mechascientific

Model Number Breakdown

ORX-005

ORX

developed at Augusta Labs

005

designation used for the Gaplant series of designs

Profile

The Gaplant is a transformable mobile armor designed for high-altitude interception, developed at the Newtype research institute in Oakland, North America.* The TR-5 “Fiver” was developed with the Gaplant as its base machine, maintaining its mechanical characteristics while changing its function to “supersonic penetration via a ballistic trajectory.” In order to execute the unusually dangerous mission of penetrating enemy strongholds independently or in a single team, it’s been designed for the maximum possible defensive capabilities.

A ballistic trajectory involves launching from the surface and temporarily escaping the atmosphere. After re-entering the atmosphere, the machine follows a parabolic course to its target point while maintaining the vast acceleration obtained from the effects of gravity. Because it accelerates to a speed at which interception is basically impossible, there’s no means of stopping such an attack. While an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) would proceed to detonate at its target point, the mobile weapon TR-5 Fiver can carry out precision pinpoint demolition operations after penetrating the target.

The TR-5 Fiver, whose main mission is penetrating enemy strongholds, is equipped with active defense systems that allow it to endure, rather than evade, enemy attacks. The key to its defenses is its compound defensive binders, which are attached to the arms of the base Gaplant by movable frame parts. These are equipped with I-field generators for use against beam weapons, and diffuse beam cannons to project it from missiles and other projectiles.

The Fiver is based on the transformable mobile armor Gaplant, and like the Gaplant it can change from mobile armor form to mobile suit form. In mobile suit form, its compound defensive binders divide to form a total of four binders, which can be used as movable thrusters. This makes it possible to control the thrust direction with more freedom, and gives its mobile suit form greater aerial maneuverability. However, when the Fiver lands on the ground, these huge binders become a hindrance and prevent it from moving freely. In both mobile armor and mobile suit forms, the Fiver’s performance is best demonstrated via aerial combat tactics.

Technical Notes

The TR-5 Fiver is made up of several components attached to the base Gaplant, which is unmodified except for the new sensor unit installed in its head. The backpack unit contains three generators of various sizes, and connects directly to the Gaplant’s own back thrusters. A nose unit is attached to the front of the machine, and a heat-resistant field unit with coolant gas emitters like those of the TR-4 Dandelion is attached to its underside. The Fiver’s two defensive binders are attached to the backpack unit and the Gaplant’s own arms by drum frames similar to those used in the TR-3 Kehaar.

Each defensive binder contains one I-field generator and ten diffuse beam cannons, whose protective covers are blown off prior to use. Since the I-field generators consume virtually all of the machine’s energy output, the beam cannons are powered by energy packs. The lower section of each binder houses a rack of twelve energy packs for this purpose, and this section terminates in a thruster and propellant tank. Each binder can also carry one escort mobile suit, and the upper section of each binder has a manipulator arm to hold these mobile suits in place. The upper and lower sections can be opened up so that the diffuse beam cannons all face forward.

The Fiver requires huge rocket boosters to launch from the surface and escape the atmosphere. Since this is the most vulnerable part of its ballistic trajectory, the thrust of its boosters has been made as high as possible so that it can escape the atmosphere more quickly.

* Despite what it says in the TR-5 Fiver profile, every other source - up to and including the recent HGUC kit - agrees that the Gaplant was developed by the Augusta newtype research institute, not the Oakland one.