Battle of Solomon

The Battle of Solomon is a conflict of the One Year War, featured in Mobile Suit Gundam.

Prelude[]

Following Zeon's defeat at the battles of Odessa and Jaburo, the space-bound nation opted to pull their forces from Earth with the intent of shoring up their resources and manpower as the Earth Federation Forces had been able to easily overwhelm and retake land they lost. However, EFF decided to push the offensive, realizing Zeon was now hurting. To that end, the crew of the SCV-70 White Base was rechristened the 13th Autonomous Corps and ordered to act as a distraction while the Federation prepared its space forces for their next stage. These distractions saw the White Base deal with Char Aznable's Zanzibar cruiser,^[1] as well as a number of mobile armor such as the MA-04X Zakrello and the MA-05 Bigro. It was also during this time that Amuro Ray and Char Aznable met face to face with one another as well as the former meeting Lalah Sune for the first time.^[2]

Following a resupplying, the White Base joined up with the Magellan-class ship Columbus and a fleet of Public-class fighters to act as the vanguard for the main Federation Forces. Meanwhile, on Solomon, an incredulous Dozle Zabi learned that he was given just a single MA-08 Big Zam prototype to reinforce his base's defenses and angrily ordered it built before the Federation arrived.

The Battle[]

The battle took place on December 24, UC 0079. Emerging from the debris field of Side 4, the White Base, Columbus and various Salamis-class ships made their attack. The Public-class ships prevented Solomon from attacking from the safety of their base by launching missiles armed with beam reflected gas. As Dozle ordered the launch of their MS-06F Zaku II and MS-09R Rick Dom forces, the Federation Forces launched their brand new RGM-79 GM and RB-79 Ball with the White Base launching the RX-78-2 Gundam, both RX-77-2 Guncannons and both FF-X7-Bst Core Boosters (the second Guncannon is replaced with the RX-75 Guntank and the Core Boosters with the G-Fighter in the TV version of events). Cautious of what may happen, Dozle ordered all women, including his wife Zenna Zabi and their child Mineva Lao Zabi, to escape craft.^[3]

From the debris of Side 1, the main Tianem Fleet was busy setting up a massive series of mirrors, something that was just caught by Solomon forces. Dozle ordered the Gwazan and a group of Musai-class vessels to deal with the fleet as he was asked to request help from the 7th Division. Dozle rejected it, not wanting to be mocked for asking help from Kycilia Zabi's fleets. Before the Zeon fleet could reach the Tianem forces, the mirrors were set up, activating the Federation's new weapon - the Solar Flare System, blasting Solomon's Space Gate. With the base defenses weakened, Amuro was able to land the Gundam on Solomon, leading to the other Federation ships launching their compliments of GM and Ball units. With this, Dozle ordered Zenna and Mineva evacuated to Granada and all remaining Zaku, Rick Dom and Gattle units launched as he went to board the MA-08 Big Zam. At the same time, various Zeon forces scrambled to attempt to rescue Solomon for the Federation.^[3]

As the Federation forces pushed further in, they found themselves confronting the Big Zam, having underestimated its power, the large mobile armor began wiping out EFF mobile suits with its arsenal of weaponry. With most of their fleet destroyed or disabled, Dozle ordered the remaining ships to charge at the Federation forces while he himself led the remaining Zaku and Rick Dom forces in the Big Zam. Learning of the launching forces, the Tianem fleet used what was left of the Solar Flare System to further destroy the Solomon forces.^[4]

Realizing the battle was lost, Dozle ordered the Big Zam controls to himself and to launch flares to order their fleets to retreat. With the Big Zam, Dozle planned to take down as many Federation ships and mobile suits as he could before he fell. With its incredible power and defenses, the Big Zam ran roughshod over the Federation Forces. Realizing what needed to be done, Sleggar took his Core Booster and flew into the massive mobile armor, heavily damaging it (In the TV version, the G-Fighter and Gundam formed G-Armor, Sleggar sacrificing his life to allow Gundam to blast the Big Zam from underneath). Enraged, Amuro flew up and stabbed the head of the Big Zam with its beam saber. Defiant to the end, Dozle stepped out of the Big Zam and began firing a machine gun at the Gundam. Before the Big Zam exploded, killing Dozle, Amuro hallucinated a strange demon forming from Dozle, signifying his persona. With the destruction of the Big Zam and the death of Dozle, the Battle of Solomon was over.^[4]

Aftermath[]

With the battle over, Solomon was captured and used as the Federation's staging grounds for the Battle of A Baoa Qu, the fortress being renamed "Confeito Island" in the meantime. The battle would have a lasting effect on other people. During this fight, Anavel Gato earned his title of "Nightmare of Solomon" due to his ferocity in piloting his MS-09RS Rick Dom. When Solomon fell, he vowed to return and get revenge, something he would do three years later. Decades later, Umon Samon would tell the tale of how he and his customized Ball, the B Gundam, participated in the Battle of Solomon, distracting Gato from fighting Amuro and caused Zeon to build their first Newtype mobile suit, the MSN-02 Zeong, much larger than it should be, though it is unknown if this was actually true.

Gallery[]

Notes & Trivia[]

• The battle is featured in Dynasty Warriors Gundam series although initial entries in the series put more priority to the skirmish afterwards where Amuro dueled Char Aznable's MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type. The battle was later featured in full in Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn where the White Base is ordered to secure a foothold for the other Federation forces as well as to, unlike the original buy time for the Solar Flare System to be used though Sleggar is forced to retreat after taking damage. Once the weapon is fired and breaches Solomon's outer defense, Dozle leaves the field to hide as the Federation forces move to take Solomon's core. Seeing that the Gundam was no longer present, Dozle would finally arrive with the Big Zam to try and ambush the White Base, but he is intercepted by a returning Sleggar who crashes his Core Fighter into the Mobile Armor's underbelly. It is then up to the player to stop the Big Zam once and for all.
  • Dozle's perspective is also given where he must first retake the bases outside Solomon, which is still besieged from within. Once Dozle begins moving, both Kai and Hayato arrive, and Dozle must defeat them in order to further inspire Anavel Gato's forces still fighting inside Solomon. Following the defeat of the pair, Amuro will finally appear to attack the Big Zam, and Dozle orders Gato to retreat before moving to engage Amuro. After Amuro's first defeat, Sleggar will crash his fighter once again on the Big Zam, and Dozle must defeat a roused Amuro for the second time.

Appearances[]

References[]

One Year War Conflicts and Events
January, 0079 UC
One Week Battle (Operation British) | Battle of Loum
March, 0079 UC
Earth Drop Operations (First Landing Operation | Second Landing Operation | Third Landing Operation)
September, 0079 UC
Attack on Side 7
November, 0079 UC
Operation Odessa | Battle of Jaburo
December, 0079 UC
Attack on the Arctic Base | Operation Rubicon | Operation Christmas | Operation Cemballo (Battle of Solomon) | Operation Star One (Battle of A Baoa Qu)