Technology & Combat Characteristics
The S Gundam was a very heavily armed and armored mobile suit. Constructed from Gundarium γ alloy composite, it was able to take a physical pounding that would destroy a lesser mobile suit, which would come in handy with Ryou Roots's poor piloting skills. The S Gundam was a fourth generation MS developed by Anaheim Electronics following the MSZ-010 ΖΖ Gundam. Although it employs a core block system that shares similar features such as a system that allows independent operation of separated units, its design concept is fundamentally different from the ΖΖ Gundam.
The S Gundam was built on a modular design, made up of two separate transformable high speed fighter crafts that could combine with a FXA-08GB G-Core core fighter to create the full mobile suit. The first fighter craft was called the G Attacker (also referred to as the A Parts), which was made up of the upper torso area of the S Gundam. The second fighter craft was called the G Bomber (also referred to as the B Parts), which was composed of the lower torso and legs of the S Gundam. Both fighter crafts could be controlled by ALICE if there were no pilots in either of their cockpits. The G-Core, which was the C Parts, was flown by Ryou Roots. Like the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, the S Gundam has a pair of generators housed in each legs, with an additional pair installed on the shoulders.
In regards to offensive capabilities, the S Gundam featured a highly accurate beam smart gun with a power output of 12 MW. The beam smart gun could connect to two extra power outlets on both left and right hips, increasing its power output up to 56 MW. However, this sacrifices the mounting of two beam cannons that are similar to the ones used in the Zeta Plus mobile suit series. There are also two beam cannons on the S Gundam's backpack, four 60mm vulcan guns in the head, another four 60mm vulcans in the tail stabilizer, two beam sabers stored in the protruding knee armor, and a red, circular, wire-guided remote beam weapon called an Incom stored in the head.
History
The Superior Gundam, more frequently called the S Gundam, was an incredibly powerful Earth Federation Forces mobile suit. Originally developed by Anaheim Electronics for the Federal Forces, There were four units built, but only one ever made an appearance. The one was sent to the Task Force Alpha battleship Pegasus III, where it was assigned to pilot Ryou Roots. Although the S Gundam had three separate cockpits, Ryou would be the only person to primarily pilot the unit.
But something else was also capable of piloting the S Gundam. The S Gundam featured an incredibly complex artificial intelligence computer that went by the acronym ALICE, which was developed by Ryou Roots's mother. ALICE, which stood for Advanced Logistic & Inconsequence Cognizing Equipment, was more than the standard learning computer featured in earlier mobile suits; "she" had the capability to think and to grow. "She" also had a sense of self-preservation, and could assume total control of the S Gundam if "she" felt that the unit was in danger. In "her" early stages of growth ALICE was not yet a full individual, but "her" experiences with Ryou Roots would help "her" to grow. Although four S Gundams have been produced, it is known that the other three S Gundams did not have the ALICE system installed in them. Also, after the loss of the first S Gundam equipped with ALICE, the S Gundam project had been halted and the other three units would never meet combat. The S Gundam was eventually upgraded into the MSA-0011(Ext) Ex-S Gundam.
On April 5, U.C. 0088, the S Gundam would engage the Neo Zeon's massive AMA-100 Zodiac mobile armor. When the Zodiac entered Earth's atmosphere the mission to stop the New Desides seemed lost. But in a final act of self-sacrifice, ALICE ejected the S Gundam's G-Core core fighter, which contained Ryou Roots, and took full control of the mobile suit, plunging the S Gundam into Earth's atmosphere after the Zodiac.
ALICE was able to destroy the Zodiac during re-entry, but "her" sacrifice was the ultimate one, and with "her" selfless actions "she" surpassed the normal bounds of humanity, becoming a Valkyrie in "her" final blaze of glory. The S Gundam, and ALICE with it, was destroyed when it burned up in Earth's atmosphere. Because of ALICE's actions, ejecting the re-entry capable G-Core, Ryou Roots survived. The New Desides were soundly defeated, and Taskforce Alpha's mission was successfully completed.