Kenneth Sleg

Kenneth Sleg was a Colonel in the Earth Federation Forces who commanded the Circe Unit, a specialised task force created to hunt down the anti-Federation terrorist organisation Mafty during UC 0105.

Biography

Early career

Kenneth Sleg served as a mobile suit pilot during Char’s Rebellion in UC 0093, fighting on the front lines for the Earth Federation Forces. The experience of piloting mobile suits in combat gave him firsthand knowledge of their capabilities and limitations, which would later prove invaluable in his transition to mobile suit development.

Following the Second Neo Zeon War, Kenneth made the decision to abandon active piloting duties and instead focus on weapons research and development for the Federal Space Force. During the peacetime years when the Federation had not seen actual combat, Kenneth dedicated himself to developing new mobile suit technologies and advancing Federation military capabilities.

Command of the Circe Unit

In April UC 0105, with the anti-Federation organisation Mafty conducting a campaign of political assassinations across Australia and Oceania, Kenneth was transferred from his research and development position to take command of the Federation’s anti-Mafty task force. He reorganised the previously ineffective Kimberly Unit, which had been commanded by Kimberly Hayman, into the newly-formed Circe Unit.

Kenneth established his headquarters at Davao Air Base in the Philippines, which had jurisdiction over the Pacific Ocean region. His appointment came at a critical time when Mafty’s activities had escalated and the previous task force had failed to achieve any meaningful results against the elusive terrorist organisation.

Encounter with Hathaway Noa

Kenneth’s fate became intertwined with that of Hathaway Noa when they met aboard the luxury shuttle Haunzen Flight 356, travelling from the Moon to Earth. During the flight, the shuttle was hijacked by a group claiming to be Mafty, though they were actually just supporters acting independently of the real organisation.

Kenneth and Hathaway worked together to overcome the hijackers, with Kenneth impressed by Hathaway’s combat skills and tactical thinking. This initial encounter formed the foundation of a complex relationship that would define both men’s destinies, as Kenneth came to admire Hathaway’s capabilities whilst remaining unaware that he was actually Mafty Navue Erin, the leader of the very organisation he had been tasked to destroy.

Hunt for Mafty

As commander of the Circe Unit, Kenneth proved far more effective than his predecessor in tracking down Mafty operatives. Within two days of taking command, he successfully captured Gawman Nobil, a key Mafty pilot, and forced the organisation to abandon their secret base. His strategic acumen and decisive leadership marked a significant escalation in the Federation’s anti-Mafty operations.

Kenneth employed aggressive tactics in his pursuit of Mafty, including the use of human shields during operations and violent interrogation methods. Despite these harsh measures, he maintained his belief that his actions served the greater good of maintaining Federation authority and preventing the chaos that Mafty’s terrorism threatened to unleash.

The truth revealed

Kenneth’s greatest challenge came when he discovered that his newfound friend Hathaway was actually the leader of Mafty. This revelation deeply anguished Kenneth, who had come to respect and admire Hathaway’s character and abilities. Despite the personal betrayal he felt, Kenneth continued to pursue his duty, ultimately succeeding in stopping the Ξ Gundam’s attack on Adelaide through the use of beam barrier traps.

Final confrontation and aftermath

Following Hathaway’s capture, Kenneth became disgusted with the Federation’s decision to sentence Hathaway to death without trial, viewing it as nothing more than a display of petty revenge and intimidation rather than justice. When he learned that Bright Noa, Hathaway’s own father, had been called in to oversee the execution, Kenneth attempted to conceal Mafty’s true identity from Bright, hoping to spare the veteran captain the pain of learning his son’s fate.

Kenneth’s efforts proved futile when his senior officers betrayed his attempts at discretion, and the Federation government publicly revealed Hathaway’s identity as Mafty. The media glorification of Bright’s execution order of his own son filled Kenneth with anger and disgust at the system he had served.

Personality and traits

Kenneth Sleg was a complex individual who embodied both the dedication of a professional soldier and the moral conflicts of a man caught between duty and conscience. He possessed a keen strategic mind and natural leadership abilities that made him an effective military commander, quickly transforming the failing anti-Mafty operations into a successful campaign.

Despite his loyalty to the Earth Federation, Kenneth harboured deep reservations about the corruption and excesses he witnessed within the organisation. He recognised the validity of many of Mafty’s criticisms of Federation policy, particularly regarding the treatment of Earth’s environment and the forced deportation of “illegal” residents to space colonies. This internal conflict between his duty as a soldier and his moral compass created a complex character who understood his opponents better than many of his superiors.

Kenneth displayed a peculiar habit of carrying a riding crop, which became one of his distinctive characteristics. He also showed a pragmatic approach to relationships, maintaining a somewhat cynical view of personal attachments whilst still forming genuine connections with individuals like Hathaway and Gigi Andalucia.

His mature outlook on life and willingness to accept the compromises necessary to function within the Federation system set him apart from more idealistic characters. Kenneth understood that change within large organisations required patience and working within existing structures, even when those structures were flawed.

Skills and abilities

Military leadership

Kenneth demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities in transforming the ineffective Kimberly Unit into the successful Circe Unit. His strategic planning and tactical execution proved far superior to his predecessor, achieving in days what the previous task force had failed to accomplish in months of operations.

Mobile suit expertise

His background as both a mobile suit pilot and designer gave Kenneth unique insights into mobile suit capabilities and limitations. This expertise proved crucial in developing effective countermeasures against Mafty’s advanced mobile suits, including the implementation of beam barrier traps that ultimately led to the Ξ Gundam’s capture.

Technical knowledge

Kenneth’s experience in weapons research and development provided him with deep technical knowledge of Federation military hardware. His work contributed to the development of the RX-104FF Penelope, one of the most advanced mobile suits of its era.

Relationships

Hathaway Noa

Kenneth’s relationship with Hathaway Noa represented one of the most complex and tragic aspects of his character. Their initial meeting during the shuttle hijacking created a bond of mutual respect and admiration that transcended their opposing roles in the conflict. Kenneth saw in Hathaway the ideal pilot he had once aspired to be—someone who could act freely without the constraints that bound Kenneth to the Federation system.

The discovery that Hathaway was Mafty Navue Erin created profound internal conflict for Kenneth. Despite the betrayal he felt, Kenneth continued to regard Hathaway as a friend, even attempting to protect Bright Noa from learning his son’s true identity. Their relationship embodied the tragedy of two honourable men forced into opposition by the circumstances of their world.

Gigi Andalucia

Kenneth’s interactions with Gigi Andalucia revealed both his more playful side and his loneliness as a career military officer. He showed romantic interest in the enigmatic young woman, though his approaches were often clumsy and inappropriate. Gigi’s ability to see through deception made their relationship particularly complex, as she understood aspects of Kenneth’s character that he preferred to keep hidden.

Lane Aim

As the pilot of the Penelope, Lane Aim served as Kenneth’s ace pilot and the primary weapon in his campaign against Mafty. Kenneth recognised Lane’s exceptional abilities as a test pilot whilst noting his limitations in actual combat situations. Their professional relationship was built on mutual respect for each other’s expertise.

Behind the scenes

Kenneth Sleg was created by Yoshiyuki Tomino for the Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash novel series, first published between 1989 and 1990. The character represents Tomino’s exploration of the moral complexities faced by individuals caught between duty and conscience in corrupt systems.

In the 2021 animated film adaptation Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway, Kenneth’s character design was updated by Pablo Uchida, who was specifically instructed to make him look less like Char Aznable. This resulted in Kenneth being depicted with dark skin in contrast to earlier video game incarnations, representing a race lift from the original character design.

The character was voiced by Junichi Suwabe in Japanese and Aaron B. Phillips in the English dub for the film adaptation. Earlier video game appearances featured voice work by Fumihiko Tachiki and Akio Ōtsuka.

Kenneth’s name and the Circe Unit he commands reference Greek mythology, specifically the sorceress Circe who had the power to transform men into beasts. This mythological connection reflects the transformative nature of Kenneth’s role in the story and his complex relationship with the other characters.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash (novels)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (film)
• SD Gundam G Generation series (video games)