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Albion

Pegasus-class assault landing ship used during the Delaz Conflict.
Jenxi Seow Published 24 Jun 2024 Updated 24 Jun 2024
*Albion*

The Albion was a Pegasus-class assault landing ship constructed by the Earth Federation Forces in UC 0083. Like other ships of its class, it was constructed from multiple blocks, including living quarters that featured an artificial gravity area. The Albion featured some improvements over its sister ships, including upgraded armaments and a laser rocket system.

The ship was designated with multiple hull numbers: LMSD-78, MSC-07, and SCVA-75, reflecting the changing designation systems used by the Federation during and after the One Year War.

History

The Albion was launched from the lunar city Von Braun on 7 October UC 0083, with Captain Eyphar Sinapus commanding. The ship was dispatched to pick up two prototype mobile suits from Anaheim Electronics: the RX-78GP01 Gundam GP01 Zephyranthes and the RX-78GP02A Gundam GP02A Physalis. Both mobile suits were taken to Australia’s Torrington Base for full gravity testing as part of the secret Gundam Development Project.

Operation Stardust

Captain Sinapus arrived at Torrington Base on 13 October as scheduled, and presented the base commander with paperwork instructing him to load both suits with live ammunition, including orders to load the GP02A with an MK-82 tactical nuclear warhead. Shortly after sunset, the Delaz Fleet commenced Operation Stardust, beginning with Anavel Gato’s infiltration and theft of the Gundam GP02A Physalis.

During the raid on Torrington Base, Zeon remnants launched a diversionary attack using MS-09F/trop Dom Tropens and a YMS-16M Xamel to help cover Gato’s escape. Although Kou Uraki pursued Gato in the GP01 Zephyranthes, Gato managed to escape through the aid of a Zeon submarine. The Albion was heavily damaged in the raid, thanks in part to powerful missiles fired from the same submarine.

Pursuit mission

While undergoing repairs at Torrington Base, Captain Sinapus received new orders: ascertain the location of the stolen Gundam and, if necessary, destroy it. Along with those orders came a full complement of mobile suits and pilots. Chuck Keith and Kou Uraki, originally stationed at Torrington, were reassigned to the Albion, along with Bernard Monsha, Alpha A. Bait, and Chap Adel. Commanding the newly formed Albion mobile suit contingent was Lieutenant South Burning.

Following the last known course of the Zeon submarine, the Albion departed from Torrington on 14 October and arrived in Africa on 16 October. The ship pursued Gato to the Kimberlite diamond mine used by remnant Zeon forces, but Gato escaped into space with an HLV. Despite the best efforts of the ship and its mobile suit complement, they failed to intercept the launch vehicle carrying Gato and the stolen Gundam.

Space operations

The Albion followed Gato into space and proceeded to Von Braun, where the ship docked for resupply. During this port call, Anaheim Electronics took custody of the damaged GP01, upgrading it into the RX-78GP01Fb Gundam Zephyranthes Full Burnern for space combat operations.

Departing Von Braun on 4 November, the Albion proceeded to the Sea of Solomon to resume its search for the missing GP02A. Between 4 November and 6 November, the ship supported weapons tests with the upgraded GP01Fb and an experimental beam rifle. During this period, the Albion detected suspicious vessels and engaged in combat operations against what were believed to be Delaz Fleet ships.

The ship was present at the Confeito naval review when Gato struck at the Federation fleet with the GP02A’s nuclear armament, inflicting severe damage across the assembled vessels. Following the nuclear attack, the Albion docked at the Anaheim Electronics ship La Vie en Rose to take custody of the new RX-78GP03 Dendrobium in an attempt to stop the Delaz Fleet’s colony drop operation.

Final operations

In the climactic battle against the falling colony, Captain Sinapus made the controversial decision to allow Kou Uraki to deploy in the massive GP03 Dendrobium, despite orders to stand by. This action, along with Sinapus’s defiance of Federation command during the crisis, would later result in serious legal consequences.

Operation Stardust ended with the Delaz Fleet successfully dropping a colony on North America, causing massive devastation. The operation’s failure led to significant political ramifications within the Federation government and military.

Design

The Albion utilised the standard Pegasus-class construction method with seven modular blocks, but featured several improvements over earlier ships in the class. Differences in construction resulted in some Pegasus-class ships having radically different appearances, and the Albion represented an evolution of the basic design.

Like other ships of its class, the Albion utilised a Minovsky craft system, which allowed it to fly at low altitudes on Earth and escape unassisted from the planet’s atmosphere. The ship featured upgraded systems including improved armaments and a laser rocket system that could be used to break free from the Moon’s gravity well.

Armaments

The Albion’s armament represented a significant upgrade over the standard Pegasus-class loadout, featuring improved defensive capabilities and additional weapon systems.

Mega particle guns

Two twin-barrel mega particle gun turrets were mounted on the port and starboard sides of the midship, providing the primary heavy armament. These energy weapons were effective against enemy mobile suits and vessels at medium to long range.

Secondary guns

Two twin-barrel secondary gun turrets provided additional firepower for engaging various target types. These weapons supplemented the main armament and provided backup firepower in case the primary weapons were damaged.

Laser guns

The Albion featured an advanced laser gun system with fourteen twin anti-aircraft laser guns and four twin anti-ground laser guns. This represented a significant improvement over the conventional machine guns used by earlier Pegasus-class ships, providing more accurate and effective point defence against mobile suits and aircraft.

Missile launchers

Four large missile launchers provided additional defensive capabilities and could be loaded with various missile types depending on mission requirements. These weapons offered flexibility in engaging different target types and could be used for both offensive and defensive operations.

Mobile suit facilities

The Albion maintained the standard six-unit mobile suit capacity of the Pegasus-class, with two leg-mounted hangars each equipped with launch catapults. The ship’s mobile suit complement during Operation Stardust included the RX-78GP01 Gundam GP01 Zephyranthes, three RGM-79N GM Custom units, and two RGC-83 GM Cannon II units. Later, the ship also carried the RX-78GP03 Gundam Dendrobium.

Aftermath

Following the conclusion of Operation Stardust, the Federation opened court martials against certain personnel for actions undertaken during the crisis. Captain Eyphar Sinapus was charged with mutiny for his actions in allowing the unauthorised deployment of the GP03 Dendrobium and defying Federation orders during the colony intercept battle. He was sentenced to death, though the sentence may have been carried out in secret.

Kou Uraki was initially sentenced to one year of hard labour for his role in stealing the GP03, but his sentence was suspended when all records of the Gundam Development Project were deleted from official records due to the nuclear weapons development violating the Antarctic Treaty.

It remains unclear whether the Albion survived the damages incurred during the Delaz Fleet crisis, as the ship was not seen past UC 0083. Many of the surviving crew members were transferred to the newly formed Titans task force, which was created in response to the events of Operation Stardust and was charged with hunting down Zeon remnants.

Behind the scenes

Shoji Kawamori was the principal mechanical designer, with Mika Akitaka providing cleanup work. The Albion represented an evolution of the basic Pegasus-class design, incorporating lessons learned from the One Year War and featuring improved systems and armaments.

The ship’s fate after Operation Stardust was left deliberately ambiguous, reflecting the secretive nature of the Gundam Development Project and the Federation’s desire to cover up the events surrounding the nuclear attack and colony drop.

Appearances

See also