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Otto Mitas

Captain of the Nahel Argama and a Londo Bell officer during the Laplace's Box incident.
Jenxi Seow Published 14 Jun 2025 Updated 14 Jun 2025
Otto Mitas

Otto Mitas was the captain of the assault landing ship Nahel Argama and a Federation officer with Londo Bell during the Laplace’s Box incident in UC 0096.

Biography

Early career

Otto Mitas served as a career officer in the Earth Federation Forces, eventually achieving the rank of Captain. By UC 0096, he was assigned to command the assault landing ship Nahel Argama as part of the Londo Bell task force, the Federation’s elite anti-Zeon unit.

Battle of Industrial 7

In UC 0096, Captain Mitas received orders to pursue a freighter heading towards the Industrial 7 colony. When the pursuing vessel failed to intercept the freighter before it reached the colony, Mitas ordered the Nahel Argama and its mobile suit squadrons to engage Zeon forces directly at the colony. During the engagement, he even authorised the use of the ship’s main gun against the colony structure to create an opening for their mobile suits to pursue the Sleeves.

The battle marked Mitas’s first encounter with the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam, when a single-horned mobile suit emerged from the colony and transformed before his eyes. The Unicorn Gundam engaged the NZ-666 Kshatriya before both units retreated. The Nahel Argama subsequently recovered the Unicorn Gundam and its unconscious pilot, Banagher Links.

Hunt for Laplace’s Box

Following the battle at Industrial 7, Mitas found himself caught in the conspiracy surrounding Laplace’s Box. The ship took shelter in a debris cluster whilst awaiting reinforcements, during which time they encountered a derelict Salamis-class cruiser. Mitas’s decision to destroy the derelict ship with the main gun inadvertently revealed their position to the Sleeves.

The subsequent ambush by a Rewloola-class battleship commanded by Full Frontal forced Mitas to deal with multiple pressures: orders from ECOAS Commander Daguza Mackle, interference from Anaheim Electronics executive Alberto Vist, and the capture of Mineva Lao Zabi. When Mackle attempted to use Mineva as a hostage to negotiate safe passage, Mitas witnessed the full extent of the political machinations surrounding the Box.

Operation Billiard

Federal intelligence traced the Sleeves to Palau, leading to Operation Billiard. Mitas expressed his frustration with headquarters’ claims that they could conduct this operation covertly, at one point retreating to an elevator where he vented his anger by shouting and punching the walls. When questioned by his first officer Liam Borrinea, he reluctantly acknowledged that if Laplace’s Box truly had the potential to decide the fate of the world, they had no choice but to proceed.

The operation involved using the Nahel Argama’s hyper-mega particle cannon to seal off Palau’s military port whilst Londo Bell and ECOAS forces concentrated their attacks against the Sleeves. During the chaos, Banagher was able to escape on his own and returned to the ship with the captured Kshatriya and its pilot, Marida Cruz.

Ghost of Laplace

When the Unicorn Gundam began displaying coordinates leading to the wreck of Laplace, Mitas found himself mediating between Banagher’s reluctance to continue fighting and Mackle’s insistence that following orders was necessary. Mitas attempted to provide perspective to the young pilot, explaining that soldiers like Mackle had to view situations from a particular perspective due to their duties, whilst emphasising the crew’s mutual responsibility for one another.

At the Laplace wreckage, Mitas detected unknown Minovsky particles and prepared for an attack, despite Borrinea’s reassurances about being in Earth’s absolute defence zone. His concerns proved justified when they came under assault, though they ultimately lost the Unicorn Gundam when it fell into Earth’s atmosphere.

Collaboration with the Sleeves

After nearly twenty days of atmospheric patrol, Mitas received orders from Bright Noa to assist the Garencieres, the Neo Zeon ship that had been trailing them since Industrial 7. Though initially questioned by his crew, Mitas followed orders and helped rescue the Sleeves vessel when it suffered engine trouble during atmospheric re-entry.

When both ships came under attack by the General Revil, which had orders to destroy all who knew of Laplace’s Box, Mitas was forced into an uneasy alliance with the Sleeves. He addressed his crew over the intercom, clarifying that whilst they were working with Neo Zeon for survival, they had not surrendered their ship to the enemy.

This alliance proved temporary when Angelo Sauper took hostages and demanded that Mitas attack a Federation patrol ship. Mitas firmly refused, declaring that he did not negotiate with terrorists and ending their alliance of convenience. ECOAS forces subsequently rescued the hostages and retook control of the ship.

Return to Industrial 7

As the final coordinates to Laplace’s Box were revealed to be at Industrial 7, Mitas addressed his crew one final time, telling them they would secure the Box for the future of mankind and urging them all to return alive from the mission. The Nahel Argama detected an incoming mobile suit, which proved to be the RX-0(N) Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn piloted by Riddhe Marcenas.

Personality & traits

Otto Mitas epitomised the challenges faced by middle management in the military hierarchy. He was constantly torn between the demands of Federation high command, who forced him to undertake increasingly reckless missions, and his subordinates, who grew frustrated with the impossible situations they faced. This pressure manifested in occasional outbursts of anger and frustration, particularly when dealing with conflicting orders from multiple authorities.

Despite these pressures, Mitas demonstrated genuine care for his crew and civilians caught in the conflict. He showed particular patience with Banagher Links, taking time to explain the difficult realities soldiers faced whilst emphasising the importance of mutual responsibility among the crew. His pragmatic approach to command was evident in his willingness to work with former enemies when survival demanded it, whilst maintaining clear boundaries about Federation principles.

Mitas displayed the qualities of a competent naval officer, making tactical decisions under pressure and adapting to rapidly changing situations. However, he was also clearly out of his depth when dealing with the political implications of Laplace’s Box and the various factions seeking to control it.

Skills & abilities

As captain of the Nahel Argama, Mitas demonstrated competent naval command abilities, coordinating ship-to-ship combat and mobile suit operations. He showed good tactical judgment in combat situations, though he occasionally made decisions that revealed his position to enemy forces.

His leadership style emphasised clear communication with his crew and subordinates, even when dealing with difficult personalities like Alberto Vist or conflicting authorities like ECOAS and Anaheim Electronics. Mitas proved capable of making difficult decisions under extreme pressure, such as when forced to collaborate with the Sleeves for survival.

Relationships

Liam Borrinea

Liam Borrinea served as Mitas’s first officer and confidante throughout the Laplace’s Box incident. She frequently questioned his decisions when she felt they were unwise, but ultimately supported his command. Borrinea provided emotional support during Mitas’s more difficult moments and helped maintain crew morale during the extended crisis.

Daguza Mackle

Mitas had a complex relationship with ECOAS Commander Daguza Mackle. Whilst he respected Mackle’s military expertise and dedication, he often found himself frustrated by ECOAS’s operational independence and their tendency to override ship command decisions. Despite these tensions, the two officers worked together effectively when circumstances demanded it.

Alberto Vist

Mitas developed a strong dislike for Anaheim Electronics executive Alberto Vist, whom he saw as a manipulative civilian interfering with military operations. He particularly resented Alberto’s attempts to control the situation involving the Unicorn Gundam and Laplace’s Box, at one point refusing to tolerate any more “insolence” from the Anaheim representative.

Despite his gruff exterior, Mitas showed considerable patience and understanding towards Banagher Links, the young pilot of the Unicorn Gundam. He took time to explain military realities to Banagher whilst emphasising the crew’s mutual responsibility for one another, demonstrating a more nurturing side to his personality.

Vessels

SCVA-76 Nahel Argama

Captain Mitas commanded the assault landing ship Nahel Argama throughout the Laplace’s Box incident. The vessel served as a mobile command centre for Londo Bell operations and housed the Unicorn Gundam during its initial deployment. Under Mitas’s command, the ship participated in several major engagements and survived multiple attempts at destruction by both Sleeves and Federation forces.

Behind the scenes

Otto Mitas was voiced by Naoya Uchida in the Japanese version of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. Uchida, born on 1 May 1953, is a veteran voice actor known for his roles in various anime series including Madara Uchiha in Naruto Shippuden. In the English dub, Mitas was voiced by Michael Sorich, who has extensive experience in Gundam series and other anime productions.

The character served as a representation of the ordinary Federation officer caught up in extraordinary circumstances, providing a perspective of someone trying to maintain military discipline whilst dealing with forces beyond his understanding or control. His role highlighted the complex command structure and conflicting interests within the Earth Federation during the UC 0096 period.

Appearances