Kacricon Cacooler – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

Kacricon Cacooler was a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Titans who served as one of the initial test pilots for the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II prototypes. He was the close friend and wingmate of Jerid Messa and served alongside Emma Sheen as part of the Titans’ elite pilot trio during the early stages of the Gryps Conflict.

Biography

Early life and career

Born in UC 0063, Kacricon Cacooler aspired to join the Titans as a mobile suit pilot. His path to the elite organisation was complicated when the commanding officer who was meant to provide his recommendation letter was killed, forcing him to take the entrance examination. Determined to succeed, Kacricon attempted the exam multiple times, finally passing on his fourth attempt with assistance from his lover, Amelia, who helped him cheat by providing answers from previous examinations.

During his preparation for the Titans entrance exam, Kacricon studied the records of other pilot candidates. He discovered that Emma Sheen had been specially appointed to her position by a high-ranking officer, which caused him to develop a grudge against her for what he perceived as unfair preferential treatment.

Gundam Mk-II test pilot

Once accepted into the Titans, Kacricon was selected as one of three test pilots for the revolutionary RX-178 Gundam Mk-II units at the Titans base inside Green Noa. He served alongside his close friend Jerid Messa and Emma Sheen, forming an elite trio of pilots responsible for evaluating these next-generation mobile suits.

Kacricon’s assignment as a Gundam test pilot represented the pinnacle of his military career. The position not only demonstrated his piloting abilities but also granted him access to the most advanced mobile suit technology of the era. His role extended beyond mere testing, as he also served as the Titans’ quartermaster, a position that may have contributed to his apparent rank discrepancy.

The AEUG raid

Kacricon’s career took a dramatic turn during the Anti-Earth Union Group’s surprise raid on the Titans base at Green Noa on 18 September UC 0087. During the attack, confusion reigned as the three Gundam Mk-II units were deployed to defend the facility. In the chaos of battle, Kacricon made a critical error when he mistook the pilot of another Gundam Mk-II for his close friend Jerid Messa.

The pilot was actually Kamille Bidan, a civilian who had stolen one of the Gundam prototypes. Taking advantage of Kacricon’s moment of hesitation, Kamille cornered the Gundam and forced Kacricon to surrender the valuable mobile suit. This humiliating defeat marked the beginning of Kacricon’s ongoing rivalry with Kamille and his determination to restore his honour.

Recovery operations

Determined to regain some honour after his humiliating defeat, Kacricon volunteered for the mission to recover the stolen Gundam Mk-II units from the AEUG. Taking command of an RMS-106 Hizack, he participated in sorties against AEUG forces. However, his attempts to engage the enemy met with limited success, as he was knocked unconscious during an attack on the Argama by Kamille and Franklin Bidan.

Lunar operations

When the Titans extended their operations to the Moon in an effort to discover and destroy the AEUG’s base of operations, Kacricon received a new mobile suit: the advanced RMS-108 Marasai. Working closely with Jerid, he devised a tactical plan to capture or destroy Kamille’s Gundam Mk-II using the superior speed of their Marasai units.

Their strategy involved staggered attacks, with one pilot taking cover behind lunar rock formations while the other engaged the enemy. The plan initially showed promise and demonstrated Kacricon’s tactical acumen. However, their coordination was disrupted when Quattro Bajeena arrived to provide support to Kamille, forcing both Kacricon and Jerid to retreat.

Final battle

Kacricon’s last opportunity to confront Kamille came during the AEUG’s operation against the Earth Federation headquarters at Jaburo. Launching in his Marasai, he hoped to use Earth’s gravitational field to gain an advantage in defeating the Gundam Mk-II. His plan was to exploit the different atmospheric re-entry characteristics of the two mobile suits.

The operation proved to be his final mission. During atmospheric re-entry, Kacricon’s Marasai deployed its ballute system to prevent the mobile suit from burning up in the atmosphere. However, as Kamille passed close by with the Gundam Mk-II’s flying armour, the ballute was destroyed. Without this crucial protection, the Marasai began to burn up in the atmosphere.

In his final moments, as his mobile suit was consumed by atmospheric friction, Kacricon’s last words were “Amelia”—the name of his beloved. His death on 11 May UC 0087 marked the end of his brief but significant military career.

Personality and traits

Kacricon Cacooler was characterised by his loyalty to his friends, particularly his close relationship with Jerid Messa. This friendship was one of the defining aspects of his personality, and he consistently served as Jerid’s reliable wingmate throughout their service together. His dedication to friendship was matched by his determination to succeed, as evidenced by his persistence in attempting the Titans entrance examination multiple times.

However, Kacricon also displayed less admirable traits typical of Titans members. He participated in the bullying and intimidation of civilians, notably Kamille Bidan, and showed disrespect for authority figures when it suited him. His resentment towards Emma Sheen for her perceived advantages revealed a petty side to his character.

Despite these flaws, Kacricon demonstrated genuine tactical thinking and piloting skill. His coordination with Jerid during lunar operations showed his ability to develop and execute military strategies. His romantic relationship with Amelia also revealed his capacity for deep emotional attachment, as evidenced by his final words.

Skills and abilities

As one of the selected test pilots for the Gundam Mk-II, Kacricon possessed considerable mobile suit piloting abilities. His selection for this prestigious role indicated that he was among the Titans’ elite pilots, capable of handling the most advanced mobile suit technology of his era.

Kacricon demonstrated tactical acumen in his development of coordinated attack strategies with Jerid Messa. His plan to use staggered attacks with the Marasai units showed his understanding of mobile suit capabilities and battlefield tactics. Additionally, his role as quartermaster suggested administrative and logistical skills beyond his piloting abilities.

His persistence in passing the Titans entrance examination, despite multiple failures, demonstrated determination and resilience. However, his willingness to cheat with Amelia’s help also revealed a pragmatic approach to achieving his goals that sometimes compromised his integrity.

Relationships

Jerid Messa

Kacricon’s closest relationship was with Jerid Messa, his fellow Titans pilot and wingmate. Their friendship was characterised by mutual support and shared experiences as Gundam test pilots. Kacricon often served as the more level-headed partner in their duo, though he willingly participated in Jerid’s confrontational behaviour towards civilians and AEUG members.

The depth of their friendship was evident in their tactical coordination during combat operations and their consistent support for each other throughout their careers. Kacricon’s death had a profound impact on Jerid, who viewed it as another loss caused by Kamille Bidan and further motivation for his personal vendetta.

Amelia

Kacricon maintained a romantic relationship with a woman named Amelia, who played a significant role in his career advancement. Amelia assisted him in cheating on the Titans entrance examination by providing answers from previous test-takers. This relationship was clearly important to Kacricon, as her name was his final word before death.

The relationship with Amelia demonstrated Kacricon’s capacity for emotional attachment and suggested a softer side to his personality beyond his military duties. Her willingness to help him cheat also indicated the mutual dedication in their relationship.

Emma Sheen

Kacricon harboured resentment towards Emma Sheen after learning that she had been specially appointed to her position by a high-ranking officer. This knowledge created tension within the test pilot trio, as Kacricon felt that Emma had received unfair advantages compared to his own struggles to join the Titans.

Despite serving alongside her as a fellow test pilot, Kacricon’s grudge against Emma affected their professional relationship and contributed to the interpersonal dynamics within the Titans’ elite pilot unit.

Mecha

RX-178 Gundam Mk-II

As one of the three initial test pilots, Kacricon operated the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II during evaluation and combat trials. This advanced mobile suit represented the pinnacle of Titans technology and demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to maintaining technological superiority over their enemies.

Kacricon’s experience with the Gundam Mk-II was cut short during the AEUG raid on Green Noa, when his mistake in identifying Kamille Bidan led to the loss of his unit. This incident became a defining moment in his career and a source of personal shame that motivated his subsequent actions.

RMS-106 Hizack

Following the loss of his Gundam Mk-II, Kacricon was assigned an RMS-106 Hizack for recovery operations against the AEUG. While less advanced than the Gundam prototype, the Hizack was a reliable mass-production mobile suit that served as the backbone of Titans forces.

Kacricon’s performance in the Hizack was mixed, as he struggled to achieve significant victories against AEUG forces. His most notable engagement resulted in him being knocked unconscious during an attack on the Argama.

RMS-108 Marasai

During the Titans’ lunar operations, Kacricon received the advanced RMS-108 Marasai, which represented a significant upgrade in performance and capabilities. The Marasai’s superior speed and manoeuvrability made it well-suited for the tactical coordination strategies that Kacricon developed with Jerid.

His use of the Marasai demonstrated his adaptability as a pilot and his ability to develop effective tactics suited to his mobile suit’s capabilities. The coordinated attacks he planned with Jerid showed promise before being disrupted by Quattro Bajeena’s intervention.

Kacricon’s final battle in the Marasai during atmospheric re-entry at Jaburo showcased both his tactical thinking and the limitations of his equipment. His plan to use Earth’s gravity as an advantage was sound, but the destruction of his ballute system led to his ultimate defeat and death.

Behind the scenes

Kacricon Cacooler was designed as a supporting antagonist for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, serving to establish the threat posed by the Titans and to develop Kamille Bidan’s character through their conflicts. His role as Jerid Messa’s close friend provided emotional weight to the ongoing rivalry between Jerid and Kamille.

The character was voiced by Koji Totani in the original Japanese version and by Ben Jeffrey in the English dub. Both voice actors effectively conveyed Kacricon’s personality traits, from his loyalty to Jerid to his final emotional moment calling for Amelia.

An interesting production note concerns Kacricon’s military rank. While depicted as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in manga adaptations, he displays the insignia of a Lieutenant Commander in the animated series. This discrepancy is likely an animation error, though it may be explained by his additional role as the Titans’ quartermaster, which could justify a higher rank despite his apparent status as a junior officer.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Episode 1: “The Black Gundam” (first appearance)
- Episode 2: “Departure”
- Episode 4: “Emma’s Decision”
- Episode 6: “To Earth”
- Episode 8: “The Dark Side of the Moon”
- Episode 9: “A New Bond”
- Episode 10: “Reunion”
- Episode 11: “Entering the Atmosphere” (death)

Video games

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn
Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam U.C.ENGAGE