PMX-001 Palace Athene

The PMX-001 Palace Athene is a prototype mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation’s Titans and deployed during the Gryps Conflict in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Designed at the Augusta Newtype Research Lab under the direction of Paptimus Scirocco, the Palace Athene reflects his distinctive approach to mobile suit aesthetics and functionality—resulting in a heavily armed, mobile artillery platform optimized for space combat.

Piloted by Reccoa Londe following her defection to the Titans, the Palace Athene stands out for its unique frame and asymmetrical silhouette. Unlike most other mobile suits of its era, it is equipped with four large missile pods mounted on sub-arms located behind its shoulders, allowing for a massive missile barrage at both mid- and long-range. These missile containers are supported by numerous verniers and attitude control thrusters, granting surprising agility despite the unit’s bulk.

In addition to its missile loadout, the Palace Athene is armed with a beam saber for close combat, a beam rifle for general-purpose ranged attacks, and leg-mounted grenade launchers. Its robust armor and firepower make it ideal for suppressive roles and large-scale fleet engagements, though it is less suited to high-speed dueling against more nimble units like the Zeta Gundam.

Although it only appears briefly in the series, the Palace Athene symbolizes the Titans’ reliance on overwhelming firepower and the dark shift in Reccoa’s character arc. Its elaborate design and unorthodox silhouette are hallmarks of Scirocco’s engineering philosophy, which blends flamboyance with deadly practicality. Despite its limited screen time, the PMX-001 remains a memorable example of late One Year War–era mobile suit development, bridging conventional warfare with more experimental Titans prototypes.