Aina Sahalin

Aina Sahalin was a Zeon test pilot who served as the principal test pilot for the Apsaras Project during the One Year War. The younger sister of the project’s leader Ginias Sahalin, she was a member of Zeon’s prestigious aristocratic Sahalin family and became the deuteragonist of Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team.

Biography

Early life

Aina was born around UC 0059 into the noble Sahalin family. She grew up in high-class Zeon society alongside her older brother Ginias Sahalin, devoted to supporting him in his ambitions to revive the great name of the Sahalin family to its former glory. Norris Packard, a loyal family servant, served as a surrogate father figure to Aina, who according to him resembled her father in appearance.

With her status as nobility, Aina was well-mannered and received a privileged upbringing that instilled in her the values of family loyalty and duty. Despite her comfortable background, she possessed a strong will that would not falter even when backed into a corner.

One Year War service

When the One Year War began, Aina joined the Zeonic Army to support her brother’s military ambitions. Ginias, a brilliant technical officer, had been assigned to oversee the secret Apsaras Project—an ambitious attempt to develop a mobile armor capable of destroying the Earth Federation Forces’ headquarters at Jaburo. Aina became the project’s primary test pilot, demonstrating considerable skill in piloting both conventional mobile suits and the experimental mobile armor prototypes.

First encounter with Shiro Amada

Aina’s life changed dramatically during a chance encounter in space. While piloting her MS-06RD-4 Zaku High Mobility Test Type in a debris field, she engaged in battle with Shiro Amada, who was piloting an RB-79K Ball Type K. Both mobile weapons were destroyed in the encounter, forcing the two pilots to seek refuge in the wreck of a nearby Magellan-class battleship.

Despite being enemies, Aina and Shiro were forced to cooperate to survive their predicament. During their time together, they formed an unexpected bond. Before parting ways, Aina gave Shiro her personal pocket watch to replace his damaged timepiece—a gesture that would later save her life.

The Apsaras test programme

After returning to Earth, Aina began test piloting the massive Apsaras I mobile armor, the first prototype in her brother’s ambitious project. The mobile armor incorporated a revolutionary Minovsky craft system that allowed it to achieve atmospheric flight, though initial tests revealed significant power generation issues.

During subsequent tests of the Apsaras II, Aina unknowingly encountered Shiro again when his 08th Mobile Suit Team attempted to capture the mobile armor. When Shiro’s RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type latched onto the retreating Apsaras II, Aina warned him that such action would likely result in both their deaths. Recognising her voice, Shiro made contact, leading to both craft crashing in the mountains during a snowstorm.

Growing conflict

Stranded together in the harsh mountain environment, Aina and Shiro openly expressed their growing affection for each other despite their opposing allegiances. Shiro returned her pocket watch, and they were eventually rescued by their respective forces. However, Aina attempted to protect Shiro by claiming he had been killed, though her brother Ginias had already discovered their relationship through reconnaissance photographs and her changed demeanour.

As the war progressed and Zeon’s position on Earth deteriorated, Ginias became increasingly erratic and obsessed with completing his project. Aina found herself torn between her family loyalty and her growing realisation that she no longer wished to be her brother’s puppet.

Final confrontation

During the Federation’s final assault on the Zeon base, Aina and Ginias piloted the completed Apsaras III in an attempt to cover the evacuation of wounded Zeon soldiers aboard the hospital ship Kerguelen. However, Ginias sabotaged the ceasefire by attacking during the launch, prompting the Federation to destroy the transport.

When Shiro arrived in his damaged RX-79[G]Ez8 Gundam Ez8, Aina attempted to convince her brother to surrender. Ginias refused and shot her, causing her to fall from the cockpit. Fortunately, Shiro caught her with his mobile suit, and they discovered that her pocket watch had stopped the bullet, saving her life.

Realising that killing Ginias was the only way to end the conflict, Aina made the ultimate choice to side with Shiro. Together, they co-piloted the Ez8 and destroyed the Apsaras III’s cockpit. Although Ginias managed to fire one final shot that destroyed the Federation mobile battleship, seemingly killing both Aina and Shiro in the process.

Life after the war

In reality, both Aina and Shiro survived the final battle. They retreated to the mountains and began a peaceful life together in a small log cabin, having deserted their respective armies. When Kiki Rosita and Michel Ninorich eventually found them, Aina was pregnant with Shiro’s child, symbolising hope for the future beyond the devastating war.

Personality and traits

Aina was described as a healthy, kind, and cheerful woman who initially devoted herself completely to supporting her brother and the Sahalin family name. Her noble upbringing had instilled in her proper manners and a strong sense of duty. However, beneath her aristocratic exterior lay a fierce determination and an independent spirit that refused to yield even in the most desperate circumstances.

Norris Packard, who had served the Sahalin family for years, noted that Aina strongly resembled her father. As a pilot, she demonstrated exceptional skill and was recognised as an ace, though she consistently showed concern for the lives of her subordinates and fellow soldiers.

Her encounter with Shiro Amada marked a turning point in her character development. Through their relationship, Aina began to question her role as her brother’s devoted supporter and developed her own moral compass. This growth ultimately led her to make the difficult decision to oppose Ginias when his obsession threatened countless lives.

Skills and abilities

Piloting expertise

Aina possessed exceptional piloting skills that made her invaluable to the Apsaras Project. Her noble status facilitated her entry into the military, but her abilities were genuine. She demonstrated proficiency in piloting various mobile suits, from conventional units like the MS-06RD-4 Zaku High Mobility Test Type to the massive and complex Apsaras mobile armor series.

Her technical skills extended beyond basic piloting to include test pilot duties, requiring her to evaluate prototype systems and provide feedback for further development. Despite being officially designated as a test pilot, her combat capabilities and tactical knowledge meant that only her brother outranked her at the Zeon base.

Relationships

Ginias Sahalin

Aina’s relationship with her older brother Ginias was complex and evolved dramatically throughout the war. Initially, she devoted herself completely to supporting his ambitions and served as his willing accomplice in the Apsaras Project. However, as Ginias became increasingly obsessed and ruthless, Aina began to recognise the destructive nature of his single-minded pursuit of the project.

The breaking point came when Ginias shot her for attempting to convince him to surrender. This act of fratricide shattered any remaining loyalty she felt towards him and led to her ultimate decision to help destroy the Apsaras III with Shiro.

Shiro Amada

Aina’s relationship with Shiro Amada began as an unlikely alliance born of necessity but blossomed into deep love that transcended the boundaries of war. Their initial encounter in the wrecked battleship established a foundation of mutual respect and cooperation that survived multiple battlefield encounters.

Despite the impossibility of their situation as enemies on opposite sides of the conflict, their bond grew stronger with each meeting. Shiro’s genuine nature and moral compass helped Aina recognise her own desires for peace and freedom from her brother’s manipulation. Their love ultimately proved stronger than their military obligations, leading both to desert their armies for a life together.

Norris Packard

Norris Packard served as a crucial father figure in Aina’s life. The loyal family servant had cared for both Sahalin siblings since childhood, and Aina looked up to him as a surrogate father. Packard consistently prioritised Aina’s safety and well-being, often accompanying her during dangerous missions and test flights.

His dedication to protecting Aina was evident in his final battle, where he sacrificed himself to ensure her safety during the Federation assault on the base. Packard understood Aina’s feelings for Shiro and, in his final moments, seemed to accept that Shiro was worthy of her love.

Mecha

MS-06RD-4 Zaku High Mobility Test Type

Aina’s first appearance in combat was piloting the MS-06RD-4 Zaku High Mobility Test Type, a specialised variant of the standard Zaku designed for high-speed operations and testing purposes. Her encounter with Shiro while piloting this unit set the stage for their entire relationship.

Apsaras series

As the primary test pilot for the Apsaras Project, Aina piloted all three iterations of the experimental mobile armor:

The Apsaras I was her introduction to the project’s ambitious goals. This prototype focused on testing the revolutionary Minovsky craft system that enabled atmospheric flight, though it was unarmed save for the ability to generate defensive energy pulses.

The Apsaras II represented a significant advancement, incorporating a mega particle cannon for offensive capabilities. Aina’s piloting of this unit led to her second encounter with Shiro and their crash in the mountains—a pivotal moment that solidified their relationship.

The Apsaras III was the project’s culmination, featuring multiple power generators and enhanced stability systems. Although initially piloted alongside Ginias in a final desperate mission, Aina ultimately used her knowledge of the mobile armor to help Shiro destroy it and end her brother’s obsession.

Behind the scenes

Character design and conception

Aina Sahalin was created as the deuteragonist of Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team, designed to provide a humanising perspective on the Zeon forces while exploring themes of love transcending the boundaries of war. Her character development from dutiful sister to independent woman making her own moral choices reflects the series’ focus on personal relationships amidst the broader conflict.

Some official sources give her name as Inah Sakhalin (as seen in various merchandise releases); however, the spelling used in the official English release, Aina Sahalin, is the standard used here. Various merchandise and model releases have also used alternative spellings such as Sakhalin.

Voice acting

Aina was voiced by Kikuko Inoue in the Japanese version of the anime. Inoue, a veteran voice actress, brought depth and nuance to the character’s emotional journey throughout the series. Her performance captured both Aina’s aristocratic bearing and her growing inner conflict as she navigated her feelings for Shiro and her loyalty to her family.

In the English dub, Aina was voiced by Emily Brown (credited as Emilie de Azevedo Brown), who provided the character’s voice for the international release.

Name significance

The name “Aina” is of Finnish origin, meaning “always,” which proved prophetic given her enduring love for Shiro that survived the war itself. “Sahalin” is derived from Sakhalin, a Russian island between the Siberian coast and Japan, fitting with the series’ use of geographical references for character surnames.