The Black Tri-Stars (黒い三連星 Kuroi Sanrensei?) was an elite Principality of Zeon mobile suit team active during the One Year War. The team consisted of three pilots: Gaia (ガイア Gaia?), Ortega (オルテガ Orutega?), and Mash (マッシュ Masshu?).
History[]
Officially known as the Mobile Assault Force 7th Division 1st Mobile Suit Battalion Command Affiliated Special Duties Squad, the history of the Black Tri-Stars began in May, U.C. 0076, when then-Colonel Kycilia Zabi of the Republic of Zeon military formed the Mobile Training Battalion, an experimental unit created to establish mobile suit tactics. Then-Sergeant Gaia, Sergeant Major Ortega, and then-Sergeant Major Mash were all members of the Mobile Training Battalion 2nd Squadron D Squad, piloting MS-05B Zaku I painted in dark sea blue, making them some of Zeon's earliest mobile suit pilots. At this point, they were not yet on the same team.
When the One Year War began in January, U.C. 0079, Gaia led a three-men mobile suit team on an attack on Side 5. During the battle, the team demonstrated the Jet Stream Attack for the first time. However, the operation was a failure, and they returned to the Side 3 homeland. At some point before the Battle of Loum, Gaia, now promoted to Second Lieutenant, formed a team with Ortega and Mash. They also switched to piloting MS-06C Zaku II Early Production Type.
During the Battle of Loum, the team was ordered to assist Dozle Zabi by Kycilia. They were able to sink five Federation battleships, including the flagship Ananke, which they sunk using the Jet Stream Attack, and were responsible for capturing General Revil's escape shuttle. Because of their achievements, their mobile suits were upgraded to the MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type following the battle. It was at this point that they adopted their trademark black, purple, and gray color scheme for their mobile suits.
The Tri-Stars would eventually switch to the MS-06R-1A Zaku II High Mobility Type and achieve even more battle results, earning a reputation as Major General Kycilia Zabi's ace in the hole. Perhaps because of this, they adopted the Mobile Assault Force emblem as their team emblem, being the only mobile suit team to do so. Together, the trio sunk 14 battleships and cruisers.
In October, U.C. 0079, the team landed on Earth after receiving ground combat training in preparation for Operation Odessa. They were given the latest ground combat heavy mobile suit, the MS-09 Dom, by Colonel M'Quve.
The Tri-Stars launched a night attack on the White Base while it was being resupplied. Thanks to the Dom's mobility, firepower, and the teamwork of the Tri-Stars, the White Base team had a difficult time fighting them. However, Gaia was unable to defeat the RX-78-2 Gundam piloted by Amuro Ray alone, so he attempted to use the team's famed Jet Stream Attack against it. The first attack ended with the Gundam barely evading, causing the Tri-Stars to immediately resume their attack. During their second attempted use of Jet Stream Attack, however, Amuro destroyed Mash's Dom, but was too late to evade the attack from Ortega's. However, Matilda Ajan crashed her Medea into Ortega's Dom, only to have Ortega crush the Medea's cockpit with the Dom's fists, killing her.
There were two accounts of the remaining members of the Black Tri-Stars' ultimate fate. In one account, the two surviving members went on to fight in Operation Odessa, during which they fought the Gundam once again and were killed in battle. In another, they were immediately defeated and killed by the Gundam and the FF-X7-Bst Core Booster after Mash's death.
At the time of their death, Gaia held the rank of Lieutenant The rank of the other two members is unclear, with one account stating that they both held the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.
A notable tactic used by the Black Tri-Stars was the Jet Stream Attack. The team first demonstrated this attack during the Battle of Loum, while piloting a trio of MS-06C Zaku II. After switching to the MS-09 Dom, they demonstrated the attack on Earth as well.
At the beginning of the attack, the three mobile suits approach the target in line formation, making it appear that there was only one mobile suit approaching. After closing the distance, the lead unit attacks the target using either ranged or melee weapon. When the target either evades or attempts to counterattack, the two follow-up units begin their attack.
Since evading the initial attack usually leaves the opponent open to further attacks, this tactic is very difficult to counter. Even if an opponent survives the first wave of attacks, the Tri-Stars could simply regroup and launch another wave of attacks.
Video Games[]
The Black Tri-Stars appear as playable characters in Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front, and Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space. In Encounters in Space, the Tri-Star's MS-06F Zaku II, MS-05B Zaku I, and MS-06R-1A Zaku II High Mobility Type are playable units. In Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon, they appear in the campaign mode for both sides, with the player taking the place of Mash in the Zeon campaign.
The Black Tri-Stars also appear in the Super Robot Wars game series whenever there's a major focus on the One Year War. The biggest departure, though, is Super Robot Wars Advance and its remake Super Robot Wars Advance Portable, which has the trio surviving until the events of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. They end up swapping out their Doms in favor of the AMX-009 Dreissen.
In most non-canonical appearances, the Black Tri-Stars' dialogue is recycled from their failed attempt to destroy the Gundam, referencing such events as stepping on Gaia's Dom, the failed Jet Stream Attack and Gaia being the last of the three to die therefore failing to avenge his allies.