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RX-80PR Pale Rider

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The RX-80PR Pale Rider is a prototype mobile suit featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link video game and manga.

Technology & Combat Characteristics[]

Following its successful mass production of mobile suits, the Earth Federation Forces began working on various modification plans as well as next-generation units.[1] One of the machines created was a prototype, next-generation unit given the model number of 'RX-80'.[1] This machine incorporated the latest technologies introduced during the One Year War, resulting in high performance and adaptability to a wide range of equipment. However, its development costs were high, dooming any possibility of mass production and seemingly consigning it to being a data collection unit.

The RX-80 was later acquired by a mysterious official named Grave, who wanted a high-performance machine for the special "HADES (Hyper Animosity Detect Estimate System)" based on the EXAM System.[1] With the HADES' core unit installed in its head, the mobile suit was given the code name "Pale Rider", derived from the name of the fourth and final horseman of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.[1] The name also has a second meaning: since the HADES forcefully takes control of the mobile suit when activated, with the pilot serving as little more than a biological component, the mobile suit controls the pilot, rather than the other way around. Hence the mobile suit was the "Rider", rather than the horse.[2]

While the Pale Rider is a powerful machine, this came at the cost of shorter operating time.[1] It served as the core mobile suit of Grave's "Pale Rider Project" and was deployed on various black-ops missions.

Armaments[]

  • Vulcan Gun
A pair of shell firing weapons, they have high-rate of fire, but little power. They can damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors and are ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles, attack vehicles, etc. Due to HADES's core unit being located in the Pale Rider's head, its vulcan guns are mounted independently on the sides of the head, unlike most Earth Federation Forces' mobile suits that have the guns built into the head.[1] The Pale Rider's vulcan guns have the added ability to rotate up and down.
  • Beam Saber
The beam saber is a small device held in the mobile suit's hands when operated and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. It emits a blade-shaped beam to cut through most armor not treated with anti-beam coating. The Pale Rider uses the standard type of beam saber as other Earth Federation Forces' mobile suits, with one stored on each side skirt armor.[1] Due to the Pale Rider's reduced operating time, its beam sabers are not meant to be recharged by the mobile suit's generator.[1]
  • Hand Beam Gun
Mounted on the forearms, this is the same weapon as used by Gundam Unit 4 "G04" and Unit 5 "G05".[1] The pair of hand beam guns have short firing range due to low focusing power, but they can rapid fire beams with sufficient firepower for anti-MS combat.[1]
  • HFW-GMG·MG79-90mm Bullpup Machine Gun
The bullpup machine gun was a system weapon developed as a Space/Ground dual use projectile weapon. Though compact, it has sufficient anti-MS firepower while maintaining accuracy. Its muzzle velocity is increased due to the use of new gunpowder and this enables it to easily penetrate the armor of Zeon's mobile suit. A box-like sensor system incorporating a video camera and laser sensor is installed at the top, and when this system is used alongside the mobile suit's targeting system, target acquisition capability is enhanced. The accuracy of this weapon improves dramatically with the support of HADES.
  • XBR-M-79H-2 Hyper Beam Rifle
The same beam rifle as used by Gundam Unit 4 "G04" and Unit 5 "G05". Powered by energy CAP technology, it is an enhanced version of the beam rifle carried by the RX-78-2, with improved output as well as accuracy.
  • Spike Shield
The same shield as used by the GM Striker, it was developed for ground-based, anti-mobile suit melee combat.[1] This defensive armament can be used as a striking weapon thanks to the two pile bunkers mounted at the tip.[1]
  • YHI ERRL-TYPE.Doc-04/380mm Rocket Launcher
A portable large rocket launcher meant for MS, it is independently developed by Yashima Heavy Industries for use specifically in 1G environment. Also known as Hyper Bazooka (Ground Type), it has a very versatile design with features that include targeting sensors, etc. It uses a banana-shaped magazine and has a short barrel to facilitate its use in jungle/forested areas. This weapon can utilize a number of different munitions including warheads that deploy stabilizing fins after launch, and this shows that its design took many references from human-sized ground weaponry used in older eras.
  • 180mm Cannon
A customized version of the 180mm cannon used by the RX-79［G］ Gundam Ground Type, etc.[1] It is attached to the back of the Pale Rider via an extendable support arm and its barrel is folded when not in use.[1] The cannon can be fired in this folded state for close-range combat, with the barrel unfolding for long-range shooting.[1]
  • BLASH HB-L-03/N-STD Hyper Bazooka
A general purpose fire support rocket launcher platform for mobile suits. With considerable destructive power owing to the high explosive yield in each warhead, the weapon was primarily used to destroy less maneuverable targets such as warships, satellites, land battleships, bunkers, and buildings. The weapon was ultimately used with four main types of rounds: a space-use dual stage booster-equipped HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) round, an APFSDS (Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot), a HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) as well as a shotgun-type round.
  • Leg Missile Pod
A rare, simplified, optional armament deployed by the Earth Federation Forces during the One Year War.[1] The Pale Rider mounts one of this 3-tube missile launcher on each leg.[1] Although they can be purged after use to prevent dead weight, the Pale Rider is not affected by the added weight and so they become part of its standard ground-use armaments.[1] They are used for restricting enemy mobile suit movements, destruction of ground facilities and land battleships, as well as sweeping ground attacks.[1]
  • Giant Gatling Gun
A large Gatling gun with immense firing rate. Drum-fed and stored on a weapons mount when not in use. It is similar to the one previously used by Gundam Unit 5 "G05".
  • Shield
The same shield as used by Gundam Unit 4 "G04" and Unit 5 "G05", it can collapse or extend to suit the combat situation.

Special Equipment & Features[]

  • HADES
An acronym for HYPER ANIMOSITY DETECT ESTIMATE SYSTEM. This controversial system was created by a top secret research laboratory in Augusta based on data and samples of the EXAM System provided under pressure from the upper management. When activated, the HADES forcibly disables all the mobile suit's limiters to draw out 100% of the machine's performance, it also transmits to the pilot the optimal solution from a learning computer and can even forcibly maneuver the mobile suit.[1] Although imperfect, the system also sought to pre-read enemy pilot's thoughts via sensing the Psycommu waves.[1] The activation of the HADES caused the exhaust vents of the mobile suit to become red hot due to forceful venting of gases, and like the EXAM System, the mobile suit's sensors also glow red.[1] To withstand the high Gs from the mobile suit's heightened performance and enhance coordination with the HADES, the pilot is mentally and physically enhanced through drugs and inhumane bodily modifications. The treatments also served to dull all unnecessary thoughts, making the pilot a part of the system. However, all these can exert a toll on the pilot, leading to memory impairment.
  • Booster Pack (Bst)
A special set of external fuel tanks and thrusters to give the unit higher speed and better maneuverability in space. The Pale Rider's operating time is also extended.

History[]

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality.

Missing Link Game[]

It made its first debut at Jaburo where it was tasked with wiping out Slave Wraith team as Grave deemed that they're no longer useful to him anymore. The Wraiths however was able to fend off the Pale Rider as it retreats from the battlefield. The Pale Rider pursed the Wraith to the base in a desert where Marvin Herriot tried to destroy the Pale Rider using explosives to no avail. However, by the time Pale Rider walked away from the ruins of the base, the Wraiths were long gone.

Its next deployment was in A Baoa Qu where it engaged the Marchosias Corps defending the ships that were retreating to Axis. The Marchosias got an upper hand during the battle and tried to restrain the Pale Rider. The Pale Rider tried to defend itself by stabbing 2 incoming Zaku and Rick Dom and blasting the Psycommu Zaku with a Vulcan that was restraining it with its wire-guided hands. The Pale Rider was finally defeated when the incoming Gelgoog stabbed it powering the unit down. After the 2 mobile suits that Pale Rider stabbed exploded, the only survivor of the fight, Vincent Gleissner, flew to the Pale Rider's cockpit with a gun in hand to finish the fight once and for all. What he didn't expect however, was that a little girl was inside the cockpit of the machine that took his comrades lives.

The Pale Rider itself was shelved by Neo Zeon for ten years before it was upgraded to AMX-018［HADES］ Todesritter. As for its pilot Chloe Croce, she would be cared for by Vincent while fighting alongside each other in various camps.

Missing Link Manga[]

In the Manga, some events are depicted differently from the game such as leader of the Slave Wraith, Travis Kirkland, sacrificing his RX-79［G］ SW Slave Wraith to halt the Pale Rider's attacks. The Pale Rider also appeared when both Marchosias and Slave Wraith was trying to escape to space in a Zanzibar.

In space, it was kept aboard the Forrestal, Grave's mothership where it sortied alongside Sarah Shannon's RX-77-4 Guncannon II. The Marchosias spotted the Pale Rider and went to attack it, but Sarah put herself between the Marchosias and the Pale Rider, causing her Guncannon II to be dismembered. Seeing her partner's mobile suit in ruins, Chloe went berserk and destroyed the Marchosias' mobile suits one by one. It wasn't until Travis arrived in a stolen RX-80PR-2 Pale Rider Cavalry that he was able to subdue the Pale Rider. The Pale Rider and Chloe were then transported by a Komusai to Axis, while the Cavalry went to destroy the Forrestal.

On 5th June UC 0080, the Pale Rider was refitted to become Pale Rider [VG], piloted by Vincent Gleissner. It engaged the Federation forces in orbit and came across the RX-80PR-3 Pale Rider Dullahan. The Pale Rider [VG] then returned to the Komusai for descending to Earth

At a submarine base, they were tracked down by Federation forces and started bombarding the base with Guntanks and sending in RGM-79G GM Command and the Dullahan to destroy the base. Vincent fought alongside Fred's MS-08TX Efreet inherited from Vincent's old Captain Doug Schneid. Following Fred's advice, Vincent then departs to join Edward Lee and Chloe at the former HADES research facility where Travis Kirkland and Marvin Herriot waits for them.

The Pale Rider [VG] fought its final battle against the Dullahan at the research facility where it collapsed the colony piece and pinned down the Dullahan underwater. Dullahan tried to increase the thrust to escape the situation to which Pale Rider [VG] responded with the activation of HADES to keep it pinned down. Dullahan's reactor overloading due to usage exploded just as Chloe came to help Vincent in the MSM-04 Acguy.

The Pale Rider [VG] however wasn't destroyed but it was heavily damaged by the Dullahan reactor's explosion losing both of it's legs and an arm. Acguy would help Pale Rider [VG] surface the water and both of its pilots would share a hug after the whole ordeal.

Variants[]

  • RX-80PR Pale Rider [VG]
Appeared in the manga version of Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link, where events are depicted differently from the game. A damaged Pale Rider was repaired by Zeon remnants after the One Year War using parts from the Gelgoog series (such as forearms from the Gelgoog Jäger) and equipped with weapons from various Zeon mobile suits, including a pair of twin beam swords from the Gelgoog, a pair of leg-mounted 6-tube missile pods from the Efreet Custom, the large beam machine gun and forearm-mounted beam spot guns of the Gelgoog Jäger, Dom's Giant Bazooka, etc. The 'VG' in its name refer to its pilot, Vincent Gleissner, leader of the former Principality of Zeon's "Marchosias" team.

Gallery[]

Lineart[]

Manga[]

Games[]

Gunpla[]

Gashapon[]

Notes & Trivia[]

  • Being an original creation of Mobile Suit Gundam Side Stories, the Pale Rider's design incorporated elements from most of the protagonist units included in the game: EXAM System from the Blue Destiny series, leg thrusters from the GM Sniper II (Rise From the Ashes), backpack and weapons from Gundam Unit 4 and Unit 5 (Space, To the End of a Flash), and a 180mm cannon from the Gundam Ground Type (Lost War Chronicles).
  • According to the Missing Link manga, the Pale Rider has a special helmet wired to the suit itself presumably to make HADES take effect on its pilot. It is a possible reason why Vincent didn't suffer from the side effect of HADES as he was wearing a normal Zeon helmet instead of the special helmet.

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 HGUC 1/144 RX-80PR PALE RIDER [Ground Heavy Equipment Type]
  2. ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story - Missing Link - Archives


Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link Original Mechanics
edit
Earth Federation
Mobile Weapon
Mobile Suit
RX-79[G] SW Slave Wraith | RX-79[G]WR Full Armor Slave Wraith | RX-80PR Pale Rider | RX-80PR-2 Pale Rider Cavalry | RX-80PR-3 Pale Rider Dullahan
Cruiser / Mother Ship
Medea Late Type (Wraith variant)
Neo Zeon
Mobile Weapon
Mobile Suit
AMX-018[HADES] Todesritter
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