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Hario

Modified Alexandria-class heavy cruiser that served as Paptimus Scirocco's personal ship during the Gryps Conflict.
Jenxi Seow Published 20 Jun 2025 Updated 20 Jun 2025
*Hario*

The Hario was a modified Alexandria-class heavy cruiser that served as Paptimus Scirocco’s personal ship during the early stages of the Gryps Conflict. Captained by Ted Ayachi, the Hario featured significant modifications that distinguished it from the standard Alexandria-class design, most notably additional aft firepower to address tactical vulnerabilities.

History

The Hario was one of three Alexandria-class vessels that underwent extensive modifications during the Gryps Conflict. The ship was specifically refitted to serve the operational requirements of Paptimus Scirocco, the enigmatic officer known as “The Man from Jupiter” who had returned to the Earth Sphere from the Jupiter Energy Fleet.

In May UC 0087, Commander Ted Ayachi served as the Hario’s captain. Despite technically outranking Scirocco, Ayachi consistently behaved as a subordinate to him, either due to Scirocco’s position as fleet commander or the influence of Scirocco’s charismatic Newtype abilities. Ayachi had made an arrangement with Scirocco to hunt down the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG), making the Hario an active participant in the campaign against the rebel forces.

During the early stages of the Gryps Conflict, the Hario served as Scirocco’s flagship while he established his position within the Titans hierarchy. The ship provided Scirocco with a mobile command platform from which he could conduct his complex political and military manoeuvres, including his eventual rise to leadership of the Titans through manipulation and the elimination of rivals.

The Hario participated in various engagements against AEUG forces, utilising its enhanced firepower to support Titans operations. The ship’s modifications proved effective in addressing the traditional weakness of space warships’ aft sections, allowing it to maintain defensive capabilities even when retreating or repositioning.

Design

The Hario retained the basic configuration of the Alexandria-class heavy cruiser but featured significant modifications that enhanced its combat effectiveness. The most notable alteration was the installation of a larger aft section behind the bridge that accommodated two additional primary beam cannons. This modification was specifically designed to bolster the ship’s rear defence, addressing the aft quarter’s traditional status as a weak fire zone in space warfare.

The ship maintained the Alexandria-class’s overall length of 354.0 metres and width of 98.0 metres, but the enlarged aft section gave it a distinctive silhouette that differentiated it from standard vessels of the class. The modifications did not appear to significantly affect the ship’s performance characteristics, suggesting that the structural changes were well-integrated into the original design.

Armaments

The Hario’s weapon systems represented a significant upgrade over the standard Alexandria-class configuration, providing enhanced firepower in multiple engagement scenarios.

Main beam cannons

The Hario was equipped with six twin-barrel main beam cannons compared to the four mounted on standard Alexandria-class vessels. Four of these weapons retained the original mounting positions on the top and bottom of the middle section, whilst two additional cannons were mounted on top of the enlarged aft section. This configuration provided the ship with improved coverage of its rear arc, eliminating the traditional vulnerability of space warships to attacks from behind.

The additional aft-mounted beam cannons could engage targets pursuing the vessel or provide covering fire during tactical withdrawals. This capability made the Hario particularly effective in fleet actions where repositioning and mutual support were essential.

Secondary beam cannons

Like the standard Alexandria-class, the Hario mounted two single-barrel beam cannons on the port and starboard engine blocks. These weapons maintained their original configuration and firing arcs, providing supplementary firepower for engaging targets off the ship’s flanks.

Defensive systems

The ship retained the four twin-barrel defensive turrets of the standard design, but the modification of the aft section affected their placement. The defensive turrets on the bridge were repositioned to accommodate the additional main beam cannons, while those on the engine blocks maintained their original locations. This arrangement ensured that the ship’s close-range defensive capabilities remained effective despite the structural modifications.

Secondary turrets

Four single-barrel secondary turrets were mounted above and below the launch catapults, providing additional anti-mobile suit defence. These weapons supplemented the main defensive turrets and helped protect the ship’s catapult areas during mobile suit deployment operations.

Mobile suit operations

The Hario maintained the ability to carry 12 mobile suits like other Alexandria-class vessels, though its catapult configuration differed from the standard design. The ship was equipped with two launch catapults rather than the four typically found on Alexandria-class vessels, which may have been a result of the aft modifications or a different operational doctrine.

The reduced number of catapults did not significantly impair the ship’s mobile suit deployment capabilities, as the Hario primarily served as a command vessel rather than a pure mobile suit carrier. The ship’s complement likely included high-performance units appropriate for Scirocco’s status and tactical requirements.

Command structure

The Hario operated under an unusual command structure that reflected Paptimus Scirocco’s growing influence within the Titans. Although Ted Ayachi held the formal rank of Commander and served as the ship’s captain, he consistently deferred to Scirocco’s authority in operational matters.

This arrangement highlighted Scirocco’s exceptional leadership abilities and charismatic influence over his subordinates. Whether through his Newtype abilities, superior strategic acumen, or simple force of personality, Scirocco was able to command loyalty from officers who technically outranked him. This pattern of influence would prove crucial to his eventual rise to leadership of the Titans organisation.

The ship’s crew included personnel who had been drawn to Scirocco’s vision of space-born supremacy and his plans for reshaping human society. Many of these individuals were women, reflecting Scirocco’s particular ability to inspire loyalty among female officers and his belief that women would ultimately rule humanity.

Behind the scenes

Fujita Kazumi was the original mechanical designer for the Hario, creating the modified design as part of his work on Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. The ship’s distinctive appearance helped establish the visual diversity of Titans vessels and demonstrated the organisation’s willingness to modify standard designs to meet specific operational requirements.

The name “Hario” may be derived from various sources, continuing the tradition of Federation vessels being named after Earth locations or historical references. The specific inspiration for the name has not been officially confirmed.

Appearances

See also