Apolly Bay

Apolly Bay was a former Zeon soldier who served as a member of the Anti-Earth Union Group and leader of the Argama’s Rick Dias Team during the Gryps Conflict. Born with the real name Andy, he adopted the pseudonym “Apolly Bay” when he joined the AEUG to conceal his identity as a former Zeon pilot.

Biography

Early life and One Year War

Apolly Bay was born Andy in UC 0063. During the One Year War, he served in the Principality of Zeon military as a mobile suit pilot under Char Aznable. Alongside his comrade Roberto (real name Ricardo Vega), he was one of Char’s trusted wingmen, demonstrating exceptional piloting skills and earning his commander’s confidence through numerous combat operations.

Post-war exile to Axis

After Zeon’s defeat in the One Year War, Andy escaped to Axis along with Char and Roberto, joining the large contingent of Zeon remnants who had gathered at the asteroid base. During his time at Axis, he continued to hone his mobile suit piloting abilities, participating in training exercises and demonstrating his combat prowess. When civil conflict erupted at Axis, he served with distinction as a mobile suit captain.

When Haman Karn consolidated power at Axis, Char grew increasingly concerned about her ambitions and decided to leave. Andy and Roberto followed their former commander, departing Axis to seek new opportunities in the Earth sphere.

Joining the AEUG

Andy joined the Anti-Earth Union Group alongside Char and Roberto to combat the Earth Federation’s corrupt Titans organisation, which was systematically oppressing Spacenoids and employing chemical weapons against civilian populations. To conceal their identities as former Zeon soldiers, the three adopted new aliases, with Andy taking the name “Apolly Bay”.

Gryps Conflict service

During the Gryps Conflict, Apolly served as one of Quattro Bajeena’s (Char’s alias) wingmen aboard the AEUG flagship Argama. His experience and combat skills quickly earned him promotion to leader of the ship’s Rick Dias Team, where he commanded a unit of veteran pilots.

Apolly participated in numerous critical operations, including the infiltration of Green Noa 1 to steal the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II prototypes. His tactical acumen and piloting expertise proved invaluable during the mission’s success, which marked the beginning of full-scale conflict between the AEUG and Titans.

He later played a crucial role in delivering the newly completed MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam to Kamille Bidan, briefly piloting the advanced mobile suit before transferring it to the young pilot. This demonstrated the trust placed in his abilities by AEUG leadership.

Final mission and death

Apolly met his end during Operation Maelstrom at the Battle of Gryps. When Jerid Messa targeted Fa Yuiry during the chaotic space battle, Apolly intercepted the attack, taking the fatal blow meant for his comrade. His sacrifice saved Fa’s life but cost him his own, deeply saddening Kamille and the rest of the Argama crew.

Personality and traits

Apolly was renowned for his solid teamwork and reliability in combat situations. He provided not only valuable tactical support to his fellow pilots but also served as a source of sardonic wit that helped maintain morale during difficult operations. His humour and dry observations often lightened tense moments aboard the Argama.

Despite his jovial exterior, Apolly was a consummate professional who took his responsibilities seriously. He demonstrated strong leadership qualities as head of the Rick Dias Team, earning the respect of both veteran pilots and newcomers alike.

Skills and abilities

As a veteran of the One Year War, Apolly possessed exceptional mobile suit piloting skills that rivalled those of ace pilots. His experience under Char Aznable’s tutelage during the conflict provided him with tactical knowledge and combat instincts that served him well throughout the Gryps Conflict.

He was capable of handling virtually any combat situation, from close-quarters urban fighting to large-scale space battles. His adaptability allowed him to pilot various mobile suit types effectively, from Zeon-era units to cutting-edge AEUG machines.

Relationships

Char Aznable

Apolly’s relationship with Char Aznable was built on mutual respect and trust forged during the One Year War. He remained loyal to his former commander even after the conflict ended, following him to Axis and later to the AEUG. Char’s confidence in Apolly’s abilities was demonstrated by his continued reliance on him as a wingman and team leader.

Roberto

Roberto served as Apolly’s constant companion and fellow wingman. The two shared a bond forged through years of service together under Char, from the One Year War through their time at Axis and eventual service with the AEUG. While Roberto was generally more serious and diligent, he complemented Apolly’s more relaxed demeanour, creating an effective partnership.

Kamille Bidan

Apolly served as something of a mentor figure to Kamille Bidan, providing guidance and support to the young pilot during his development. His death had a profound impact on Kamille, who had come to rely on Apolly’s wisdom and steady presence aboard the Argama.

Mobile suits

RMS-099 Rick Dias

Apolly’s primary mobile suit during his AEUG service was the RMS-099 Rick Dias, one of the first mass-production mobile suits to use Gundarium γ armour. The Rick Dias featured a monoeye sensor and design elements reminiscent of Zeon mobile suits, making it well-suited to former Zeon pilots like Apolly. He piloted a standard black and grey unit initially, later switching to the red colour scheme adopted fleet-wide.

The Rick Dias’s advanced technology and versatile armament made it an ideal match for Apolly’s combat style. Its beam pistols, clay bazooka, and beam sabers provided options for various tactical situations, while its Gundarium γ construction offered superior protection compared to earlier mobile suit designs.

MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam

Apolly had the honour of being the first pilot to operate the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam when it was completed by Anaheim Electronics. Though he only piloted it briefly before transferring it to Kamille Bidan, this demonstrated the high regard in which AEUG leadership held his abilities as a test pilot and veteran.

Previous mobile suits

During his service with the Principality of Zeon, Apolly piloted various mobile suits including the MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2 Type and MS-09SS Dowas Custom. His experience with these machines provided valuable insight into Zeon technology that proved useful during his later AEUG service.

Behind the scenes

Apolly Bay was voiced by Hiroyuki Shibamoto in the original Japanese version of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, with Scott Roberts providing the English dub voice. In the compilation films, he was voiced by Toru Ohkawa in Japanese.

The character was designed to serve as both a mentor figure and source of comic relief, providing experienced guidance to younger pilots while maintaining the morale of the Argama crew through his wit and humour. His death was intended to demonstrate the personal cost of the conflict and provide motivation for Kamille’s continued development.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam – episodes 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 38, 45
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation – Heirs to the Stars
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Deleted Affair: Portrait of Young Comet
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Define
• SD Gundam G Generation Genesis
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam series