Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Hashmal is one of the countless model of mobile armors that took the lives of a quarter of the world's population during the Calamity War. Originating from Artificial Intelligence (AI)-equipped self-sustaining weapon developed before the war, mobile armors are independent, unmanned weapons controlled by their own, self-evolution AI Meant for slaughtering humans, they will move towards areas with high human populations for that purpose Despite being larger than a mobile suit, it is much more agile, appearing similar to a bird of prey during attacks. It is armed with a head-mounted beam weapon, a superhard wire blade attached to the back of its head, and a pair of claw-mounted kinetic energy shot launchers. It is usually accompanied by multiple small, unmanned units known as Pluma. Plumas are produced by the Hashmal itself (there is a theory that a plant-like production unit is necessary), and they operate based on its orders. Besides serving as attack units, Plumas can also repair the Hashmal and play various support roles. The Hashmal's core control unit is exposed on the underside of the head, but landing a direct hit is difficult due to the nanolaminate armor on the rest of the machine and because of the Plumas protecting the mobile armor.
History
It is unclear when the Hashmal was developed during the Calamity War, but it is certain that the mobile armor was trapped and buried in a large field of half-metal on Mars alongside its Plumas, and the ASW-G-64 Gundam Flauros in the late stages of the war. Unable to detect Ahab Waves due to the half-metal, it entered a state of dormancy. However, the half-metal also made it impossible for Hashmal's foes to detect it, as such it became one of the few mobile armors to survive the Calamity War.
In P.D. 325, Tekkadan uncovered the Hashmal while excavating the half-metal. Gjallarhorn's McGillis Fareed quickly assembled a group to investigate upon being informed of the discovery. He then explained the mobile armor's history and abilities to his Tekkadan entourage as they traveled to the site. While observing the half-buried Hashmal, they were suddenly confronted by a mobile suit squadron led by Gjallarhorn's Iok Kujan, who accused McGillis of plotting to earn an Order of the Seven Stars by destroying the mobile armor. Despite McGillis's warnings, Iok accidentally awakened the Hashmal when his customized EB-08s Reginlaze moved too close to the pit, allowing the mobile armor to sense the mobile suit's Ahab Waves. After breaking free of the half-metal by firing its beam weapon, Hashmal deployed a swarm of Plumas and annihilated Iok's squad. Tekkadan took the opportunity to flee and prepare a counterattack; on the other hand, Iok narrowly escaped with a badly damaged Reginlaze thanks to the sacrifices of his men.
With all immediate threats to itself removed, the Hashmal directed its Plumas to forage for fuel and materials to sustain its operation. Afterward, it sets its sights on Chryse to resume its destruction of humanity. Tekkadan tried to ambush it in a canyon, but a failed attack by the vengeful Iok redirected the mobile armor towards an agricultural center. Ride Mass used his STH-16 Shiden as a shield against the Hashmal's beam weapon, but the beam diffused against the mobile suit's Nanolaminate Armor, resulting in heavy damage to the large agricultural plant and civilian casualties. Ride was then overwhelmed by the Plumas' sheer numbers, but was saved by the arrival of Mikazuki Augus in his ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Lupus. Later, after disengaging the safety limiter on the Barbatos Lupus' Alaya-Vijnana system, Mikazuki defeated the Hashmal by destroying its core control unit, incurring significant damage to the Gundam and himself in the process. Following its destruction, the Hashmal's tail parts were salvaged and transplanted onto the ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex, Gundam Barbatos Lupus' upgraded form.
