Technology & Combat Characteristics
A close combat variant of the GNX-607T GN-XII, the GN-XII Sword is created using operating data from the Team Trinity's Gundam Thrones. What set the GN-XII Sword apart from the standard GN-XII are a new head unit and the equipping of the GN Buster Sword, a large sword that can generate a GN Field on its surface for offensive and defensive purposes. Aside from these changes, the GN-XII Sword is the same as the standard GN-XII.
During combat, the GN-XII Sword can work cooperatively with other GN-XIIs. It has been deployed in a three unit team, where it restricts the enemy machine's movement using close combat, while the GN-XII and GNX-607T/BW GN-XII Cannon shoot from close and long range respectively. It can also partner with the GN-XII Cannon, providing defense as the latter shoots at the enemy.
History
A.D. 2309, a UN Forces missile base in Africa was assaulted by an anti-UN group, whose members included the rogue Gundam Meister Fon Spaak), with the intention of taking over the base so that they can negotiate with the UN Forces.
The anti-UN group split into two teams, one team lured away the AEU-09 AEU Enacts and SVMS-01 Union Flags guarding the base, while the other infiltrated the base. This second team was caught off guard when one of their mobile suits was taken out by a long-range beam attack, and it was revealed that the base's guard machines also included a GN-XII Sword, a GNX-607T/BW GN-XII Cannon and a GNX-607T GN-XII. Intelligence obtained by the anti-UN group had earlier indicated that the base did not have any GN Drive Tau-equipped mobile suits due to its low importance, among other reasons. Fon and his GNY-001F2 Gundam Astraea Type F2 then battled against the three units.
As the GN-XII, GN-XII Sword and GN-XII Cannon attack in perfect unity – the GN-XII and GN-XII Cannon shooting from close and long range respectively, while the GN-XII Sword restricted the Astraea Type F2's movement through close combat – Fon had a hard time fighting them off. Eventually, the GN-XII left to stop other members of the second team from taking over the base, leaving the GN-XII Sword and GN-XII Cannon to continue fighting the Astraea Type F2. The GN-XII Sword then played a defensive role, protecting the GN-XII Cannon from Astraea Type F2's attacks using its GN Buster Sword's GN Field. Seeing this, Fon activated the Astraea Type F2's Trans-Am System and overcame the GN Buster Sword's GN Field through a new ability. The GN-XII Sword was then defeated, and its GN Buster Sword used by Fon's Astraea Type F2 to stop the GN-XII from dealing a final blow to a member of the second team.
The anti-UN group eventually won the battle. However, this was a trap all along; the base did not contain any missiles, only old rockets left behind from the construction of the Orbital Elevator. However, Fon had anticipated the trap and was after the rockets, which he then used to blast off into space with his Gundam.