The Sleeves

The Sleeves (袖付き, Sode-tsuki) was a Neo Zeon remnant organization that emerged in the UC 0090s, operating as coalition of Zeon loyalists, spacenoid nationalists, and various anti-Federation groups. Led by Full Frontal, the mysterious “Ghost of Char,” The Sleeves sought the Laplace Box during the Laplace Incident in UC 0096, representing yet another iteration of spacenoid resistance against Earth Federation dominance.

Formation

The Sleeves formed from fragments of previous Neo Zeon movements after Char Aznable’s defeat and death in UC 0093. The organization represented:

Zeon remnants refusing to accept final defeat
Spacenoid independence activists
Anti-Federation groups from various backgrounds
Military units from previous Neo Zeon forces

The name “Sleeves” derived from their practice of wearing uniform sleeves as identification – symbolizing they were the “leftovers” or remnants of previous movements, whilst also suggesting unity through shared symbol.

Leadership

Full Frontal

Full Frontal, called the “Ghost of Char,” led The Sleeves. His resemblance to Char Aznable (whether clone, look-alike, or something more mysterious) provided:

Charismatic leadership rallying Zeon loyalists
Symbolic connection to Char’s legacy
Military and tactical expertise
Political philosophy continuing Char’s spacenoid cause

Full Frontal’s leadership differed from Char’s – less driven by personal revenge, more focused on systematic dismantling of Federation through economic and political means.

Organization

The Sleeves operated as loose coalition rather than unified military:

Various factions maintaining semi-independence
Coordinated through Full Frontal’s leadership
Shared resources and intelligence
Common cause opposing Federation

Key units included:

Garencieres crew
Various mobile suit squadrons
Intelligence and political operatives
Support vessels and logistics

Laplace Box Quest

The Sleeves’ primary objective during UC 0096 was securing the Laplace Box:

Original Universal Century Charter containing secret
Potential to delegitimize Federation politically
Believed to justify spacenoid independence
Pursued through alliance with Vist Foundation

The quest brought The Sleeves into conflict with:

Londo Bell Federation forces
Banagher Links and the Unicorn Gundam
Internal Federation factions
Other groups seeking the Box

Military Capabilities

The Sleeves fielded significant mobile suit forces:

Key Mobile Suits:

MSN-06S Sinanju (Full Frontal)
NZ-999 Neo Zeong (Full Frontal, final battle)
Geara Zulu (mass production)
Various captured or salvaged units

Naval Forces:

Garencieres and other vessels
Rewloola-class and other Zeon remnant ships

Ideology

The Sleeves advocated:

Spacenoid independence from Earth Federation
Exposing Federation’s foundational lies (Laplace Box)
Continuation of Zeon’s cause
Full Frontal’s economic philosophy of “Side Co-Prosperity Sphere”

Unlike previous Zeon iterations focused on military victory, The Sleeves under Full Frontal emphasized political and economic approaches.

Outcome

The Sleeves dissolved after:

Full Frontal’s defeat/disappearance
Laplace Box revelation
Banagher Links demonstrating alternative path
Loss of unifying leadership

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

External links

The Sleeves on the Gundam Wiki