ECOAS (Earth COlony ASteroid) is a special operations force that appears in the OVA Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
Overview
The Earth Federation Space Force Special Operations Group "ECOAS" is a unit in charge of detection and cleanup of remnants of the Neo Zeon forces, and other operations that cannot be completed by regular military units. ECOAS is authorized to engage in a wide range of activities, from military to police affairs, and is even empowered to conduct public security investigations, albeit on a limited basis.
ECOAS has a relatively short history, having been established immediately after the "Second Neo Zeon War" of U.C. 0093. A similar mission is carried out by the Federation Forces' independent task force, the Londo Bell Corps, but while the Londo Bell is a space fleet that can act independently without orders from the General Staff, the ECOAS is a small unit that operates under orders from the General Staff and others. In other words, it is a unit that places more emphasis on quick response and small-scale operations than the Londo Bell, and it gathers information in all areas, conducts urban warfare, and even assassinations and abductions.
Equipment
ECOAS is equipped with specialized equipment to handle undercover operations and hand-to-hand combat. The D-50C Loto, a compact transformable mobile suit suitable for undercover operations and high-speed deployment, is synonymous with the ECOAS. Members of ECOAS wore special, more streamlined version of the normal suits worn by regular military pilots. When wearing this combat uniform, a special mask is also worn to conceal the wearer's identity. Additionally, both the uniform and the mobile suit are painted with low-visibility paint. This is probably for operations in space. Finally, they were equipped with ballistic hard armor cuirasses and helmets, which protected against gunfire in confrontations.
Firearms
- Submachine gun
- A bullpup-type submachine gun suitable for use in confined spaces. The magazine is placed on top of the barrel and the gas ejector is located in the bottom rear section.
- Handgun
- An automatic handgun used as an auxiliary firearm. The safety is placed in front of the trigger guard.
- Bomb
- Contains SHMX, a composite explosive that explodes at temperatures close to absolute zero, and has a shell that can increase the bomb's explosive power upon detonation. A handle for detonation is attached at the time of use.
History
Laplace Incident
Combat in Industrial 7
In 0096 U.C, Daguza Mackle leads his ECOAS 920 special forces team on an operation to prevent the opening of Laplace's Box. Traveling along with Londo Bell ship, Nahel Argama, ECOAS team infiltrate Side 4's Industrial 7 colony to capture the key of the Laplace's Box, the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. The ECOAS weren't successful in the capture of Unicorn Gundam due to their encounter with Neo Zeon remnants and the collapse of Side 4's Industrial 7 colony.
Battle of Palau
After the Unicorn Gundam was captured by Full Frontal with the help of Marida Cruz, Banagher Links was taken to the nearby colony Palau. The Federation prepares to mount an assault on Palau to regain the Gundam while Mackle and the crew of the Nahel Argama come up with a plan to rescue Banagher as well. And for the mission, two ECOAS teams took jurisdiction of the mission, which Alberto Vist called unprecedented.
Operation Billiard
With both the Unicorn Gundam and Banagher taken to the asteroid base of Palau, Londo Bell in conjunction with two ECOAS teams, devised a rescue mission to get back both under their possession. The first phase involved two ECOAS teams led by Daguza Mackle to covertly land on the surface of Palau with a team of Lotos and soldiers to plant explosives around the two connecting shafts of the asteroid base. A soldier dressed as a bum gave the captive Banagher instructions to head to the 14th space gate, where the team of Lotos was waiting. After the explosives were detonated, the two halves of Palau collided, only targeting the industrial blocks but missing the civilian sector. The second phase utilized the Londo Bell forces launching their MS forces in combat against the Neo Zeon forces guarding the asteroid base. Then, the SCVA-76 Nahel Argama fired its main cannon at the base pushing the two disconnected halves together in a billiard effect. The operation ended in a success, with the retrieval of Banagher and the Unicorn, as well as the capture of the "quad-wing". The operation ended with the presumed KIA status of Ensign Riddhe Marcenas and Audrey Burne going missing. In truth, both had secretly left and entered Earth in a MSN-001A1 Delta Plus piloted by Riddhe.
Ruins of Laplace
The Unicorn was then giving direction to the wreckage of Laplace, which passes in geosynchronous orbit at zero degrees longitude and zero degrees latitude every day. Mackle figured that another seal of the Laplace Program and rode along with Banagher inside the Unicorn Gundam to the coordinates.
Known Members
- Daguza Mackle - Is the leader of the Earth Federation Forces' ECOAS 920 special forces team, and holds the rank of Commander.
- Conroy Haagensen - is the second in command of the ECOAS 920 special forces team, and holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Notes & Trivia
- The name of the group appears to be based on the real-life United States Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, and Land).
- The Submachine gun used by ECOAS resembled the FN P90.
Gallery
References
