In the fictional Gundam universe, Albion (MSC-07) is the seventh Pegasus-class mobile suit carrier, and the first of the Albion subclass.

During the One Year War, technology advanced quickly, and ships ordered during the war quickly became obsolete as developments in mobile suit technology rapidly outpaced ship weaponry. Albion was not actually commissioned until three years after the war ended, in UC 0083, though she was commissioned in time to respond to and adequately deal with the final Principality of Zeon offensive, Operation Stardust. Albion looks very different from her earlier sisters, such as Grey Phantom and White Base.

Ship History

On October 13, UC 0081, the Earth Federation passed the "Federation Forces Reconstruction Plan", aimed at get the Earth Federal Forces back into shape. As part of this plan, the "Gundam Development Plan" was secretly started, with the expressed purpose of developing Mobile Suits that could outperform the Zeonic Company's MS. Included in the Gundam Development Plan were designs for the next generation of the Pegasus class MS carrier: The Albion.

The Albion was a departure from the orginal Pegasus class ships in several ways. Through extensive use of computers and automation, most of her weaponry could be controlled from inside the ship's hull, reducing the risk placed on crewmembers responsible for defending the ship. Albion's standard Minovsky propulsion system was augmented by an experimental Laser Propulsion System that used mirrored receptors to catch laser bursts from the moon, which allowed the Albion to escape from the moon's gravitational hold more easily. But the most drastic change was in the Albion's mobile suit launch procedure: rather than exposing the hangar deck to flight operations and combat conditions, the Albion had a lift system that moved mobile suits topside to the external launch catapult, thereby protecting the MS hangars and field personnel inside. The lift system became an instant hit with the Earth Federal Space Force, and it became standard equipment on refitted Salamis Kai class ships.

Albion launched from the lunar city Von Braun on October 7, UC 0083, with Captain Eiphar Synapse commanding. The Albion received both the RX-78GP01A Gundam Zephyranthes (Unit 1) and the RX-78GP02A Gundam Physalis (Unit 2), and orders instructing Synapse to take his ship to Torrington base in Australia, so the new suits could be field tested under Earth's gravity. Synapse arrived on October 13 as scheduled, and presented the paperwork for loading both suites with live ammunition- and the paperwork instructing Torrington's base commander to load Unit 2 with an MK-82 tactical nuclear warhead.

Shortly after sunset, the Delaz Fleet commenced Operation Stardust, begining with Anavel Gato's hijack of Unit 2. Once the terrestrial Zeon remnants confirmed Gato had secured the Gundam, MS-06 Zaku II Mobile Suites launched a raid against Torrington to help divert the Federation's search parties. Although pursued by Kou Uraki, who piloted Gundam Unit 1, Gato managed to escape. The Albion was heavily damaged in the raid, thanks in part to powerful multi-missiles fired from a Zeon submarine. While undergoing repairs at Torrington, Captain Synapse received a change in orders: Ascertain the location of the stolen Gundam, and if necessary, destroy it. Along with those orders came a full complement of Mobile Suits and pilots: Chuck Keith and Kou Uraki, originally stationed at Torrington, were reassigned to the Albion, along with Bernard Monsha , Alpha A. Bate , and Chap Adel . Commanding the newly formed Albion MS contigent was Lt. South Burning.

Following the last known course of Gato's submarine, the Albion departed from Torrington on October 14 and arrived in Africa on October 16. One week later, the Albion succeeded in locating the stolen Gundam, but failed to secure it. Zeon's Kiberlite Base MS unit, composed of ten old Zaku II units, engaged Albions MS units, buying enough time for Anavel Gato to escape into space aboard a Heavy Lift Vehicle (HLV). Once in Space, Gato and the suit were caught in the crossfire between two of the Federation's Salamis class cruisers and a pair of Musai's, which included Gato's flagship, the Peer Gynt. Using the position of this battle as a starting location, Albion proceeded into space and requested additional help with the task of locating the stolen suit. General Kowen granted the request, assigning two Salamis class cruisers to assist; unfortunatly, both were sunk and the Gundam heavily damaged by Cima and her men.

Albion proceeded to Von Braun, where the ship was docked for resupply. During this port call Anaheim Electronics took custody of the damaged Unit 1, upgrading it into the RX-78GP01Fb Gundam Zephyranthes Full Vernian- a version refitted for space combat. Departing Von Braun on November 4, the Albion proceeded to the Sea of Solomon to resume its search for the missing Gundam unit. She became involved in a battle between the Birmingham and Cima Garahau's flagship, the Lili Marleen November 8, resulting in the death of Lt South Burning. On November 10, the Albion was en route to the Naval Review when the missing Gundam Unit 2 was suddenly spotted heading directly toward the fleet. Albion went into hyperdrive, launching all of her mobile suits in an effort to intercept Unit 2 before it reached the review, but they failed to catch up in time, and the MK-82 nuclear weapon was launched into the middle of the Ferderation's fleet. Fully 2/3rds of the Federation's fleet were destroyed or disabled. At the same time, two colonies were hijacked in mid transfer, sending one toward the moon. Captain Synapse ordered the Albion to head for La Vie en Rose, where he (forcefully) acquired the RX-78GP03 Gundam Denbrobium, then departed at high speed toward the Delaz Fleet's hijacked colony, which was now headed for Earth. Synapse received orders to defend the Solar System II deployment with Cima's fleet, and ordered Gundam unit 3 launched against the Delaz Fleet. Despite heroic effort from Kou Uraki and the Gundam Unit 3, the colony crossed over the point of no return, eventually impacting the American Midwest, none-the-less a heavily damaged Albion continued fighting until the last.

With the conclusion of Operation Stardust the Federation opened court martials against certain people for actions undertaken during the crisis. For stealing Unit 3, Kou Uraki was sentenced to hard labour, and Synapse was sentenced to death. Since the developement of nuclear weapons was in violation of the Antarctic Treaty, all records of Gundam Unit 2 and subsequent events were deleted from official records, and the sentences likewise suspended.

It is unclear whether the Albion survived the damages incurred during the Delaz Fleet crisis, as the ship is not seen past UC0083.

See Also

• List of Mobile Suits
• Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
• Minovsky Physics

External Links

• The World-Wide Gundam Informational Network
• MAHQ
• Gundam Naval Museum
• Library of Londonion (ship names & fates)