Technology & Combat Characteristics
Developed by the Government Reconstruction Committee, the NRX-0015 Gundam Ashtaron can transform into a high speed Mobile Armor mode via the Trans System and can operate in any environment. Despite its bulky form, the Ashtaron is fast and agile. In MA mode, the Ashtaron can act as a flight platform for the NRX-0013 Gundam Virsago, which stands atop the suit. The Ashtaron could be equipped with an ejectable booster in MA mode for extended flight range.
Despite being based on the GB-9700 Gundam Belphagor, the Ashtaron is not equipped with a Flash system. Its main armament is the two backpack-mounted atomic scissors, which are powerful enough to slice a mobile suit in half, but also gentle enough to grip a human without causing injury. Each scissors is also equipped with a beam cannon. For close combat, the Ashtaron has a beam saber, a pair of machine cannons, and four nose beam cannons. Optionally, the suit could also carry a beam spear.
History
Created by the New United Nations Earth at an unknown point of time, the NRX-0015 Gundam Ashtaron was piloted by Olba Frost. Olba often worked together with his older brother Shagia Frost, who piloted the NRX-0013 Gundam Virsago.
In AW 0015, Olba infiltrated the Vulture ship Freeden alongside the Ashtaron after he was "rescued" by the Freeden's mobile suits from a team of RMS-009 Septems. Several days later, he escaped from the Freeden in the Ashtaron, kidnapping the Newtype girl Tiffa Adill in the process. Upon delivering her to the Alternative Company, Olba headed off to help Shagia and his Virsago in the fight against a group of Vultures who were trying to get Tiffa back. Olba's Ashtaron and Shagia's Virsago then teamed up against Garrod Ran in his GX-9900 Gundam X, but they were forced to retreat later when Freeden's Gundam pilots Roybea Loy and Witz Sou joined the battle in their respective Gundams.
In the following months, Olba and his Ashtaron faced off against the Gundams of the Freeden several more times. When a new war was about to start between the New UNE and the Space Revolutionary Army, the Ashtaron was upgraded into the NRX-0015-HC Gundam Ashtaron Hermit Crab.