The Checkmate-series MS

In the fanfic universe these MS belong to, it is 300 years after the events of Turn-A Gundam and the Earth is being reunited with the rest of the Earth Sphere. Everything's reletively peaceful with the only cause for concern being an Armored Core-esque corporation war.

Until a fleet of never-before-seen (in this universe anyway) warships led by five warriors piloting seemingly all-powerful Gundams. The MS depicted here are piloted by their soldiers.

From left to right, they are the stalwart grunt Rook, the defensive powerhouse/mid-range fire support unit Bishop, and the deadly-yet-elegant suit exclusively for high-ranking commanders, the Knight.

The Rook is designed to rely more on speed and agility rather than extreme firepower and armor. As such, it features only the bare essentials in terms of weapons: a Beam Gun, a 60mm Head Vulcan, a Beam Saber, and a Light Shield with Anti-Beam Coating. Anti-Beam Coating has been placed on several important locations: the joints, around the cockpit, and the upper head. The Rook can also use an optional backpack that mounts a 500mm Cannon.

The Bishop is designed to be what the Rook isn't: heavily armed and defended, but slower and less agile; the Bishop is used primarily to provide fire-support for Rooks and guard fleets. It is armed with two 6-barrel Beam Gatling Guns, two 100mm Machineguns, a doubled-bladed Heat Tomahawk (Heat Hawk to the Gundam-savvy), and a Gatling Gun pod. The two large shields on the shoulders are why the Bishop is a defensive powerhouse; they each mount an I-Field Projector. I-Fields are invisible barriers that extend around an MS and are invincible to Beam Weapons, but are worthless against bullets, missiles, and beams originating within the I-Field. The Bishop can also mount a pair of 12-tube Missile Pods for additional firepower.

The Knight is the cream of the crop for these MS. Only the best ace pilots can bring out this suit's potential. The Knight is well-suited for any range, though it excells at melee combat. It is armored with Laminate Armor, a very beam-resistant armor, and is covered all over with anti-Beam Coating. It is armed with two Beam Saber/Rifles, two Beam Guns, two Extensional Arrestors (Claws and Beam Sabers attatched to the Knight via extending cables), and four 35mm Head Vulcans. Newtype pilots can also take advantage of the twelve Funnels the Knight carriers (six per arm). For the elite of the Knight-piloting elites, the Knight can also use a pair of large anti-ship Beam Swords that are mounted on the backpack.