General Septum

General Septum was a United Earth Sphere Alliance military officer who rose to prominence during the First Lunar War and became a controversial figure due to his harsh colonial policies. As an advocate for military force over diplomacy, he opposed pacifist leaders like Field Marshal Noventa and played a key role in escalating tensions between Earth and the colonies. His attempted public execution of prisoners of war, including innocent civilians, triggered the Second Lunar War. He was assassinated by Lady Une during OZ’s coup d’état in AC 195.

His name derives from the Latin word septem, meaning “seven”, following the After Colony series’ tradition of naming characters after numerals.

History

Early career and assassinations

General Septum’s military career was marked by involvement in several controversial operations. He was targeted by Odin Lowe, an OZ assassin, who had been hired by Cinquante Khushrenada to kill both Septum and the colonial pacifist leader Heero Yuy (politician). Lowe successfully assassinated Heero Yuy on 7 April AC 175, an event that would become pivotal in colonial history.

Septum was planning to meet with Ein Yuy, who worked as the right-hand man of Heero Yuy. However, when Ein’s wife Angelina was kidnapped, Ein invaded a space port under Septum’s jurisdiction and attempted to shoot him whilst pursuing the kidnappers. Later, it was Septum who commissioned Odin Lowe to kill the politician Heero Yuy, along with Ein Yuy, as well as Vingt Khushrenada and his mother Angelica Khushrenada.

First Lunar War

During the First Lunar War, Septum participated as a staff officer at the headquarters of the Ground Forces. At the request of Vingt Khushrenada, who wanted to conceal records of Treize Khushrenada’s participation in the war’s defeats, Septum accepted responsibility for various operations. This political maneuvering allowed him to rise to the rank of brigadier general in an unprecedented short period of time.

Colonial genocide plans

In the manga New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Episode Zero, Septum was placed in charge of the Alliance operation to decommission Colony A0206, home to Chang Wufei and the Long Clan. His plan involved using chemical weapons to eliminate the members of the Long Clan as part of the decommission operations.

When Sally Po, the woman he put in charge of this genocide operation, objected and suggested a more humane approach, Septum refused. He believed chemical weapons were the most efficient way to remove the Long Clan, which he considered a dangerous rogue element. When Sally’s objections persisted, she falsified her report to protect the colony’s inhabitants, which resulted in her being transferred to work at an Alliance hospital in Japan. This incident demonstrated Septum’s willingness to employ extreme measures against civilian populations.

Second Lunar War

After serving as commander of the L3 Area Army, Septum succeeded the assassinated Dotzent as commander of the Space Fortress Bulge. In retaliation for Dotzent’s death, Septum attempted to carry out public executions of prisoners of war, including innocent civilians. This brutal action triggered the Second Lunar War.

The conflict became a stalemate due in part to the intervention of the Specials (OZ). However, the war eventually ended when the Specials accepted an exchange of prisoners of war, including Alliance soldiers and Trowa Barton (Real), in order to prevent the revelation of their relationship with the Barton Foundation.

AC 195: Noventa Conference

In AC 195, many Alliance leaders, including Field Marshal Noventa, advocated for demilitarisation and diplomatic dialogue with the colonies. Septum was lenient on using military force to prevent colonial independence and strongly opposed these peace initiatives. During a conference between Alliance leaders, he tried citing the Gundams’ attacks on Alliance bases as justification for continued militarisation. Marshal Noventa remained confident that diplomatic outreach would make the Gundam pilots understand their peaceful intentions.

The conference was attacked by the five Gundam pilots, who had been misled by Treize Khushrenada with false intelligence suggesting that all OZ leaders would be present. Treize insisted on evacuation and had Septum board his shuttle. During the evacuation, Treize convinced Septum to make a public statement denouncing the Gundams and labelling their actions as having ruined the Alliance’s peace talks.

Immediately after Septum made the announcement, Treize had him ejected from the shuttle. Lady Une shot Septum in free fall, killing him before he could even hit the ground. This assassination was part of OZ’s coup d’état to eradicate the Alliance leadership and install a new world order with the Romefeller Foundation in charge.

In the novel version, although Septum was vehemently opposed to disarmament, he reportedly had deep respect for Marshal Noventa as a great general.

Alternate account: New Edwards

In the manga Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers, when the Gundams appeared at the New Edwards base, Septum accused Vice-Minister Darlian of inviting them. Immediately after Heero Yuy destroyed the shuttle containing Marshal Noventa, debris hit the room where Septum and Darlian were located, seriously injuring both men.

Still angry despite his injuries, Septum activated the launch sequence of a satellite nuclear missile towards New Edwards in an attempt to destroy the Gundams. However, the missile was shot down by Heero, preventing a nuclear catastrophe.

Personality

General Septum embodied the hardline militaristic faction within the United Earth Sphere Alliance. He firmly believed that military force was the only effective way to maintain control over the colonies and prevent their independence. This belief manifested in his advocacy for harsh measures, including chemical warfare against civilian populations and public executions of prisoners of war.

Unlike more moderate Alliance leaders such as Field Marshal Noventa, Septum showed little faith in diplomacy or peaceful resolution. He viewed colonial resistance movements and organisations like the Long Clan as threats that needed to be eliminated rather than understood or negotiated with.

Despite his ruthlessness, Septum was reportedly capable of respecting fellow military leaders. His relationship with Noventa, whilst politically opposed, was said to include genuine respect for the Marshal’s military accomplishments, suggesting that Septum’s hardline views stemmed from strategic calculation rather than simple cruelty.

His willingness to take credit for military failures in order to protect Treize Khushrenada’s record demonstrated political savvy, though this ultimately contributed to his rapid promotion and made him a more prominent target during OZ’s coup.

Skills and abilities

Military command

Septum’s rise from staff officer to General demonstrated competent military command abilities. His service during the First Lunar War and his command of the L3 Area Army and Space Fortress Bulge showed experience in both ground and space operations.

Political maneuvering

Septum’s unprecedented rapid promotion from Lieutenant Colonel to Brigadier General in a short period demonstrated political acumen. His willingness to accept responsibility for defeats to protect others’ records, whilst personally benefiting from the arrangement, showed strategic thinking.

Strategic ruthlessness

Septum’s advocacy for extreme measures, including chemical weapons and public executions, demonstrated a willingness to employ any means necessary to achieve military objectives. Whilst morally questionable, this ruthlessness made him effective at suppressing colonial resistance in the short term.

Relationships

Treize Khushrenada

Treize manipulated Septum throughout his career, first using him to cover up military failures, then ultimately using him as a propaganda tool before having him assassinated. Septum’s trust in Treize proved fatal when he boarded Treize’s shuttle during the evacuation from the Noventa Conference.

Field Marshal Noventa

Septum opposed Marshal Noventa’s policies of demilitarisation and dialogue with the colonies. Despite their political differences, Septum reportedly respected Noventa as a great general, suggesting a complex relationship based on mutual professional recognition despite conflicting philosophies.

Sally Po

Sally Po was assigned by Septum to carry out the chemical weapon genocide of the Long Clan. Her objections to his orders led to conflict between them, with Sally ultimately falsifying her report to protect the colony’s inhabitants. This defiance resulted in her transfer, marking the beginning of her eventual path towards supporting the colonial cause.

Legacy

General Septum’s legacy is largely one of escalation and oppression. His advocacy for harsh military measures against colonial populations, including chemical warfare and public executions, exemplified the worst aspects of Alliance colonial policy. His actions, particularly the attempted execution of prisoners that triggered the Second Lunar War, contributed to the growing colonial resentment that would fuel the events of AC 195.

His assassination during OZ’s coup d’état demonstrated how Treize Khushrenada used hardline Alliance officers as pawns in his larger political strategy. Septum’s public denunciation of the Gundams, immediately followed by his death, helped OZ consolidate power by painting the Alliance leadership as both incompetent and eliminated.

Notes

• General Septum’s name derives from Latin septem, meaning “seven”, following the After Colony series’ tradition of naming characters after numerals.
• His English voice actor has never been officially identified, though the performance has become somewhat infamous amongst fans for its strained delivery.
• Septum’s son, Gwinter Septem, appears in New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop.
• In AC 188, Odin Lowe travelled to Colony X-18999 to assassinate Septum but was himself killed in a trap set by Dekim Barton before he could complete the mission.

References

Main article: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

• Gundam Wiki. “Septum.” Retrieved from https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/Septum
• Mobile Suit Gundam Wing episodes
• New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Episode Zero manga
• Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers manga
• New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop novel