ZMT-S28S Gengaozo

The ZMT-S28S Gengaozo was one of the few BESPA mobile weapons built especially for use by Newtypes during the Zanscare War. Equipped with the venerable psycommu system that had been used in Newtype weapons since the One Year War of UC 0079, the Gengaozo represented a significant advancement in all-range attack capabilities for the Zanscare Empire.

Development and design

The ZMT-S28S Gengaozo was developed as an all-range attack mobile suit specifically designed to harness the abilities of Newtype pilots. The mobile suit’s most distinctive feature was its psycommu system, which allowed the pilot to remote control the mobile suit’s Back Engine Unit—a combination sub-flight system and remote weapon that served as the Gengaozo’s primary offensive capability.

The Gengaozo’s motif was based on Raijin, the Japanese God of Thunder, reflecting its lightning-like attack patterns when deploying its remote weapons. Both the Gengaozo and the ZMT-S29 Zanneck were derived from an unused design called Zancock, representing BESPA’s continued development of Newtype-specific mobile weapons.

The mobile suit featured a robust construction with high titanium alloy neo ceramic composite armour and a powerful Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor rated at 6,310 kW. At 17.3 metres in head height, the Gengaozo was considerably larger than most contemporary mobile suits, reflecting its role as a heavy assault unit.

Armament

The ZMT-S28S Gengaozo’s weapons loadout was specifically designed around its all-range attack capabilities.

Fixed armaments

Beam sabers/beam maces

The Gengaozo carried a pair of beam weapons that could function as either beam sabers for cutting attacks or beam maces for blunt force impacts. These weapons provided versatile close-combat capabilities when the remote weapons were not available.

Beam shields

Mounted on the forearms, the dual beam shields provided comprehensive defensive coverage against both beam and physical attacks. The shields could also be used offensively for ramming attacks.

Optional armaments

Beam rifle

For conventional ranged combat, the Gengaozo could carry a beam rifle powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. This served as a backup weapon when the Back Engine Unit was not deployed.

Remote weapons

Back Engine Unit

The signature weapon system of the Gengaozo, the Back Engine Unit was stored on the mobile suit’s back and could be operated via remote control through the psycommu system. The unit mounted five 3-barrel multiple beam launchers, providing devastating firepower that could be used for sneak attacks, diversionary raids, or direct assault.

The Back Engine Unit could function as the Gengaozo’s primary armament whilst mounted on the mobile suit, or be deployed remotely for all-range attacks. This versatility allowed Newtype pilots to engage multiple targets simultaneously or attack from unexpected angles, making the Gengaozo a formidable opponent in both space and atmospheric combat.

Operational history

Only one Gengaozo test unit was known to have existed, and it was piloted by the highly skilled yet psychologically unstable Newtype ace Fuala Griffon. Under her command, the Gengaozo proved to be an exceptionally dangerous weapon, capable of engaging multiple enemy units simultaneously through its all-range attack capabilities.

Battle of Angel Halo

During the Battle of Angel Halo, Fuala Griffon deployed the Gengaozo against Uso Ewin in his LM314V21 Victory 2 Gundam. The battle showcased the full capabilities of both the Gengaozo’s remote weapon system and Fuala’s Newtype abilities.

Despite the Gengaozo’s formidable firepower and Fuala’s piloting skills, the battle ended in the destruction of the mobile suit and the death of its pilot. The engagement demonstrated both the potential and limitations of remote weapon systems when faced with an equally skilled Newtype opponent.

Known pilots

Fuala Griffon
The highly skilled yet psychologically unstable Newtype ace who served as the sole known pilot of the Gengaozo. Fuala’s Newtype abilities allowed her to fully utilise the mobile suit’s psycommu system and remote weapon capabilities, making her one of the most dangerous pilots in the Zanscare Empire’s forces during the final stages of the Zanscare War.

Variants

No known variants of the ZMT-S28S Gengaozo were produced. The mobile suit remained a unique prototype throughout its operational history.

Behind the scenes

The ZMT-S28S Gengaozo was designed by Ishigaki Junya for Mobile Suit Victory Gundam. The mobile suit represented one of the series’ most advanced Newtype weapons, featuring the classic all-range attack capabilities that had been a staple of Gundam series since the original Mobile Suit Gundam.

The Gengaozo’s design motif was based on Raijin, the Japanese God of Thunder, reflected in both its appearance and its lightning-like attack patterns when deploying its remote weapons. This thematic choice aligned with director Tomino Yoshiyuki’s tendency to incorporate mythological and religious symbolism into mobile suit designs.

Both the Gengaozo and the ZMT-S29 Zanneck were derived from an unused design called “Zancock,” representing BESPA’s continued development of Newtype-specific mobile weapons. This shared lineage explains the similarities in their overall design philosophy and psycommu system implementation.

The mobile suit has appeared in various video games, though it remains one of the more obscure units from the Victory Gundam series due to its limited screen time and the series’ overall lower profile compared to other Universal Century entries.

The name “Gengaozo” combines elements suggesting “thunder” or “lightning,” appropriate for a mobile suit whose attacks resemble electrical discharges when the multiple beam launchers fire simultaneously. The pronunciation in Japanese (ゲンガオゾ) emphasises the thunderous nature of its weaponry.