Infinite Stratos Plot Bunnies Collection
Chapter 20: IS x UC Gundam
AN: I had been meaning to get around to a IS x Gundam series story concept other than the Gundam Build Fighters series for quite a while now. I always thought that I would do an IS crossover concept with Gundam SEED or Gundam 00, with UC Gundam being the least likely for many reasons. Gundam SEED and 00 are my favorite Gundam series along with Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans. The Universal Century has always been difficult to get into because of how much UC Gundam anime I would have to watch plus the countless many novels and mangas centered on the Universal Century. The only UC Gundam anime series I ever watch was Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (both movie OVAs and TV anime), Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, and Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt. That said, I still maintained interests in the UC Gundam series even though watching Gundam Unicorn OVA movies and TV anime episodes was tiring at times and Banagher Links being a slightly better character than Orimura Ichika by a few margins. It had a lot of many good Mobile Weapons, ships, and technology ideas, concepts, and designs that I either make use of, or made inspired designs of my OC ships and Mobile Weapons when crafting some of my Gundam fanfic ideas. Also boosting my inspiration for the concept idea is the teaser trailer for Hathaway's Flash anime project. After Unicorn and The Origin, I can't wait for more future UC Gundam anime to come out.
What changed my mind to craft a IS x UC Gundam concept crossover? Well there were a couple of things. The minor stuff were that both Orimura Ichika and Banagher Links share the same seiyuu (i.e. voice actor), Kouki Uchiyama, and the fact that there are similarities between the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam and Ichika's IS unit Byakushiki. Seriously, when IS anime first came out there were a lot of side-by-side comparison images between various IS units and the various Gundams that inspire those IS units. But my main motivation for doing this crossover concept was when a new video from BOOFIRE191 that showed up on my Youtube subscription titled Gundam: The Sleeves Are The Second Coming Of AEUG. It really opened my perspectives on what I thought about the Sleeves, beyond them being merely another Neo-Zeon antagonist faction in yet another UC GUndam series. I liked the AEUG in the sense that I grow tired of the old "Earth Federation VS Zeon/Neo-Zeon" trite plot cliche when I don't like either side, let alone the typical "Earth VS Space" cliche trope so common across most Gundam series. Watching Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin made me dislike the Federation even more and though it didn't make me a Zeon fanboy, it certainly made me a Char fanboy. It's why I like the existence of third-party factions if I'm not favorable or supportive of either the two primary factions featured in a series; for example in Gundam Seed I rooted for the Orb Union since ZAFT was bad and the entire EA as a whole was just absolutely terrible. It's why I liked Gundam series like 00 and IBO in particular since they have a Gundam faction we can all support and cheer for.
Story Concept:
The story takes place after Hathaway's Flash story. The flames of unrest with the Earth Federation has been ignited as Spacenoids and even Earthnoids could not longer suffer the decadence, corruption, and abuse of power by the hands of the government brass. Fearful of the another uprising, the Federation cracks down harder on humanity, with Side 3 formerly known as the autonomous Republic of Zeon and Principality of Zeon being under stricter and harsher Federation supervision, given its Zeon past that made it the most likely to be "ground zero" of a new war against the Federation government. However, in an ironic twist of fate, the new site of insurrection would originate at the Side 7 colony Green Noa, the colony where the very first Gundam mobile suit was built and now reconstructed and fully developed since the One Year War. This new war against the Federation will be different from others before it. This will not be a Fourth Neo-Zeon War as the new faction rising up against the Federation is not of Zeon origin. No, this will be the first ever Solar Insurrection to be ignited by the rebirth of the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) aiming to abolish the Earth Federation government once and for all, freeing all of humanity both Earthnoids and Spacenoids from its decadence, corruption, tyranny and oppression against all people, with the other mandate being to get all of humanity into space so that the Earth can finally begin to recover for centuries of human-induced pollution, climate change, and catastrophic damage from wars that has rendered much of the planet unlivable or unfit-for-living to humans.
AEUG
Ichika Orimura - Pilot of the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki GPB Color "Byaku Shiki", RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν Gundam and its MSV form FA-93-ν2HWS Hi-ν Gundam Heavy Weapons System Type, and lastly the rebuilt RX-0 Unicorn Gundam (including its MSV upgrade form, RX-0 Full Armor Unicorn Gundam Plan B).
Madoka Orimura - Pilot of the MSN-001M Mega Shiki, RX-93 v Gundam (including its MSVs RX-93 ν Gundam Double Fin Funnel Type and FA-93HWS ν Gundam Heavy Weapons System Type), and finally the rebuilt RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee (including its upgrade from RX-0[N] Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn).
Chifuyu Orimura - Pilot of MSN-000 Zero Shiki (for short moment), MSN-001 Delta Gundam, and lastly MSN-001X Gundam Delta Kai and is MSV form MSN-001X[G] Land Combat Type Gundam Delta Kai. Staunchly Anti-Federation, Chifuyu had fought in the Gryps Conflict as well as being a test pilot for Anaheim Electronics' many experimental MS included in the Delta Gundam project. Also served as a Londo Bell MS pilot during the Second Neo-Zeon War (aka Char's Rebellion). Was the test pilot for the Gundam Delta Kai before she would defect from the Earth Federation after the Federation governmental elites voted themselves even more dictatorial power after the events of Hathaway's Flash, taking her twin siblings along with her.
Kanzashi Sarashiki - Pilot of MSN-00100J Hyaku Shiki J (aka Hyaku Shiki Jäger), RX-104FF Penelope, and lastly RX-105 Ξ Gundam (aka Xi Gundam, pronounced "Ksi") which once belonged to the person she loves, Hathaway Noa.
Maya Yamada - Pilot of RX-166 Gundam Mk-III "Eagley" and lastly MSF-007 Gundam Mk-III and its MSV form, FA-007GIII Full Armor Gundam Mk-III
Houki Shinonono - Pilot of MSS-008 Le Cygne, MSN-06S[W] Weiss Sinanju, and lastly RX-0 Unicorn Gundam Phenex
Dan Gotanda - Pilot of MSR-00100S Hyaku Shiki Ka and its MSVs (FA-00100S Full Armor Hyaku Shiki Kai and MSK-100S Land Combat Hyaku Shiki Kai) and eventually Ichika's RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν Gundam
Ran Gotanda - Pilot of of RX-178B Build Gundam Mk-II, GPB-96X-ST Jesta Striker, and lastly Madoka's MSN-001M Mega Shiki
Tabane Shinonono - Chief MS Designer and Engineer of Kuromochi Machinery Development company, the primary arms manufacturer for AEUG. Previously work such position at Anaheim Electronics during the Gryps Conflict and Second Neo-Zeon War (aka Char's Rebellion) being heavily involved in the Zeta Project and later in the development of the RX-93 v Gundam. Laster, she would be recruited by the Vist Foundation and place in charge of the development of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. After the Laplace Incident (or the Third Neo-Zeon War), Tabane would eventually leave Anaheim Electronics and the Vist Foundation to join the reborned AEUG in its revived insurrection against the Earth Federation. She would rebuild the Unicorn Gundams for the Orimura siblings and her little sister Houki.
Neo-Zeon "The Sleeves"
Charlotte Dunois - Pilot of MSN-06S Sinanju (the same MS previous used by the Char clone, Full Frontal), AC-01 Miss Sazabi (Char's MSN-04 Sazabi that was recovered and upgraded), and lastly MSN-04II Nightingale. She is supposedly the daughter of her father Dunois, president of Dunois Industry which is a front arms manufacturing company used by "The Sleeves" and other Neo-Zeon and Zeon Remnant groups to produce and repair their Mobile Weapons and ships. It would be revealed that she is not the real daughter of Dunois; rather, her real father is the late Char Aznable who perished in the Third Neo-Zeon War when she was just an infant. While Dunois had mixed feelings regarding his wife's affair with the Red Comet, Charlotte's birth and existence makes her essentially someone who could serve as a "Joan of Arc" figurehead for the Neo-Zeon cause, given that she is Char's one and only child. As of Post Hathaway's Flash, Dunois is now the leader of The Sleeves with Charlotte acting as the figurehead puppet leader of the group. When the Federation started to crack down even harder on the Side colonies, especially Side 3, Charlotte was briefly sent to Earth to Laura Bodewig's Schwarzer Hase group to locate and retrieve Sayla Mass (i.e Artesia Som Deikun) to help advance the Sleeves's cause and standing among Neo-Zeon groups. Sayla would go with Charlotte as she is now all that is left of Char. Sayla would enlist the aid of AEUG to overthrow Dunois from the leadership of the Sleeves, seeing how Dunois was using The Sleeves and Charlotte herself to benefit himself and his company. With AEUG's help, Charlotte would eventually take control of "The Sleeves" and unify all of Neo-Zeon when she reveals her true birth name in a speech to all of Neo-Zeon and Zeon Remnants, Charlotte Anzable Deikun. Under her leadership along with support from her biological aunt Artesia Som Deikun, a fully unified Zeon would ally with AEUG in its war against the Earth Federation to free all of humanity from the Federation government tyranny.
Laura Bodewig - Pilot of AMX-004 Qubeley Mk-II, the NMX-004 Qubeley Papillon, and lastly NZ-000 Queen Mansa. Captain and leader of the Schwarzer Hase group (a special forces unit within The Sleeves), composed of largely Cyber-Newtype children born from Cyber-Newtype parents who fought under many Neo-Zeon groups from the Gryps Conflict up to the Second and even Third Neo-Zeon War. Had looked up to Char Aznable and Full Frontal. She was one of the few people who knew of Charlotte's true birthline and heritage, and thus dedicated herself to protecting her at all cost. Originally seen as an unwanted bodyguard and babysitter, Charlotte would eventually develop a close bond with Laura to be close best friends.
Clarissa Harfouch - Pilot of AMX-004G Qubeley Mass Production Type and later NZ-444 β Azieru (aka Beta Azieru). A Lieutenant in Laura's Schwarzer Hase group. Veteran of the Second and Third Neo-Zeon Wars.
Earth Federation Forces - either regular, Londo Bell, or ECOAS
Cecilia Alcott - Pilot of MSZ-007 Mass Production Type Ζ Gundam, RGM-79K9 GM Sniper K9, and lastly PMX-004 Titania
Lingyin Huarng - Pilot of MSZ-007 Z Rapier I (also η Gundam), MSZ-006LGT Lightning Zeta Gundam, and lastly LGZ-91 Lightning Gundam (including its MSV forms LGZ-91Fb Lightning Gundam Full Burnern and LGZ-91St Lightning Gundam Strider)
Luanyin Huang - Pilot of MSZ-008 ZII (aka Z-Two), RGZ-91 Re-GZ and its upgrade form RGZ-91B Re-GZ Custom, and lastly the MSZ-006LGT Lightning Zeta Gundam passed down to her by Lingyin.
Tatenashi Sarashiki - Pilot of F90 Gundam F90 and its MSV forms up to F90V Gundam F90 VSBR Type.
Honne Nohotoke - Pilot of F90II Gundam F90II and its MSV forms - F90II-I Gundam F90II Intercept Type and F90II-L Gundam F90II Long Range Type.
Utsuho Nohotoke - Pilot of F90III-Y Cluster Gundam
Natasha Fairs - Pilot of MSA-0011 (MSZ-011) S Gundam (aka Superior Gundam) and its MSVs - MSA-0011[Bst] S Gundam Booster Unit Type and MSA-0011[Ext] Ex-S Gundam (aka Extraordinary-Superior Gundam).
Iris Calling - Pilot of MSZ-013 Mass Production Type ZZ Gundam, MRX-011 Mass Production Type Psyco Gundam, and lastly MRX-012 Psyco Gundam Mk-III
Earth Federation Forces - Phantom Task
Squall Meusel - Pilot of AMX-107 Bawoo and later AMX-107R Rebawoo. Leader of Phantom Task, which is basically a revived and restored Titans.
Autumn - Pilot of RX-80PR Pale Rider, ORX-013 Gundam Mk-V, and lastly the AMX-107 Bawoo previously used by Squall before she piloted the AMX-107R Rebawoo. Second in command of Phantom Task.
Daryl Cayce - Pilot of AMX-014 Döven Wolf, YAMS-130 Krake Zulu, and lastly NZ-000 Queen Mansa. He real name is Rain Meusel. Was a spy for the Phantom Task within Londo Bell onboard Bright Noa's Ra Cailum ship before she tried to assassinate him.
Forte Sapphire - Pilot of ARX-014 Silver Bullet, KRX-001 Full Burst Psyco Gundam, and lastly HMX-000 Nocturne. A Londo Bell MS pilot who was in a homosexual relationship with Daryl Cayce (Rain Meusel). Forte would defect to Phantom Task with Rain after Rain's failed assassination attempt on Bright Noa to be with her lover.
AN: This all that I could fleshed out. My muses wouldn't leave me alone regarding this crossover concept until I put it out. Unlike most of my story concepts, I haven't really fleshed out a story outline at all or what direction I wanted to take what I put down in this story concept. Feel free to take what I have managed to out on this story concept and expand it further in your own written stories. Though with the case of a IS crossover with UC Gundam, I'm adding one more challenge in addition to my usual "No Author Self-Insert Mary Sue/Gary Stu OCs" notice. Given how much material there is out there especially in Mobile Weapon designs for UC-era Gundam, any prospective author looking to adapt this story concept into their own story should use UC-based Mobile Weapons and ships only. This challenge is easy to satisfy as one can just easily look Gundams and other Mobile Suits on Gundam Wiki to obtain UC-based Mobile Weapons and ships designs. There isn't really a new for OC Mobile Weapons and ships when the UC Gundam already has so much variety of everything (including characters) and even more compared to other GUndam series. They have had close to 5 decades now to amass such a huge amount of characters and designs for Mobile Weapons and ships.
Also given that I listed some IS characters in my story concept, it will be up to individual prospective authors to sort out which of the IS character cast I haven't touch on should go into which faction - AEUG, Neo-Zeon/The Sleeves, Phantom Task, or other Earth Federation Forces groups whether it be regular military, Londo Bell, or ECOAS. I also leave it up to individual authors to flesh out backgrounds for characters I have listed in the story concept.