIA

Chaos Wars

Future Century 2. The ruling classes of nations, seemingly abandoning the increasingly desolate Earth, built colonies and ascended into space. It took only two years for the Earth, now without the yoke of governance, to plunge into chaos, with conflicts erupting everywhere. It was rapidly escalating towards a worldwide war.
At first, the colony nations stood by, observing these disputes. However, when it became clear that the battle was reaching space, they formed the Federation Forces and launched an offensive to regain control of the Earth.

The major conflict, known as the First Chaos War, ended after about two years due to the intervention of the colonies. However, the colony nations, having subjugated the Earth, began to vie for dominance within their coalition, initiating quiet conflicts.

During this period, mobile suits underwent a dramatic development as weapons. Originally designed for construction, the usefulness of them as weapons and mobile suits was recognized, and each colony began to invest heavily in their development as trump cards for their conflicts. However, the existence of mobile suits created new tensions among the colony nations. By FC 6, all countries had already prepared for war, and it was considered only a matter of time before the Second Chaos War, a full-scale war between the colony nations, broke out.

However, an all-out war between colonies also implied the end of the Earth Sphere. Various methods were being explored to avert this crisis.

Gundam Fight

In a bid to avert the looming Chaos War, Professor E.C. Ducer, a renowned military advisor and researcher among the colony nations, proposed the concept of the “Gundam Fight.” Gundam was a general term for high-performance mobile suits using Gundarium alloy. The essence of a Gundam Fight was for each colony nation to pit their finest Gundams, which would later be known as Mobile Fighters (MFs), and their pilots, the Gundam Fighters (GFs), against one another as representatives of their respective nations. The victor’s nation would gain supremacy over the Colonies Federation.

Initially, this outlandish idea was met with skepticism, especially among the more resource-endowed colony nations. However, to many’s surprise, Ducer’s proposal was broadly accepted.

Since then, thirteen Gundam Fights have been held up to the year F.C. 60. While these tournaments have indeed succeeded in circumventing inter-colony bloodshed, their execution on Earth without regard for terrestrial collateral damage has sparked growing criticism of the Gundam Fight’s current format.

This issue came to a head during the latest, the thirteenth tournament.

Shuffle Alliance

Until the thirteenth Gundam Fight, the Shuffle Alliance was considered a mythical entity.

They were believed to be ancient watchers of humanity’s history, subtly ensuring that human conflicts did not veer toward total destruction. Comprising merely five members, the Alliance was an intimate group rumored to have influenced history solely with their physical prowess and honed skills.

Their shadow loomed large over the Chaos War as well. The adoption of the Gundam Fight by powerful nations, offering even the weakest states a chance, and the mysterious aversion of the Second Chaos War, which seemed imminent yet concluded on a minor scale, are thought to be influenced by them.

Even during the era of the Gundam Fight, there were known crises between the colony nations, particularly between the 11th and 12th tournaments when the use of firearms by MFs became an international issue. The tension between Neo England and other colony nations was so severe it threatened to reignite the Chaos War. However, the intervention of five mysterious Mobile Fighters reportedly defused this crisis. The photograph is a rare capture of these enigmatic MFs..

13th Gundam Fight

The 13th Gundam Fight was a tournament filled with unprecedented events.

The host country, Hong Kong, blatantly disregarded the precedents and international treaties that had been strictly upheld in previous tournaments. They allowed a Mobile Fighter with a destroyed head to participate in the finals (officially, this was said to be to fill a vacancy), tolerated psychological manipulation of Gundam Fighters, and turned a blind eye to the intervention of a colossal mobile fighter known as the Devil Gundam, which had no direct relation to the Fight itself.

Even in previous tournaments, the surveillance system during the Survival Eleven period was not perfect, and many irregularities were overlooked.

However, it can be said that the fact that these irregularities were openly carried out in the final tournament, which was the focus of the world’s attention, was enough to jeopardize the very raison d’être of the Gundam Fight.

The tournament ended with a duel between the Master Gundam and the God Gundam, which is praised as the greatest battle in the history of the Gundam Fight (the Gundam Fighters of both mobile fighters were Master Asia and Domon Kasshu, who were said to have a master-disciple relationship. The victor was Neo Japan’s God Gundam). However, the subsequent Devil Gundam incident, involving the hijacking of the Neo Japan colony, unfortunately overshadowed this remarkable duel, diminishing its impression in the annals of Gundam Fight history.

14th Gundam Fight

The 14th Gundam Fight is set to unfold in Neo Japan, building on the momentum of a previous tournament that, for better or worse, etched itself into history. This past event was marked by the involvement of the Shuffle Alliance, a legendary showdown between the proclaimed strongest Gundam Fighter, Master Asia, and his disciple Domon Kasshu, and the mysterious intervention of the Devil Gundam. The anticipation for the upcoming 14th tournament even surpasses that of the 13th.

A focal point of the next tournament is the expected participation of the Shuffle Alliance, and a cohort of Gundam Fighters considered their equals. Notably, Neo Sweden’s Nobel Gundam, which, despite being under psychic control, managed to defeat all of the Shuffle Alliance’s Mobile Fighters, is drawing attention as a top contender following the completion of its high-mobility version.
Although the Nether Gundam did not perform well in the previous finals, its prowess during the Survival Eleven suggests it is a force to be reckoned with. With the likely participation of all Shuffle Alliance Gundams, excluding the currently missing Neo Japan’s entry, and the addition of the Mandala Gundam, a fierce battle for the championship is anticipated.

Neo Japan, the host of the 14th tournament’s finals at the foot of Mount Fuji, is reportedly planning to relocate the remnants of the Devil Gundam there as a monument and a reminder of past follies. If realized, this could become one of the most significant monuments in human history.

The section following the opening descriptions contains color mobile fighters and character lineart, and mini descriptions, which have been omitted.

 

In the Future Century, how were mobile suits developed? Why did mobile suits evolve into mobile fighters? What are the differences between mobile fighters and mobile suits? Here we’ll unravel the mysteries surrounding their development.

Mobile suits are a catch-all term for the universally employed humanoid multipurpose weapons of the Future Century. Originally developed as construction machinery for large-scale structures, including space colonies, these utilitarian machines evolved into armed entities due to advancements and enhancements in performance, eventually becoming synonymous with combat-oriented humanoid weapons in general.

A turning point for mobile suits arrived with the outbreak of the Earth Chaos War in FC 2, which seemed to coincide with the start of space migration. Proving their efficacy in this conflict, mobile suits rapidly ascended to become the principal armaments across nations within a remarkably short period. Until FC 6, when Professor Ducer proposed the Gundam Fight on the eve of the Second Chaos War, national mobile suits remained unequivocally militaristic. Even after that, mobile suit production continued, and the deployment of mobile suits as military forces was basically approved for self-defense purposes.

As long as the weapons known as mobile suits exist, the risk of crimes and terrorism involving their use will never disappear.

Of course, the development manufacturers of each nation are all vying to develop MF for the Gundam Fight, but they cannot survive as businesses if they only produce the once-every-four-years one-make models. Moreover, they cannot simply discontinue the production of mobile suits, which has already been established as an industry, so the production and supply of mobile suits as a mainstay product of the military industry continues in parallel with MF development. In particular, nations with surplus production capacity are producing mobile suits that utilize MF development technology, and some nations are even entering MF with a strong mobile suit aspect into the Gundam Fight.

This isn’t merely a reflection of national power but also an embodiment of each nation’s character, often mirroring a form of ‘healthy’ nationalism.

MF designed with a focus on melee combat to win the Gundam Fight are undergoing a very unique evolution. However, this is by no means unrelated to the development of weapons. Spin-offs of technology developed for MF are commonplace, and there are many MF that retain a distinct military flavor. For instance, missiles and Vulcans echo the martial legacy of MFs, while the sensory control systems equipped in Neo Japan’s MA Phantoma are adaptations from MF cockpit designs.

As mentioned earlier, the military industry is often deeply intertwined in MF development, and in many cases, often spearheading it.

It is common for the Gundam Fight management committee members of each nation to also serve as uniformed members of military organizations, and there are also cases where the supervisor of a Gundam Fighter is a military affiliate. In other words, the Gundam Fight is strictly a proxy war between nations.

While the continual aversion of full-scale wars is commendable, the undercurrents of military tension persist, far from a state of détente.

With the implementation of the Gundam Fight as a turning point, the development of mobile suits shifted to a pure focus on grappling and melee combat. In other words, melee combat MS = MF began to be developed. (Refer to the Official Report.)

Of course, the development of mobile suits for military use did not cease, but the strategy where national representatives combat for dominion over the United Colonies Federation served dual purposes: as an outlet for humanity’s stresses and, potentially, as a showcase of military prowess (including production and national power), signifying the capability to create superior mobile fighters (and by extension, superior mobile suits as weapons). This approach has contributed to maintaining a ‘war-free state’ for over half a century.

The details of the rights and obligations of becoming the leading nation of the Federation under international recognition after winning the Gundam Fight are unclear, but considering the financial and human costs of conventional warfare, it could be said that the Gundam Fight might arguably result in lesser damage. Of course, the victorious nation is not granted unrestrained despotism; it is merely a system where world leadership is contested in the form of passive warfare.

Nevertheless, due to the associated political and economic benefits of Earth’s leadership, nations that have once gained supremacy employ various strategies to secure their vested interests.

Therefore, the development of exceptional mobile fighters is a top priority for each nation, and from a broader perspective, it is also true that this has a substantial effect on arms reduction.

Initially, the term “Gundam” was attributed to MS utilizing Gundarium alloy.

Gundarium alloy is a type of alloy based on titanium mined on the lunar surface. It was accidentally discovered during the process of refining Type-III fusion Dimalium, which is mainly used in inertial control systems. Therefore, it came to be called Gamma UNifycational Dimalium Amalgam = Gundarium alloy. Over time, Gundarium evolved to denote a class of special Luna Titanium alloys, known for their lightweight yet high-strength and high-ductility properties.

The capabilities of mobile suits utilizing Gundarium alloy saw substantial enhancements through the development race triggered by the Second Chaos War. Consequently, the term “Gundam” gradually became colloquial for high-performance mobile suits, synonymous with such. With the establishment of the Gundam Fight, “Gundam” acquired an additional layer of meaning.

This is evident in phrases like “GUNDAM OF GUNDAM.” (In this case, G Gundam stands for Grapple GUNDAM, or Govern of Universe Nation Decide Advanced Mobile-suit, a new mobile suit that determines the nation that dominates space.)

The control system employed for mobile fighters is known as the virtual cockpit, operational in tandem with a fighting suit. This system, a far cry from traditional piloting, is powered by a Mobile Trace System that directly mimics the pilot’s movements, allowing the pilot to combat within a simulated space that replicates the mobile fighters environment.

Originally, mobile suit piloting was performed while seated, but with the development of mobile fighters, various modifications have been made. Though many mobile suits still operate with seated pilots, technology spun off from the Mobile Trace System is increasingly prevalent. The fundamental control system for mobile fighters—combining the virtual cockpit and fighting suit—has remained largely unchanged since the first tournament in FC 8.

This system was feasible with the technology available when the Gundam Fight was proposed, almost as if the era’s advancements were tailored for creating mobile fighters.

The Mobile Trace System does more than just trace the pilot’s every move. The Virtual Cockpit is the culmination of technologies based on gravity control, representing a pinnacle of the era’s tech.

In the virtual cockpit, the “down” direction is consistent regardless of the machine’s orientation, with the cockpit internally replicating the battlefield environment. This is integral to the fighting suit’s feedback function, allowing pilots, for example, to trace an opponent’s outline even with closed eyes.

In principle, by filling the cockpit with a special gas and the suit’s reaction, the external environment can be reproduced, and even the sensation of “holding” the unit’s equipment (guns, swords, cloth, etc.) can be simulated.

Some theories suggest that an energy form nearing materialization recreates pseudo-materials at the suit’s contact points, though the exact principle is uncertain.

The fighting suit, which Gundam Fighters are required to wear, is normally filled on the upper surface of the cockpit. When the pilot boards, it directly coats the pilot with a soft laminated material, providing the ultimate sense of fitness and functioning as a data pickup device to assist the plasma sensors and antennas.

This soft laminated material is made of multiple polymers and synthetic fibers and is essential for the feedback system. (Some units have subsystems that do not use a Virtual Suit, and there seem to be skilled pilots who do not require this system.) This laminated material wraps around the pilot’s body while rotating, and the pilot’s clothing is dematerialized and stored in the material buffer memory inside the system. At the same time, the pilot’s condition is checked, the electric potential distribution inside the cockpit is reset, and the plasma sensor, static checker, bio-monitor, psycho-trigger synchronizer, and inertial field structure control device are activated.

The feedback system, which sometimes causes pain, is required to be installed as a function that embodies the basic principles of the Gundam Fight, and since it is actually integrated into the basic control system of the MF, it is designed so that the unit cannot be controlled by bypassing it.

The principle of the Gundam Fight is “human-machine unity,” meaning that the MF is the Gundam Fight itself, and the damage to the unit is also the pilot’s. No matter how much damage the unit takes, if you can’t feel the pain, it’s no different from the weapons of the past. If you can’t feel the pain of your opponent or your own beloved machine, this Gundam Fight, which denies war, would lose its meaning.

The antennas on each part of the suit pick up information about both the mind and body and are used to fire, launch, and control manipulators, feet, and even internal weapons (such as vulcan guns and bit weapons). They also have the function of detecting the pilot’s position and speed, and serve as terminals that receive damage to the unit. State-of-the-art transmission and reception technologies are utilized as highly sensitive sensors.

The Mobile Trace System operates the unit by measuring the expansion and contraction of each part of the body with the Fighting Suit worn by the pilot during combat, and by picking up diencephalon currents and nerve pulses. However, that alone is not enough to control the unit as desired. This is because, after all, the human skeleton and the structure of the MF are separate, and simply tracing it as-is would not only make it difficult to control the vulcan guns and bit weapons, but even to stand and walk. In other words, the unit is operated by converting the pilot’s will and emotions into data and then converting them into the rate of operation of the unit.

Furthermore, it is said that the pilots who operate MF are required to have not only physical robustness and martial arts skills, but also mental attributes as important qualities.

The interface between the MF and the pilot tends to be thought of as being completed only by the Mobile Trace System on the surface, but in the end, just like other martial arts, mental cultivation exists as an inevitable point of arrival. This is not a matter of mentalism, but has been clarified as a result of research in the laboratory.

In the Future Century, a world where gravity and inertia can be controlled has led to significant transformations in global economics and international relations, even altering the structure of power politics. The exodus of the ruling class into space and the slumification of Earth can also be seen as part of these changes.

Amidst such changes, technologies related to materials engineering and energy systems have made remarkable progress. Beyond advancements in electrical technologies like superconductivity, drastic changes have occurred across various sectors, including metals, non-ferrous metals, synthetic resins, and polymers.

These were a major revolution that brought various benefits not only to the cutting-edge scientific fields, such as processing and fusion at the atomic level, but also to the consumer level. The materials used for MF armor are no exception, enabling defense equipment with concepts different from conventional armor. One of the equipments made possible by such technological innovations is the rare metal hybrid multilayer material.

This multi-layered material combines the characteristics of metals and synthetic resins. It embodies the strength and heat resistance of metals while also offering the flexibility and torsion of synthetic resins. It is widely used in parts that frequently receive or need to defend against the opponent’s attacks, deflecting enemy attacks, sublimating latent heat, absorbing shocks, and protecting the unit. Similar materials are equipped on the arm parts of the Shining Gundam, defending against enemy bullets and the high heat of beam sabers with unique shape changes. The characteristic of these materials is that they do not structurally form layers, but rather, regions with different functions appear stacked within a single material. In other words, depending on the situation and environmental changes on the uppermost surface of the material, the phase transition of the material progresses rapidly, causing structural changes.

While this is just one example, it epitomizes the kind of material innovation manifest in the equipment used in MFs, showcasing the advanced technological landscape of the Future Century.

The fundamental design and structure of Mobile Fighters (MFs) are grounded in a consistent technological philosophy, primarily centered around the use of “Gundarium alloy” in “Gundam-type” units. Paradoxically, it can also be said that all MFs are “Gundams,” but the definition of “a unit using Gundarium alloy” makes the Gundams of each nation Gundams more than their appearance and operational purpose.

As mentioned earlier, Gundarium alloy was accidentally discovered in the process of refining materials used mainly in inertial control systems. Subsequent research has led to the development of various variations with even more characteristics. Similarly, the technologies used for processing and refining these materials have stimulated technologies in all fields, leading to the successive creation of materials with entirely new properties.

Dimalium-based alloys, initially used in gravity control mechanisms, facilitated the generation and manipulation of gravity, embodying inertia control capabilities. However, in addition to these, compositions have been discovered in which oscillation, luminescence, and motility are induced by so-called psychic wave interference (Domon’s sword seems to be made of a similar material).

The discovery of this material has brought remarkable results to the technological development of “psychic response control,” but on the other hand, since the control itself is difficult, its main use is in psychic wave transmitting and receiving terminals (such as antennas on Fighting Suits).

However, there is also a theory that this technology is more advanced than is generally known. It is said that the aforementioned characteristics of this material occur depending on the mental condition of the user. Furthermore, this material has an “autonomous” molecular structure, and once the material itself memorizes the set conditions, it has the ability to maintain that structure without changing over time. Moreover, depending on the program, it has been observed to have characteristics that “consciously” change various features, similar to rare metal hybrid laminated materials.

Developed in Neo Japan and studied under the code “U-Cell Effect,” the specifics of this material remain largely undisclosed. However, there are speculations that at a certain stage, it could exhibit behaviors and even “thought processes” akin to biological entities, heralding a potential future where materials could possess life-like qualities.

What Dr. Kasshu and his team did to develop the strongest MF was to focus on more fundamental phenomena rather than just enhancing the functional aspects and armaments of MF. An MF is a mobile weapon for winning the Gundam Fight, and it must fight through a year-long period and ultimately achieve victory. This means that it must crush enemy units without suffering catastrophic damage during the course of the battle.

Dr. Kasshu’s vision was to develop an MF endowed with self-repair capabilities, fundamentally eliminating the need for maintenance. This led to the inception of the Devil Gundam, initially dubbed the Ultimate Gundam.

The development process commenced with a meticulous examination of each component comprising a mobile fighter.

The condition of a unit deteriorates due to battle damage and time-related changes, so it would be ideal if a new unit could be deployed for each battle. However, this is limited by the Gundam Fight regulations and is not realistic. The budget required for an MF is said to be hundreds of times that of an average mobile suit.

Moreover, since the number of pilots and maintenance personnel is also limited, it is nearly impossible to frequently perform large-scale overhauls. In other words, conversely, if a single MF can be maintained in a combat-ready state at all times, it is equivalent to creating the ideal MF. Hence, an ideal MF would be one that remains battle-ready without the need for maintenance, characterized by stability, ease of updates, and maintenance-free operation.

The three major theories of self-repair, self-replication, and self-evolution, which are the characteristics of the Devil Gundam, are said to have been established around this time.

Self-repair entails a mechanism where each part of the MF is ‘aware’ of its position and function, akin to DNA, and seeks to revert to its original state upon damage. This process, reminiscent of micro-machining technology, involves neighboring components recognizing and restoring their intended states.

The technology of “handwork by machines” at the molecular level has already been established, and all that remained was to have the metal particles themselves execute that program.

The self-replication system was established at the next stage. If the repair function can be modified, it is also possible to rearrange the configuration of substances with different compositions and transform them into different substances. In other words, like graphite and diamonds, the molecular bonding structure itself is changed, turning it into a completely different substance. Self-replication is performed by selecting and recombining molecules in this way.

The Devil Gundam indiscriminately absorbs both inorganic and organic matter and uses them as its own energy and structural materials. It can also replicate itself and even create various variations.

The smallest structural units of the Devil Gundam resemble biological cells, blurring the lines between machine and life form. Without considering concepts like “soul” or “self-awareness,” the Devil Gundam could be deemed a living entity.

When considering its microstructural level, the Devil Gundam and the DG cells that make it up are nothing but living organisms. Growth, evolution, and replication, including the exploration of diversity, are fundamental concepts that define life. In particular, the mechanism of individual units being independent organisms yet forming an aggregate can be compared to the structure of certain fish and shellfish or brain cells.

Furthermore, the Devil Gundam is autonomous by recognizing its environment, and autonomy and adaptation to the environment are also basic conditions for evolution. With that function, it was able to maintain its body and achieve revival even when escaping from the colony and descending to Earth. The Devil Gundam has never received maintenance, and its functions do not require so-called “resupply.”

The Devil Gundam can indiscriminately absorb both organic and inorganic matter and use them as its own structural materials and energy, so mechanical maintenance is meaningless. In other words, what regulates the behavior of the Devil Gundam is not something material.

As can be seen from the transformations of the Kowloon Gundam piloted by Master Asia and the Master Gundam, the materialization of matter that appears to be indiscriminately performed by DG cells is actually carried out according to a certain order. This is because the units and structures composed of DG cells are placed under the control of the psychic entity in the cockpit (or equivalent facility). Conversely, a core psychic entity is necessary for the Devil Gundam to operate.

During the development of the Ultimate Gundam, research on the mental state of the pilot was also conducted simultaneously. It had become clear that in order to win the Gundam Fight, mental factors could not be ignored in addition to the physical functions of the MF and the pilot. While Dr. Mikamura explored enhancing the machine’s capabilities through the pilot’s intense emotional state, like anger, Dr. Kasshu delved into more fundamental aspects.

The discovery of Gundarium alloy’s psycho-responsive properties during its refinement process was a pivotal moment.

Dr. Kasshu focused on this material and continued his research. The content of this research is the “U-Cell Effect”.

It was found that these U-cells basically do not function without a psychic entity of mammals or higher, and that when there are multiple test subjects, they are influenced by the side with the stronger “psychic power.”

The Devil Gundam’s design shared similarities with the Shining Gundam, which was being developed around the same time, suggesting that both were possibly derived from a common foundational design. In other words, after the general specifications were determined, a competition may have been held between Dr. Kasshu and Dr. Mikamura. Both doctors likely tried to add something extra to bring out specs beyond the unit’s functions.

Innovative ideas like the “anger sensor,” a “cockpit experience replication mechanism,” and an “automatic feel-good system” were among the myriad suggestions proposed from various quarters.

These are among the various theories, but they also reveal the development situation of Neo Japan’s MF. This is because Neo Japan is a major military power in the Future Century, and like Neo Russia, the military is deeply involved in the Gundam Fight Organizing Committee. The interference with MF development was reportedly far more persistent than in other countries.

And Dr. Kasshu, while clearing these various demands, created the Devil Gundam that could win the Gundam Fight. First, he established a system that transcends physical structure and mechanical control to fully draw out the pilot’s latent abilities, and thoroughly applied it to each part of the unit. Then, by performing “metabolism” of the unit itself, it avoids deterioration over time, and by “directly” extracting control data from the pilot, it ensures the response of the control system.

For example, considering psychic energy as a fundamental control element allows for immediate adaptation to program corruption or data alterations.

Furthermore, the Devil Gundam’s structure is a nested array of smaller Gundams forming larger ones, akin to Matryoshka dolls, showcasing a sophisticated fail-safe mechanism, akin to a self-preserving biological entity.

However, if the controlling thoughts originate from a non-human entity, madness, or residual consciousness, the emotions could become embedded in the program, leading to uncontrollable behavior, potentially causing the Gundam to transform and assimilate all surrounding matter. And the Ultimate Gundam, due to the shock of escaping from the Neo Japan colony, had a program malfunction and began to function with the supreme command of Kyoji Kasshu’s lingering thoughts and the restoration of the Earth’s environment, transforming into the Devil Gundam that plunged humanity into crisis.

In other words, what controls the DG cells is a powerful psychic force, and the reason Master Asia was not dominated by DG cells is likely because his strong soul did not allow its intrusion. It is thought that the Shuffle members were able to eradicate the DG cells for the same reason.

Devil Gundam’s combat prowess was so immense that anyone aware of its existence would contemplate world domination. Although the Gundam Fight system was designed to balance global military power, the Devil Gundam’s capabilities could render such checks and balances moot.

The Devil Gundam, created by humanity in its quest for supremacy, had the potential to conquer the Earth Sphere as humanity’s successor. MF has stepped into a different dimension from previous weapons. But even so, humanity seems to be an existence that cannot abandon fighting.

A thorough comparison of the main Mobile Fighters featured in ‘Mobile Fighter G Gundam’. However, it should be noted that the specifications discussed here are strictly mechanical.

This section has been omitted at this time.

As humanity entered the era known as the Future Century, it clearly separated into two strata. One was the upper class living in space colonies built with advanced technology and enjoying a prosperous life.

In contrast, the other segment, devoid of such privileges, remained on Earth, living in a manner reminiscent of bygone times.

By this era, humanity had harnessed incredibly advanced technologies. They had space colonies floating in space that could only be thought of as giant monuments (the shapes varied widely, such as miniature versions of former national territories like Neo Japan and colony foundations themed on bouquets like Neo France), developed human-sized giant weapons (MS, MF) that could perform high-mobility movements unchanged under gravity and zero gravity, and had very powerful and stable force field generators, to name a few.

Despite these technological marvels, those left on Earth hardly benefited from such advancements. Post a certain point, their development seemingly halted, fostering a growing envy towards the celestial elite.

This tension culminated in the outbreak of what was later termed the First Chaos War. What began as minor regional conflicts swiftly escalated into a global war, unparalleled in human history.

Initially, the colony residents observed passively, having already abandoned the completely polluted Earth.

Their involvement was prompted only when the terrestrial conflict threatened to extend into space. The colonies’ response was swift once they began to act. Each colony formed a military alliance and succeeded in ending the world war in a very short period of time by deploying mobile suits, which were being converted into weapons at the time.

Though it seemed the crisis was averted, the seeds for future turmoil had already been sown.

In the aftermath of the First Chaos War, the collective of space colonies sought to strengthen their dominion over Earth, primarily through military enhancement. The role that mobile suits played in ending the Chaos War spurred a fierce competition in mobile suit development among the colonies, leading to a growing mutual distrust concerning military expansions. At this point, the specter of a Second Chaos War loomed large, with the burgeoning arms race seemingly unstoppable.

Various negotiations and covert operations were undertaken to avert this crisis, with numerous treaties proposed, yet none succeeded in bringing about a decisive resolution.

Among the myriad proposals was a concept introduced by Professor E.C. Ducer, then a military advisor for the Colonies Federation. His paper titled “Proxy Wars by Mobile Weapons and Their Effects” was initially ignored by everyone.

The proposal outlined a system where colonies would select mobile suits to compete under defined rules, with the victor’s state assuming leadership of the Colonies Federation for a set period.

Aside from the outlandish idea of deciding the fate of a nation through a survival battle with mobile weapons, if things were done according to this paper, there was a possibility that a small nation that would not normally have a say within the Federation could become the leader of the Federation. This was not a pleasant situation for the major powers. Originally, the current state of tension was created as a result of each colony competing for supremacy.

However, just a few weeks later, the professor’s paper was suddenly raised as the top priority agenda of the Federation, and it was passed on the same day by the Federation Assembly, which happened to be in session.

Two years after this historic resolution, the first “battle” was to be held.

The “battle” was to use a special MS called a “Gundam” (also known as an MF).

Gundam was a machine developed as the pinnacle of MS technology. Originally, it was a high-performance mobile suit developed by each country for the Second Chaos War, incorporating the latest technologies. With the crisis of all-out war avoided, at least for the time being, the Gundam-type MS that were left hanging were decided to be used in this battle, which was equivalent to a proxy war for the Chaos War, after deliberations among the colony nations.

For this reason, this battle, which was decided to be held every four years, came to be called the “Gundam Fight.”

The rules were deceptively simple: Engage in a year-long struggle on Earth’s grand stage, and the nation whose Gundam stands last would wield supremacy over the Earth Sphere for the ensuing four years. Nations advanced their MF technology and honed the skills of their MS pilots in anticipation.

Yet, the integration of various technologies into the MFs yielded unforeseen results. It was discovered that not the seasoned MS pilots, but individuals of exceptional physical prowess, even novices to MS, excelled as GF pilots.

This was largely due to the influence of the Mobile Trace System introduced as the control system for MF.

The Mobile Trace System allows the pilot’s movements to be directly followed by the MF, enabling the pilot to operate as if the Gundam is their own body.

With this system, the pilot can operate without any problems even if they do not have a deep understanding of the MF hardware (of course, to deal with unexpected troubles, it is necessary to acquire a minimum level of knowledge and skills, but simply to move it, you don’t have to “struggle with a thick manual”).

Rather, the important skill was using one’s own body.

This was already clear from the first Gundam Fight tournament. In the tournament where war-weary heroes known as MS pilots gathered, only Heroda Dionysus of Neo Greece had third-rate skills as an MS pilot. However, as history clearly shows, the winner of that first tournament was none other than Heroda himself, piloting the Vulcan Gundam. He overwhelmingly defeated the other strong contenders solely because he was a master of the traditional Neo Greek martial art, Vulcan Jujutsu.

Since then, Gundam Fights began to be selected from experts in melee combat and shooting, and a comprehensive martial art called “Colony Martial Arts” was devised and encouraged for their training (incidentally, Myron K. Hart, the first champion of this Colony Martial Arts, is said to be the King of Hearts who first appeared on the public stage in history).

Through such circumstances, the Gundam Fight greatly transformed from a mere battle between MS to a tournament aiming for the top of martial artists, and at some point, the winner of the Fight came to be called the “Gundam the Gundam”.

Winning the Gundam Fight meant that the nation gained control, of course, but it also became the greatest honor for the GF.

Perhaps for this reason, the Gundam Fight was always accompanied by foul play.

The use of large-output beam cannons and energy shields, which were prohibited by regulations, as well as optional weapons and hidden weapons that barely avoided violations by exploiting loopholes in the rules, never ceased. In extreme cases, there were even instances of sending in multiple MF and pretending as if they were a single unit.

For such reasons, the rules of the Gundam Fight were revised almost every tournament. The conclusion reached as a result is the current melee-focused Fight. However, apart from the prohibition of overly powerful shields and high-output beam cannons that can devastate an area with a radius of several kilometers, it would be better to say that it was a result of natural selection rather than thanks to the rules.

The prowess of the Gundam Fighters had reached unparalleled heights, bolstered by the cultivation of Colony Martial Arts and the selection of elite martial artists. Given the inherent high potential of the Mobile Fighters (MFs), enhancements in a Gundam Fighter’s skills directly amplified the combat effectiveness of their MFs.

Despite these advancements, the regulation of firearms remained a dominant discourse until the eleventh tournament.

This was because the Britain Gundam of Neo England, which used firearms as its main weapon, had achieved a three-peat in the 9th, 10th, and 11th tournaments (there are various speculations about Gentle Chapman of the Britain Gundam, particularly about overt malfeasance during the eleventh and thirteenth tournaments, though the hosting nations purportedly quashed such allegations.

The twelfth tournament witnessed the implementation of experimental regulations: beam weapons could not be concealed, and the Mobile Fighters’ auxiliary weapons were not allowed “autonomous control.”

Yet, it was during this tournament that the fallacy of firearm superiority was debunked. The champion, known as the Undefeated of the East (Master Asia), along with other prodigious fighters like Odik Negashima, the Canadian Anbo-jyutsu maestro piloting the Ryker Gundam (who unfortunately lost in the final tournament), and Morgen Antrieb (Kirijutsu Gundam), a practitioner of German Ninjutsu who could effortlessly manipulate the beam zolingen with a 120% hit rate, showcased that the essence of Gundam Fighting transcended mere reliance on firearms.

The inception of the Gundam Fight as an official institution is shrouded in mysteries and puzzles.

The greatest enigma is why the major powers, for whom this competition held no apparent benefit, were the ones who fervently adopted it. Powerhouses like Neo America, Neo Germany, and Neo Japan had already amassed a considerable arsenal of mobile suits. Had they proceeded to full-scale war, it might have indeed heralded a recurrence of the Chaos War, but the collateral damage would likely have afflicted weaker nations, while the dominant colonies could have potentially concluded the conflict before it escalated.

In fact, in FC 6, the major nations were primarily embroiled in disputes over territorial delineations, not in a quest for absolute subjugation.

Yet, the reality that these superpowers not only avoided the conflict but also embraced the Gundam Fight—a system that could ostensibly render their economic and military advantages moot—remains baffling.

The most plausible theory currently being put forward is that there was intervention by a mysterious organization called the “Shuffle Alliance.”

The notion of a secret society influencing the course of history isn’t novel (and is often regarded with skepticism or as a figment of imagination). However, what’s intriguing is the tangible existence of this group and the evidential support for their historical interventions.

To be precise, the Shuffle Alliance was a small cadre, barely a handful of individuals, each a formidable fighter in their own right, unmatched by even the most celebrated Gundam Fighters (Master Asia being the sole exception, given his affiliation with the Alliance).

Their interventions weren’t limited to political maneuvers; they wielded their unmatched prowess to covertly shape history, a legacy purportedly tracing back to the dawn of human civilization, preventing humanity’s extinction over centuries.

Investigations into the records and scant testimonies of the time strongly suggest the Alliance’s hand in gaining major powers’ acquiescence to the Gundam Fight.

Even the miraculous survivals of Professor Ducer, who proposed the Gundam Fight amidst numerous life-threatening situations, hint at the Alliance’s protective hand (notably, Professor Dueser and Myron K. Hart were known to be associates). There are even speculations that the concept of the Gundam Fight itself originated from the Shuffle Alliance, though concrete evidence remains elusive.

Until FC60, the Shuffle Alliance lingered in history’s shadows. Its members stepping into the limelight were limited to Myron K. Hart, the Colony Martial Arts champion; Master Asia, who clandestinely participated in the Gundam Fight; and his protégé, Domon Kasshu. The emergence of the Devil Gundam forced them into the public eye.

Feeling the urgency of the crisis, the Alliance descended upon Shinjuku City, where Domon first clashed with the Devil Gundam, only to vanish mysteriously afterward, designating Domon and his rivals as their successors.

This new generation of the Shuffle Alliance, including Domon, inheriting titles without fully understanding their significance, continued to participate in the Gundam Fight, inadvertently exposing the Alliance to public scrutiny, especially with the media’s keen interest in such narratives.

However, their defeat of the Devil Gundam, saving Earth, was a monumental feat, even by the Alliance’s storied standards.

It’s argued that through their fists, these warriors refined and elevated humanity’s inherent belligerence into something more profound, a perspective that resonates with many.

The 13th Gundam Fight was a tournament that garnered unprecedented attention from the very beginning. This was largely due to the participation of notable figures like Master Asia, the overwhelmingly dominant winner of the previous tournament; G. Chapman, who had achieved a miraculous three-peat victory; and Domon Kasshu, the new king of colony martial arts and the recipient of the long-vacant title of King of Hearts (although it was later revealed that this title vacancy was not quite as it seemed).

Additionally, Chibodee Crocket from Neo America, having achieved an unparalleled hundred consecutive victories in colony boxing heavyweight division, and Argo Gulskii from Neo Russia, a former space pirate turned Gundam fighter, were among the ones to watch. Marcelot Cronos from Neo Greece would likely have been a top contender if not for such a strong lineup.

However, the smoothly progressing tournament soon encountered mysterious disruptions, particularly during the Survival Eleven preliminaries. It was later revealed that these disruptions were due to the interventions of a mysterious Mobile Fighter, known as the Devil Gundam. Initially developed by Dr. Kasshu of Neo Japan as the “Ultimate Gundam,” this MF was groundbreaking, featuring autonomous self-regeneration, functional evolution, and replication capabilities.

After being dubbed the Devil Gundam, its abilities remained mostly unchanged, but the issue was that these functions were unleashed without restraint, posing a significant danger. The nanomachines composing its body, known as DG cells, could assimilate and proliferate indefinitely, integrating both organic and inorganic matter and transforming infected entities into beings with a new purpose aligned with the Devil Gundam’s intent. Mobile Fighters that were attacked almost invariably had DG Cells transplanted into them.

Neo Hong Kong, the host nation, controversially allowed the presence of the Devil Gundam, turning a blind eye to its interventions in the fights. Shockingly, Master Asia was seen collaborating with the Devil Gundam during the Survival Eleven, piloting a MF created by DG cells, though it was later confirmed that his body was free from any DG cell contamination.

Neo Hong Kong’s intentions became clear in the finals. They were attempting to use the Devil Gundam to become the true rulers of all of outer space. However, this conspiracy was thwarted by the young Shuffle Alliance that appeared in the middle of the Fight. They successively defeated the Four Evil Kings of the Devil Gundam that appeared on Lantau Island, the venue of the final battle, and destroyed the Devil Gundam’s main body to the point where it was unable to regenerate (or so it seemed).

Neo Hong Kong’s motives became apparent during the finals: they aimed to use the Devil Gundam to assert dominion over the entire universe. However, their schemes were thwarted by the emergent young Shuffle Alliance, who destroyed the DG Four Evil Kings and the Devil Gundam itself on Lantau Island during the final Battle Royale. Or, so it seemed they destroyed it to the point where it was unable to regenerate.

The mastermind, Prime Minister Wong, went missing, and with Neo Japan’s God Gundam winning the championship and the Colonies Federation’s leadership shifting, Neo Hong Kong’s ambitions were crushed along with the end of the Fight.

Despite the apparent destruction of the Devil Gundam, it was not truly “dead.” It managed to revive itself rapidly by manipulating Colonel Ulube Ishikawa of Neo Japan, who was implanted with DG cells. The Devil Gundam, initially perceived as a mere vessel, revealed itself as an entity with its own will and agenda, aiming for the complete eradication of humanity.

The original U Gundam, the precursor to the Devil Gundam, was designed to restore Earth’s devastated environment. However, the Devil Gundam perverted this mission, seeking to achieve environmental renewal through the eradication of humanity. Fortunately, the concerted efforts of the Gundam fighters, particularly the Shuffle Alliance, thwarted this apocalyptic objective, despite significant collateral damage to the surrounding colonies and Earth.

In the aftermath, Neo Japan relinquished its leadership of the Colonies Federation to avoid accountability, passing the reins to the Gundam Federation, formed by nations united in their battle against the Devil Gundam. The Gundam Federation, reflecting on the Devil Gundam incident, is planning to reform the Gundam Fight, striving for a more conscientious approach to prevent further devastation of Earth and to avoid the frivolous aspects that had crept into the tournament.

MF GLOSSARY

This section is still being translated.

Berserker System
Colony Grapple
Death Army
DG Cell
Feeling-Energy System
Gundam Fight
Gundam Fighter
Hissatsu Hicchu Rising Arrow
Mobile Fighter
Mobile Trace System
Sakuretsu Gaia Crusher
School of the Undefeated of the East
Sekiha Tenkyoken
Shaolin Temple
Shin Ryusei Kochoken
Shuffle Alliance
Space Pirate
Sturm Und Drang

G GUNDAM SETTING MATERIAL COLLECTION

This section contains black and white mobile suit and character lineart, and mini descriptions, which have been omitted at this time.