Al Da Flaga

Al Da Flaga (アル・ダ・フラガ, Aru Da Furagā) was a prominent Earth Alliance figure in the Cosmic Era timeline. He was the father of Mu La Flaga and the source of the genetic material used to create Rau Le Creuset, a failed clone created as part of an attempt to extend Flaga’s life through genetic manipulation. Al Da Flaga’s actions and the consequences of his genetic experiments played a significant role in the events of the First Alliance-PLANT War.

Biography

Early life & career

Al Da Flaga was a prominent figure in the Earth Alliance, serving in both military and political capacities. His exact role and position within the Alliance hierarchy are not fully detailed, but his influence was sufficient to authorise and fund genetic manipulation experiments aimed at extending his own life.

Flaga’s prominence within the Earth Alliance gave him access to resources and facilities that allowed him to pursue genetic engineering projects. His desire to extend his life through genetic manipulation reflected both his ambition and the technological capabilities available to high-ranking Alliance officials.

Genetic manipulation experiments

In Cosmic Era 43, Al Da Flaga authorised a genetic manipulation experiment designed to create a clone of himself that could serve as a replacement body, effectively extending his life through the transfer of his consciousness or the use of the clone’s organs. The experiment was conducted using advanced genetic engineering techniques available to the Earth Alliance.

However, the cloning process was fundamentally flawed. The clone, who would later become known as Rau Le Creuset, suffered from rapid aging and developed a fatal condition that made him unsuitable for the intended purpose. The experiment was deemed a failure, and Al Da Flaga abandoned the clone, leaving him to die.

Death

Al Da Flaga died in CE 43, the same year that his son Mu La Flaga and his failed clone Rau Le Creuset were born. The circumstances of his death are not fully detailed, but it occurred shortly after the genetic manipulation experiment failed.

Legacy

Mu La Flaga

Al Da Flaga’s son, Mu La Flaga, became an exceptional mobile suit pilot despite being a Natural. Known as the “Hawk of Endymion” for his combat abilities, Mu was one of the few Naturals capable of competing with Coordinator pilots. His exceptional abilities demonstrated that genetic enhancement was not necessary for exceptional piloting skills.

Mu’s relationship with his father is not fully detailed, but he inherited his father’s exceptional abilities whilst rejecting the genetic manipulation that had defined Al Da Flaga’s later years. Mu’s success as a Natural pilot served as a counterpoint to his father’s belief in genetic enhancement.

Rau Le Creuset

The failed clone Rau Le Creuset became one of the most significant antagonists of the First Alliance-PLANT War. Rau’s tragic existence as a failed experiment shaped his nihilistic philosophy, leading him to believe that humanity—both Naturals and Coordinators—was fundamentally flawed and destined to destroy itself.

Rau’s abandonment by Al Da Flaga created a deep resentment that drove his actions throughout the war. His mask, which covered the right side of his face, served both to hide his rapid aging and as a symbol of his hidden identity and true nature as a failed experiment.

The connection between Al Da Flaga, Mu La Flaga, and Rau Le Creuset created a complex family dynamic that reflected the series’ themes of genetic enhancement, identity, and the consequences of scientific experimentation. Rau’s relationship with Kira Yamato, who was revealed to be the successful result of the Ultimate Coordinator programme, further emphasised the contrast between successful and failed genetic experiments.

Significance

Al Da Flaga’s story represents the darker aspects of genetic manipulation in the Cosmic Era timeline. His attempt to extend his life through cloning resulted in the creation of a failed experiment that would become one of the most dangerous antagonists of the First Alliance-PLANT War.

The contrast between Al Da Flaga’s failed genetic experiment (Rau) and the successful Ultimate Coordinator programme (Kira) highlights the ethical questions surrounding genetic enhancement. Al Da Flaga’s actions demonstrate the potential consequences of pursuing genetic manipulation for personal gain, whilst Kira’s existence represents the potential benefits of genetic enhancement when pursued for the right reasons.

External links

Al Da Flaga on the Gundam Wiki