Libra

The Libra (リーブラ, Rībura) was a giant space battlestation commissioned and built by OZ and designed by the five Gundam Scientists in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. In form, Libra resembled five geometric diamonds, four of which were connected to a corner of the fifth in the centre. Its name was derived from the Zodiac constellation Libra, fitting OZ’s zodiac naming convention. The Romefeller Foundation ordered its construction to serve as a symbol of power after placing Treize Khushrenada under house arrest. However, White Fang captured it and completed construction, using it as their flagship in the final battle of the Eve Wars.

Overview

The Libra represented the ultimate expression of military power in the After Colony era—a mobile fortress capable of carrying hundreds of mobile suits and mounting a beam cannon powerful enough to devastate planets. Its capture by White Fang transformed the balance of power in the Eve Wars, giving the colonial rebels a weapon that could threaten Earth itself.

Technology & combat characteristics

As a battlestation, Libra was exceptionally well suited for its role, possessing numerous defensive and offensive armaments and capable of carrying hundreds of mobile suits. Its most powerful weapon was a massive beam cannon with unparalleled power located in the central diamond. However, it contained a flaw engineered by the scientists who designed it—this flaw prevented the cannon from being fired consecutively by requiring time-consuming repairs each time it was used. This deliberate limitation ensured the weapon couldn’t be used for sustained bombardment.

One of Libra’s unique features was a mobile doll control room Zechs Merquise had built that incorporated Gundam Epyon’s combat computer/pilot interface system, the ZERO System. The purpose of this room was to allow an individual to more effectively command White Fang’s mobile dolls, aided by the ZERO System’s ability to anticipate enemy movements. This room was used exclusively by Dorothy Catalonia.

Armament

Large beam cannon

Located under the central diamond of Libra was a large beam cannon of immense power. Zechs Merquise used it to obliterate an island on Earth’s surface during his declaration of war, demonstrating its planet-destroying capabilities. Whilst immensely powerful, it was designed by the Gundam Scientists to require intense repairs after each firing, limiting its tactical utility.

Anti-air beam cannons

Located across the surface of Libra were an immense number of anti-air beam cannons. These were used to defend the battlestation from engagement by mobile suits and other small craft. The sheer quantity of these weapons created overlapping fields of fire, making direct assault on Libra extremely hazardous.

Operational history

Construction and capture

The Romefeller Foundation ordered the construction of Libra after gaining the trust of the colonies. The main reason for building this monstrosity was because they needed a new symbol of power, as they had to place OZ leader and figurehead Treize Khushrenada under house arrest due to his opposition to mobile doll technology.

Construction was overseen by Tubarov Bilmon, OZ’s chief engineer, at the lunar base. However, White Fang managed to capture it thanks to their new mobile doll army and complete its construction.

Whilst still incomplete, Libra proved formidable when it drove off an attack by Chang Wufei in his Altron Gundam, demonstrating that even the partially operational battlestation possessed fearsome defensive capabilities.

White Fang flagship

Upon completion, White Fang leader Zechs Merquise (Milliardo Peacecraft) made his declaration of war against the entire Earth by using Libra’s main cannon to obliterate an island on Earth’s surface. This demonstration of power served as both a warning and proof that White Fang now possessed the means to destroy the planet.

Zechs had a mobile doll control room built incorporating the Epyon’s ZERO System, allowing Dorothy Catalonia to command White Fang’s mobile doll forces with unprecedented effectiveness.

Eve Wars final battle

The leadership of White Fang decided to use the battlestation to recreate the original Operation Meteor by dropping it onto Earth. The Peacemillion rammed into Libra’s main cannon, destroying the weapon and creating a massive explosion. However, despite this damage, Libra’s main engines operated at around 70% capacity and continued to send the battlestation on its collision course with Earth.

As Libra made its way towards Earth, it encountered the Gundams and an Earth fleet led by Treize Khushrenada in the Tallgeese II. Intense combat raged across the battlestation’s hull and interior.

Duo found the five Gundam Scientists imprisoned in a cell. Doctor J explained that if they activated Peacemillion’s boosters, it would throw Libra off course and cause it to explode harmlessly in space. When the scientists reached Peacemillion’s controls, they were confronted by Quinze, but Doctor G activated the engines despite his protests.

The engine room exploded, killing all six men as the engines reached full power. Libra was stopped in its tracks. However, one section separated and continued moving towards Earth. It was stated that even if this one section hit Earth, it would still cause an endless winter.

Destruction

As the separated section continued to fall, the final battle between Heero Yuy in the Wing Zero and Milliardo Peacecraft in the Epyon came to an end within the falling block. Heero defeated Milliardo but spared his life and went to the power plant within the block.

Having lost his twin buster rifle during the battle, Heero decided the only way to destroy the section was self-detonation. Moments before Heero activated the Wing Zero’s self-destruction, Milliardo arrived in the damaged Epyon, announced his return from the “dark side,” and used Epyon’s beam saber to destroy the power plant, presumably sacrificing himself.

The falling section blew up, but part of it remained intact and continued to fall towards Earth. Although not large enough to wipe out all of humanity, it could still cause massive damage. Trowa, Duo, and Quatre attempted to break down the remaining block until they heard that Wufei had returned Wing Zero’s twin buster rifle.

The four pilots escaped the Libra block, and Heero raced into the atmosphere to get ahead of the block. He blasted the remaining block with his twin buster rifle, destroying the structural integrity and forcing it to break apart from atmospheric re-entry friction. The debris scattered and burned up harmlessly in the atmosphere, visible as a meteor shower from Earth’s surface.

The rest of Libra and Peacemillion was last seen floating away from Earth.

Appearances

The Libra appeared in:

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (TV series)

External links

Libra on the Gundam Wiki