Evangelion Unit-06 (AVANT)

Evangelion Unit-06 equipped with Thermal Armor.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

**Evangelion Unit-06** was the first Evangelion in the Second Evangelion Series. It was designated to the pilot Mason Smith, the Fourth Child and built by NERV's Second Branch in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States of America. The unit was developed as the first true realization of the Evangelion Production Model B design. Its thermal armor plating was designed to help NERV with diagnostics on the Evangelion.

The unit was deployed by NERV in only one single operation before the events of the Epilogue, where it was deployed a second time against the Third Angel, Iruel. NERV attempted to deploy the Evangelion on two other operations, but its consistent refusal to activate proved to be a major problem in the operation of the Evangelion.

EVA Unit-06 appears primarily in the campaign Evangelion AVANT: First Impression. It is the counterpart to Evangelion Unit-04 in the sequel campaign, Evangelion REBUILD: Eternity is (Not) Forever.

## Appearance

This Evangelion possesses a head with two glowing red eyes, a rounded top, and an exaggerated chin. It was equipped with heavy, thermal armor plating. The EVA Unit was also equipped with shoulder pylons. While still maintaining the lankiness of the typical Evangelion Unit, it is also a bit more muscular. It had a noticeably weak AT Field, but had enough physicality that it was able to operate well as a tank; even without the usage of its AT Field.

## History

### Development

Evangelion Unit-06 was the first Evangelion in the Second Evangelion Series to be completed, and the sixth Evangelion to be built overall. It was built by NERV's Second Branch in Cambridge, Massachusetts as a Production Model B Evangelion. While the United States had originally envisioned its other projects as the first true realization of their Production Model B design, that did not end up coming to pass.

#### Proposal

Evangelion Unit-06 was one of the first four Evangelions originally proposed to the United Nations by Vice-Commander Kozo Fuyutsuki. It was the first Evangelion in the series to be approved by the United Nations, and was assigned to the eager United States of America. This proved to become a minor issue, as the United States was still in the process of building both Evangelion Unit-03 and Unit-04. Their production had to be delayed to focus on the development of Unit-06.

#### Construction

After construction for the Second Evangelion Series was approved by the United Nations, development of Evangelion Unit-03 was halted in-favor of having NERV-02 focused on the development of Evangelion Unit-06. A lot of the design plans for Unit-03 were used in-addition to the new plans drawn up for Unit-06. Some parts from Unit-03 were even removed so that they could be utilized for the construction of Unit-06. NERV-02 developed experimental Heavy Thermal Plating specifically for the usage of Evangelion Unit-06; so that NERV personnel would be able to have better control of the Unit's energy consumption.

### Evangelion AVANT: First Impression

Evangelion Unit-06 plays a minor role in Evangelion AVANT: First Impression. While designated to the Fourth Child, it spends a good deal of time sitting within the Evangelion Cage due to a recurring refusal to activate. The unit plays its most prominent roles in Episode 05 and the Epilogue.

#### Prologue

In the Prologue, it was revealed that Mason Smith was to become the designated pilot for Evangelion Unit-06. It is briefly mentioned by Commander Gendo Ikari when he is reading through the intelligence he has received on the Second Evangelion Series. He refers to the United States as "showoffs," for developing Unit-06.

Evangelion Unit-06 does not make any further appearances in the Prologue.

#### Episode 01 - Angel Attack

During the Fourth Angel, Sachiel's attack on NERV HQ, the Second Evangelion Series prepares for its first deployment against an Angel. Mason Smith, the designated pilot, suits up and enters the Evangelion through the Entry Plug. However, right before deployment, Evangelion Unit-06 suddenly refuses to activate. With no time to spare, Commander Gendo Ikari orders that Unit-06 be kept in the Evangelion Cage while the rest of the Second Evangelion Series is launched. Evangelion Unit-06 is not sortied against Sachiel and remains in the Evangelion Cage until Episode 03.

#### Episode 02 - Moving In and Selling Out

Evangelion Unit-06 does not appear in Episode 02.

#### Episode 03 - Evangelions At School

After the arrival of the Fifth Angel, Shamsiel, Evangelion Unit-06 was called into deployment against the Angel but refused to activate once again. As a result, Mason and Unit-06 are forced to remain in NERV HQ during the events of the battle. NERV technicians can be seen making several adjustments to the Evangelion in hopes of getting it to activate properly.

Mason is later evacuated with the rest of NERV HQ when Shamsiel reaches Terminal Dogma. Evangelion Unit-06 sustains damage from the subsequent detonation of NERV HQ. At the end of the episode, SEELE berates Commander Gendo Ikari for allowing Unit-06 to continue to malfunction, amongst other things.

#### Episode 04 - 12

When Shamsiel reawakens inside of NERV HQ, Evangelion Unit-06 is deployed alongside Evangelion Unit-10, while Evangelion Units 07, 09, and 11 are already fighting the Sixth Angel, Ramiel, in another part of the GeoFront. The Angel immediately whips both Unit-06 and Unit-10 and deals heavy damage to the two of them. After Unit-10 pins Shamsiel down, Unit-06 beats it down with its tonfas as they wait for Evangelion Unit-08 to join them. However, Shamsiel impales EVA Unit-10 in the abdomen with two if its light whips and launches it away from NERV HQ; trapping EVA Unit-10 down against the ground with its AT Field.

Evangelion Unit-06 attacks Shamsiel once more with its tonfas, but steps away when EVA Unit-08 arrives and goes berserk. After Commander Gendo Ikari sets Unit-10 to self-destruct, Mason protests but ultimately obeys orders to restrain Unit-08; as Unit-08 writhes and screams. Unit-08 eventually breaks from from the grasp of Mason and EVA Unit-06. Unit-06 does not pursue. Instead, Mason continued to plead with Commander Ikari not to allow EVA Unit-10 to detonate with Ben Robinson still inside.

After Ben Robinson uses the detonation of Evangelion Unit-10 to destroy Shamsiel, the Angel's charred corpse (still containing Shamsiel's core) falls to the feet of Evangelion Unit-06. Unit-06 drops to its knees as Mason mourns Ben. EVA Unit-08 used this as an opportunity to steal Shamsiel's core. The unit takes some time to collect fragments of Shamsiel and Unit-10's armor before chasing off after the berserk Unit-08; joining Units 07 and 09 in pursuit. It uses its AT Field to launch itself into the air onto Unit-08, but it runs out of power and crashes into the ground. It remains there until the end of the episode.

#### Episode 05 - Checkmate

At the beginning of Episode 05, Mason returned EVA Unit-06 to the Evangelion Cage within NERV HQ immediately following the second battle against the Fifth Angel, Shamsiel. Not long afterwards, the United Nations and the JSSDF took control of NERV HQ. Because of this, Unit-06 is not deployed again until the Epilogue.

## Trivia

* Evangelion Unit-06 refusing to activate on several occasions was a detail added in post to explain the frequent disappearances of the Mason Soul.
	+ This particular issue of Evangelion Unit-06 is resolved in the Epilogue of the campaign.

 ONII Series