Gundam GQuuuuuuX Ep. 1: The Red Gundam

In Universal Century (UC) 0085, two civilian-use Zaku mobile suits engage in the illegal Clan Battle sport in space outside Side 6’s Izuma Colony. The Principality of Zeon cruiser Sodon sounds its horns as a warning because the two suits are in its flight path. The mobile suits move out of the way, but Sodon commander Russet complains about Zeon having sold mobile suits to civilians after the war. Ensign Comoli Harcourt notes that at least the installer keys have been removed, so the Zakus can’t use any weapons. Fleet commander Challia Bull comments that this creates jobs for Federation Forces remnants and that Zeon also has a duty as the victors. Comoli points out that Side 6 is a sovereign nation and that Zeon has no duty to look after them. Challia has a strange feeling in his head and thinks it’s the Red Gundam. Nearby, Side 6 Police Zakus engage the Red Gundam. Inside the colony, teenager Amate Yuzuriha gets a weird text message as she exits the subway. She then gets knocked over when a girl named Nyaan jumps the turnstile while evading the police. The police continue to give chase and step on Amate’s phone, cracking the screen. In the bathroom, Amate finds an envelope in her bag with a device in it and realizes it belongs to the girl who knocked her over. She searches the device’s serial number on Foolypedia and learns that it’s an installer key for a mobile suit’s battle computer – and it’s illegal. Two special forces Police Zaku pilots named Raggucci and Arraga fly outside the colony where the Red Gundam pilot painted graffiti on the colony’s outer wall. With Side 6’s military police unable to capture the Red Gundam, Russet wonders if the pilot really is Char Aznable, the Red Comet. Comoli thinks this one is an impostor like many before, and Challia asks if she knows the rumors of Char’s origins. Comoli mentions a rumor that he’s actually the son of Zeon Deikun, and another one that he was Challia’s friend and Mav, but she doesn’t believe it. Challia mentions that Kycilia Zabi thinks differently, which is why they’ve come here to investigate. Challia asks Kowal for an update on the Gundam QuuuuuuX and is told that pilot Xavier Olivette is training to switch machines. Challia decides to use the Omega Psycommu activation key, but Comoli objects and Russet notes that they borrowed the Gundam on the condition that they not use the Psycommu system. Comoli notes that the Omega Psycommu has never been tested in combat and that if it went out of control it could cause a Zeknova. Russet adds that in that situation they’d face a military tribunal under Vice Admiral M’Quve. Challia answers that the only thing that can catch the Red Gundam is another suit that has the same power, and Xavier asks from the cockpit if Challia thinks he can handle the Omega Psycommu. Challia recalls hearing that Xavier was the top of his class at the Flanagan School, and if not for that he wouldn’t let him use a Psycommu activation key. He adds that this is a secret mission and Xavier reminds him that this would be his first battle. Challia thinks he’ll be fine since he’s a Newtype and Xavier then launches in the GQuuuuuuX. Elsewhere, Nyaan traces the installer key back to Amate and steals her backpack. Amate gives chase and catches up to Nyaan outside a small shrine just as Nyaan discovers that only the tracker is in the backpack. Amate holds up the installer key but Nyaan hides behind the shrine. Amate then tosses the key into the air, which forces Nyaan to reveal her position. Amate grabs the key and asks if Nyaan is a terrorist, but she answers that it’s just for Clan Battle. Amate falls off the post she’s standing on and lands on Nyaan. Xavier picks up the Red Gundam flying out in the open and fires a ceasefire signal that is promptly ignored. Xavier has a Newtype reaction to the Red Gundam and dodges its bits before it moves in to attack with vulcans. The Red Gundam then attacks with its beam saber and Xavier is frustrated that he can’t activate the Omega Psycommu. Xavier slams into the Red Gundam and pushes it toward the colony. Amate follows Nyaan and learns that she’s a courier. Amate asks about the police earlier and Nyaan answers that they’re good at picking out refugees. Amate is surprised that their destination is in a rundown area, but Nyaan notes that no decent person would do Clan-Bat. Amate rings the doorbell and Nyaan speaks the passphrase to get them inside. A man named Jezzi complains that Nyaan got spotted by the police and almost screwed them over. Another man named Nabu introduces Nyaan to their boss, Annqi. Jezzi asks Amate who she is and she answers that she’s a babysitter or maybe a Mav. Nyaan hands over the installer key, which Jezzi grabs and hooks up to a laptop to decode it. Annqi concludes that Amate and Nyaan aren’t friends and conceals a gun when Amate starts snooping around the room. She asks if Amate is interested in Clan Battle, and Amate asks if you can be free in space. She looks out the window and sees their Zaku. The ground rumbles when the Red Gundam and GQuuuuuuX smash through into the colony.

The Red Gundam uses its two bits to intimidate Xavier without firing them inside the colony. The bits maneuver around and get close to Amate and Nyaan. Xavier grabs one of the bits and swings it around to destroy the other before both suits crash into the ground. The Red Gundam’s shield flies out of control and nearly hits Amate and Nyaan, but the pilot catches it. Xavier picks up Raggucci and Arraga’s Zakus on sensors and drops colored smoke to cover his escape. Arraga believes there’s a lift nearby that goes down to a maintenance tunnel, but Raggucci complains that they can’t find the target if it’s hiding in a building. They land and haphazardly eject their propellant tank, causing wanton destruction on the ground and sending civilians fleeing. Arraga tells Raggucci to rip off every roof to search the area and that it’s fine because they’re illegal buildings constructed by refugees. As the two wreak havoc across the town, Annqi laments that even though Zeon won the war, Spacenoids will never be free. The Police Zakus begin moving in their direction and Annqi tells the others to hide their Clan-Bat Zaku. Amate asks if they’re not going to fight and Nyaan answers that no one’s dumb enough to fight MPs. Amate then grabs the installer key and gets into the Zaku while Jezzi is trying to start it up. Jezzi opens the garage door to move the Zaku before the MPs find it. A Haro tells Amate where the installer device docks and she shoves it in place. After loading new firmware, the Zaku’s monoeye changes from green to red, indicating that it’s armed. Raggucci attacks the Zaku from behind and pushes it toward the maintenance tunnel. Inside the tunnel, Xavier stashes the GQuuuuuuX and is shocked when the two Zakus crash into the tunnel. Raggucci spots the GQuuuuuuX and sees that Xavier’s pilot suit is Zeon. Amate looks at the GQuuuuuuX and decides that it looks stronger. She then slams her Zaku into Raggucci’s Zaku and jumps into the GQuuuuuuX’s cockpit with the Haro. The Omega Psycommu immediately activates and unlocks new controls in the cockpit. The GQuuuuuuX’s head opens a V-fin and the suit deploys its shield when Raggucci fires his machine gun. Amate grabs a heat hawk off the floor and stabs Raggucci’s Police Zaku, disabling it. Arraga arrives and opens fire on Amate, but he accidentally hits the airlock controls. The airlock opens and sucks Amate into space with Arraga giving chase and opening fire. Amate has a Newtype reaction and sees a vision of shining colors and the Red Gundam. Amate regains control of the GQuuuuuuX and attacks Arraga, using the heat hawk to disable his Police Zaku. She wonders who the pilot of the Red Gundam was. The Red Gundam flies close to the Sodon and Challia realizes that Char isn’t the pilot. Inside the colony, Nyaan slips away as police swarm the area.