Director Erica side project
ORB-01 Akastuki Gundam, a highly secretive and advanced suit for the defense of ORB. By the order and will of Lord Uzumi, it was built and kept secret until his daughter need power to protect Orb. After the war, it was maintained by Director Erica and a group of loyal supporter of Lord Uzumi. A list of possible upgrades were considered and discarded due to Cagalli adherent to the Treaties signed and resources constrained. Director Erica decided to use the spare parts from old Mobile Suites from the two previous wars to create different version of upgrades so Cagalli will once again have the power to do the things she deems need to do.
Akatsuki Upgrade Project X02
As a unit for the commander in chief Orb Defense Force, protection of the unit takes priority. Second is the ability to command and analyze battlefield situation. As one of the most important objective of the enemy, mobility and combat power are needed for self-defense. Thus Project X02 will upgrade Akatsuki as follow.
Battlefield camouflage.
Advanced Sensor and Communication equipment.
Multi-AI assistance for battlefield Command And Control.
Additional weapon system to suit battlefield need.
Improve active and passive defense system.
Modular design for adapting to battlefield situation.
Battlefield Camouflage:
Multiple Automated Drone Projector: These drones will project and maintain a false image of different things to deceive hostile.
Mirage Colloid stealth system: This will hide Akatsuki from visual view, combine with a drone that project the image of Akatsuki to deceive or sneak attack on hostile threat.
Advanced Sensor and Communication equipment:
2 additional antennas are equipped at the back of Akatsuki. Deployed when stationary and retract when in combat. Use to collect and distribute information and relay and/or issue order.
2 Automated Surveillance Drones attached to the arms, to be launch at the start of battle to provide independent from CIC of the Command Center.
Head Mounted Sensor now can have direct link to other MS units to provide on hand situation analysis.
Multi-AI assistance for battlefield Command And Control.
As a Command Unit, AI is used extensively so the Pilot can concentrate on either giving order or direct combat. Also to help control the numerous Drones that attached to Akatsuki.
Additional weapon system to suit battlefield need:
Two Twin Rail guns are added on the shoulders of Akatsuki to provide kinetic weapon to deal with subsurface unit like submarine and specialize under water MS.
A Sword is stored on the shield of Akatsuki for under water close combat.
Two knee mounted beam blades.
Improve active and passive defense system:
Jammer Unit is added to jam enemy communication, radar, visual sensor and targeting system.
Automatically deploy Drones for defense. Armed with three type of drones. Decoy drones to lure away missiles and Demolition Drones armed with powerful explosive will attach itself to destroy enemy MS. EMP Drone can general EMP to fry circuits thus leaving the occupant for capture.
Advanced Variable Phase Shift Armor provide passive protection with efficient use of energy, sustain longer and have no indication whether it is active or not.
Multiple design mode for adapting to battlefield situation:
The forearms and leg can attach additional attachment sto better suit the requirement of the Pilot. The Forearms can attach Combat Gauntlets for better combat and the legs can attack Talaria Sandal for improve mobility.
+ Combat Gauntlet: Each Gauntlet has a beam saber, beam cannon, beam shield, medium blade, and rail gun. With these armament, Akatsuki can perform equally effective at underwater, land, air and space battlefield
+ Talaria Sandal: Equip to provide additional thrust for improved mobility in flight and underwater. Hover mode on land and water surface.
Akatsuki Improved Oowashi Sky Pack: Base on combat data of Justice, and Cagalli aircraft pilot skill, Oowashi Sky Pack has the following improvement.
+ Can be access from Akatsuki cockpit by the pilot and detach to become a fighter aircraft while Akatsuki is control by AI or another pilot.
+ Have two wing mounted beam blade, in order to save energy for the two Plasma Beam Cannon, the beam blade emit from the wing tip. When use to ram the target, the two Plasma Beam Cannon fold back and the two beam blades emit and met at the nose of the Oowashi Sky Pack.
+ Addition of 2 multi-barrel beam guns mounted alongside the beam cannon for suppressive fire support or close range dogfight.
To use the DRAGOON system on earth and underwater, the Shiranui Space Pack is used to develop the new Mure Drone Pack.
+ Carry and control swarm of mini drones to overwhelm target with multiple directions attack. Each drone can shoot 10 beam before needing to recharge.
+ The mini drones can be used underwater. Attack by discharge electricity in short range or attach itself to the target and discharge EMP to disable target..
+ Several drone can deploy and connect with light metal net to capture/neutralize target or infuse with electricity to use as shield for destroying torpedoes.
All in all, Director Erica is very pleased. But where to get the parts and resources? She has to start by cannibalize decommissioned MS. Then using Akatsuki own spare parts. This is more challenging task than building up from scratch, but more entertaining than siting in office reading report on scraping and salvaging efforts. Despite her initial difficulties, she later got used to it and now everything has been complete. After all, Akatsuki is an expensive and advanced Gundam that probably account for 30% of Orb Union military power.
With the emergence of the Gate, things had gotten more interesting. And a treaty that garner support from every faction on earth that allow Orb Union to improve its military to deal with the unknown threat excite Director Erica to no end. With new technologies and restricted technologies become unrestricted, she has a lot of toys and new ideas to play around. Only the intervention of Cagalli prevent her from making all MS in Orb Union service into Gundam. Her intention to equip all MS deployed to the other side with Deutorium Battery, Deutorium Beam Energy Transfer System, Mirage Colloid. Even though these techs have their use, Director Erica still feel the need to upgrade those MS further. Her aim is to remove the remaining restriction that limited Orb Union military force on the other side. Her target is their CIWS system. On the Astray, this is only a minor problem as the pilot rarely need to use those guns, on the other hand the Murasame engage in dogfight quite abit. Thus with the new Battery, Director Erica plan to change its guns into beam guns. Though in reality, only the guns on the wings are feasible. She had finished converting the Murasame of Colonel Kisara as a demonstration unit. But as pointed out by Cagallie and Colonel Kisara, it's not practical as those beam gun are only usable in MA mode. And since the original beam gun is sufficient for the task, this upgrade is dropped.
