| With the arrival of the MS-06 Zaku II, the Zaku I was for the most part removed from the front lines. There was still plenty of work for a 20 meter tall humanoid though and the Zaku I filled roles in logistics, maintenance, and construction units. Production of the MS-05b continued on, ultimately there being 790 of the B-types made. This number includes an unknown quantity of model B's fitted with experimental land-use equipment. They were part of the first MS units to hit the ground during the Earth invasion. Though as J-type Zaku IIs became available, these land-use Zaku Is were sent behind the lines as well.
The final story of the Zaku I begins in December 0079. General Revill's Operation Star One was an outstanding success. The rapid collapse of Solomon meant that A Baoa Qu was the only defense line left before Side 3. Although the Home Defense Fleet was equipped with the advanced MS-14a Gelgoog, they would need as many MS as they could gather to counter the advancing Federation fleet and it's numerous GM mobile suits. Zaku Is were pulled from every dock, construction yard, training field and supply ship to hold up A Baoa Qu's defenses. These units were piloted by rear-line people with no combat experience or training, or worse, by students with little time in a mobile suit at all. The Zaku I--the first mobile suit, stood alongside Zeon's last and most advanced, the Gelgoog. The First and the Last died together at A Baoa Qu on New Years Day 0080. In the illustration above we see a typical late production MS-05b wearing it's simple blue and green colors denoting a noncombat use. This A Baoa Qu defender has been lucky to acquire an advanced MMP-80 machine gun. This weapon was not approved for MS-05b use but the loss of target accuracy would be more than made up with by the greater firepower. |
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