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The MS-09RS Rick Dom was an enhanced variant of the MS-09R Rick Dom developed by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. It was notable for its increased generator output, which allowed it to make use of beam weapons.

Technology & Combat Characteristics[]

A variant of the Rick Dom that had its generator enhanced for the testing of mobile suit-portable beam weapons. It was armed with a "beam bazooka", an experimental high-powered beam cannon originally used by mobile armors. Due to issues with the cooling system, the beam bazooka was impossible to mass produce and only assigned to a small number of veteran pilots.[1]

A variant of the Rick Dom that had its generator output and thrusters upgraded at the A Baoa Qu factory, the MS-09RS had its chest-mounted scattering beam cannon, which was originally meant to be used as an energy supply terminal for beam weapons, modified into an energy buffer. This greatly reduced the strain placed on the supply connectors inside its arms, allowing it to make use of the high-powered Ex-T3-2 Beam Bazooka.[2]

Armaments[]

  • Scattering Beam Cannon
Also known as "Diffusion Beam Generator", it was originally designed as an energy supply terminal for beam weapons, the RS Type used this device as an energy buffer to lessen the strain placed on the supply connectors inside the arms, allowing it to make use of the Beam Bazooka.[2] In addition, as with the original Rick Dom's Scattering Beam Cannon, it could be used to blind enemies.[1]
  • Heat Saber
A mobile suit close combat weapon. The saber's blade could become superheated, allowing it to melt through enemy armor. The heat-generating device converted energy into heat efficiently, but due to its high consumption rate, the weapon was essentially disposable.[2]
  • Beam Saber
An experimental weapon, the beam saber was able to project a blade of mega particles over a dozen meters long. However, due to lacking a filter of sufficient precision to contain the particle diffusion, the beam blade was too broad to be practical.[3] Because of this, it was also known as the "low convergence beam saber". There was no record of the weapon being used in actual combat, and its appearance and detailed specifications were all unknown, implying that the filter issue was never resolved.[4]
  • Beam Bazooka
An experimental beam weapon developed by the Principality military, it employed a different method of mega particle compression than the Federation's Energy CAP technology, and while it required time to charge up, its destructive power was said to rival the main cannon of a Musai-class cruiser. Due to low productivity, it was only experimentally assigned to several units.[2]
  • MMP-78/WG 120mm Machine Gun
A wide grip variant of the MMP-78 Zaku Machine Gun that had its grip and trigger guard enlarged for use by the Dom series. It was able to mount an optional grenade launcher.[2]
  • H&L-GB05R 360mm Giant Bazooka
The Giant Bazooka was one of the largest mobile suit-portable physical projectile weapons during the One Year War. It was also known as the "Giant Baz" and had become synonymous with the Dom and the Rick Dom. Towards the end of the war, it was used by other models of mobile suits as well.[2]

History[]

Mock Battle[]

UCE Char Rick Dom

Char engaging in mock combat in his Rick Dom

After Char Aznable pursued the newly formed 13th Autonomous Corps into space, he received a MS-09RS Rick Dom, painted in his colors. Piloting the mobile suit, he undertook a mock battle with four MS-06F Zaku II. After defeating all four Zakus, he noted that while the Rick Dom's mobility was impressive, its maneuverability was lacking, placing it as a disadvantage during close combat. He doubted that the Rick Dom would allow him to defeat the RX-78-2 Gundam [1].

Battle of Solomon[]

UCE Gato Rick Dom sinking Magellan

Gato sinking a Magellan-class battleship in his Rick Dom

Anavel Gato piloted a MS-09RS Rick Dom in his custom colors and dealt severe damage to the Earth Federation Forces, earning him the nickname "Nightmare of Solomon".[1][5]

When Granada fell to the Earth Federation Forces, Kycilia Zabi's fleet was forced to retreat to A Baoa Qu. Using the facilities at A Baoa Qu, many of the Rick Doms of this fleet was modified into the RS variant, greatly improving their various performance specs within a short period of time. This was thanks to the Rick Dom's body block structure, which separated the body into the generator block, the chest, and the waist, greatly improving ease of maintenance and improvement.[2]

Gallery[]

Anime[]

Manga[]

Game[]

Gunpla[]

Action Figures[]

Appearances[]

Behind the Scenes[]

GG Char Rick Dom OG

Char's Rick Dom in the original Gihren's Greed

Char Aznable first piloted a Rick Dom in the Mobile Suit Gundam novelization, a radically altered retelling of the original series. In the novel, all Rick Doms were armed with a beam bazooka, and Char's Rick Dom was not stated to be of a special variant.

Char's Rick Dom later appeared in the strategy game Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren's Greed, released on April 9, 1998. In SD Gundam G Generation, released on August 6, 1998, Char's Rick Dom was given the model number "MS-09RS" to differentiate it from the regular Rick Dom. In Gihren's Greed - Blood of Zeon, released on February 10, 2000, Char's Rick Dom appeared as "Rick Dom (Casval Custom)" and also used the MS-09RS model number. On May 2, 2002, Gihren's Greed - War for Zeon Independence was released. Char's Rick Dom returned in this game, but its model number was reverted to MS-09R.

In January 2003, a Master Grade Gunpla model of Char's Rick Dom was released. Strangely, even though the model was labelled as originating from War for Zeon Independence, it used the MS-09RS model number, and the historical background mentioned in the model manual was entirely based on the Gundam novels. The model manual was the first source that provided detailed background and technical information on the MS-09RS, establishing that it was an improved variant of the MS-09R created at A Baoa Qu.

On September 4, 2003, the 3D action shooting game Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space was released. This game established that Anavel Gato piloted a MS-09RS Rick Dom during the Battle of Solomon, bringing the MS-09RS into the main Universal Century continuity. However, the game provided very little information on the mobile suit.

On November 30, 2021, the mobile game Mobile Suit Gundam U.C. ENGAGE began service. The game provided a relatively detailed unit profile of Gato's Rick Dom (which was made available during its first event, 0079 Nightmare of Solomon), establishing that it was a test unit for portable beam weapons. Later, on July 19, 2023, the game released an animated short as part of its "Amuro & Char Mode" storyline, depicting Char testing a customized Rick Dom armed with a beam bazooka. In the end, Char was not satisfied with the Rick Dom's performance, likely explaining why he never piloted it in the original series.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mobile Suit Gundam U.C. ENGAGE
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Master Grade 1/100 MS-09RS Char's Rick Dom (2003) instruction manual
  3. Mobile Suit Gundam (Novel) Chapter 3: California Crush
  4. HGUC 1/144 G-3 Gundam VS Char's Rick Dom Set (2008) instruction manual
  5. Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
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