MBF-M1 Astray

This article is about a fictional weapon from the Cosmic Era timeline of the anime Gundam metaseries.

The Astray series mobile suits are a series of light mobile suits built by the Orb Union during the Bloody Valentine War. Benefiting from the Earth Alliance's G Project research, the Astrays copy most of the major features of the Gundam mobile suits except for Phase Shift armor, which Orb cannot duplicate by observation. Orb mobile suits are designated "MBF" (for Main Battle Figure). The prototype models were the MBF-P01 Astray Gold Frame, MBF-P02 Astray Red Frame, and MBF-P03 Astray Blue Frame.

The base production model of the Astray is the MBF-M1, commonly simply called the "M1 Astray". This model's armaments are identical those of the Gundam Astray units in their original, unmodified state. The M1 Astray is an all-purpose, all-environment mobile suit, suitable for use on Earth or in space. To increase mobility, the M1 Astrays are fitted with a fixed "flight pack" derived from the GAT-X105 Strike's Aile Striker pack. The M1 Astrays were test-piloted by Asagi Caldwell, Juri Wu Nien, and Mayura Labatt, but little progress was made until Strike pilot Kira Yamato assisted in creating a Natural-use operating system. Even before this OS was completed, Orb puts the M1 Astray into mass production. However, this proves insufficient when the Earth Alliance invades Orb, even though they proved individually superior to the GAT-01 Strike Dagger, Orb's forces are eventually overwhelmed by significantly superior numbers. Several of the surviving M1 Astrays are loaded onto the battleship "Kusanagi" to escape into space, where they provide the bulk of the Three Ships Alliance's mobile suit compliment. When he joined the TSA, Jean "Glittering Star J" Carry piloted an M1 Astray with a white paint scheme, modified it with more verniers for extra maneuverability, and a beam sniper rifle like the one used by the M1A Astray. This has been called the MBF-M1 Astray Jean Carry Custom. He survived the war, and joined up with the Orb defense forces.

The Orb Union also developed an advanced, space-optimized version of the Astray, called the MBF-M1A "M1A Astray", which is mostly identical but possesses extra vernier thrusters for enhanced space maneuverability, and has a better atmospheric seal. Its weaker legs mean that it cannot be used for ground combat. It can also use a large beam sniper rifle, which is accurate up to an incredible 400 kilometers (comparable to a battleship's beam cannons), in the place of the M1 Astray's smaller rifle. Most M1A Astrays are operated by the Sakahu family, who owned its production facility, though one unit, piloted by Barry Ho, was assembled aboard the battleship "Kusanagi" and fought at Jachin Due.

In CE 73, the successor to the Astray series, the MVF-M11C Murasame is fielded. The Murasame is largely similar in armament, but is capable of transforming into a jet fighter for aerial combat. In addition, some of the older M1 Astrays are fitted with the "EF-24R Flight Rotor Shrike", which mounts on the existing flight pack for improved aerial capabilities.

Independent of Orb, Junk Guild technician Yoon Sefan (who was formerly employed by Orb in the Astray project) develops an unarmed variant, the MWF-JG71 Raysta, after escaping the EA invasion of Orb. The name "Raysta" is an anagram of "Astray", indicating the design's lineage. In late CE 71, the Junk Guild begins renting Raystas to civilians, on the condition that these mobile suits not be refitted with weapons or used for any violent purposes. However, when the Junk Guild's headquarters at GENESIS Alpha was attacked by Earth Alliance forces, several of the Guild's own Raystas were hastily equipped with bazookas and beam rifles to assist in the defense. Raystas were also used by the Deep Space Survey and Development Organization, but were later replaced by their own variant, the UT-1D DSSD Astray. The DSSD Astray was distinguishable by its helmet-like head with a transparent visor covering the faceplate (which contains multispectral high definition sensors used in fine construction and maintenance work in space), a non-military grade communications array housed in an integrated single aerial system situated in the back of the head, and a lightwave pulse thruster, the predecessor of Voiture Lumiere, on its backpack. Like the Raysta, the DSSD Astray was intended for non-combat duties, although they can be equipped a small beam rifle for self-defense. While the rifle is weaker than those used military mobile suits, its power consumption is also reduced.

pecifications

MBF-M1 M1 Astray

Manufacturer: Morgenroete, Inc
Users: Orb Union, Three Ships Alliance
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Head height: 17.53 meters
Weight: 53.5 metric tons
First Deployment: CE 71
Special equipment: flight pack
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: "Igelstellung" 75 mm CIWS x2, Type 70 beam saber x2, Type 71 beam rifle x1, shield x1
Pilot(s): Asagi Caldwell, Juri Wu Nien, Mayura Labatt, Maruoichi, Kano, Kikuchi, Rondo Ghina Sahaku, Lowe Guele

MBF-M1 M1 Astray Jean Carry Custom

Manufacturer: Morgenroete, Inc
User: Triple Ships Alliance
Unit type: customized mass production general purpose mobile suit
Head height: 17.53 meters
Weight: 53.5 metric tons
First Deployment: CE 71
Special equipment: flight pack
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: "Igelstellung" 75 mm CIWS x2, Type 70 beam saber x2, Type 71 beam rifle x1, Type 71-44 Kai beam sniper rifle x1, shield x1
Pilot: Jean Carry

MBF-M1+EF24R M1 Astray Shrike

Manufacturer: Morgenroete, Inc
Users: Orb Union
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Head height: 17.53 meters
Weight: 65.3 metric tons
First Deployment: unknown
Special equipment: flight pack, EF-24R Flight Rotor Shrike
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: "Igelstellung" 75 mm CIWS x2, Type 70 beam saber x2, Type 71 beam rifle x1, shield x1

MBF-M1A M1A Astray

Manufacturer: Orb Union
Users: Orb Union, Three Ships Alliance
Unit type: mass production space use mobile suit
Head height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: flight pack
First Deployment: CE 71
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: "Igelstellung" 75 mm CIWS x2, Type 70 beam saber x2, Type 71-44 Kai sniper beam rifle x1, shield x1
Pilot(s): Barry Ho, Socius clones

MWF-JG71 Raysta

Manufacturer: Junk Guild
Users: Junk Guild, DSSD, civilians
Unit type: civilian use mobile suit
Head height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: unknown
First Deployment: CE 71
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: camera gun, bazooka, beam rifle
Pilot: Jess Rabble

MWF-JG71 Raysta Yoon Sefan Custom

Manufacturer: Junk Guild
Users: Junk Guild
Unit type: civilian use mobile suit
Head height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: storage containers mounted on hips and legs
First Deployment: CE 71
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: none
Pilot(s): Yoon Sefan, Barry Ho

UT-1D DSSD Astray

Manufacturer: DSSD
Users: DSSD
Unit type: civilian use mobile suit
Head height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Special equipment: lightwave pulse thruster
First Deployment: CE 73
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Armament: KSM71/J beam rifle