Gottn Goh – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

Gottn Goh was a Neo Zeon officer who served as first officer aboard the Endra-class cruiser Endra during the First Neo Zeon War. He was a skilled military commander who demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Neo Zeon and exceptional dedication to his crew, serving under both Mashymre Cello and Chara Soon during their respective commands of the vessel.

Biography

Early service

Gottn Goh was a professional military officer who joined the Neo Zeon movement as part of Haman Karn’s faction based at Axis. During the early stages of the First Neo Zeon War, he was assigned as first officer aboard the Endra-class cruiser Endra under the command of Mashymre Cello.

Service under Mashymre Cello

When Mashymre Cello was assigned to gain support from the Shangri-la colony, Gottn served as his first officer and primary adviser. Recognising that his young commander was zealous but inexperienced, Gottn often acted as a tempering force, providing practical guidance and tactical counsel. His steady presence helped balance Mashymre’s impulsive nature and romantic idealism.

After the Endra departed Shangri-la, Neo Zeon forces discovered there was a traitor aboard the AEUG ship Argama. Gottn was assigned to pilot a dummy meteor and infiltrate the vessel to make contact with the suspected spy. During his search, he discovered Iino Abbav tied up and mistakenly believed he was the traitor. Though Gottn was captured during the mission, he managed to trick the children Shinta and Qum into releasing him. He successfully escaped in a Core Fighter with assistance from the real traitors, though he crashed into an actual meteor during his retreat and required rescue by Mashymre.

Command under Chara Soon

When Mashymre Cello was recalled to Axis, Gottn and the rest of the Endra crew were placed under the command of Chara Soon. Soon’s unpredictable mental state and erratic behaviour frightened Gottn and the crew, though they maintained their professional discipline and followed her orders with the same dedication they had shown Mashymre.

Due to Chara Soon’s psychological instabilities, Gottn was granted greater authority over the ship’s mobile suit operations and pilots. This increased responsibility allowed him to implement his preferred combat tactics, which emphasised surprise attacks, ambushes, and strategic deception rather than the direct confrontation favoured by his previous commanders.

Independent command

After the Endra was destroyed and Chara Soon was captured by the AEUG, Gottn took command of the surviving crew and mobile suit contingent. The remnants were recalled to Axis, but Gottn was able to reorganise his forces into what became known as the “Endra Squad” and launch a surprise attack against the Argama.

Final mission at Granada

Following the Argama’s failed attempt to destroy Axis, Gottn was assigned to carry out an intelligence gathering mission at the lunar city of Granada. However, when he discovered that the Argama was also docked at the port facilities, he prioritised locating and destroying the enemy vessel.

To accomplish this objective, Gottn hired a local woman named Cecilia to conduct surveillance and determine which port housed the Argama. Unknown to Gottn, Cecilia was a childhood friend of Argama crew member Torres, which created a conflict of loyalty. When the time came for her report, Cecilia deliberately provided false information, claiming the Argama was docked at port 32, the location closest to Granada’s civilian population.

Gottn paid Cecilia the promised fee in gold and provided what appeared to be a bonus. However, the additional payment concealed a powerful explosive device, which formed part of his plan to destroy the Argama. He also informed Cecilia about a private shuttle, the Cassiopeia, that would be departing Granada.

Death

Suspicious of Cecilia’s report, Gottn implemented a comprehensive strategy to locate the Argama. He purchased every available freighter in the port and systematically crashed them into each docking facility to force the Argama to reveal itself. When the Cassiopeia departed, Gottn directed his mobile suits to guide the shuttle over the port where the Argama was actually located, intending to detonate the concealed bomb when the enemy ship was within the blast radius.

However, Cecilia discovered the explosive device and, in an act of desperate courage, donned a normal suit and leaped from the shuttle onto the leg of Gottn’s last surviving mobile suit. Despite Judau Ashta’s warnings for her to release her grip, she held on as the mobile suit retreated toward Gottn’s command vessel. When the bomb detonated, it destroyed Gottn’s ship along with its entire crew, including Gottn himself and his final mobile suit.

Personality & traits

Gottn Goh was characterised by his calm demeanour and professional military bearing, which contrasted sharply with the more emotional and impulsive commanders he served under. Despite being notably more composed than both Mashymre Cello and Chara Soon, he was prone to displays of emotion when his loyalty was reciprocated by his superiors and crew.

His loyalty to Neo Zeon was unwavering, but his greatest dedication was reserved for the crew of the Endra. This personal attachment to his shipmates motivated many of his actions and tactical decisions throughout the war. Even Chara Soon’s frightening psychological instability did not diminish his commitment to serving under her command.

Unlike his commanders, Gottn demonstrated a pragmatic and ruthless approach to warfare. He was willing to sacrifice civilian lives if it would help him accomplish his military objectives, showing little of the romantic idealism that characterised Mashymre Cello or the personal vendettas that drove Chara Soon.

Skills & abilities

Gottn acknowledged that he was, at best, a mediocre mobile suit pilot. This self-awareness led him to develop tactical expertise in areas that better suited his abilities and temperament. He specialised in combat strategies that relied on surprise, deception, and careful planning rather than individual piloting skill or direct confrontation.

His preferred tactics included ambushes, trap-setting, and the use of unconventional weapons or methods to gain advantages over numerically superior or better-equipped enemies. This approach contrasted significantly with Mashymre Cello’s preference for honourable single combat and duelling.

As a staff officer, Gottn demonstrated considerable organisational ability and strategic thinking. His role as adviser to less experienced commanders showcased his understanding of military operations and his ability to provide practical counsel during complex situations.

Equipment

Mobile suits

While Gottn’s specific mobile suit assignments are not extensively documented, he piloted various Neo Zeon mobile suits during his service aboard the Endra. During his infiltration mission to the Argama, he successfully operated a Core Fighter, though the mission ended with a crash landing that required rescue.

In his final battle at Granada, Gottn piloted a mobile suit during the operation to destroy the Argama, though the specific model is not recorded. This mobile suit was destroyed along with Gottn when Cecilia’s bomb detonated.

Behind the scenes

Gottn Goh was voiced by Kōji Totani in the original Japanese version of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. Totani was a veteran voice actor known for his work in numerous anime series and video games. He was born on 12 July 1948 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and died from acute heart failure on 6 February 2006 at the age of 57.

The character of Gottn Goh represents the archetype of the professional military officer caught between duty and the increasingly desperate circumstances of a losing war. His pragmatic approach to combat and willingness to sacrifice civilians highlights the moral compromises that military personnel often face during extended conflicts.

Gottn’s relationship with his commanders, particularly his role as adviser to the inexperienced Mashymre Cello, reflects the challenges of military hierarchy and the responsibility that veteran officers bear for guiding younger leaders.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Super Robot Wars Alpha

External links

Gottn Goh on the Gundam Wiki