The ASW-G-01 Gundam Bael (ガンダムバエル Gandamu Baeru?) is a
Mobile Suit introduced in the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS anime. It was originally piloted by Agnika Kaieru, and over 300 years later by McGillis Fareed.
Features
During the Calamity War, a quarter of the human population was decimated due to extensive fighting against the Mobile Armor, which had been developed for the effective extermination of human beings. To stop these MAs, the system Alaya-Vijnana, which establishes compatibility between a person and a machine, was used. During this process, 72 Gundam Frames were produced, and they came to be seen as special due to the outstanding military achievement of Agnika Kaieru, who piloted the first Gundam Frame, the Gundam Bael.
Compared to subsequent Gundam Frames, the Gundam Bael is a relatively standard unit with few special features. However, it was a key Mobile Suit in ending the war, and it became a figurehead of Gjallarhorn. Thus, Agnika and the Gundam Bael were idolized at that time. The Gundam Bael's main armaments consist of two swords only, proving that Agnika was fully compatible with the MS through the Alaya-Vijnana system. For Agnika, who achieved superhuman reactions, no other weaponry was better than these unbreakable swords. Agnika died while the Gundam Bael fell asleep, leading to the belief that her soul resides in the Gundam Bael.
The Gundam Bael was stored in Gjallarhorn's headquarters, Vingolf, until it was awakened by McGillis Fareed. The machine remained unchanged during its long slumber, so its structure, as well as its armaments, are as they were when Agnika was piloting it. The emblem on his left shoulder is a symbol of Gjallarhorn at the time of the organization's formation.
- Blade Holder
Located on the rear skirt armour, the Bael's sword holders utilize movable arms to minimize the time it takes to draw swords.
- Thruster Wing
A pair of booster-equipped wings are mounted on the back of the Gundam Bael, they provide great mobility and crushing acceleration in weightlessness or under gravity. These wings allow the Bael to fly over the battlefields like a beautiful angel-hunting devil.
- Alaya-Vijnana system
An organic device system, this old man-machine interface was developed during the Calamity War to maximize the capabilities of the MS. Therefore, most MS of that era, such as Gundams, are compatible with it. The system has two parts, one part is installed in the machine and the other part is implanted in the rider's spine. With this system, the pilot can connect to the Mobile Suit computer and process MS data directly. It also allows the pilot (even uninstructed) to use the machine for combat without reading the instruction manual. The implant in the driver also improves spatial awareness. Declining technical capabilities after the Calamity War, coupled with the use of an incomplete version of the system in outer sphere areas (such as Mars and Jupiter), lead to implant surgery having a low success rate and not can only be performed at a young age to let the implant fuse as the pilot grows. However, through his research, McGillis was able to recreate the original version and used it on himself in order to pilot the Gundam Bael.
Armaments
- Bael Sword: Stored on the blade holder mounted on the rear skirt armour, the Bael Swords are forged from rare metal, much like the blades of the V08-1228 Valkyrja Grimgerde. They serve as the main weapon of the Gundam Bael and symbolize the strength of Agnika Kaieru who needed no other weaponry. Despite their light weight, Bael Swords can slice through the frame of Mobile Armor and Mobile Suit when used by a skilled pilot.
- Electromagnetic Cannon: An electromagnetic cannon is built into each thruster wing, for a total of two such weapons. Intended to restrict enemy movement, these ranged weapons fire from the upper opening in the side of the wings.
- Anti-Ship Lance Mace: A lance-shaped mace designed for anti-ship combat and which has a telescoping handle. Used in the manga in the final battle against the Kimaris Vidar.
History
The Gundam Bael was the first of 72 Gundam Frames created by Gjallarhorn towards the end of the Calamity War 300 years ago to counter the threat of powerful Mobile armor such as the Hashmal.
Since the end of the Calamity War, the Bael has been kept in a basement hangar in Gjallarhorn's Earth headquarters, Vingolf. After spending 300 years there, it was reactivated by McGillis Fareed during his coup. In the final battle against Arianrhod's fleet of Gjallarhorn which opposed his revolutionary fleet, McGillis and the Bael fought Gaelio Bauduin and his Gundam ASW-G-66 Kimaris Vidar, he lost both Bael Swords in the fight. . The two MS then crashed into the hangar of the fleet flagship Arianrhod, before McGillis was shot down by Gaelio. McGillis' coup later became known as the "McGillis Fareed Incident".
Several years later, the Bael was returned to Vingolf's basement shed. Although repaired, it was firmly rigged and without a cockpit.
Did you know?
- Bael is the first demon of the Ars Goetia. He is the leader of the infernal powers. Bael is the first King of Hell with domains in the east. It has three heads: a toad, a man and a cat. He also speaks in a hoarse, but well-formed voice, and commands 66 legions of demons under his rule.
- Gundam Bael is the first Gundam Frame to appear in the anime whose nomination bears the title of 'King'.
- On page 142 of the book "Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Mechanical Works", Hajime Kamoshida stated that the Bael was supposed to have the greatest physical strength among the 72 Gundam Frames. He added that when piloted by Agnika, Bael was an outstanding fighter in close combat, able to land every blow and evade all enemy attacks.
- An image similar to the demon's sigil, Bael, can be seen on console upon activation.
- As with the Barbatos, it can be assumed that all Gundam Frames have sigils on their consoles upon activation, corresponding to the sigil of the demon the Gundam is named after. A similar sigil for Kimaris is also shown in his vacant hangar at Gjallarhorn headquarters, furthering the likelihood that this is the case.
- The Gundam Bael's flight pose in episode 43 is similar to the "advent" pose of the PF-78-3A Gundam Amazing Red Warrior in the latter's debut. Coincidentally, the pilot of both machines is considered by some fans to be "a Char clone".