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ZGMF-X22A Terror Regenerate Gundam
Model number: ZGMF-X22A
Developed in secret near the end of the Fourth Space War, ZAFT's Regenerate Gundam was the largest mobile weapon fielded by PLANT's military - postwar observers have compared the mobile weapon's overall dimensions as being closer to the monstrous mobile armors designed in the first Universal Century. Compared to contemporary "Gundam" mobile suits manufactured by PLANT's armories, Regenerate was essentially a Gundam in name (and Phase Shift armor) only. The mobile armor was cleverly named based off of its ability to "regenerate" damaged limbs and components - the Gundam's major body parts were all provided with lightwave engines for propulsion, allowing for damaged parts to be jettisoned and replacements to be launched from the mobile armor's mothership; a computer guidance system controls the flight of the replacement, automatically attaching it to replace the lost hardware. Only the Regenerate's backpack, containing its largest thrusters, powerplant, and cockpit, was necessary for the entire mobile armor to be rebuilt in the field, assuming enough replacement parts were available. Furthermore, Regenerate's backpack also exhibited a unique feature in the ability to dock with other ZAFT-designed mobile suits with modular assemblies for equipment packs. Ostensibly intended to allow the Regenerate to share its nuclear power source with battery-powered ZAFT mobile suits, there is also a hidden functionality that allows the Regenerate's pilot to seize control of a docked mobile suit by overriding the other cockpit's input. What purpose this was intended to serve remains a mystery, however. Because of the Gundam's great size, Regenerate is also equipped with a Mirage Colloid particle stealth system for use outside of combat, allowing it to relocate to other areas of the battlefield unseen by optical sensors. The Mirage Colloid is usually deactivated once Regenerate enters into battle as the Phase Shift armor cannot be engaged simultaneously. The fate of the original Regenerate Gundam was classified after the end of the war. It was known, however, that a "follow on" to the original was designed years later, apparently as a proof-of-concept technology demonstrator for in-development mobile weapons at PLANT's Clark Design Bureau. Named "Terror Regenerate", the upgraded mobile armor benefitted greatly from advances in mobile weapon technology over the decade since the end of the Space War. Central to the new design is the mounting of a massive hyper deuteriun nuclear reactor. While somewhat archaic in a period where construction of mobile suit-scale fusion power is common, the hyper deuterion design can be paired with a deuterion beam energy transfer system, allowing a massive amount of electrical power to be beamed to a compatible receptor over a modest distance. With the installation of a DRAGOON system, the Regenerate's ability to detach and maneuver various parts of its body suddenly becomes a major force multiplier. Rather than purely a utility feature, Terror Regenerate can use various parts of its entire body as wireless remote weapons, complete with long operational time thanks to the deuterion beam energy transfer system. The detachable parts have all been provided with independent mono-eye sensors to aid the pilot in their maneuvering while operating wirelessly; the eyes are typically inactive while docked and flare to life when the DRAGOON system is first activated, creating a disconcerting appearance of the Gundam "growing more eyes" just before its body splits apart. The glut of additional power from the hyper deuterion reactor, along wth the deletion of countless superfluous heat sinks and capacitor units, would have enabled Terror Regenerate to boast numerous additional weapons beyond the actually produced version's original specifications. Regenerate's primary offensive systems, the long beam swords on its feet and shoulder arms as well as the monstrous "Hecuter" hyper impulse beam cannon were retained, although the generous energy surplus would allow a second "Hecuter" to be mounted at the pilot's discretion. The new armaments focused on the Terror Regenerate's enhanced "all range attack" capability, with new offensive weapons stippled throughout the mobile armor's limbs and detachable "head units". A single "Callidus" beam cannon and two 76mm "Picus" CIWS (machine guns) are mounted in each limb and the main backpack unit's head; two "Callidus" are positioned in the beak-like top head unit, and both the top and bottom unit sport fire-linked "Picus" mounts as well. All of these weapons can be used in most of the Terror Regenerate's variable modes, allowing it to lay down a withering field of both ballistic and beam-based fire; likewise, the backpack unit now sports its own weapons, enabling a more realistic chances for a "hostile takeover" of another mobile suit. Each of the Regenerate's head units were fitted with a powerful "Scylla" multi-phase energy cannon in the pointed beak-like sections, granting a major improvement in firepower for the mobile armor mode where the "Hecuter" cannot be used - likewise, both of these components can be detached for use as DRAGOON-driven remote attacks. Each can be pivoted forward to be used in mobile suit mode as well - the top unit covers the Gundam's face, creating a more "ZAFT-appropriate" visage, although this does reduce sensor coverage somewhat and is typically only deployed just before use. Finally, Regenerate's previously unused manipulator hands were weaponized as well with an "Iocanthos" plasma induction cannon installed in the palm region. Though with a shorter effectively range than the "Scylla" energy cannons, the plasma induction beam is able to be "curved" up to ninety degrees after being fired thanks to a side-effect of the Mirage Colloid particles embedded in the mobile suit's frame. During single mode testing, a provision was made to allow Terror Regenerate to equip the Providence Gundam's "Judicium" beam rifle for added firepower. Regenerate's great size allows it to easily wield the long weapon with one hand, and could theoretically haul two into combat. This option was seen as primarily academic, however, as any handheld weapon would prevent the use of the palm-mounted plasma cannon, and there was no provision to store the rifle(s) in other modes. While an unqualified success as being a powerful weapon system, Terror Regenerate apparently only existed in computer simulations - the massive mobile armor would be of questionable utility to the peacetime PLANT armed forces, and its massive pricetag would likewise be detrimental to the development of next-generation mobile suits that would certainly be more beneficial to the colonial forces in the long term. However, the simulated mobile armor did accomplish its mission of providing reliable data for the Clark Design Bureau's staff to proceed with newer programs of mobile weapon development, making it a success on at least one level.
Arm/leg attack unit Arm shoulder attachment Backpack unit Backpack unit docked with ZGMF-YX21R Proto-Savior Gundam Head detail Head units MA-X200 long beam sword Transformation system |
