Letz Kobayashi

Letz Kobayashi was a war orphan from Side 7 who served as one of the White Base’s beloved mascots during the One Year War. Born Letz Cofan, he was the middle child of three orphaned children who found refuge aboard the Federation assault carrier before being adopted by Hayato Kobayashi and Fraw Bow. Unlike his elder adoptive brother Katz, Letz chose to live a peaceful civilian life following the war.

Biography

Early life and the One Year War

Letz was born in UC 0073 and lived on the space colony Side 7 with his parents. When Principality of Zeon forces attacked the colony on 18 September UC 0079, his parents were killed in the assault. At age six, Letz found himself orphaned alongside eight-year-old Katz Howan and four-year-old Kikka Kitamoto. The three children managed to board the Federation assault carrier White Base as it evacuated refugees from the doomed colony.

Despite his vacant gaze that often betrayed his energetic nature, Letz quickly became one of the ship’s most beloved crew members. Along with Katz and Kikka, he served as both mascot and occasional troublemaker for the White Base, with Fraw Bow serving as their primary caretaker. The three children fast became friends and provided much-needed comic relief during the dark days of war.

The trio were involved in several major incidents aboard the White Base, including Ramba Ral’s desperate boarding attack on the ship and Char Aznable’s infiltration of the Federation base at Jaburo. During the Jaburo incident, they discovered hidden bombs planted by Char and helped dispose of them, an action that proved so valuable that the children were allowed to remain aboard the White Base even when it left Earth to return to space.

Their dedication to the ship and crew was tested during the final offensives at Solomon and A Baoa Qu. After the climactic Battle of A Baoa Qu, Letz, along with his companions, demonstrated nascent Newtype abilities when they reached out psychically to help Amuro Ray locate the lifeboat carrying the White Base crew after the ship’s destruction.

Post-war adoption and civilian life

Following the One Year War, Letz, Katz, and Kikka were adopted by Hayato Kobayashi and Fraw Bow, who had married to provide the children with a stable family home. The newly formed Kobayashi family settled in Shizuoka, where Hayato operated a mobile suit museum featuring Principality of Zeon mobile suits from the One Year War.

Unlike his adoptive brother Katz, who was inspired by their wartime experiences to pursue military service, Letz showed no interest in combat or mobile suit piloting. Instead, he embraced civilian life and remained close to home with Fraw and her biological daughter. His peaceful nature contrasted sharply with Katz’s military ambitions and Kikka’s journalistic pursuits.

When Kikka left to pursue her studies as a journalist in space, Letz chose to remain with Fraw at the Kobayashi home in Shizuoka. This decision reflected his desire for stability and family connection after the trauma of his early childhood.

Later years

By UC 0094, following Amuro Ray’s supposed death during the Second Neo Zeon War, Letz continued to live quietly with Fraw. When Kikka returned home for her Christmas break, Letz greeted her warmly, maintaining the close sibling bond they had forged during their time aboard the White Base.

During Kikka’s visit, both siblings were surprised when Fraw turned down an invitation to join a Federation memorial service for those who had fallen in the war against Zeon, including Amuro. This decision reflected the family’s desire to process their grief privately rather than through public ceremonies.

In UC 0096, during the events surrounding Mineva Zabi’s revelation about Laplace’s Box, Letz was spotted alongside Kikka watching the historic broadcast. Though only seen from behind, their presence suggested they continued to follow major political developments despite their civilian status.

Personality and traits

Letz possessed a gentle and peaceful personality that distinguished him from his more ambitious adoptive siblings. During his childhood aboard the White Base, he was noted for his vacant gaze that often concealed his underlying energy and enthusiasm. Despite being caught in the middle of a brutal war, he maintained an optimistic outlook and provided emotional support to both the crew and his fellow orphans.

His character was marked by loyalty to family and a desire for stability. After experiencing the trauma of losing his parents and living through the One Year War, Letz chose the security of home life over the excitement of military service or career advancement. This decision demonstrated his wisdom and emotional maturity, as he recognised that not all veterans needed to pursue heroic paths.

Letz showed remarkable adaptability throughout his childhood, adjusting to life aboard a military vessel and later transitioning to civilian family life. His ability to find contentment in simple domestic arrangements suggested a fundamentally peaceful nature that had survived the war intact.

Skills and abilities

Like his adoptive siblings, Letz demonstrated latent Newtype abilities during the Battle of A Baoa Qu when he helped Amuro Ray locate the White Base crew’s lifeboat through psychic connection. However, unlike many other Newtypes in the Universal Century, he showed no interest in developing these abilities for military purposes.

Throughout his time aboard the White Base, Letz proved adept at various support tasks around the ship. Along with Katz and Kikka, he helped with cleaning, painting, and other maintenance duties, demonstrating both responsibility and teamwork skills despite his young age.

His most significant contribution came during the Jaburo incident when he assisted in locating and disposing of bombs planted by Char Aznable. This action required both courage and quick thinking, showing that beneath his peaceful exterior lay genuine bravery when circumstances demanded it.

Relationships

Family

Letz’s relationship with his adoptive family formed the cornerstone of his post-war life. He maintained a close bond with Fraw Kobayashi, who had served as mother figure to all three orphans during their time aboard the White Base. His decision to remain at home rather than pursue opportunities elsewhere demonstrated his deep attachment to family stability.

His relationship with Hayato Kobayashi was that of a dutiful son who respected his adoptive father’s veteran status while choosing a different path for himself. Unlike Katz, who followed Hayato’s military example, Letz seemed to understand that civilian life could be equally valuable.

The bond between Letz and his adoptive siblings remained strong throughout their lives. His greeting of Kikka during her return visits showed continued affection and interest in her achievements, while his memory of Katz following the latter’s death in UC 0088 likely strengthened his commitment to peaceful pursuits.

White Base crew

During the One Year War, Letz formed lasting bonds with many White Base crew members. Amuro Ray served as a heroic figure, though Letz never developed the same intense admiration that drove Katz to military service. His relationships with other crew members like Kai Shiden, Mirai Yashima, and Bright Noa provided him with a extended family network that supported his development through childhood.

Behind the scenes

Letz Kobayashi was designed by character designer Yasuhiko Yoshikazu for the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. His character served as a representation of war survivors who choose peaceful civilian lives