AMX-004 Qubeley

The AMX-004 Qubeley was a prototype Newtype-use assault mobile suit developed by Axis Zeon. Haman Karn, leader of Axis Zeon and later Neo Zeon, used it as her personal mobile suit during the Gryps Conflict and the First Neo Zeon War. The “AMX” in the model code refers to it being a mobile weapon developed in the Zeon asteroid base Axis. The “004” in the model code indicates that it was the fourth mobile weapon designed in Axis.

History

The Principality of Zeon developed the AMX-001 (MSN-008) Prototype Qubeley based on the data gathered from the MAN-08 Elmeth. The Prototype Qubeley was designed during the the One Year War to be the next generation mobile suit tailored for Newtype pilots. Before the Prototype Qubeley could be built, Zeon had lost the war.

The blueprints for the prototype were brought to Axis by fleeing Zeon engineers, where it was redesignated as AMX-001 under the Axis Zeon mobile suit development program. The Axis Zeon engineers refined the design of the Prototype Qubeley using data gathered from the MS-09R4 (MS-09RN) Psycommu Rick Dom “Schnee Weiss” to produce the AMX-004 Qubeley.

AMX-004 Qubeley

AMX-004 Qubeley

Axis Zeon leader Haman Karn used the Qubeley as her personal mobile suit when she sortied in battle during the Gryps Conflict and the First Neo Zeon War. Haman Karn’s Newtype abilities allowed her to unleash the full potential of the Qubeley, defeating many foes, including newer mobile suits that were superior to the Qubeley. She sortied in the Qubeley at the end of the Gryps Conflict and outfought AEUG ace pilot Quattro Bajeena despite him piloting the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki, which was one of the most advance mobile suit then.

Haman Karn continued to subdue foes piloting newer and more advanced mobile suits during the First Neo Zeon War. However, she was defeated in battle by AEUG pilot Judau Ashta in his MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam. With her mobile suit disabled and her forces surrounded, she knew that the end was nigh for her First Neo Zeon Movement. Rather than accept the disgrace of defeat, Haman Karn chose to commit suicide by crashing the Qubeley into an asteroid.

In UC 0088, the Qubeley was developed into the AMX-004-2 Qubeley Mk-II and AMX-004-3 Qubeley Mk-II. The Qubeley Mk-II served as the basis for the mass production version, the AMX-004G Qubeley Mass Production Type.

AMX-004 Qubeley undergoing maintenance in a hangar bay

AMX-004 Qubeley undergoing maintenance in a hangar bay

Back of the AMX-004-Quebeley

Back of the AMX-004-Quebeley

Design

The AMX-004 Qubeley was a Newtype-use assault mobile suit developed using the data gathered from the MS-09R4 (MS-09RN) Psycommu Rick Dom “Schnee Weiss” and the AMX-001 (MSN-008) Prototype Qubeley. It was the first Zeon mobile suit to adopt a twin optical sensor instead of the traditional mono-eye. It had a panoramic monitor with linear seat in its cockpit located in its torso.

Psycommu system

Like its predecessors, the Qubeley had a psycommu system that allowed its pilots to control the mobile suit with their brainwaves. Unlike the mobile suits it derived its design from, the Qubeley saw an incredible technological breakthrough that saw the psycommu system minaturised to fit a regular-sized mobile suit.

As brainwaves were unaffected by Minovsky particlesinteference, Newtypes were able to control remote weapon units with the psycommu system. The Qubeley had a tail binder that contained ten funnels. These remote weapons were smaller and cheaper version of the bits used by the Elmeth. The funnels drew power from an energy capacitator that required recharging. They were recalled to the tail binder to recharge.

AMX-004 Qubeley torso

AMX-004 Qubeley torso

AMBAC

A pair of rocket thrusters with a combined output of 61,600 kg provided main propulsion for the Qubeley. The mobile suit had twelve vernier thrusters and apogee motors, several of which were built into the wing binders on its shoulders and the tail binder on its back to assist in AMBAC (Active Mass Balace Auto Control). This ingenious design that granted the Qubeley phenomenal mobility. The mobile suit had two independent wing binders on each shoulder, giving the pilot full control of the suit’s movements. The Qubeley’s main thrusters were mounted under the wing binders instead of on the back like most mobile suits to accomodate the tail binder.

AMX-004 Qubeley wing binder

AMX-004 Qubeley wing binder

AMX-004 Qubeley leg

AMX-004 Qubeley leg

Armaments

Instead of the mega particle cannons used by the Prototype Qubeley, the AMX-004 Qubeley’s standard weapons were a pair of hybrid beam sabres that could function as beam guns and beam sabres for ranged and melee combat. It also had remote-controlled funnels that had beam guns mounted on them. The funnels allowed the Qubeley to strike at enemies at long ranges.

Hybrid beam sabres

The hybrid beam sabre had two modes: beam gun mode, and beam sabre mode. A hybrid beam sabre was stored in each of the Qubeley’s forearms. When mounted in the forearm, the sabres were in beam gun mode and drew their rounds from the suit’s Minovsky reactor. Minovksy particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the beam gun bolts to penetrate even the thickest armour. This meant that a single shot could destroy a mobile suit.

The beam sabres could be removed from the forearms, causing them to switch to beam sabre mode. The beam sabres used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. The beam sabres could cut through almost any material. Minovsky particles were channelled into the sabres through an energy capacitator (E-cap) attached to their hilts. The E-cap recharged with Minvosky particles from the Qubeley reactor when the sabres were mounted in the suit’s forearms.

AMX-004 Qubeley arm and beam sabre

AMX-004 Qubeley arm and beam sabre

Funnels

The Qubeley had ten funnels stored in its tail binder. These were smaller and cheaper versions of the bits used by the MAN-08 Elmeth. The Elmeth’s bits had on-board reactors to provide power, allowing them to function for extended periods. In contrast, each of Qubeley’s funnels was powered by an E-cap. Although this allowed the to operate remotely for a certain amount of time, they had to be recalled to the tail binder for recharging when their power was drained. The E-caps recharged with Minvosky particles from the Qubeley reactor.

Each funnel was a beam gun with thrusters. The beam gun had a power output rated at 1.3 megawatts. The funnel had a main thruster for propulsion and eight vernier thrusters.

AMX-004 Qubeley funnel

AMX-004 Qubeley funnel

The mobile suit’s psycommu system allowed the funnels to be controlled remotely by the pilot’s brainwaves. The funnels responded almost instantly to the pilot’s thoughts. The funnels were small and fast, making them undetectable visually. Coupled with their ability to function with the Qubeley remaining beyond enemy visual range, the funnels made a deadly weapon system. The pilot could operate the funnels to attack the enemy from all angles, closing off all possible escape vectors for enemy mobile weapons.

AMX-004 Qubeley tail binder and funnels

AMX-004 Qubeley tail binder and funnels

Known pilot

Behind the scenes

Mamoru Nagano was the original mechanical designer.

The Qubeley was named after the Greek goddess Cybele. In Greek mythology, Cybele is associated with mountains, town and city walls, fertile nature, and wild animals, especially lions.[foot]Cybele on Wikipedia.[/foot]

2LMES

There is an engraving of the word 2LMES on the Qubeley’s back, near the left rear wing binder. 2LMES is a reference to the MAN-08 Elmeth as LMES in Japanese phonics is pronounced as Elmeth. 2LMES implies that the Qubeley is the second generation Elmeth.

Gundam Battle Assault

In Gundam Battle Assault 2, the Qubeley was a only playable using a Gameshark device.

Appearances

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Games