Mondo Agake

Mondo Agake was a junk dealer from Shangri-La colony who became a mobile suit pilot serving with the Anti Earth Union Group during the First Neo Zeon War. He was the best friend and business partner of Beecha Oleg and a close associate of Judau Ashta.

Biography

Early life

Mondo Agake was born on 9 June UC 0073 and grew up in the Side 1 colony of Shangri-La. He made his living as a junk dealer, working alongside his best friend Beecha Oleg to collect and sell salvage from the colony’s scrapyard. Mondo was particularly skilled at driving the crew’s truck during their salvage operations.

Together with Judau Ashta, Elle Vianno, and Iino Abbav, Mondo formed part of a tight-knit group of friends who worked as junk dealers whilst often skipping school. The group supported each other through difficult times in the economically struggling colony.

First contact with the AEUG

In UC 0088, Mondo was present when Judau discovered and rescued Yazan Gable from his escape pod, which had been found amongst the space debris. Yazan, a surviving Titans pilot from the Gryps Conflict, coerced Mondo and his friends into helping him attempt to steal a mobile suit from the Argama, which had docked at Shangri-La for repairs.

During the attempted theft, Mondo and the others quickly realised that Yazan was too dangerous to work with, particularly after witnessing his violent tendencies. They abandoned the collaboration and instead began their own attempts to steal the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, planning to sell it for a substantial profit.

These theft attempts repeatedly failed, often because the group became inadvertently involved in defending the Argama from attacks by Mashymre Cello and other Neo Zeon forces. Each time, Judau would end up piloting the Zeta Gundam to defeat the enemy before returning it for repairs and resupply.

Service with the AEUG

Eventually, Mondo and his friends joined the crew of the Argama as members of the AEUG, forming part of what became known as the “Gundam Team”. Unlike some of his friends, Mondo did not serve as a regular mobile suit pilot initially, instead helping to pilot support craft or acting as a reserve pilot when needed.

Mondo was considered crafty and quick-witted, similar to his partner Beecha. He possessed the ability to turn difficult situations to his advantage through negotiation and clever thinking, making him a valuable team member despite not being a frontline pilot.

Defection to Neo Zeon

However, both Mondo and Beecha grew increasingly dissatisfied with military life aboard the Argama under Bright Noa’s strict captaincy. The two eventually made the decision to defect to the Neo Zeon forces, believing they might find better treatment with the opposing faction.

Their time with Neo Zeon proved to be short-lived and unpleasant. The Neo Zeon personnel constantly assigned them menial labour whilst subjecting them to ridicule and poor treatment. Both Mondo and Beecha quickly came to regret their decision and longed to return to their friends aboard the Argama.

Moon Moon incident

Mondo’s experience with Neo Zeon took a significant turn during a deployment to the colony of Moon Moon. There, he encountered and developed romantic feelings for Rasara Moon, a young woman from the colony’s indigenous “Light Tribe” population.

Wanting to help Rasara and her people, Mondo assisted her in repairing an old Catl construction machine. When AMX-003 Gaza-C mobile suits threatened the colony, Mondo used the repaired Catl to destroy several of the enemy machines, demonstrating both his piloting skills and his determination to protect those he cared about.

Return to the AEUG

The harsh treatment from Neo Zeon personnel and Mondo’s growing attachment to the people of Moon Moon reinforced his desire to escape. He and Beecha made multiple attempts to flee from the asteroid Axis, Neo Zeon’s base of operations.

During one escape attempt, they encountered Leina Ashta, Judau’s younger sister, who was trying to flee from Glemy Toto. Mondo and Beecha saw this as an opportunity to legitimise their return to the AEUG by claiming they had only pretended to join Neo Zeon in order to rescue Leina. However, their plan was complicated when Leina refused to leave without her brother, and their stolen mobile suit lacked a proper cockpit hatch, leaving them without protection in space.

Their second escape attempt involved stealing the MSZ-010 ΖΖ Gundam, which Judau had pretended to turn over to Neo Zeon as part of his own rescue mission. The escape coincided with an attack by the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, and FXA-08R Mega Rider. Although Judau forced them out of the ZZ Gundam’s cockpit, Mondo and Beecha managed to board the Mega Rider and return safely to the Argama.

Later service

Despite initial suspicion from their former crewmates, both Mondo and Beecha were eventually allowed to return to active duty aboard the Argama. To prove their renewed loyalty to the AEUG, they took the initiative to investigate and deal with Neo Zeon threats independently.

During one such mission on the lunar surface, Mondo and Beecha discovered a Neo Zeon ship docked at a port on the far side of a city. Determined to dispel any remaining suspicion about their loyalty, they joined Judau in taking three mobile suits to deal with the threat. Judau piloted the ZZ Gundam, Beecha took the Zeta Gundam, and Mondo operated the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II.

When the AEUG acquired the SCVA-76 Nahel Argama, Mondo was among those who “stole” the new ship and served aboard it during the latter half of the First Neo Zeon War. He continued to serve as a support pilot and crew member until the conflict’s conclusion.

Personality & traits

Mondo was characterised by his crafty and quick-witted nature, traits he shared with his best friend and partner Beecha Oleg. He possessed a talent for negotiation and could often turn disadvantageous situations to his favour through clever thinking and resourcefulness.

Initially motivated primarily by financial gain, Mondo’s priorities gradually shifted as he experienced the realities of war and formed deeper relationships with his crewmates. His romantic attachment to Rasara Moon marked a significant moment in his personal development, showing his capacity for genuine care and sacrifice for others.

Like his friend Beecha, Mondo could be opportunistic and sometimes unreliable in his loyalties, as demonstrated by his defection to Neo Zeon. However, his eventual return to the AEUG and his efforts to prove his renewed commitment showed his ability to learn from his mistakes and grow as a person.

Mondo was also notably practical and down-to-earth, approaching problems with a focus on immediate, tangible solutions rather than abstract idealism. This pragmatic approach served him well both as a junk dealer and as a member of a military crew.

Skills & abilities

Piloting

Although not initially trained as a mobile suit pilot, Mondo demonstrated natural aptitude when circumstances required him to operate various machines. He successfully piloted the Catl construction machine during the Moon Moon incident, using it effectively in combat against Gaza-C mobile suits.

Later in the war, Mondo gained experience piloting actual mobile suits, including the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II during combat missions. Whilst not considered an ace pilot, he proved competent enough to serve as a reserve pilot when regular pilots were unavailable.

Technical skills

Mondo’s background as a junk dealer provided him with practical mechanical knowledge that proved useful throughout his military service. He was particularly skilled at vehicle operation, regularly serving as the driver for his crew’s salvage truck during their time in Shangri-La.

His experience with construction and repair work, demonstrated when helping Rasara fix the Catl machine, showed his ability to work with various types of machinery beyond simple salvage operations.

Negotiation and survival

Mondo’s reputation for being crafty and quick-witted was well-earned through numerous situations where he managed to talk his way out of trouble or turn circumstances to his advantage. This skill proved valuable both in civilian life as a junk dealer and during his military service.

Relationships

Beecha Oleg

Beecha Oleg was Mondo’s closest friend and constant partner throughout their time as junk dealers and later as AEUG crew members. The two were virtually inseparable, working together in their salvage business and making most major decisions jointly.

Their partnership was characterised by shared pragmatic values and a tendency to prioritise their own interests, though both gradually developed greater loyalty to their friends and the AEUG cause. When they defected to Neo Zeon, they did so together, and they also returned to the AEUG as a pair.

Judau Ashta

Judau Ashta was the leader of Mondo’s group of friends and the person who often drew them into larger conflicts and adventures. Mondo generally followed Judau’s lead, though he was not above pursuing his own interests when opportunities arose.

Their relationship evolved from simple friendship to a more complex dynamic as Judau became the group’s primary mobile suit pilot and unofficial leader during their military service. Mondo’s defection and return tested their friendship but ultimately strengthened it.

Rasara Moon

Rasara Moon represented Mondo’s most significant romantic relationship. Their brief but intense connection during the Moon Moon incident had a profound impact on Mondo’s character development and his perspective on the war.

Rasara’s death whilst protecting Mondo from an attack by Stampa Halloi’s MSM-07S Z’Gok was a traumatic experience that contributed to his emotional maturation. Her sacrifice forced him to confront the serious consequences of the conflict and the value of putting others before oneself.

Other friends

Mondo maintained friendships with Elle Vianno and Iino Abbav, the other members of their original Shangri-La group. These relationships provided stability and continuity throughout the various changes and challenges they faced during the war.

Mecha

MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam

Mondo occasionally piloted the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, though primarily during emergency situations or when the regular pilot was unavailable. His attempts to steal this mobile suit early in the series were motivated by its high resale value rather than any desire to become a pilot.

RX-178 Gundam Mk-II

The RX-178 Gundam Mk-II was the mobile suit Mondo most commonly operated during combat missions in the latter part of the First Neo Zeon War. He demonstrated competent handling of this machine during various engagements, though he never achieved the skill level of ace pilots like Judau.

MSZ-010 ΖΖ Gundam

Mondo briefly attempted to steal the MSZ-010 ΖΖ Gundam during his escape attempt from Neo Zeon, though this was more an act of desperation than a demonstration of piloting ability. The incident showed both his opportunistic nature and his eventual subordination to Judau’s leadership.

Support vehicles

Throughout his service, Mondo regularly operated various support craft and vehicles, drawing on his experience as a truck driver in Shangri-La. His practical mechanical skills made him valuable for logistics and support operations even when not piloting mobile suits.

Behind the scenes

Mondo Agake was voiced by Kōzō Shioya in the original Japanese version of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. Shioya’s performance captured both the character’s youthful opportunism and his gradual maturation throughout the series.

The character served as part of the series’ ensemble cast of young protagonists, representing the civilian perspective on the Universal Century conflicts. His arc from selfish junk dealer to committed AEUG member reflected the series’ themes about growing up during wartime and the development of personal responsibility.

Mondo’s relationship with Rasara Moon was notable for being one of the series’ more tragic romantic subplots, contributing to the darker tone that characterised the second half of Gundam ZZ. The character’s name, when certain characters are modified, can be read as “Motte ga kke” (もっと掻け), meaning “scratch more” in Japanese, though this appears to be coincidental rather than intentional wordplay.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ