Technology & Combat Characteristics
The GN-010 Gundam Zabanya is a mobile suit specializing in ranged combat deployed by Celestial Being in AD 2314. The Zabanya is the successor to the GN-006 Cherudim Gundam, and is developed based on the latter's enhanced form, the GN-006GNHW/R Cherudim Gundam GNHW/R. With Celestial Being low on resources and funds after its narrow victory against the A-Laws and the Innovades who falsely claimed to be Innovators, the Zabanya was built by reusing Cherudim's frame structure design, and its basic components were also derived from its predecessor's. Despite this, Zabanya is a high-performance machine, and the cumulation of Celestial Being's technological know-how in ranged combat mobile suits.
While Zabanya inherited the sniper concept that started with the GN-002 Gundam Dynames and continued in the Cherudim, its design evolved further into an omnidirectional shooting-type capable of fighting large enemy forces by itself. Another reason is that while both Dynames and Cherudim were designed to suit the piloting characteristics of the late Neil Dylandy, an expert sniper and the first Lockon Stratos, the Zabanya was developed by Ian Vashti for Lyle Dylandy, the second Lockon Stratos and Neil's younger twin brother, who is not as good at long-range shooting, but still has excellent shooting skills.
At the core of Zabanya's combat capabilities are two types of remote-controlled weaponry: the GN Holster Bits and the GN Pistol Bits/GN Rifle Bit IIs. Carried via movable arms on the sides of the rear waist propulsion unit, the 10 GN Holster Bits are remote-controlled shields that can defend a wide area, and they also serve as storage containers for 10 GN Pistol Bits/GN Rifle Bit IIs. The GN Pistol Bits/GN Rifle Bit IIs are remote-controlled beam weapons that can be deployed as either the GN Pistol Bits with high rate of fire, but shorter shooting range, or the GN Rifle Bit IIs with long shooting range and high firepower, but lower firing rate. Consequently, this enhanced Zabanya's defensive capabilities, as well as its offensive and continuous combat capabilities as a GN Pistol Bit/GN Rifle Bit II is stored in each of the added GN Holster Bit.
Similar to its predecessors, Zabanya has a concealed sensor in its forehead for precision shooting, and it is called "Sniper Scope". The Sniper Scope is exposed when the blue crystal part on the forehead slides up and the V-shaped antenna slides down. The Zabanya also has four high precision sensors built into its shoulders and legs to improve shooting accuracy, and like the Sniper Scope, they are covered when not in use to protect them from damages. The two shoulder sensors are exposed when the green armor at the top of both shoulders slide up, while the two leg sensors pop out of the outer sides of both legs when used. The Sniper Scope can be used jointly with these high precision sensors for sniping, and for targeting multiple enemies simultaneously. All these sensors enhanced Zabanya's capabilities as a ranged combat mobile suit, and granted it stronger sensor functions than the other Gundams. To increase stability during shooting, retractable claws in the soles can be deployed to anchor Zabanya in place, and the claws at the tip of its feet can pierce into asteroid and other objects for similar purpose.
The layout of Zabanya's cockpit followed that of the Cherudim, but several changes were made, such as having two Haros instead of one to assist Lockon, and the omission of a rifle-shaped shooting scope for sniping. Instead of this separate sniping system, the left and right control sticks were redesigned to resemble gun grips and equipped with gun-like triggers to enable sniping even during normal operations, and for a smoother shooting experience. Additionally, when the Sniper Scope and the high precision sensors are used together, the Multi Lock-on function can be activated and three holographic screens will appear around Lockon, allowing him to target and attack a large number of enemy units simultaneously with multiple weapons. Overall, Zabanya can be said to be Celestial Being's ultimate ranged combat mobile suit, with both its hardware and software designed for fighting against large enemy forces.
History
For the exploits of GN-010 Gundam Zabanya, please go to Lockon Stratos's page.
The Gundam Zabanya was used against the Extreme Gundam Type Leos Xenon Phase prior to the encounter with the Extraterrestrial Living-metal Shape-shifter. As the Zabanya's armaments were still undergoing adjustments then, it fought using the GN Arms Type-D.
