Gundam Pharact

Overview

The FP/A-77 Gundam Pharact is a Mobile Suit featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. Developed by Peil Technologies as a GUND-ARM unit, it is primarily piloted by the company's Enhanced Persons operating under the identity Elan Ceres. Designed with a heavy focus on spatial mobility, long-range precision sniping, and strategic trapping, ownership of the machine is eventually transferred to GUND-ARM Inc. over the course of the narrative.

Appearance

The machine features a slender black frame with a raven-like silhouette, sharing internal joint architecture with Peil Technologies' Zowort series. Its head contains a V-fin, twin beam vulcans, and a distinct chin guard that conceals a traditional Gundam face underneath. Movable large Blast Boosters on the shoulders house GUND-Bits inside their armor and possess dual-direction thrust nozzles. The forearms feature opening armor for beam saber storage, and the side waists mount dual handguns. The leg units, designated as Beak Feet, feature folding toes that house internal beam cannons. The shell units standardly glow red.

Personality

It remains unconfirmed whether the Pharact possesses an autonomous AI or self-awareness similar to the Gundam Aerial, as it shows no signs of communicating with its pilot. Due to the intense physical strain and discomfort resulting from the GUND Format's Permet feedback, its pilot Elan Ceres treats the machine strictly as a tool for combat without forming any emotional attachment to it.

Abilities

Utilizing GUND Format posture control alongside shoulder Blast Boosters, the unit achieves aerial mobility under gravity equal to space combat. It passes raw data storms directly to the pilot, leaving operation at Permet Score 5 or higher unsupported. Its long-barrel Beam Arquebus rifle delivers high-precision long-range sniping via sensory links. The eight Corax GUND-Bits deploy in four pairs as all-range traps, disabling enemies with non-destructive electromagnetic stun beams. For closer combat, twin Beam Caliva handguns can join into a rapid-firing Beam Musket. Additional weaponry includes internal Beak Foot beam cannons activated by folding the toes, forearm beam sabers, and head vulcans.

Background

Developed secretly by Peil Technologies under chief engineer Belmeria Winston to counter the Gundam Aerial, the Pharact debuted in a duel where Elan Ceres (#4) defeated Guel Jeturk's Dilanza before being wrecked by Suletta Mercury's Aerial. After repairs, Peil delayed its transfer to conceal their illegal enhancement project, but ownership was eventually passed to Miorine Rembran's GUND-ARM Inc. Returned to the academy, it was operated by Elan Ceres (#5) during the Rumble Ring attack against Norea Duoc's Lfrith Thorn. Held in reserve during the final Quiet Zero operation, the uncrewed machine reactivated during Suletta's Permet Score 8 resonance, glowing in rainbow hues to help deploy a massive data storm before dissolving into Permet particles.

Relationships

The Pharact was primarily assigned to Peil Technologies' Enhanced Persons operating under the name Elan Ceres (#4 and #5). Its development was overseen by engineer Belmeria Winston. In combat, it faced Suletta Mercury's Gundam Aerial, Guel Jeturk's Dilanza, and Norea Duoc's Lfrith Thorn. Norea also illegally booted its basic movement system using a stolen student ID card. Organizational authority over the unit eventually shifted from Peil Technologies to Miorine Rembran's GUND-ARM Inc.

Trivia

The machine was designed by Wataru Inada. Its name is theorized to stem from Phalak, a giant serpent in One Thousand and One Nights, or cataphract, referring to armored heavy cavalry. Its weapon names reference historical firearms (Arquebus and Caliva) and the scientific genus name for ravens (Corax), reinforcing its avian theme. The HG 1/144 plastic model features a detachable chin guard that uncovers the hidden Gundam face underneath.