Beltorchika Irma

Beltorchika Irma was a Karaba operative and journalist who became romantically involved with Amuro Ray during the Gryps Conflict. Orphaned as a child during Operation British, she was adopted by the Irma family and grew up idolising Amuro Ray after watching broadcasts of the One Year War. Her admiration for him led her to pursue journalism in hopes of interviewing him, but she failed to secure an interview despite several attempts. During the Gryps Conflict, she finally met Amuro when both were working with Karaba against the Titans, beginning a relationship that would continue until shortly before the Second Neo Zeon War.

Biography

Early life

As a child, Beltorchika was orphaned during Operation British in January UC 0079, when the Principality of Zeon dropped a colony from Side 2 onto Earth. The colony, intended to destroy the Earth Federation Forces headquarters at Jaburo, instead struck Sydney, Australia, causing massive casualties. Beltorchika lost her parents in this catastrophic event and was subsequently adopted by the wealthy Irma family.

During her childhood, Beltorchika watched broadcasts of the One Year War and became fascinated by Amuro Ray, who despite his youth had become an ace pilot of the legendary RX-78-2 Gundam. The young pilot represented hope to her—someone who had fought against the very forces that had destroyed her family and caused such devastation to Earth. This admiration profoundly influenced her life choices and motivated her to pursue journalism, hoping one day to interview her hero.

Gryps Conflict

In UC 0087, during the Gryps Conflict, Beltorchika served as an operative for Karaba, the Earth-based anti-Titans organisation. She first appeared guiding the rebels’ Audhumla carrier to a secret base, boldly flying her replica biplane through the middle of a mobile suit battle. Her piloting of the vintage aircraft, a Beechcraft D17 biplane from the 1930s, made a memorable first impression and demonstrated both her courage and unconventional approach to warfare.

When she finally met Amuro Ray aboard the Audhumla, Beltorchika immediately showed intense interest in him, much to the chagrin of her comrades. Her obsessive behaviour and strident defence of Amuro’s interests caused friction within the group, particularly earning the ire of Kamille Bidan. She went so far as to try convincing Kamille to hand over the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II to Amuro, believing that the legendary pilot deserved to have the most advanced mobile suit available.

Despite her initial behaviour, Beltorchika played a crucial role during the Battle of Dakar. She infiltrated the Earth Federation Congress disguised as a news reporter, narrowly escaping harassment from soldiers at the checkpoint with assistance from Ajis Aziba, a Titans officer. After Karaba operatives successfully commandeered the congressional session, Beltorchika went to the rooftop with her camera and filmed the battle outside as the Titans attempted to stop Char Aznable’s televised speech. Her footage revealed the Titans’ brutality to the entire world, helping to turn public opinion against them.

Her last appearance during the Gryps Conflict showed her manning a gun turret on the Audhumla as Kamille and Char prepared to return to space. In the A New Translation films, an additional closing scene featured Karaba members at an observatory monitoring the fleet battle, with Beltorchika sitting on a bench with Amuro after the conflict ended.

First Neo Zeon War

During the First Neo Zeon War, Beltorchika did not appear in person but was revealed in the novelisation to still be with the Karaba resistance group. Following the war’s end, she found herself in an ambiguous position as a civilian rather than a military member, unable to join the Federation forces. She chose to remain as a private informant, maintaining her independence whilst continuing to serve the cause of peace.

Post-Second Neo Zeon War

Beltorchika and Amuro ended their relationship sometime before the Second Neo Zeon War in UC 0093. A year following Amuro’s disappearance during the conflict, she was contacted by Sayla Mass when Kikka Kobayashi, a former passenger on the White Base, wished to retrace Amuro’s steps in life. Beltorchika met Kikka in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using her old journalist pseudonym “Karen Russell,” though Kikka easily saw through this disguise.

Third Neo Zeon War

In UC 0096, during the Third Neo Zeon War, Beltorchika contacted Captain Bright Noa to inform him of the covert deployment of the battleship General Revil. Bright suspected that the vessel had been ordered by General Staff Headquarters and the Vist Foundation to destroy the Nahel Argama and eliminate all who knew of Laplace’s Box. When Beltorchika asked about his intentions, Bright explained his plan to contact the Garencieres through Federation and Neo Zeon contacts, using Kai Shiden as a negotiator. Later, as Mineva Lao Zabi revealed the truth of Laplace’s Box to the world, Beltorchika maintained contact with Kai by telephone.

Personality & traits

Beltorchika demonstrated a complex personality that evolved throughout her appearances. Initially, she displayed an almost obsessive admiration for Amuro Ray that bordered on hero worship, reflecting her childhood trauma and the psychological impact of losing her parents during Operation British. Her behaviour towards Amuro was often possessive and defensive, causing friction with other members of Karaba who found her attitude problematic.

Despite her personal obsessions, Beltorchika showed considerable courage and dedication to the anti-Titans cause. Her willingness to fly a vintage biplane through active combat zones and her successful infiltration of the Federation Congress demonstrated both bravery and professional competence. She possessed strong convictions about war and justice, though her aversion to military conflict was complicated by her romantic attachment to a career soldier.

As she matured, Beltorchika developed into a more balanced individual, channelling her idealism into productive work as a journalist and informant. Her ability to maintain useful contacts across various factions and her continued involvement in intelligence work showed practical intelligence and diplomatic skills that served the broader cause of peace in the Universal Century.

Skills & abilities

Beltorchika possessed several notable skills that made her valuable to Karaba and later as an independent operative. She was an accomplished pilot, capable of flying vintage aircraft like the Beechcraft D17 biplane through dangerous combat situations. Her journalism background provided her with investigation skills, the ability to gather and analyse information, and experience in presenting findings to broad audiences.

Her work as an undercover operative demonstrated skills in disguise, infiltration, and maintaining false identities. The “Karen Russell” persona she maintained for years showed her ability to sustain long-term covers. Her continued usefulness as an informant suggested strong networking abilities and the capacity to maintain contacts across multiple organisations and factions.

Relationships

Amuro Ray

Beltorchika’s relationship with Amuro Ray began with childhood hero worship and evolved into a complex romantic partnership. Her initial infatuation stemmed from watching him during the One Year War, seeing him as a symbol of hope against the forces that had destroyed her family. When they finally met during the Gryps Conflict, her behaviour was initially obsessive and possessive, causing concern among their mutual allies.

Despite the problematic beginning, their relationship developed into something deeper, though it remained complicated by Amuro’s psychological trauma and military obligations. Other characters, including Mirai Yashima, warned Beltorchika about pursuing someone she didn’t fully understand, whilst Kamille Bidan observed that they were “just licking each other’s wounds.” The relationship ultimately ended before the Second Neo Zeon War, possibly due to fundamental incompatibilities between Beltorchika’s desire for a normal life and Amuro’s destiny as a soldier and Newtype.

Behind the scenes

Beltorchika Irma was created as part of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam to provide a romantic interest for Amuro Ray and to show his attempt to move beyond the trauma of the One Year War. Her character served as a foil to Frau Bow, representing a more aggressive and possessive approach to supporting Amuro compared to Frau’s wise and motherly care.

The character gained additional significance in Tomino Yoshiyuki’s novel Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack - Beltorchika’s Children, where she replaced Chan Agi as Amuro’s romantic partner. In this version, she was pregnant with Amuro’s child and survived the events of the story, providing a different trajectory for both characters. However, film investors rejected this storyline, preferring not to see “a married Amuro,” leading to the creation of Chan Agi for the theatrical release.

Voice actors:

• Japanese: Kawamura Maria
• English: Onalea Gilbertson (Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam), Eileen Stevens (Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn)

Appearances

Television series:

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam – Episode 15 “Katz’s Sortie” (first appearance)

OVA:

• Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn – Episode 22

Films:

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation II - Lovers
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation III - Love is the Pulse of the Stars

Manga:

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Day After Tomorrow - From Kai Shiden’s Report

Novels:

• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack - Beltorchika’s Children
• Mobile Suit Gundam Pulitzer - Amuro Ray Beyond the Aurora

External links

• Beltorchika Irma on the Gundam Wiki
• Beltorchika Irma on Behind The Voice Actors