ZMS-011 Act Zaku

The ZMS-011 Act Zaku is a mobile suit from Mobile Suit Gundam Alpha. It is a higher tier version of the ZMS-006 Zaku utilized by the Zeon Empire's Sanguine Team.

Appearance
The original MS-11 Act Zaku. No real design changes other than the standard color being green as usual. Units of the Sanguine Team are naturally painted dark (blood) red.

Technology & Combat Characteristics
Originally little more than an upgraded Zaku, extensive development has resulted in the Act Zaku practically being an entirely new design. Though upgraded in virtually all areas, its main focus was on speed and mobility, as well as the adaption of Federation technology onto a Zeon form. Among such, the Act Zaku has specially magnetic coating joints to reduce friction, enabling it move and respond faster than a standard mobile suit could hope. Capitalizing on this, the Act Zaku's joints are driven by field motors, based on Federation design, instead of the fluid pulse system normally used by Zeon. It also has upgraded Apollo Thrusters from the standard Zaku, granting it exceptional speed alongside.

As opposed to the standard beam machine gun and beam axe utilized by its predecessor, the Act Zaku's weapons are instead fashioned after Federation armaments. Its primary weapon is a higher tier beam rifle, which in turn is supplemented by a pair of beam sabers and beam shields. Though very basic compared to most Zeon mobile suits, this loadout is meant specifically to be utilized with the Act Zaku's superior speed and mobility, as well as the superior skills of its intended pilots.

Originally given the designation ZMS-007, the Act Zaku's prolonged development resulted in its completion well into the First Galactic War. As a result, the former designation was eventually given to the Gouf while the Act Zaku was relabeled ZMS-011.

Armaments

 * Beam Rifle
 * The Act Zaku's primary armament. As opposed to the standard Zaku's beam machine gun, the beam rifle exchanges overt firepower for rate of fire and ease of usage, granting the Act Zaku an ideal weapon to utilize against smaller, faster targets, namely other mobile suits and other small craft. Such is the power of this weapon that it can destroy an enemy mobile suit in a single shot, even with a glancing blow. For additional accuracy, the Act Zaku's rifle is equipped with a special sensor "scope".


 * Beam Saber
 * Originally a weapon developed under the Earth Federation's Project V, Zeon would eventually develop "true" beam sabers of its own, with the Act Zaku being outfitted with a pair that are kept on its hips. When activated, the hilt generates a focused blade of beam energy; this is revolutionary compared to standard melee weapons at that point, which can only generate a beam "edge" over a designated area. The blade can be shortened or lengthened at the pilot's command, allowing it to be utilized as a dagger when necessary. Once activated, the beam saber does not rely on the mobile suit's reactor and can be thrown or discarded as a decoy. The beam saber is most often used for close range combat or as an emergency weapon once all others have been depleted or lost.


 * Beam Shield
 * As opposed to earlier Zeon mobile suits mounting beam shield projectors on underlying solid shields, the Act Zaku uses true "pure" beam shielding on its forearms. Though little different than those its type, the lack of a physical shield grants the Dom greater reach and range with its limbs, as well as the ability to utilize more than one weapon at a time. Thanks to the Act Zaku's greater power output, the shields are also more powerful than the standard Zaku's model.

System Features

 * Mirage Colloid
 * As with most if not all Zeon units, the Act Zaku utilizes a Mirage Colloid. The stealth system functions by generating a field of colloid particles around its host, which in turn reflect light and sensor waves, effectively making the unit invisible to both sensors and the naked eye. However, the tradeoff is that the Mirage Colloid takes a massive amount of energy to utilize; once activated, the Act Zaku is unable to utilize its tactical systems, and its mobility is extremely hampered. As such, the Act Zaku is highly vulnerable when the system is active, thus pilots must take care to utilize it sparingly, and well outside combat.

History
Though conceived early on, the Act Zaku was fielded very late into the First Galactic War as a result of its prolonged development cycle. By the time of its introduction in GC 379, Zeon was in the process of developing newer mobile suit designs, namely the ZMS-009 Dom, for mass production, resulting in the Act Zaku almost being discontinued. Fortunately the Act Zaku's superior performance level, as well as the fact it utilized Federation based technology, was enough to maintain interest within Zeon's upper echelons, and so the unit enjoyed a limited production run and distribution, namely to special forces.

One particular unit that used the Act Zaku was the elite Sanguine Team. An autonomous four man shock assault force formed by Commander Mallet Sanguine, a Zeon ace noteworthy for his sheer bloodthirstiness, the Sanguine Team would make great use of their Act Zakus, decimating countless enemies in the service of their Emperor. Eventually the Sanguine Team would be assigned to the supercarrier Dolowa, a transition which would see them fight several more enemy forces, including the fleetcarrier Ark Royal and her Gundams.