The RX-0[N] Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn (aka Banshee Norn) is an upgraded variant of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee that appears in the OVA version of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn . The unit is piloted by Riddhe Marcenas.

The Banshee Norn is an improved version of the Banshee with enhanced performance

The Banshee Norn's enhanced capabilities are assigned to pilot Riddhe Marcenas of Londo Bell. The unit itself remains unchanged, with only the BS and VN Armed Armor being replaced by two new pieces of equipment: the DE Armed Armor and the XC Armed Armor. The Banshee Norn's primary ranged weapon is the Beam Magnum, now with a new attachment, the Revolving Launcher. In Destroy mode, the XC Armor opens and pivots upwards, giving the Banshee Norn a lion-like appearance.

Features

NT-D System

It's a special operating system installed in the RX-0 series Mobile Suits. The name "NT-D" is supposed to be an abbreviation for "Newtype Drive," but it

This is actually an abbreviation for "Newtype Destroyer," a system developed to eliminate Newtypes. The system is activated when it detects an enemy psycommu machine and its Newtype or Cyber-Newtype pilot. Once activated, the MS transforms into Destroy mode, which significantly improves its performance by disabling its limiters and allowing it to divert the enemy machine's psycommu weaponry. However, this mode places a heavy burden on both the pilot and the machine, and its duration is limited to five minutes. To reduce the load when the system is activated, the seat is designed to transform, and a special pilot suit has been developed to pharmacologically reduce G-forces.

Armed Armor XC

The Armed Armor XC (Xeno-Connect) is a supplementary backpack that increases generator power while using the head antenna to detect incoming enemy mobile suits' Psycommu waves. This significantly improves the pilot's affinity with the machine and allows a non-Newtype pilot to activate the NT-D system. The development of this equipment was closely tied to that of the Psycommu assistance system known as n_i_t_r_o. The Banshee Norn's backpack Beam Sabers are stored in the Armed Armor XC.

Weapons

• 60mm Vulcan Gun: Standard armament equipping many Federation mobile suits. While practically ineffective against mobile suit armor, they are useful for intercepting incoming missiles/rockets, destroying mobile suit sensors, and engaging lightly armored vehicles.
• Beam Magnum: A highly customized Beam Rifle designed with an energy capacitor. A single shot from the Beam Magnum has the same power as four shots from a standard Beam Rifle, but it consumes an entire E-pac. Each Beam Magnum magazine is loaded with five E-pacs, allowing for a total of five shots before needing a new magazine. The Banshee Norn can carry spare magazines on its rear skirt.
  • Revolving Launcher: A new attachment has been added to the Banshee Norn's Beam Magnum, reminiscent of the Super Napalm from RX-78-2 Gundam . Each barrel of the launcher contains a different weapon. A spare launcher can be stored on the rear skirt.
  • Beam Jutte: Stored in the rotating launcher, this is a short Beam Saber designed to catch enemy Beam Sabers, allowing the pilot to quickly counter when there isn't time to deploy their main Beam Saber, or when the Banshee Norn is in a tight spot and has lost its Beam Sabers. This is reminiscent of the Beam Riffles used by the RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes," RX-78GP03S Gundam "Dendrobium Stamen," etc.
  • BOP Missile: A set of four small missiles that are fired from the Revolving Launcher.
  • MGaAP: Armor-piercing shells that produce a blinding flash upon explosion. Four shells are fired from the rotating launcher and, together, they can destroy a Mobile Suit's shield.
  • Micro Hide Bomb: Numerous small bombs stored in a bomb case are fired from the Revolving Launcher. The case breaks open shortly after launch, releasing the bombs which float towards the targets and explode on impact.
• Beam Saber: The Banshee is equipped with four Beam Sabers, two on its forearms and two in its backpack. In normal mode, the Emulator only has access to the two Beam Sabers mounted on its forearms. In Destroy mode, the other two lightsabers are deployed from the backpack, granting access to all four sabers.
• Beam Tonfa: The forearm-mounted Beam Sabers can be flipped over and used directly; in this form, they are known as Beam Tonfas. The right forearm Beam Tonfa cannot be used when the Banshee is equipped with the Armed Armor BS.
• Armed Armor DE: The Armed Armor DE (Defense-Extension) is the standard I-Field shield used by the Banshee, with additional components containing more psyco-frame, six boosters (four on top and two on the bottom), and a mega-cannon. The mega-cannon provides the Banshee Norn with another ranged weapon, while the boosters grant the MS a speed comparable to that of a Base Jabber when the Armed Armor DE is mounted on the Armed Armor XC. It can also be used as an improvised melee weapon with significant range.

History

Its story is the same as that of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee , only what happens to it needs to be added.

After the Laplace incident, Riddhe Marcenas left Audrey and Banagher to return the Banshee Norn to the Earth Federation forces. The Mobile Suit will then be kept and sealed there so that no one can awaken the machine's potential.

Did you know?

• "Norn" is an extinct North Germanic language. In Norse mythology, Norn also refers to one of the many female beings who govern the fate of gods and men, similar to the Moirai of Greek mythology.
• The Banshee Norn is the anime form of the Banshee closest to the Banshee seen in the novel, possessing the same weaponry as the Unicorn Gundam.