| Model number: OZ-13MSX2 Code name: Mercurius Unit type: mobile suit Manufacturer: OZ (Organization of Zodiac) Operator: OZ First deployment: AC 195 Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso Dimensions: head height 16.3 meters Weight: empty 7.3 metric tons; max gross weight unknown Construction and armor: gundanium alloy Powerplant: ultracompact fusion reactor, output rating unknown Performance ability levels: fighting 150; weapons 100; speed 125; power 130; armor 130 Equipment and design features: self-destruct system Fixed armaments: none Optional hand armaments: 1 x beam gun; 1 x crash shield, mounts 1 x beam sword Remote weapons: 10 x planet defenser, generates defensive energy field |
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| When the five scientists who built the Gundam mobile suits plaguing OZ during AC 195 were captured, OZ put them to work developing new technologies for its next generation of mobile weapons - giving them the ability to tackle the Gundam problem. Two testbed units were built, the OZ-13MSX1 Vayeate and the OZ-13MSX2 Mercurius. Whereas the Vayeate was designed as an offensive mobile suit, the Mercurius was designed primarily as a defensive unit. Since the Mercurius ("mercurius" being Greek for "speaker" or "orator") was intended to be as powerful as the infamous Gundams - and needed proper combat test data for future mobile doll programming - OZ forced captured Gundam pilot Heero Yuy to be the Mercurius' test pilot. The Mercurius, built on the same basic frame as its Vayeate twin, was armed only with a small beam gun and a "crash shield," which was simply a large shield mounting a beam saber for close combat. The Mercurius' most important tool, however, was its group of "planet defensers," which were small hovering units whose positions and deployment could be remote-controlled by the Mercurius' pilot. The planet defensers generated an almost-impenetrable energy field, capable of absorbing all but the most powerful energy weapon attacks. The planet defensers could be used to protect the Mercurius itself, or another unit - such as its offensive-roll Vayeate brethren. |