NZ-666 Kshatriya – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

The NZ-666 Kshatriya was a Newtype-use mobile suit developed by Neo Zeon to miniaturise the NZ-000 Queen Mansa whilst retaining the same level of firepower. It was designed with the intention of miniaturising the NZ-000 Queen Mansa - which was more than 40 metres tall - whilst retaining its performance. The mobile suit earned the nickname “Quad-wing” due to its four massive wing-like binders.

The “NZ” designation indicated it was a Neo Zeon model, and the “666” was a deliberate reference to the Mark of the Beast, giving the mobile suit an ominous symbolic significance. The model number of the Kshatriya (NZ-666) is a reference to the Mark of the Beast, or the Devil’s number. The name “Kshatriya” derives from the ancient Hindu warrior caste, literally meaning “warrior” or “ruler” in Sanskrit.

History

Since Neo Zeon lost the ability to manufacture Psycho-Frame following the Second Neo Zeon War, the Kshatriya became a one-off unit. The mobile suit was developed as part of Neo Zeon’s efforts to create a successor to the massive Queen Mansa that had served near the end of the First Neo Zeon War.

During the Laplace Incident of UC 0096, the Kshatriya served as the personal mobile suit of Cyber Newtype Marida Cruz. That name was a pseudonym for Ple Twelve, the last known survivor of the Elpeo Ple clones created by Glemy Toto during the First Neo Zeon War. The mobile suit was operated by the Neo Zeon remnant group known as the Sleeves.

The Kshatriya first saw combat when it is first seen in combat against three Jegans during its trip to the Industrial 7 colony. Marida uses the Kshatriya to attack the enemy mobile suits consisting of RGM-89D Jegans, RGZ-95 ReZeLs, and RGZ-95C ReZeL Commander Types in order to give Suberoa Zinnerman and their ship Garancieres time to escape. Despite being significantly outnumbered, the Kshatriya destroyed the majority of the Earth Federation Forces.

The mobile suit later engaged the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam piloted by Banagher Links. The Unicorn Gundam’s Destroy Mode activated, and the Kshatriya lost two of its shoulder binders and several funnels in the resulting battle. The Kshatriya was eventually heavily damaged in a fight with Banagher Links’ RX-0 Unicorn Gundam at the Battle of Palau. It was subsequently captured by the Londo Bell ship Nahel Argama.

Design

Another factor that contributed to its miniaturisation was that most of its functions are concentrated in its four wings/binders. As a result, the Kshatriya was almost half the size of its predecessor. The mobile suit incorporated several advanced technologies, most notably the installation of Psycho-Frame around its cockpit.

The Kshatriya had a head height of 22.3 metres and weighed 29.7 metric tonnes empty, with the four binders adding an additional 22.32 metric tonnes. When fully loaded, the mobile suit reached a gross weight of 74.02 metric tonnes. It was constructed from Gundarium alloy armour plating for enhanced protection.

The mobile suit was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor rated at 16,540 kW output. Its propulsion system consisted of rocket thrusters generating a total output of 197,800 kg of thrust. The mobile suit featured standard sensors with a detection range of 18,500 metres.

The four massive wings/binders are also the Kshatriya’s greatest features, each containing two mega particle cannons, a funnel container with six funnels, an I-Field generator, flexible thrusters, a propellant tank, and a sub-arm equipped with a small beam saber. Each wing/binder also serves as an AMBAC unit.

The cockpit was located in the mobile suit’s torso and featured a panoramic monitor system with a linear seat. Like its predecessor, the Kshatriya requires a powerful Newtype pilot.

Armaments

The Kshatriya’s armament was primarily concentrated in its four wing binders, creating a devastating array of weapons that allowed it to engage multiple enemies simultaneously.

Mega particle cannons

The Kshatriya is armed with twelve mega particle cannons. Four are mounted on the chest and they can be fired together to create a single, very powerful beam, or to fire a scattering beam in a manner similar to a shotgun. Two more of these cannons are mounted on each wing/binder, allowing the Kshatriya to fight off enemies from any direction.

The chest-mounted cannons could be fired in unison for maximum destructive power or separately for more tactical applications. The binder-mounted cannons provided 360-degree coverage, making it nearly impossible for enemies to approach from any angle without coming under fire.

Machine cannons

2 x machine cannon, mounted on torso between mega particle cannons. These rapid-firing projectile weapons were primarily used for close-range combat and restricting enemy movement.

Beam sabers

The Kshatriya is armed with a total of six beam sabers for melee combat. Two are located in the forearms and can be used as beam guns when stored, while the remaining four are small beam sabers mounted in the sub-arms that are in the Kshatriya’s wings/binders.

2 x beam saber/gun, stored in recharge racks in forearms, hand-carried in use. The forearm-mounted beam sabers could function as both melee weapons and beam guns, providing versatility in combat situations. The additional beam sabers housed in the sub-arms of each binder provided surprise close-combat capabilities.

I-field generators

4 x I-field generator, one mounted per binder. Each binder contained an I-field generator that could deflect beam attacks, providing enhanced defensive capabilities. The Kshatriya could deploy up to 24 funnels and generate an I-field to protect itself.

Sub-arms

Hidden in the binders, the sub-arms can be used to destroy an opposing mobile suit’s arm simply by latching on to it, or used to capture a mobile suit, as shown by its capture of the Unicorn. These manipulator arms provided the Kshatriya with additional grappling capabilities and close-combat options.

Funnels

The Kshatriya is armed with twenty-four funnels for all-range attacks. Each funnel possesses a beam gun that is capable of melting an enemy mobile suit’s armor. Six are stored within each of the Kshatriya’s four wings/binders, and are remotely controlled primarily through use of the Psycho-Frame equipped cockpit.

These funnels are used primarily to allow the Kshatriya to engage large numbers of enemies at the same time, or to overwhelm a powerful foe. The psycommu system allowed Newtype or Cyber Newtype pilots to control these remote weapons through brainwave manipulation.

Novel armaments

beam Gatling gun x 6 were featured in the original novel version, with a pair of beam gatling guns attached to the right forearm.

Known pilots

Marida Cruz (aka Ple Twelve)

Variants

NZ-666 Kshatriya Besserung
NZ-666 Kshatriya Repaired

Behind the scenes

Original mechanical designer: Hajime Katoki. Hajime Katoki was responsible for the design of the Kshatriya, creating one of the most distinctive mobile suits in the Universal Century timeline.

Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय) is the military and ruling social order/caste in Hinduism. The word in Sanskrit literally means “warrior” or “ruler”. The choice of name reflects the mobile suit’s role as an elite combat unit.

The mobile suit’s model number deliberately incorporated symbolic meaning. The model number of the Kshatriya (NZ-666) is a reference to the Mark of the Beast, or the Devil’s number. This gave the machine an ominous reputation that matched its devastating combat capabilities.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096
Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn

External links

NZ-666 Kshatriya on the Gundam Wiki
NZ-666 Kshatriya on MAHQ