The 08th MS Team - Footnotes Note 1 The Ball is a quick hack; originally used for space construction, a head-mounted cannon was added to make it "combat worthy." Unlike a combat mobile suit which is usually armored with titanium or better, the Ball didn't even receive additional armor. The original TV show Mobile Suit Gundam was compiled into 3 feature-length movies in the early 80's. Mobile Suit Gundam III features a scene where a Zaku merely kicks a Ball into a GM. Both the Ball and the GM explode, a testament to just how fragile the Ball is. Note 2 The first Gundam (RX-78-1) is completed in July 0079; the second unit in August. The first three are soon shipped to Side 7 for about a month of flight testing, to gather data for the mass-produced version's computer systems. Char's attack on Side 7 takes place in mid-September. The test data accumulated by the Gundam's learning computer is delivered to Matilda Ajane's supply unit at the end of September, and Matilda takes the data back to Jaburo. Garma Zabi is killed is in battle with the White Base on October 4. His funeral is held on October 6, where Giren Zabi delivers his infamous "Sieg Jion" speech. (First episode of The 08th MS Team) Production on the first GMs starts in the beginning of November. Entertainment Bible 39 claims that 30 pre-production models are sent to the front lines for Operation Odessa (early November), but that half suffered mechanical failures and couldn't enter combat. Most other timelines claim they enter service in the second half of November (November 24, according to MS Era). The Jion forces stage an unsuccessful airborne assault against Jaburo on November 30. A second attack on Jaburo led by Char fails to demolish the Federation's mobile suit production facilities. (First appearance of the GM in Gundam television series.) The fact that Shiro and Mikel are watching the televised speech of Giren Zabi places the first episode of the 08th on October 6. The data from the Gundam prototype was delivered to Jaburo near the end of September. This leaves less than 2 weeks for the mass production of the GMs and the training of mobile suit pilots. Sanders Jr's record of 6 kills, and Shiro's mobile suit training at Side 2, however, would have the viewers believe that they had the GM for months at this point. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: THE 08TH MS TEAM Copyright © 1996 BANDAI / SUNRISE