RX-9 Narrative Gundam – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative

The RX-9 Narrative Gundam was a prototype multipurpose test mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for Luio & Co and the Earth Federation Forces.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “X” indicated that it was an experimental mobile suit. The “9” in the model code denoted that it was the ninth experimental design.

History

Developed by Anaheim Electronics, the RX-9 Narrative Gundam served as a testbed for the psychoframe technology that was later implemented in the RX-93 ν Gundam. A mobile suit made by Anaheim Electronics, it was developed as a prototype for the RX-93 ν Gundam, testing the Psycho-Frame, and many portions of its body are made from identical parts.

At some point, the Narrative Gundam was equipped with the same NT-D (Newtype Destroyer) System as the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. The system was activated when Newtype activity was detected, and it allowed the suit to seize control of enemy psycommu weapons and move without pilot input.

In UC 0097, Anaheim loaned out the Narrative Gundam to the New Hong Kong-based Luio & Co, which acted in partnership with the Earth Federation Forces to track down the missing RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex. The mobile suit was deployed as part of Operation Phoenix Hunt, a joint mission between the Federation and Luio & Co to capture the rogue RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex.

The Narrative Gundam was reconfigured multiple times during the mission with different equipment packages. It first deployed with the A-Packs configuration to engage the Phenex in Side 4’s shoal zone, then with the B-Packs configuration when tracking the Phenex to Side 6’s Metis Colony, and finally with the C-Packs configuration in the final battle against Zoltan Akkanen and the NZ-999 II Neo Zeong. The Narrative Gundam was destroyed piece-by-piece during the battle, but pilot Jona Basta ejected the Core Fighter and then transferred from it to the Phenex to stop Zoltan.

Design

As a testbed unit not intended for combat, the Narrative Gundam had multiple parts of its inner frame exposed, and its sole fixed armament was a pair of head vulcan guns. Because it was intended mainly as a testbed for data collection, there are many areas that have not been equipped with armor, leaving the frame structure exposed.

The Narrative Gundam had an ultracompact Minovsky fusion reactor that generated an output of 2,980 kW. It was equipped with rocket thrusters that produced 104,000 kg of total thrust.

Unlike the ν Gundam, the Narrative Gundam lacked a panoramic cockpit and utilised a Core Block System that featured a Core Fighter with unfolding wings. The Core Block System allowed the torso section to separate and function as an escape craft for the pilot during emergencies. The base machine is armed only with head vulcans, and during Operation Phoenix Hunt it uses a variety of interchangeable armament provided by Luio & Co

The mobile suit was also secretly fitted with the NT-D (Newtype Destroyer) System for Operation Phoenix Hunt. This system was identical to the one used by the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam series and activated automatically when Newtype activity was detected nearby.

Armaments

The Narrative Gundam’s standard weapons were limited to two 60 mm vulcan guns mounted in the head. All other armaments were provided through interchangeable equipment packages.

60 mm vulcan guns

A pair of fire-linked 60 mm vulcan guns were mounted on either side of the Narrative Gundam’s head. These rapid-fire weapons were primarily used against light-armoured support units and served as missile defence. The vulcan guns could also damage mobile suits and mobile armours with sustained fire at close range.

Known pilots

Jona Basta

Variants

The Narrative Gundam was designed to use interchangeable equipment packages, allowing it to be reconfigured for different mission requirements:

RX-9/A Narrative Gundam A-Packs

The RX-9/A Narrative Gundam A-Packs was a special equipment version of the RX-9 Narrative Gundam designed to capture the runaway RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex. Due to the Narrative Gundam lacking any armaments beyond basic vulcan guns, the rest of its weapons in that mobile armor-like configuration were part of the A-Packs parts.

The A-Packs were equipped with four external large boosters, allowing it to nearly match the speed of the Phenex. It was also equipped with a pair of psycho capture units that could trap the Phenex by interfering with its psycho waves and immobilising it in an energy field. Its armaments included a pair of beam sabers, a high mega cannon, two large beam sabers and six 5-tube missile pods.

RX-9/B Narrative Gundam B-Packs

The RX-9/B Narrative Gundam B-Packs was a special equipment version of the RX-9 Narrative Gundam designed to capture the runaway RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex in UC 0097. Due to the Narrative Gundam lacking any armaments beyond basic vulcan guns, the rest of its weapons in that configuration were part of the B-Packs parts.

The B-Packs added a new backpack that mounted a pair of incom-like wire-guided attack terminals that could transform into psycho capture units to neutralise the Phenex. Other B-Packs armaments included two beam sabers and two forearm-mounted small shields that each featured a 4-tube missile launcher.

RX-9/C Narrative Gundam C-Packs

The RX-9/C Narrative Gundam C-Packs was a special equipment version of the RX-9 Narrative Gundam designed to capture the runaway RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex in UC 0097. Due to the Narrative Gundam lacking any armaments beyond basic vulcan guns, the rest of its weapons in that configuration were part of the C-Packs parts. Psychoframe pieces were hastily mounted as armour across the Narrative Gundam’s body, giving it an appearance similar to the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam’s Destroy Mode and earning it the nickname “Psycho Package”.

The C-Packs armaments included a pair of beam sabers, a modified beam rifle from the RGM-89 Jegan and a psychoframe-equipped shield that mounted a beam cannon and four missiles.

Behind the scenes

Hajime Katoki was the original mechanical designer for the Narrative Gundam and its equipment packages. Eiji Komatsu provided cleanup designs.

The Narrative Gundam was designed as the titular mobile suit of Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, which served as an epilogue to Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. The film was the first instalment in Sunrise’s “UC NexT 0100” project, covering the next 100 years of the Universal Century timeline.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative

External links

RX-9 Narrative Gundam on MAHQ
RX-9 Narrative Gundam on the Gundam Wiki

Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩