Aires
Lunar city that served as a base for New Desides during their rebellion.
The Autonomous Lunar City Aires was a lunar city located in the southern hemisphere of the Moon. Due to its position, it never faced the Earth during the Moon’s orbit. This led to its citizens developing a cult-like fascination with Earth and fervent support for the Titans.
History
The citizens of Aires maintained fierce loyalty to the Titans. At the end of the Gryps Conflict, Mayor Kaizer Pinefield led the Aires militia to defend the colony laser Gryps 2. Their failure to stop the Anti-Earth Union Group from defeating the Titans resulted in public shame for the militia.
When the Earth Federation Instructor’s Corps formed the New Desides rebellion, the Aires militia eagerly supported the rebels. Pinefield arranged for Aires to serve as New Desides’ fallback location should their base at Pezun fall. He also prepared the city’s mass driver to allow New Desides forces to return to space if needed.
New Desides retreated to Aires on 12 March UC 0088. The battle for the city began on 17 March when Task Force Alpha launched Operation Eagle Fall. Despite fierce resistance from New Desides and the city militia, they steadily lost ground. By 24 March, they controlled only a four-kilometer area around the mass driver. New Desides forces launched into space while the militia provided covering fire.
Aires surrendered to Task Force Alpha on 28 March UC 0088, though by then much of the city lay in ruins.
Design
Like other lunar cities, Aires was built underground to protect against the harsh lunar environment. The city used fibre-optic viaducts to channel sunlight into the cavern, creating an artificial sky effect on the cavern ceiling.
Behind the scenes
The name “Aires” may be derived from the constellation Aries, though some suggest it could be a romanization of “Ayres”, after American Civil War general Romeyn B. Ayres who fought at the First Battle of Bull Run.
The city’s relationship with the Earth Federation was loosely based on the historical Aizu domain’s support of the Shinsengumi during Japan’s Meiji Restoration.
Appearances
- Gundam Sentinel
External links
- Aires on the Gundam Wiki