Orb

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Orb (奥布)
Affiliation	Burning Legion territory; maintains an independent national government 816 818
Occupation/Role	Neutral nation, regional political power, and Mobile Suit industrial center
Status	Active; undergoing military and industrial expansion 2102
First Appearance	42

Philosophy and Political Position

Orb publicly upholds peace and neutrality, but treats the ability to defend its people as essential to those ideals. Its leadership rejects both unconditional concession and reckless militarism. 316 815

“We yearn for peace, but we do not fear war. Any nation or force that dares to initiate war or attack Orb will be our enemy.” 371

• Orb initially avoids entering wars between other powers, including the conflict between ZAFT and the Earth Force. 798 822
• It reserves the right to retaliate against attacks and to defend nations or civilians threatened by forces such as LOGOS. 771 837
• Orb distinguishes the Earth Force from LOGOS, calling on soldiers and officials deceived by LOGOS to defect rather than treating them as automatic enemies. 837
• Its status as a neutral state gives Orb unusual public credibility; after LOGOS was exposed, more Earth Force defectors chose Orb than ZAFT. 837

History

Early industrial development

Orb's Mobile Suit industry was centered on Akatsuki Works and the Astray line. Early M1 Astrays were lightweight but lacked PS Armor and could not mount heavy external armor, leaving their defenses fragile. 42

Orb later drew on outside technical data, including Gundam-frame and PS Armor technology, to improve its manufacturing base. 42 Its Astray units remained known for relatively low cost, high modification potential, and strong long-term growth prospects despite weaker base durability than G-Series machines. 749

First devastation and reconstruction

During the Earth Force assault, Orb's command concluded that preserving its cities and industrial base mattered more than winning a single battle. It prepared civilian evacuations, the transfer of Akatsuki Works equipment, and the planned destruction of strategic facilities rather than risking total annihilation. 321

After the conflict, Orb rapidly rebuilt its devastated main island with Mobile Suit labor. Xiao Ran reorganized the armed forces, gained the loyalty of more than 70% of the military, established a space fleet, and became supreme commander of its three branches. 370

Decline during Xiao Ran's absence

Orb later declined sharply while Xiao Ran was absent. The Ceran family regained political influence with Alliance support, Akatsuki Works lost more than half of its personnel, and Heaven's Pillar separated from Orb. 757

Though Cagalli retained military support, Orb was increasingly pressured and constrained by both PLANT and the Alliance. Many within the military hoped for Xiao Ran's return. 757

Reclamation of authority and war with the World Security Alliance

Xiao Ran returned and invoked Orb's constitutional authority to remove Cagalli as Prime Minister, arrest the Ceran family, and cancel Orb's alliance with the United forces. 766

Orb then refused membership in the World Security Alliance, detained Alliance personnel within its territory, and declared that it would not begin hostilities unless provoked. 771 When the Alliance fleet advanced, Orb used its elite pilots and new Mobile Suits to defeat a substantially larger force. 785 791 794

Campaign against LOGOS

Orb accepted limited cooperation with ZAFT against LOGOS while refusing to become ZAFT's ally or join a broader war against the Alliance. 798 799 822

After LOGOS was publicly exposed, Orb formally declared war on the organization and sent fleets to support anti-LOGOS forces in the Ouyang Federation. 837 The resulting defections, personnel, warships, Mobile Suits, ammunition, and supplies greatly expanded Orb's military strength. 837

Burning Legion territory

A recorded authorization from Orb's family heads granted Xiao Ran the right to assume all political and military authority and serve as Prime Minister should Orb face internal or external crisis. 815

Orb was subsequently recognized as a territory of the Burning Legion. This removed practical restrictions on obtaining materials, technology, and personnel, allowing Xiao Ran to strengthen Orb without concern for short-term resource depletion. 816 818

Governance

Position / Authority	Holder	Notes
Head of state and supreme authority	Xiao Ran	Holds the authority to take over all political and military rights; leads Orb's restoration and military expansion. 815 818
Proposed Prime Minister / de facto administrator	Mina Sahak	Intended to oversee Orb's affairs when Xiao Ran is unavailable; also holds wartime command authority. 825 826
Military counterweight and commander	Bargyll	Commands within Orb's military structure and reports on fleet and security matters. 370 825
Industrial leadership	Director Symonds and Luo	Direct Akatsuki Works' development of mass-production and custom Mobile Suits. 829

Military and Industry

Armed forces

• Orb reorganized its military after the first war and established a dedicated space fleet. 370
• By the confrontation with the World Security Alliance, Orb had equipped its entire army with Mobile Suits, unlike its earlier force of limited machines and inexperienced pilots. 771
• Its ace forces include veteran pilots, Participants, and specialized units such as the Silver Hand, which performs intelligence gathering and special operations. 777 802
• Defectors from the Earth Force later brought Orb substantial personnel, ships, Mobile Suits, supplies, and ammunition. 837
• Orb continued producing large numbers of Mobile Suits in preparation for wider threats, while attracting experienced soldiers and technical talent. 2102

Akatsuki Works

Akatsuki Works is Orb's principal Mobile Suit development facility and a strategic target for hostile powers. 321 757

• Developed and tested new mass-production frames based on G-Series technology. 802
• Pursued compact fusion energy sources, GN Particle systems, nano-repair technology, flexible energy shields, and Aura transmission systems. 816 826
• Accelerated development after Luo joined as technical director alongside Symonds. 829
• Finalized mass-production designs equipped with two Dragoons and Psycho-frame-assisted control systems, enabling ordinary pilots to operate floating weapons. 829

Notable Mobile Suit assets

Asset	Role / Significance
Astray series	Orb-associated Mobile Suit line with high modification potential; includes multiple specialized frames and configurations. 749 794
Murasame	Orb's second-generation mass-production Mobile Suit; remains part of its force while newer units are developed. 818
Justice Gundam Kai	One of Orb's foremost combat assets during the World Security Alliance crisis. 771
Dawn Gundam	Secret Orb machine unknown even to several senior figures; later deployed as a major high-end asset. 773 794
Midnight Gundam	A Mobile Suit prepared for Xiao Ran as a symbol of Orb's trust in his ability to defend its ideals. 815
Crimson Forbidden	Captured Earth Force machine repaired and integrated into Orb's military as a B-class Mobile Suit. 801
Dawn Tactical Armor	Massive Tactical Armor that transforms the Dawn into a colossal Mobile Armor; only Xiao Ran can fully control it. 1754

Major Locations and Institutions

• Orb main island — National center devastated during war and later reconstructed through Mobile Suit labor. 370
• Akatsuki Works — Orb's primary industrial and Mobile Suit research complex. 802 829
• Heaven's Pillar — Formerly separate from Orb; Mina agreed to its return, bringing its personnel and strategic materials back to Akatsuki Works. 825
• Scrap Merchant Guild settlement — An Orb-designated island settlement that supports reconstruction, manufacturing, and refugee employment. 802
• D.S.S.D. — Space development organization that cooperates with Orb for protection and technology exchange; its headquarters is slated for relocation to Orb or Heaven's Pillar. 802 826

Relationships

• Burning Legion — Orb is formally recognized as a Burning Legion territory, gaining access to outside resources, technology, and personnel. 816 818
• ZAFT / PLANT — Maintains limited cooperation against LOGOS while rejecting a formal alliance or participation in ZAFT's war against the Earth Force. 798 822
• Earth Force — Former adversary and source of pressure, sanctions, and invasion threats; Orb accepts defectors who reject LOGOS. 835 837
• World Security Alliance — Hostile force that demanded Orb submit, dissolve its government, and join the alliance. 771
• LOGOS — Declared enemy; Orb identifies the organization as a primary driver of global conflict and death profiteering. 837
• Heaven's Pillar — Initially independent from Orb but later reintegrated through Mina's agreement, contributing personnel and strategic materials. 793 825
• D.S.S.D. — Technology partner receiving Orb's protection in exchange for technical cooperation. 802 826
• Scrap Merchant Guild — Allied reconstruction and industrial partner given a settlement within Orb territory. 802

Parallel-World Connection

Orb in the Mecha Wars V world is described as the counterpart of SEED World's Orb: the same faction in a different world with a nearly identical development path. In both worlds, it acts as a third power between PLANT and the Federation and is associated with ending their conflict. 1403