Relight Of Gundam: The One Year War - Kai Shiden and his Mobile Suit Progression

 

As depicted in the first four volumes of my Relight of Gundam: The One Year War series Books I - No Man's Sky through IV - Forest For A Tree, Kai Shiden is a loyal rival and executive officer of the Gundam Force. He helps evacuate Side 7 by commandeering Blue Gundam and becoming its pilot for several months before Blue is to be wrecked by Casval Rem Deikun (formerly Char Aznable) going off the handle upon the deaths of Lalah Sune at the hands of the Zeon Newtypes and Ryu Jose by Casval in his betrayal attack on and escape from White Base to close out what is the Earth Federation's Battle of Terra Luna. With his status as a Newtype emerging through the war, he turns to Amuro's spirit for guidance.

Throughout most of the One Year War, the Blue Gundam piloted by our Kai serves him faithfully and becomes the best embodiment of water or the seas to strengthen the Gundam Force as protectors of nature that Earth bequeathed to all humanity to nurture and protect. A drifter in Side 7 who was unsure of his place in life even through losses, Kai took the sacrifice of his rival Amuro Ray harder than anyone. It was only through some gentle support from his team that he pulled through to protect his new friends and embrace the gentle, uplifting guidance of his rival watching over him.

Over the course of the final two volumes of my Relight of Gundam: The One Year War series Books IV - Forest For A Tree and V - Waves Of Peace, he takes up more responsibility as the executive officer of the Gundam Force even as his Blue Gundam was wrecked by Casval Rem Deikun (formerly Char Aznable) going off the deep end upon the deaths of Lalah Sune at the hands of the Zeon Newtypes and Ryu Jose by Casval in his betrayal attack on and escape from White Base. With his own Blue Gundam contributing replacement parts and components alongside the remains of Artesia (formerly Sayla)'s Red Gundam, Ryu's Yellow Gundam, Fraw's Pink Gundam, Hayato's Green Gundam and Lalah's White Gundam to create the RX-78-2 Gundam for Artesia, Kai needs a new mobile weapon for the final Battle of A Baoa Qu.

Throughout the rest of the One Year War, the RX-77-2 Guncannon mobile suit's prototype was being studied by the White Base crew. Finally, Kai is ready to pilot her alongside his friends with Fraw in the GM, Hayato in the Guntank and Artesia in a reborn hybrid Gundam to lead the Earth forces and Munzo (Side 3) Independents against the Principality of Zeon led by Gihren Zabi and the Cult of Char led by Casval. During the Battle of A Baoa Qu, Kai leads the Earth and Munzo forces in stopping A Baoa Qu from being crashed into Earth and then helps redirect it to crash onto the ruins of the Zeonic Corporation and Anaheim Electronics' bases on the Moon. With the Guntank and Guncannon destroyed, only Artesia's Gundam Core Block Fighter and Fraw's GM help Hayato and Kai escape the fortress's destruction to Earth.

Mobile Suit Gundam Characters and Situations ®, ™ and © Bandai Namco Holdings, Nippon Sunrise, and the Tomino and Yatate Family Estates. Produced for the Nagoya Broadcasting Network (名古屋テレビ放送株式会社) and TV Asahi (株式会社テレビ朝日).

Relight Of Gundam: The One Year War - Artesia Som Deikun/Sayla Mass and her Mobile Suit Progression

 

As depicted in the first four volumes of my Relight of Gundam: The One Year War series Books I - No Man's Sky through IV - Forest For A Tree, Sayla Mass (later revealed to be Artesia Som Deikun, younger sister of Casval Rem Deikun alias Char Aznable) is the faithful and kind second-in-command of the Gundam Force. She helps evacuate Side 7 by taking Red Gundam and becoming its pilot for many weeks before Red is wrecked by her brother Casval going off the handle upon the deaths of Lalah Sune at the hands of the Zeon Newtypes and Ryu Jose by Casval in his betrayal attack on and escape from White Base to close out what will be the Battle of Terra Luna. With her status as a Newtype and the lost princess of Zeon gradually manifesting over the course of the War, we soon learn Sayla is the true and final heroine.

Throughout most of the One Year War, the Red Gundam piloted by Sayla serves her faithfully as the persona of fire or volcano/desert/light to illuminate the Gundam Force as protectors of nature that Earth bequeathed to all humanity to nurture and protect. Originally wanting to become a doctor and find her brother before meeting Amuro Ray, Sayla appreciated the sacrifice of her potential boyfriend Amuro better than anyone. It was through it she would reunite with her brother and try to help him through his issues while finding a path as one of many Newtypes before destiny would conspire to split the heirs to Zeon forever as Sayla leads a revolution of Side 3 against the Zeons' occupation.

Over the course of the final two volumes of my Relight of Gundam: The One Year War series Books IV - Forest For A Tree and V - Waves Of Peace, Sayla takes her original name of Artesia Som Deikun as she is now forced into leadership of the Gundam Force as her Red Gundam was wrecked by her brother Casval Rem Deikun (formerly Char Aznable) flying off the deep end upon the deaths of Lalah Sune at the hands of the Zeon Newtypes and Ryu Jose by Casval in his tragic betrayal attack on and escape from White Base. With her Red Gundam contributing replacement parts and components alongside the remains of Fraw's Pink Gundam, Ryu's Yellow Gundam, Hayato's Green Gundam, Kai's Blue Gundam and Lalah's White Gundam to create the RX-78-2 Gundam for Artesia, she is the prodigal daughter to reunite all the Solar System for the Battle of A Baoa Qu to end the Principality of Zeon and Cult of Char's genocidal terrorist campaigns.

Throughout the rest of the One Year War, the RX-78-2 Gundam composite prototype has been researched by the White Base crew. Finally, it is ready for Artesia to pilot alongside her friends with Hayato in the RX-75-4 Guntank, Kai in the RX-77-2 Guncannon and Fraw in the RGM-79 GM to lead the Earth Federation and Munzo (Side 3) Independents against the Principality of Zeon led by Gihren Zabi and the Cult of Char led by Casval. During the Battle of A Baoa Qu, Artesia clears a path for the joint Earth and Munzo forces just before she boards A Baoa Qu to redirect it into crashing onto the ruins of the Zeonic Corporation and Anaheim Electronics' bases on the Moon. Engaging in a final battle with her brother Casval piloting Amuro's stolen Black Gundam which he painted custom red, Artesia is forced to kill her brother and flee in her Gundam's Core Block Fighter with the body of her slain brother in guilt over having to kill him to end the war.

Mobile Suit Gundam Characters and Situations ®, ™ and © Bandai Namco Holdings, Nippon Sunrise, and the Tomino and Yatate Family Estates. Produced for the Nagoya Broadcasting Network (名古屋テレビ放送株式会社) and TV Asahi (株式会社テレビ朝日).

Relight Of Gundam: The One Year War - Major Battles Infographics

 

Mobile Suits edited from sprites by Ironscythe on DeviantArt.

CONFLICT
One Year War

DATE
September 11th, Universal Century 0079

FEATURED COMBATANTS
Earth Federation
1) SCV-70 White Base
2) Amuro Ray - RX-78-1 Black Gundam Prototype
3) Sayla Mass (Artesia Som Deikun) - RX-78-1 Red Gundam Prototype
4) Kai Shiden - RX-78-1 Blue Gundam Prototype
5) Ryu Jose - RX-78-1 Yellow Gundam Prototype
6) Fraw Bow - RX-78-1 Pink Gundam Prototype
7) Hayato Kobayashi - RX-78-1 Green Gundam Prototype

Principality of Zeon
1) Char Aznable (Casval Rem Deikun) - 1X MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type
2) Unknown Zeon Ground Soldiers - Unknown Mobile Suits (mostly YMS-15 Gyans and MSM-07 Z'Goks)
3) Unknown Zeon Air/Space Pilots - Unknown Mobile Suits (mostly MS-06S Zaku IIs)

RESULTS
Decisive Victory - Earth Federation Forces
New York City and Federation Base reclaimed for Earth Federation
SCV-70 White Base Lightly Damaged
Light Earth Federation Casualties
Heavy Principality of Zeon Casualties
Char Aznable and Garma Zabi forced to retreat with Icelina Eschonbach to M'Quve's Base in Odessa

Mobile Suits edited from sprites by Ironscythe on DeviantArt.

 

DATE
September 30th, Universal Century 0079

FEATURED COMBATANTS
Earth Federation
1) SCV-70 White Base
2) Amuro Ray - RX-78-1 Black Gundam Prototype
3) Sayla Mass (Artesia Som Deikun) - RX-78-1 Red Gundam Prototype
4) Kai Shiden - RX-78-1 Blue Gundam Prototype
5) Ryu Jose - RX-78-1 Yellow Gundam Prototype
6) Fraw Bow - RX-78-1 Pink Gundam Prototype
7) Hayato Kobayashi - RX-78-1 Green Gundam Prototype

Principality of Zeon
1) Char Aznable (Casval Rem Deikun - defected to Earth Federation mid-battle) - 1X MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type
2) Lalah Sune (defected to Earth Federation mid-battle - 1X MS-14A Gelgoog)
3) Black Tri-Stars (Gaia, Ortega and Mash) - 3X MS-09 Doms
4) Unknown Zeon Ground Soldiers - Unknown Mobile Suits
5) Unknown Zeon Air/Space Pilots - Unknown Mobile Suits

RESULTS
Pyrrhic Victory - Earth Federation Forces
Jaburo and Odessa Bases reclaimed for Earth Federation
SCV-70 White Base and Black Gundam Lightly Damaged
Heavy Earth Federation Casualties
Defeat of M'Quve
Sacrifices of Dozle and Garma Zabi, Icelina Eschonbach and Amuro Ray
Char Aznable and Lalah Sune successfully rescued and defect to Earth Federation

Mobile Suits edited from sprites by Ironscythe on DeviantArt.

DATE
October 30th, Universal Century 0079

FEATURED COMBATANTS
Earth Federation
1) SCV-70 White Base
2) Casval Rem Deikun (Char Aznable) - RX-78-1 Black Gundam Prototype
3) Artesia Som Deikun (Sayla Mass) - RX-78-1 Red Gundam Prototype
4) Kai Shiden - RX-78-1 Blue Gundam Prototype
5) Lalah Sune - RX-78-1 White Gundam Prototype
6) Ryu Jose - RX-78-1 Yellow Gundam Prototype
7) Fraw Bow - RX-78-1 Pink Gundam Prototype
8) Hayato Kobayashi - RX-78-1 Green Gundam Prototype

Principality of Zeon
1) Ramba Ral - 1X MS-07B Gouf
2) 2X Unknown Zeon Ground Soldiers - 2X MS-06F Zaku IIs
3) 2X Unknown Zeon Air/Space Pilots - 2X MS-06F Zaku IIs

RESULTS
Decisive Victory - Earth Federation Forces
Solomon Asteroid Base reclaimed for Earth Federation
SCV-70 White Base Lightly Damaged
Light Earth Federation Casualties
Deaths of Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon
Sayla Mass Captured briefly during battle, but Escaped

Mobile Suits edited from sprites by Ironscythe on DeviantArt.

DATE
November 30th, Universal Century 0079

FEATURED COMBATANTS
Earth Federation
1) SCV-70 White Base
2) Casval Rem Deikun (Char Aznable) - RX-78-1 Black Gundam Prototype (Early)
3) Artesia Som Deikun (Sayla Mass) - RX-78-1 Red Gundam Prototype
4) Kai Shiden - RX-78-1 Blue Gundam Prototype
5) Lalah Sune - RX-78-1 White Gundam Prototype
6) Ryu Jose - RX-78-1 Yellow Gundam Prototype
7) Fraw Bow - RX-78-1 Pink Gundam Prototype
8) Hayato Kobayashi - RX-78-1 Green Gundam Prototype

Principality of Zeon
1) 5X Zeon Newtypes - 5X YMS-15 Gyans
2) Casval Rem Deikun (Char Aznable) - RX-78-1 Black Gundam Prototype (Late)
3) Unknown Zeon Ground Soldiers - Unknown Mobile Suits
4) Unknown Zeon Air/Space Pilots - Unknown Mobile Suits

RESULTS
Pyrrhic Victory - Earth Federation Forces
Destruction of Anaheim Electronics and Zeonic Factories/Bases on Moon (Early)
Military-Industrial Complex fueling One Year War is Crippled
SCV-70 White Base Lightly Damaged (Late)
Deaths of Zeon Newtypes, Lalah Sune and Ryu Jose (Late)
Red, Blue, White, Yellow, Green and Pink Gundams Wrecked but Salvageable (Late)
Casval Rem Deikun (Char Aznable) escapes with Black Gundam (Late)
Gundam Force Fractured (Late)

Mobile Suits edited from sprites by Ironscythe on DeviantArt.

CONFLICT
One Year War

• Zeon Civil War 

DATE
December 31st, Universal Century 0079

FEATURED COMBATANTS
Earth Federation and Munzo Independents
1) Artesia Som Deikun (Sayla Mass) - RX-78-2 Gundam (equipped with FF-X7 Core Block Fighter core/cockpit/escape pod)
2) Kai Shiden - RX-77-2 Guncannon
3) Hayato Kobayashi - RX-75-4 Guntank
4) Fraw Bow - RGM-79 GM

Principality of Zeon and the Cult of Char
1) Casval Rem Deikun (Char Aznable) - RX-78-1 Black Gundam Prototype (custom painted Red)
2) 2X Unknown Zeon Ground Soldiers - 2X MS-09R Rick Doms
3) 2X Unknown Zeon Air/Space Pilots - 2X MS-14A Gelgoogs

RESULTS
Decisive Victory - Earth Federation Forces
Destruction of A Baoa Qu
Side 3 (Munzo) saved from Cult of Char
Gundams, Guntank and Guncannon Destroyed
Independence and Diplomatic, Security and Trade Alliance formed between Earth Federation and Republic of Munzo
Deaths of Casval Rem Deikun, Gihren and Kycilia Zabi
Collapse of the Principality of Zeon

Mobile Suit Gundam Characters and Situations ®, ™ and © Bandai Namco Holdings, Nippon Sunrise, and the Tomino and Yatate Family Estates. Produced for the Nagoya Broadcasting Network (名古屋テレビ放送株式会社) and TV Asahi (株式会社テレビ朝日).