Technology & Combat Characteristics
The RGM-79Q GM Quel is the first mass-produced mobile suit created by the Titans special forces, used during the organization's early stages mainly for peacekeeping, riot control and suppression purposes inside space colonies. It can be said that a clear line could be drawn, performance wise, between the more advanced GM Quel and the other mass-produced service models used within the common ranks of the EFSF, signifying the elite status of the Titans.
Manufactured on Luna II, the GM Quel was developed using the EFSF's own technology and capabilities as a demonstration of the early Titans' commitment to their "Terra firma" policies, despite gaining the expertise and support from numerous military and civilian contractors, such as the Zeonic Company and Anaheim Electronics after the war. Using the Augusta base's high-performing RGM-79N GM Custom as the basis, the Titans simplified its design to make the machine lighter and less complex for ease of mass production, while keeping its high performance relatively unaffected. Any loss of durability and/or reliability as a result of the simplification was made up by introducing new, innovative design concepts and technology into the GM Quel. One such example is the design of the GM Quel's arm unit, which would later further evolve into the Movable Frame concept utilized by the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II and newer generation of mobile suits.
The GM Quel featured various minor improvements over its predecessor. The shape of its forehead, chest and shoulder armor has been streamlined, and high performance multi-purpose sensor units installed on the lower calf area of both legs and above the left chest intake. The performance of the existing sensor and communications equipment on the head unit has also been improved. These electronic upgrades allow the GM Quel to better monitor its surrounding environments and civilian populations while on peacekeeping duties. Additionally, due to the increased funding and resources enjoyed by the Titans, the GM Quel also gained the option of being armed with a Beam Rifle, significantly improving its firepower. However, some colonial garrison units opted to retain their standard issue GM Rifles instead, so as to minimize and/or avoid causing collateral damage to colony walls.
A specialized equipment testing and evaluation team, known as "Titans Test Team" or "T3 Unit", uses the GM Quel as the basis for their development of the next generation RX-121 series Gundam-type MS. Performance testing of these prototypes are carried out in actual combat scenarios, much like the venerable RX-78 Gundam series, against Zeon remnants. Earth Federation Forces units that were temporarily placed under Titans' command used GM Quels painted in red and white Federation colors.
History
Following the partial success of Operation Stardust during the Delaz Conflict, EFSF Admiral Jamitov Hymen petitioned to create a specialized counter-insurgency group that can act outside of Earth Federation jurisdiction to eliminate anti-government groups and activities. In anticipation of his success, Admiral Hyman secretly ordered the development of a mass-produced mobile suit to serve as the mainstay combat unit in his new organization. When the Titans were established in December, U.C. 0083, the first GM Quel units were already completed, and they were immediately deployed.
The GM Quel's standard blue paint scheme was eventually adopted as the official Titans livery, and applied to many other Titans mobile suits. GM Quel served the Titans until the Gryps Conflict in U.C. 0087, when they were replaced by more advanced mobile suits created as a result of the arms race between opposing forces.
Following the Titans' defeat in the Gryps Conflict, Colonel Tristan and his faction of Titans remnants fled to Mars, where they aligned with ReZeon and deployed this mobile suit during the Founding War. To reflect its new allegiance, the unit’s shield bore a red segment and prominently displayed the ReZeon emblem.
The rabbit hunt was essentially a public execution masked as a trial: the accused had to survive a ten-minute battle against Alicia's elite Alice Guard to prove their innocence. During the hunt, Donald took advantage of the Guard’s only child soldier, Diana, breaking through the Kehaar II escorts and taking them hostage. However, the confrontation was abruptly ended when Alicia herself intervened, disabling Donald’s suit with a Tri-Blade attack from her ARZ-125 Rehaize, destroying its head unit. Though presumed dead, Donald survived by ingesting a drug provided by the operative Mizuno—living up to the legacy of the "Immortal 4th Team" he once belonged to. The damaged GM Quel was later recovered by the Tristan faction. After repairs, including a replacement head unit, it was redeployed in Operation Shining Star as an RGM-79Q GM Quel［Early Hazel］.