Cassiopeia
Civilian emigration passenger ship based out of the lunar city of Granada.
The Cassiopeia was a civilian emigration passenger ship that operated from Granada on the Moon during the First Neo Zeon War. The vessel served the civilian population, providing transportation services for emigrants and other passengers travelling to and from the lunar city.
History
The Cassiopeia was based out of the lunar city of Granada, one of the major civilian settlements on the Moon during the Universal Century. As an emigration passenger ship, it likely provided regular transportation services for civilians moving between the Earth Sphere and lunar colonies, or between different lunar settlements.
Bombing incident
In July UC 0088, during the height of the First Neo Zeon War, the Cassiopeia became an unwitting target in a Neo Zeon terrorist plot. The operation was orchestrated by Neo Zeon officer Gottn Goh, who had developed a plan to bomb ships docked at Granada’s port facilities.
The primary objective of this bombing campaign was to trap the AEUG flagship Argama in Granada’s docks, preventing its departure and leaving it vulnerable to attack. To execute this plan, Gottn employed a civilian spy named Cecilia, who was tasked with placing bombs aboard various ships in the port.
However, Cecilia was unaware that she was carrying a bomb when she boarded the Cassiopeia. The device had been concealed amongst her personal effects, making her an unwitting accomplice in the terrorist plot. This method ensured that Cecilia would not arouse suspicion from port security or ship personnel, as she appeared to be a normal passenger.
Discovery and escape
The bomb was discovered before it could detonate aboard the Cassiopeia, though the circumstances of its discovery are not entirely clear. Upon realising the danger, Cecilia found herself in a desperate situation, having unknowingly participated in a plot that could have killed dozens of innocent passengers.
In a bid to escape the consequences of her unwitting involvement, Cecilia hid on the leg of a Neo Zeon mobile suit that was returning to Gottn’s Space Crane Ship. This desperate gambit allowed her to leave the Cassiopeia with the bomb, ensuring the passenger ship’s safety.
The plan ultimately backfired on Gottn when the bomb exploded aboard his own vessel. The Space Crane Ship was destroyed in the explosion, eliminating the Neo Zeon officer and his immediate crew. Meanwhile, the Cassiopeia escaped safely from Granada, its passengers and crew unaware of how close they had come to disaster.
Design
As a civilian passenger ship, the Cassiopeia was designed for comfort and efficiency rather than combat capability. The vessel featured no armaments, reflecting its purely civilian role in the transportation network of the Universal Century.
The ship’s design likely incorporated standard passenger amenities appropriate for emigration services, including sleeping quarters, dining facilities, and cargo space for personal belongings. Given its role as an emigration vessel, it was probably capable of carrying significant numbers of passengers and their possessions for extended journeys between settlements.
The Cassiopeia would have been equipped with standard navigation and communication systems appropriate for civilian vessels operating in the Earth-Moon system. Its sensor suite was likely limited to basic navigation and collision avoidance capabilities, as military-grade sensor systems would have been unnecessary and expensive for a civilian operator.
Propulsion and performance
Details about the Cassiopeia’s propulsion system and performance characteristics remain unknown. As a civilian vessel, it likely used efficient but relatively modest propulsion systems designed for economic operation rather than high performance.
The ship’s speed and manoeuvrability would have been optimised for passenger comfort during routine transportation operations, rather than for military requirements or emergency situations.
Operational significance
The Cassiopeia represented the civilian shipping that continued to operate during the First Neo Zeon War, despite the ongoing conflict. These vessels were essential for maintaining the economic and social connections between Earth, the Moon, and the space colonies.
The bombing incident involving the Cassiopeia highlighted the vulnerability of civilian shipping during wartime and the tactics employed by Neo Zeon forces to disrupt AEUG operations. The use of unwitting civilian accomplices demonstrated the lengths to which some military commanders would go to achieve their objectives.
Behind the scenes
The Cassiopeia appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ as part of a story arc focusing on the AEUG’s operations on the Moon. The vessel’s name references the constellation Cassiopeia, following the astronomical naming convention common for many civilian ships in the Universal Century.
The bombing plot involving the Cassiopeia served to illustrate the impact of the war on civilian populations and the moral complexities faced by ordinary people caught up in the conflict. The character of Cecilia represented the civilians who found themselves unwittingly involved in military operations during wartime.
Appearances
See also
External links
- Cassiopeia on MAHQ