Wing Gundam Zero

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Wing Zero technical data
Wing Gundam Zero with twin buster rifle, Katoki version
Gundam Wing fictional continuity
Name:	Wing Zero
Designation:	XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero
Unit Type:	Prototype Gundam Mobile Suit
Manufacturer:	Quatre Raberba Winner (based on a design by Doctor J, Professor G, Instructor H, Doktor S and Master O)
Main pilot(s):	Heero Yuy, Zechs Merquise
Height:	16.7 metres
Empty weight:	8.0 metric tons
Generator:	Ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 3,732 kW
Armor material:	Gundanium Alloy
Armaments
Gundam Wing: 2 x machinecannon, fire-linked, mounted on shoulders; 2 x wing vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in wing binders; 2 x beam saber, stored in recharge racks in shoulders, hand-carried in use; shield with "piledriver" nose, mounts on main body in Neo-Bird mode; twin buster rifle, can be separated into two separate single-barrel buster rifles, can be stored on shield, mounts on main body in Neo-Bird mode Endless Waltz: 2 x machinecannon, fire-linked, mounted on shoulders; 2 x beam saber, stored in recharge racks in wing binders, hand-carried in use; twin buster rifle, can be separated into two separate single-barrel buster rifles
Special Equipment
"ZERO System" combat computer/pilot interface in cockpit; self-detonation system, "Neo-Bird" mode (anime only)

The XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero (also known as Wing Zero) is one of the fictional Gundam mobile suits appearing in the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing anime and derivative works (known collectively as the "After Colony era").

Wing Zero was designed in 1995 by Kunio Okawara, along with many of the other mobile suits appearing in the anime. Wing Zero was redesigned along with the other four 'second-stage' Gundams by Hajime Katoki for the 1997 OVA Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz. The new design is now canonical.^[1]

Contents 1 Design 1.1 Wing Gundam Zero 1.2 Gundam Lucifer and Gundam Seraphim 2 Role in plot 2.1 Background 2.2 Gundam Wing 2.3 Tiel's Impulse 2.4 Endless Waltz 3 Other Appearances 4 References

[edit] Design

[edit] Wing Gundam Zero

Wing Zero is by far the most powerful Gundam in the After Colony era. The primary armament of the mobile suit is the Twin Buster Rifle, a weapon capable of destroying objects several miles in size, like a space colony. When separated into two individual Buster Rifles, the rifles could destroy entire waves of targets. Like the Wing Gundam, Wing Zero is also capable of transforming into a flying machine, known as "Neo-Bird" mode, and allowing the suit to travel long distances at high speed.

The main feature of Wing Zero is the ZERO System, a combat computer/pilot interface installed in the cockpit. The ZERO system connects directly with the mind of the pilot, flooding him with combat data and possible outcomes. This overload of data could allow the pilot to achieve total victory, but placed great mental and emotional stress on the pilot. Those exposed to ZERO system can become totally unstable, become unable to tell the difference between friend and foe, and even suffer mental break-down or death.

During Katoki's redesign for Endless Waltz, the design of Wing Zero is streamlined, with new armour and recolouring to almost solely blue and white. The main change was the addition of angel-like wing binders, which could also be used as a re-entry shield. The design changes eliminated the "Neo-Bird" mode. The Endless Waltz Wing Zero is referred to as Wing Zero Custom by Bandai in its model kit releases, and also by fans.

Gundam Ace magazine polls have placed the Wing Gundam Zero Custom design fourth in the top 30 Mobile Suits of all time^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Gundam Lucifer and Gundam Seraphim

Seraphim technical data
Gundam Wing fictional continuity
Name:	Seraphim
Designation:	XXXG-00W0S Wing Gundam Seraphim
Unit Type:	Mass-produced Gundam mobile suit
Manufacturer:	Romefeller Foundation
Main pilot(s):	Tiel Nonblue
Armor material:	Gundanium Alloy
Armaments
Buster Rifle, 2x Beam Saber
Special Equipment
"ZERO System Ver 2.5" combat computer/pilot interface in cockpit; self-destruct system

XXXG-00W0L Gundam Lucifer and XXXG-00W0S Wing Gundam Seraphim are two Gundams based on Wing Zero, but appearing solely in the semi-canon story Tiel's Impulse (ティエルの衝動), published in the Ultimate Playing Book (新機動戦記ガンダムW Endless Waltz 最強プレイングブック), a model kit magazine-book. ^[2]

At a point prior to the end of Gundam Wing, the Romefeller Foundation used the data from the Gundams and used it to develop new mass-produced mobile suits. Lucifer was a test unit based on Wing Zero, and was used to trial an improved ZERO system, Zero 2.0. Although more powerful than the original system, ZERO 2.0 forced the pilot to take certain actions, as opposed to the original ZERO 'suggesting and urging' them.

Following these tests, Seraphim was designed. Its ZERO 2.5 reduced the side effects seen in ZERO 2.0, and the wing binders were moved from the back to the skirt of the mobile suit. Six Seraphims are seen as completed in Tiel's Impulse.

[edit] Role in plot

[edit] Background

When the Tallgeese prototype was completed, five rebel scientists went into hiding. They collaborated to produce a new mobile suit, one which would outperform the Tallgeese, and would be constructed from Gundanium alloy. This Gundam, Wing Zero, was developed to the blueprint stage but never constructed, as it was considered too powerful for any pilot. Each scientist took a copy of the plans and used it to develop their own Gundams; the ones seen at the beginning of Gundam Wing.

[edit] Gundam Wing

The existence of Wing Zero is first revealed in episode 21, when Quatre Raberba Winner discovers a copy of the blueprints and begins work on the Gundam to replace Sandrock. In the same episode, Quatre's father dies. The completed Wing Zero first appears in episode 24, with a mentally unstable Quatre at the controls; from the combination of his father's death and exposure to the ZERO system. Heero and Trowa (working for OZ, the former unwillingly) are sent to take on Wing Zero. The pair are able to return Quatre to normalcy, although at the apparent cost of Trowa's life, and Heero and Quatre are captured. OZ soldier Trant Clark forces Heero to test the ZERO System, but he and Quatre escape and return to Earth in episode 26.

Trant retains the suit, testing it again with Duo Maxwell at the controls in episode 32. Duo attempts to escape, and Trant attempts to fight Duo's Deathscythe Hell with Wing Zero, dying in the process. OZ plans to destroy the Gundam in episode 34, but Zechs Merquise sacrifices his Tallgeese in order to claim Wing Zero for himself.

Zechs confronts Wufei in episode 35; he attempts to become the Gundam pilot's ally, but the effects of the ZERO system forces him into conflict. He then returns in Wing Zero to Earth in an attempt to prevent the dissolution of the Sanc Kingdom in episode 37, and fights Heero, who is piloting Epyon. At the conclusion of the battle, Heero takes Wing Zero.

Heero and Wing Zero return to space in episode 41, and over the next two episodes Wufei and Trowa both pilot Wing Zero. Heero uses the Gundam in another duel against Epyon, before using Wing Zero's Twin Buster Rifle to destroy the wreckage of the Battleship Libra superweapon before it can impact on Earth.

[edit] Tiel's Impulse

Following the secret construction of Gundam-based mobile suits by the Romefeller Foundation, the prototype Gundam Lucifer is stolen by test pilot Karl Noembreux, who is under the influence of the ZERO 2.0 System. Following this, a group of civilians breaks into the colony where the Gundams are under construction. Their leader, Tiel Noembreux, steals one of the Seraphim Gundams, and heads out in the company of two others, in search of her brother.

[edit] Endless Waltz

Following the events of the series, four of the Gundams, including Wing Zero, are collected and sent towards the sun for disposal. When the Barton Foundation begins to perform the original Operation Meteor, Quatre sets out to retrieve the four Gundams, sending Wing Zero to rendezvous in space with Heero at the end of the second episode, following his efforts to prevent the de-orbiting of Colony L3 X18-999.

Heero uses Wing Zero to combat Wufei and Altron, who is on the side of the Mariemeia Army, the militia supported by the Barton Foundation. He then uses the Gundam to attack the Presidential Residence in Brussels, which the militia had captured and was using as headquarters. Wing Zero is seriously damaged, possibly destroyed, in this attack.

[edit] Other Appearances

Aside from the Gundam Wing anime series and the Endless Waltz OVA, Wing Zero appears in all of the official manga published in relation to the series.

In the Ground Zero manga, the difference between the anime Wing Zero and the OVA Wing Zero are explained as Heero wanting to (and succeding in) reconstructing the design of the Wing Zero based on an idea he wanted to see through. Duo compares this to "customizing a sports car". The plan to send the Gundams into the sun was revealed late in the manga.

In the Episode Zero story Preventer 5, set after Endless Waltz, a mockup of Wing Zero is created by the Preventer organisation, and is intended to be used to fool a group of terrorists holding members of the government hostage.^[3] The mockup is capable of little more than walking.^[3] How it affects the events is left unclear, as the story is deliberately left unfinished.^[4]

Wing Zero was the subject of the 7th short film released in the Gundam Evolve CGI series. The short film involves Heero's attempt to destroy a spaceborne weapon, before escaping in Wing Zero, and includes a monologue by Doctor J towards Relena Peacecraft.

[edit] References

Technical data taken from

• Wing Gundam Zero. GundamOfficial.com. Bandai America. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.
• XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero (OVA version). Mecha Anime HQ. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.
• XXXG-00W0S Wing Gundam Seraphim. Mecha Anime HQ. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.