Astonaige Medoz

Astonaige Medoz was a skilled mobile suit mechanic who served as chief engineer aboard the Argama during the Gryps Conflict and First Neo Zeon War. He later continued his service with Londo Bell aboard the Ra Cailum during the Second Neo Zeon War, where he tragically lost his life in UC 0093.

Biography

Gryps Conflict

Astonaige Medoz served as the chief mechanic aboard the Argama during the Anti Earth Union Group’s campaign against the Titans. Despite limited resources and constant combat damage to the ship’s mobile suits, Astonaige and his dedicated crew somehow managed to keep the AEUG’s mobile weapons operational throughout the conflict.

His expertise proved invaluable when he collaborated with Kamille Bidan on designing and upgrading the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam. Their partnership combined Kamille’s innovative ideas with Astonaige’s practical engineering knowledge, resulting in significant improvements to the transformable mobile suit’s performance and reliability.

First Neo Zeon War

During the First Neo Zeon War, Astonaige continued his service aboard the Argama as the conflict expanded with Haman Karn’s Neo Zeon movement. He provided technical advice and support to the new generation of pilots, including Judau Ashta, helping to maintain the ship’s aging mobile suit complement through increasingly difficult battles.

Second Neo Zeon War

Following the conclusion of the First Neo Zeon War, Astonaige transferred to the Earth Federation Forces’ elite Londo Bell squadron as part of the 13th Independent Fleet. He served as chief mechanic aboard the flagship Ra Cailum under the command of Bright Noa, whom he had known since his AEUG days.

During this period, Astonaige formed a romantic relationship with Lieutenant Kayra Su, a skilled mobile suit pilot who commanded the Ra Cailum’s Jegan unit. Their relationship provided a brief respite from the tensions of military service.

When Char Aznable emerged from hiding to lead a new Neo Zeon movement in UC 0093, Astonaige found himself once again maintaining mobile suits for combat against his former comrade. The outbreak of the Second Neo Zeon War would prove to be his final conflict.

Death

Astonaige’s life came to a tragic end during the final stages of the Second Neo Zeon War. After Kayra Su was killed in action during the battle to prevent Axis from colliding with Earth, Astonaige was devastated by the loss of his lover. When Chan Agi attempted to launch in the badly damaged RGZ-91 Re-GZ, Astonaige rushed to the deck to stop her from what he considered a suicide mission. During this attempt, he was struck by a stray beam and killed, adding another casualty to the war’s mounting toll.

Personality & traits

Astonaige was known for his scruffy appearance and dedicated work ethic. Despite the constant pressure of keeping mobile suits operational under battlefield conditions, he maintained a calm and reliable demeanour that earned the respect of his crews and the pilots who depended on his work.

His collaborative nature was evident in his work with Kamille Bidan on the Zeta Gundam, where he demonstrated both technical expertise and openness to new ideas. He showed genuine care for the young pilots under his supervision, offering both technical advice and moral support during difficult campaigns.

Astonaige’s romantic relationship with Kayra Su revealed a softer side to his character. He was known to promise her simple pleasures, such as making salads when the war ended, showing his hope for a peaceful future together.

Skills & abilities

As chief mechanic, Astonaige possessed exceptional technical knowledge of mobile suit systems and maintenance procedures. His ability to keep complex mobile weapons operational despite limited resources and battlefield damage was legendary among his crews. He had particular expertise with transformable mobile suits, as demonstrated by his work on the Zeta Gundam.

His collaborative approach to engineering allowed him to effectively incorporate pilot feedback and innovative concepts into practical improvements. This skill was particularly valuable when working with Newtype pilots who could sense mechanical issues that conventional diagnostics might miss.

Relationships

Kamille Bidan

Astonaige developed a strong working relationship with Kamille Bidan, the Zeta Gundam’s pilot. Their collaboration on upgrading and refining the mobile suit combined Kamille’s intuitive understanding of the machine with Astonaige’s technical expertise. This partnership proved crucial to the Zeta Gundam’s combat effectiveness throughout the Gryps Conflict.

Judau Ashta

During the First Neo Zeon War, Astonaige served as a mentor and advisor to Judau Ashta, the ZZ Gundam’s pilot. He provided both technical support and practical guidance to the young pilot, helping him understand the capabilities and limitations of his mobile suit.

Kayra Su

Astonaige’s romantic relationship with Lieutenant Kayra Su was one of the few bright spots during his service with Londo Bell. The couple found comfort in each other despite the ongoing war, and Astonaige looked forward to a peaceful future together. Her death during the Second Neo Zeon War devastated him and contributed to his own tragic end.

Bright Noa

Astonaige maintained a close friendship with Bright Noa that spanned from their time together in the AEUG through their service in Londo Bell. This relationship was built on mutual respect and shared experiences through multiple conflicts.

Behind the scenes

Astonaige Medoz was designed as a supporting character who represented the essential but often overlooked technical personnel who keep military operations functioning. His character provided a perspective on the human cost of the ongoing conflicts in the Universal Century timeline.

The character was voiced by Hiromori Shingo in the original Japanese versions, and by various English voice actors including C. Adam Leigh in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Alistair Abell in other productions.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation trilogy

External links

• Astonaige Medoz on the Gundam Wiki