Heliopolis

Heliopolis (ヘリオポリス, Herioporisu) was a neutral space colony located at L5 Lagrange Point in the Cosmic Era timeline. The colony was operated by the Orb Union and served as a secret development site for the Earth Alliance’s G Project mobile suits. Heliopolis was destroyed by ZAFT forces in CE 71 during their attack to steal the five advanced mobile suits developed there.

History

Heliopolis was a space colony built and operated by the Orb Union, maintaining a policy of neutrality during the conflicts between the Earth Alliance and ZAFT. Despite this neutrality, the colony secretly hosted the Earth Alliance’s G Project, a programme to develop advanced mobile suits that could match or exceed ZAFT’s Gundam technology.

G Project

The G Project was a secret Earth Alliance initiative to develop five advanced mobile suits: the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, GAT-X102 Duel Gundam, GAT-X103 Buster Gundam, GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam, and GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam. These mobile suits were developed at a facility within Heliopolis, utilising the colony’s resources and the Alliance’s technological expertise.

The project’s secrecy was maintained through the cooperation of the Orb Union, which allowed the Earth Alliance to operate within Heliopolis despite the colony’s official neutrality. This arrangement reflected the complex political relationships that existed during the First Alliance-PLANT War.

ZAFT attack and destruction

In CE 71, ZAFT forces discovered the G Project and launched an attack on Heliopolis to steal the five mobile suits. The attack was led by Athrun Zala and his team, who infiltrated the colony and engaged in combat with Earth Alliance forces.

During the attack, the colony suffered extensive damage, and the battle between ZAFT forces and Earth Alliance mobile suits caused structural failures throughout Heliopolis. The damage ultimately led to the colony’s destruction, forcing civilians and military personnel to evacuate aboard the Archangel and other vessels.

The destruction of Heliopolis marked the beginning of the First Alliance-PLANT War’s escalation, as the attack demonstrated ZAFT’s willingness to target neutral territory to obtain advanced technology. The colony’s destruction also forced the Archangel and its crew to become directly involved in the conflict.

Significance

Heliopolis played a crucial role in the events of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED as the birthplace of the G Project mobile suits and the starting point of the Archangel’s journey. The colony’s destruction forced civilians and military personnel to work together, creating the foundation for the relationships that would develop throughout the series.

The colony’s role as a neutral territory that secretly hosted Earth Alliance military development reflected the complex political situation during the Cosmic Era, where official neutrality could mask hidden agendas and secret agreements.

Design

Heliopolis was a standard space colony design, featuring the typical cylindrical configuration common to Cosmic Era space colonies. The colony housed civilian residents, commercial facilities, and the secret Earth Alliance development facility where the G Project mobile suits were created.

The colony’s interior featured standard space colony amenities, including residential areas, commercial districts, and educational facilities such as Heliopolis Technical College, where Kira Yamato and other students were enrolled.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

External links

• Heliopolis on the Gundam Wiki