MSS-008 Le Cygne

The MSS-008 Le Cygne was a prototype Newtype use mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics specifically for AEUG pilot Asuna Elmarit during the early stages of the Gryps Conflict. Designed as a test unit exclusively for the A-rank Newtype Asuna Elmarit, it represented a reflection of her test data and piloting characteristics.

Development

The Le Cygne was a gundam-type mobile suit developed and constructed by Anaheim Electronics (AE) before the start of the Gryps Conflict. The mobile suit shared the frame of the MSA-003 Nemo and featured a design philosophy that was unusually traditional for its time period.

While the Gryps-era mobile weapons saw rapid development in TMS (Transformable Mobile Suit) technology, the Le Cygne’s concept was deliberately traditional. Anaheim Electronics analysed Asuna’s manoeuvring data and determined that a design faithful to the basics with minimal performance would better respond to her handling characteristics, maximising efficient operation to bring out the potential of the mobile suit.

The mobile suit incorporated the same biosensor technology as the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam to maximise the pilot’s Newtype abilities. Simulation data that reflected Asuna’s past simulator trials in AE’s Amman branch had been inputted into the control system and were adjusted to extract the best possible performance from the Le Cygne.

Model number

The MSS-008 Le Cygne model number can be broken down as follows: ‘MSS’ likely indicates a custom mobile suit series designation, ‘008’ shows it was the eighth unit in this series, and ‘Le Cygne’ is French for “The Swan”.

Design features

The Le Cygne featured a sleek design that drew inspiration from the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki, as it was designed to be a light, fast and highly agile unit. The unit featured a sleek design and also drew inspiration from the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki, as it was designed to be a light, fast and highly agile unit.

As Asuna’s personal unit, the design theme of the Le Cygne can be considered an allegory to the The Ugly Duckling fairy tale, drawing from the fact that her first MS was the ungainly TGM-79C GM Canard (Canard being French for Duck), to her being the main pilot of the MSS-008 Le Cygne (The Swan).

The mobile suit was constructed using Gundarium alloy for its armour materials, providing enhanced protection whilst maintaining the unit’s emphasis on mobility and agility.

Armament

Beam rifle

A beam weapon of the same design as the Zeta Gundam’s. The beam rifle served as the Le Cygne’s primary ranged weapon, capable of penetrating most armour not treated with anti-beam coating.

Gatling guns

Chain-guns stored in compartments in the Le Cygne’s shoulder armor. The gatling gun itself seems to have less firepower compared to a beam rifle, but produce a large number of bullets. These weapons provided sustained fire support and were particularly effective against lightly armoured targets.

Twin beam trident

A unique beam saber that consisted of a single hilt with beam emitters on both ends which were able to either produce a standard beam blade or three, with the standard beam in the middle and two shorter ones at the sides. This innovative close-combat weapon gave the Le Cygne superior versatility in melee engagements.

Shield

A large experimental shield that incorporated built-in thrusters and attitude control systems. The shield served multiple functions beyond defence:

This device could be used for surveillance purposes and ensured adequate visibility should the Le Cygne’s main camera be destroyed, allowing the mobile suit to hide behind cover with only the shield’s cameras exposed. The shield could also be used as an offensive weapon by activating the shield’s thrusters to ram an enemy.

FHA-05M02 mega beam launcher

A highly destructive beam weapon, this shoulder-mounted mega beam launcher is based on the Gaza-C’s knuckle buster. Developed for the Le Cygne, it differs from standard mega beam launchers in that it uses E-Cap cartridges rather than power supplied from a generator.

Operational history

It was determined that Asuna was the only pilot who had the ability to maximize Newtype response feedback to the Le Cygne itself. The mobile suit saw service during the events chronicled in Mobile Suit Gundam École du Ciel, primarily operated by Asuna Elmarit with occasional use by test pilot Hansel Binokel.

The Le Cygne’s spare parts were later used in the construction of the MSS-009 Gemeaux, a simplified version designed for non-Newtype pilots.

Known pilots

Asuna Elmarit - Primary pilot and the only pilot capable of maximising the Le Cygne’s Newtype response systems
Hansel Binokel - Test pilot who complained that Le Cygne’s movements were too nimble for conventional pilots

Variants

No known variants of the MSS-008 Le Cygne exist, though its spare parts were used in the construction of the MSS-009 Gemeaux.

Behind the scenes

The MSS-008 Le Cygne was designed by Sayama Yoshinori for the Mobile Suit Gundam École du Ciel manga series written and illustrated by Mikimoto Haruhiko. The author Haruhiko Mikimoto ordered it to be designed with the sleek impression of the Kunoichi as a motif, so compared to other general Gundam types, it became quite a leading force in heterogeneous design.

The mobile suit made its video game debut in SD Gundam G Generation Eternal where it appears as a gacha-only UR unit with excellent performance capabilities.