Technology & Combat Characteristics

After completion of the last model of Project Zeta, the RX-104FF Penelope, Anaheim Electronics secretly developed and built an improved variant, the RX-105 Ξ Gundam, and sold it to the terrorist group of Mafty Navue Erin. The Ξ Gundam features a Minovsky Craft unit similar to the Penelope but integrates it into its main frame, resulting in a sleeker design and lighter mass. Unlike Penelope, the Ξ Gundam doesn't transform but deploys a Beam Barrier by flipping its chest armor up. The Beam Barrier is a device that creates a conical barrier in front of the Ξ Gundam as it flies through the air, making it more aerodynamic and allowing it to achieve supersonic speeds in flight exceeding Mach 2. These minor changes give the Ξ Gundam an edge against Penelope in terms of performance. Its armaments are similar to the Penelope, but it has a larger shield without the built-in particle cannon that provided the Penelope better protection.

History

In U.C. 105, the Ξ Gundam is received by the terrorist group Mafty while being transported from Anaheim Electronics' factory on the Moon to Halmahera, Indonesia on Earth. Mafty used the Ξ Gundam in an attempt to attack a meeting of Earth Federation leaders in Australia. Not only did the Ξ Gundam have slightly superior performance to the Penelope, but Lane Aime's recklessness and lack of experience contributed to his loss against Mafty as well. However, Lane eventually got over his pride and lured the Ξ Gundam into beam barrier traps. The traps knocked Mafty unconscious and allowed the Circe unit to arrest him. Its wreckage is later retrieved by the Federation Forces.