Side story takes place in UC timeline

The official website for Yatate Bunko — Sunrise's new light novel imprint — published the first chapter of a novel titled Mobile Suit Gundam Twilight AXIS on Monday. Arpeggio of Blue Steel creator Ark Performance is handling story composition and illustration, while Koujirou Nakamura ( Mobile Suit Gundam Climax U.C. - Tsumugareshi Kizuna manga, Arpeggio of Blue Steel - Ars Nova anime scripts) is writing the novel. The second chapter will launch online at the end of November.

The story takes place in Universal Century 0096. Arlette Armaju (below left), a former weapons developer for the Principality of Zeon, and Danton Haireg (below right), a former test pilot for the Principality of Zeon, join a research team sent to investigate the shattered Axis outside the Earth's orbit.

A key mobile suit that appears in the story is the Zaku III Kai.

Ark Performance launched the ongoing Arpeggio of Blue Steel manga in Shonengahosha's Young King Ours magazine in 2009. Seven Seas Entertainment is publishing the manga in print in North America, and Crunchyroll is publishing the manga online. The manga inspired a television anime, which Crunchyroll streamed as it aired in Japan in 2013, and two anime films.

In addition to Arpeggio of Blue Steel , Ark Performance is writing the Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R Johnny Ridden no Kikan (Johnny Ridden's Return) manga for Gundam Ace magazine. Arc Performance also previously worked on the Mobile Suit Gundam Kōbō no A Baoa Qu (A Baoa Qu of the Beam of Light), and Mobile Suit Gundam Gihren Ansatsu Keikaku ) (Gihren Assassination Plan) manga.

Sunrise launched its Yatate Bunko imprint at the end of September.

[Via Yaraon!]