Starry Sky

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Starry Sky (星穹号)
Type	Custom high-speed assault command warship 42
Developer	ZAFT Supreme Military Committee, with the Rau Le Creuset Laboratory and ZAFT Space Fleet Technical Department 42
Affiliation	Originally ZAFT; flagship of the Silver Wing Fleet; later joins the Pioneer exploration fleet 42 46 72
Role	Fleet command, assault, fire support, Mobile Suit deployment, and independent commerce raiding 42 45
Commanders	Mei Hock, also known as Akira Hawke; Natarle Badgiruel later commands the vessel 46 50 72
Status	Operational; departs for deep-space exploration in C.E. 75 72
First Appearance	Chapter 42, “Flames of War Ignited” 42

Development and Refits

ZAFT developed the Starry Sky over three months after identifying a gap in its fleet capabilities in April C.E. 71. Existing command ships lacked mobility, assault ships lacked command efficiency, and Mobile Suit carriers lacked frontal combat strength. The project used the Archangel’s mobility and independent combat capabilities as references, combining them with ZAFT’s deuterium nuclear power, beam weapons, and command technology 42.

The completed vessel was assigned to Colonel Mei Hock as the flagship of a four-ship assault squadron carrying 25 Mobile Suits. Its design objective was to provide a single warship capable of command, assault, support, and deployment across different battle scenarios 42.

Configuration / Refit	Chapter	Changes
Original C.E. 71 configuration	42 45	Nuclear-powered assault flagship with heavy Phase Shift composite armor, triple main guns, fleet command links, and rapid Mobile Suit deployment.
Zhanjiang submersion refit	53 54 55	Adds a submersion module for concealed underwater travel and extraction during the Star-Hiding Plan.
North African refit	63	Thoroughly refitted while concealed in Andrew Waltfeld’s underground dock; returns to combat with its submersible systems operational.
Later combat configuration	70	Features East Asian VPS Nanocomposite Armor, twin-mounted ultra-high-pressure beam cannons, and broadside energy shields.

Appearance

• Silver-blue hull, also described as silver during its approach to Boaz 43 45.
• Sharper hull lines after refitting in Andrew Waltfeld’s underground dock 63.
• Side-mounted submersible thrusters used for underwater movement 64.
• Pale-blue bridge lighting and holographic displays for navigation and battlefield intelligence 64.
• Large hangar with overhead mechanical arms, supporting final inspections and adjustments before deployment 64.

Specifications

The following figures describe the original configuration unless otherwise noted.

Parameter	Specification
Length	380 m 45
Width	105 m 45
Draft	32 m 45
Standard displacement	280,000 tons 45
Powerplant	Three ZAFT-developed high-output deuterium nuclear reactors adapted to Neutron Jammer environments 42 45
Propulsion	Six vector-thruster groups and four emergency-thruster groups 42 45
Peak speed	140% of a Nazca-class ship’s speed; also stated as 120% of the Eternal’s speed 42 45 46
Endurance / cruising range	1.8 times that of a conventional capital ship 42 45
Operating modes	High-Speed Assault and Stable Combat 42 45
Standard Mobile Suit complement	Ten elite units, including one command-type unit 42 45
Reserve capacity	Four additional emergency Mobile Suits 42 45
Launch equipment	Two high-speed electromagnetic catapult systems 42 45

Armament

Original Configuration

Weapon	Configuration and performance
Main battery	Bow-mounted triple high-energy particle beam cannons, described as rivaling the Archangel’s Lohengrin positron siege cannons; range of 80 km 45 46.
Main-gun firing modes	Three selectable modes; documented examples include Rapid-Fire Suppression and Concentrated Breaching Salvo, the latter delivering a 6,600 kW salvo 45 46.
Secondary battery	Six medium beam secondary cannons with 360-degree rotation, used against warships and incoming missiles 45 46.
Close-defense battery	Twelve beam machine cannons around the hull and stern; each barrel has a stated output of 150 kW and firing rate of 150 rounds per minute 45.
Heavy missile launcher	Ventral eight-tube launcher firing radar-evasive armor-piercing explosive missiles with a 60 km range 42 45.
Mobile Suit support cannons	Beam cannons beside the hangar, with an output of 800 kW per barrel and synchronized target-locking support for deployed Mobile Suits 42.

• The close-defense system can simultaneously lock onto 20 incoming targets, with a stated interception success rate above 85% 45.
• The heavy missiles are intended for independent attacks on supply lines, Mobile Suit carriers, and temporary command posts without requiring Mobile Suit support 42.

Later Configuration

• Twin-mounted ultra-high-pressure beam cannons — Switch between individual shots and volleys; can penetrate conventional warship armor with a single hit 70.
• Broadside secondary guns and missile launchers — Maintain pressure while the ship maneuvers outside an opponent’s main-gun firing line 70.
• Eight-tube heavy armor-piercing missile bays — Used against fortresses and large warships during the final campaign 71.

Defensive Systems

Original Armor and Damage Control

• 1,800 mm heavy composite armor combines Phase Shift Armor and anti-beam coatings to resist both projectile and beam attacks 42 45.
• Emergency hull repair system rapidly repairs minor armor breaches, allowing the ship to maintain combat capability during prolonged engagements 42 45.
• The original defensive package is stated to withstand one Archangel Positron Blaster attack 42.
• During the first Boaz battle, enemy beam attacks caused only minor armor damage, which the repair system promptly addressed 45.
• In the second Boaz engagement, the armor withstood three main-gun beams from the Dominion’s sister ship without significant damage 46.

Upgraded Protection

• VPS Nanocomposite Armor, developed by the East Asian Republic, adapts to beam and projectile attacks and provides 40% greater protection than the Minerva’s armor 70.
• Broadside energy shields withstand a direct hit from the Minerva’s main gun without breaking 70.

Command and Mobile Suit Operations

Fleet Coordination

• Omnidirectional command system links up to ten warships and fifteen Mobile Suits 45.
• Quantum reconnaissance radar has a detection range of 150 km 45 46.
• Command latency below 0.5 seconds supports real-time intelligence sharing and coordinated fleet maneuvers 45 46.
• Mei uses the ship’s command network to track the wider battle while personally piloting the Justicar Gundam 46.

Deployment and Technical Support

• The electromagnetic catapults can deploy three Mobile Suits simultaneously, with launch intervals shortened to three seconds 42.
• Deployment speed is stated to be 40% faster than the Archangel’s 45.
• The original hangar complement includes the Justicar Gundam, ZGMF-600 GuAIZ, and ZGMF-1017 Improved Ginn 42.
• During the Second War, the ship deploys the upgraded Justicar, Heine’s Earth Gundam, Mu’s Murasame, and Luna and Shiho’s modified Zaku Warriors 64.
• Its technical team upgrades Luna and Shiho’s Zakus with shield-defense layers, improved beam machine guns, and additional missile launchers 64.

Notable Personnel

• Mei Hock / Akira Hawke — Original captain and Silver Wing Fleet commander; remains responsible for overall strategy while frequently entering battle in the Justicar 42 46 64.
• Natarle Badgiruel — Commands the ship during the destruction of the Dominion, receives command while Akira deploys at Orb, and captains it during the deep-space expedition 50 64 72.
• Heine Westenfluss — Commands the Mobile Suit forces and later leads the renewed shipboard Mobile Suit team 42 63.
• Li Bing — Initial chief helmsman; later coordinates communications and support with the East Asian Republic 42 63.
• Meirin Hawke — Communications officer; also helps maintain and operate the ship during Akira’s disappearance 42 54 55.
• Lunamaria Hawke — Mobile Suit squad leader, underwater extraction support member, and later vanguard pilot 42 55 63.
• Shiho Hahnenfuss — Mobile Suit squad leader; entrusted with protecting the Starry Sky and keeping it battle-ready during the Star-Hiding Plan 42 54.
• Mu La Flaga — Vanguard pilot during the return to Orb and a member of the eventual exploration expedition 63 72.
• Flay Allster — Appointed chief communications officer to handle combined-fleet communications and intelligence analysis 66.

Operational History

Mendel Intervention

After the Eternal is seized from Armory One, Mei takes the Starry Sky in pursuit while leaving his other ships on alert. At Mendel, he intervenes between the weakened Three Ships Alliance, Rau Le Creuset’s fleet, and the Dominion. Warning fire and direct orders force both hostile formations to withdraw, after which he invites the alliance to meet 42 43.

The ship subsequently returns toward PLANT. Despite the unauthorized assistance, the Silver Wing unit receives an official commendation rather than an inquiry 44 45.

Battles of Boaz

During the first defense of Boaz, the Starry Sky contains the Dominion, preventing it from supporting the Earth Forces’ advanced Gundams. It also attacks supply ships and supports four combat sectors, recording twelve warships and twenty-eight Mobile Suits destroyed while retaining full combat capability 45.

After repairs, it becomes the mobile command and support core of Mei’s fighting withdrawal against a much larger Earth Forces offensive. It damages the Dominion’s sister ship, covers withdrawing vessels, and deploys Mobile Suits to establish a temporary defensive perimeter. Mei returns to its hangar before ZAFT escapes the nuclear destruction of Boaz 46.

Destruction of the Dominion

During the First War’s final battle, Natarle orders the Starry Sky to attack her former command, the Dominion. Sustained main- and secondary-gun fire destroys the damaged ship and kills Azrael. Natarle then orders a ceasefire and assistance with rescue operations 49 50.

Star-Hiding Plan

The Starry Sky carries Akira’s group toward East Asia and undergoes its submersion refit at Zhanjiang. Shiho, Luna, and Meirin take responsibility for the vessel while Akira and Lacus publicly board the Eastern Voyage passenger liner 53 54 55.

When LOGOS explosives cripple the liner, Akira and Lacus escape underwater to the waiting Starry Sky. The ship transports them to Andrew Waltfeld’s hidden North African base, allowing them to disappear from public view and continue toward PLANT under new identities 55.

Return to Orb

After more than a year away, Akira rejoins the refitted ship in Andrew’s underground dock and orders a concealed underwater voyage to Orb 63.

As ZAFT’s assault threatens to overwhelm Orb, the Starry Sky surfaces and launches the Justicar and its accompanying Mobile Suits. Akira entrusts the ship to Natarle while intervening to save Cagalli 64.

Final Campaign

Akira plans to use Orb’s mass driver to send the Starry Sky and the combined fleet into space for the assault on Daedalus Base 66.

During the later battle near Messiah, Natarle directs the Starry Sky’s engagement with the Minerva. The ship subsequently destroys Messiah’s Genesis firing port and rails, preventing the weapon from firing, and contributes supporting fire against Shura’s Shiva Gundam 70.

The Starry Sky then leads East Asian Republic vessels into the assault on the surviving Foundation forces, joining the Archangel, Eternal, and Freedom in a pincer movement 71.

Deep-Space Expedition

In C.E. 75, the Starry Sky joins the Pioneer Fleet alongside the Archangel and Eternal, with the repaired Gullveig leading the expedition. Natarle commands the vessel as Mei, his family, and their companions leave to explore deep space and seek new homes 72.