Sarah Zabiarov

Sarah Zabiarov was a Titans mobile suit pilot and Newtype who served under Paptimus Scirocco during the Gryps Conflict. Despite her fierce loyalty to the Titans and obsessive devotion to Scirocco, she retained a good heart and conscience, which often led her to empathise with members of the AEUG.

Biography

Early life and recruitment

Sarah was originally a cadet at the Titans’ private Newtype laboratory when her talents caught the attention of Paptimus Scirocco, who quickly recruited her to serve in combat against the AEUG. Her Newtype abilities and potential made her a valuable asset for Scirocco’s plans.

Gryps Conflict

For her first mission in UC 0087, Sarah and another Newtype trainee named Sydle were placed under the command of Jerid Messa, who expressed contempt at their youth and inexperience. When Jerid asked Sarah if she was ready to kill, she replied that she would never kill anybody unless it was absolutely necessary. Jerid scoffed that the enemy would surely kill her with that attitude. The mission against the AEUG flagship Argama ended badly with Sydle’s death at the hands of Kamille Bidan and Sarah abandoning Jerid, forcing him to retreat as well. Scirocco gently scolded her for this, and she promised not to let it happen again.

For her next mission, Scirocco sent Sarah to the Argama to inform them about the Titans’ plans to drop an uninhabited colony onto the lunar city of Granada. At first, Wong Lee wondered if it was a trap, but Bright Noa believed her, saying it was not entirely inconceivable for someone as young as she to question her superiors when they resorted to such brutal tactics. Sarah was interrogated by Kamille, who believed the part about the colony drop but not the rest of her story. She accidentally mentioned that Scirocco had sent her. During her time aboard the Argama, she encountered Katz Kobayashi, who had taken an interest in her. She offered Katz the use of her Hizack and used the opportunity to escape.

Sarah later fought alongside Jerid Messa and Mouar Pharaoh with a mega particle cannon that they planned to use to destroy the Zeta Gundam. The plan went awry when Katz sensed Sarah’s presence while piloting the G-Defenser and warned Kamille in time as Sarah fired the cannon, missing her target.

The ice cream incident

In another attempt to destroy the Argama, Sarah was sent into Von Braun City to plant a bomb powerful enough to take out its entire port while the enemy battleship was docked there. After planting the bomb, she was spotted by Kamille, who demanded to know what she was doing in Von Braun. She feigned a desire to talk with him, and he asked why she couldn’t do normal things for a girl her age like hanging out with her peers and enjoying some ice cream. Although Kamille was initially cordial enough to buy Sarah some ice cream, he told her that Katz no longer trusted anyone because of her deception and that he would show her no mercy the next time they met in battle.

Overwhelmed by Kamille’s generosity, Sarah stopped him from heading back to the Argama and told him about the bomb. Kamille quickly told the AEUG to evacuate the Argama and the park while he and Sarah tried to defuse the bomb with no luck. Sarah tried to run away, but Kamille grabbed her and knocked her out. She later found herself back aboard the Argama but managed to escape again. However, she looked back at Kamille while he was piloting the Zeta Gundam and said, “Thanks for the ice cream.”

Rivalry with Reccoa

When Scirocco was joined by AEUG turncoat Reccoa Londe, Sarah saw her as a usurper and vowed to outdo Reccoa in order to keep Scirocco all for herself. During the initial fighting at the Gate of Zedan, she was confronted by Kamille, who beseeched Sarah to come to her senses and realise that Scirocco was only using her as a means to an end. However, Sarah did not listen and tried to take control of the Zeta Gundam while Kamille was fighting Jerid, saying it was worth dying to help her “Master Paptimus.” Katz heard her voice and quickly saved her and Kamille from Jerid. Sarah was brought back aboard the Argama for the third and last time, and she commented that Katz had become much stronger since their last encounter. Katz retorted that it was all because of her deception earlier.

Final battle and death

Sarah fought her last battle when she and Reccoa accompanied Scirocco as he prepared for a meeting between Haman Karn and Jamitov Hymen. Upon hearing about this, Katz impulsively defied his superiors and took off in the G-Defenser while concocting a scheme to kill Scirocco, hoping it would make Sarah come to her senses. Katz nearly succeeded while Haman and Scirocco were engaged in battle, but Sarah jumped in the way and took the brunt of his attack, dying as her Bolinoak Sammahn exploded on 22 November UC 0087.

Despite the fact that Katz had just killed her, Sarah’s spirit briefly appeared to protect him from Scirocco, who angrily retorted, “She may forgive you! I’m not so indulgent!” Sarah continued to watch over Katz and Scirocco until their final fight during Operation Maelstrom. Her spirit appeared again as Katz lay dying in his G-Defenser and when Kamille was fighting Scirocco. She initially tried to protect Scirocco, but Katz, who by this time was also dead, told her to listen to her heart for a change. Sarah was visibly moved by Katz’s words, and although this marked her final appearance in the series, Kamille ultimately emerged victorious over Scirocco.

Sarah made her final appearance as one of the spirits protecting Judau Ashta from Haman Karn during the final battle of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ.

Personality and traits

Sarah retained a good heart and conscience despite her membership in the Titans, which caused her to empathise with the AEUG. She built positive relationships with Kamille and Katz, despite being on opposing sides, to the point where she gave Kamille a chance to halt her bombing plot on the Moon and showed discomfort at the prospect of actually killing him in their various encounters.

However, her devotion to Scirocco turned to obsession, ultimately causing Sarah to suffer the same fate as Lalah Sune during the One Year War. She was completely devoted to Scirocco, referring to him as “Master Paptimus” and declaring that it was worth dying to help him. When asked by Katz why she wanted to go back to Scirocco so badly, Sarah replied that it was because she met him first—the same thing Lalah Sune had said to Amuro Ray when asked why she remained loyal to Char Aznable.

Skills and abilities

As a Newtype, Sarah possessed enhanced intuition and spatial awareness that made her an effective mobile suit pilot. She was suspected by Yazan Gable and Kamille to be a Cyber-Newtype, though this was never confirmed. According to some sources, she had Newtype powers before joining the Titans’ Newtype laboratories.

Sarah demonstrated considerable piloting skills, operating various mobile suits including the PMX-000 Messala, PMX-002 Bolinoak Sammahn, and RMS-106 Hizack. Her abilities caught the attention of Paptimus Scirocco, who personally recruited her for combat missions.

Relationships

Paptimus Scirocco

Sarah was utterly devoted to Paptimus Scirocco, whom she regarded as her “Master Paptimus.” Her loyalty to him was so complete that it bordered on obsession. She was willing to sacrifice her life for him and saw other women around Scirocco, particularly Reccoa Londe, as rivals for his affections. This devotion ultimately led to her death when she shielded Scirocco from Katz’s attack.

Katz Kobayashi

Katz Kobayashi developed romantic feelings for Sarah during her visits to the Argama. Despite being on opposite sides of the conflict, Sarah showed kindness to Katz and seemed to care for him. Their relationship was complicated by her loyalty to Scirocco and her role as an enemy pilot. Ironically, it was Katz who killed her in his attempt to assassinate Scirocco, though she forgave him even in death.

Kamille Bidan

Kamille Bidan showed unexpected kindness to Sarah, even buying her ice cream and trying to understand her motivations. This gesture touched Sarah deeply, leading her to warn him about the bomb she had planted in Von Braun City. Kamille repeatedly tried to convince Sarah to abandon Scirocco, recognising that she was being used.

Mecha

PMX-002 Bolinoak Sammahn

Sarah’s primary mobile suit during the later stages of the Gryps Conflict was the PMX-002 Bolinoak Sammahn, the third mobile suit built by Paptimus Scirocco aboard the Jupitris. This mobile suit was designed as a seek-and-destroy unit with advanced surveillance technology built into its head and forearms. Despite having limited armaments compared to its sister unit, the PMX-001 Palace Athene, the Bolinoak Sammahn provided adequate defence with its Gundarium alloy armour.

Sarah used the Bolinoak Sammahn during the battles at the Gate of Zedan and against Axis Zeon, during which the mobile suit was damaged by Haman Karn’s AMX-004 Qubeley. The Bolinoak Sammahn was ultimately destroyed when Katz Kobayashi tried to kill Scirocco, and Sarah took the blast meant for her commander, killing her in the process.

PMX-000 Messala

Sarah also piloted the PMX-000 Messala, the first transformable mobile weapon created by Scirocco. This powerful mobile armor was capable of high-speed flight and carried substantial firepower. Sarah later relinquished the Messala to Reccoa Londe after Reccoa defected from the AEUG to the Titans.

Full mecha list

• RMS-106 Hizack – Sarah offered to let Katz use her Hizack during her first visit to the Argama, using this as an opportunity to escape.
• PMX-000 Messala – A transformable mobile armor personally created by Paptimus Scirocco, which Sarah piloted before it was transferred to Reccoa Londe.
• PMX-002 Bolinoak Sammahn – Sarah’s final mobile suit, in which she died protecting Scirocco from Katz’s attack.

Behind the scenes

Sarah Zabiarov was introduced in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam as one of Paptimus Scirocco’s followers. Her character was designed to show similarities with Lalah Sune from the original Mobile Suit Gundam, including being a romantic partner with a superior officer, asking “Why couldn’t we have met sooner?” upon meeting the protagonist, dying to protect their love interest, and using a teal/blue/green-coloured mobile weapon.

In the anime, Sarah was suspected by Yazan Gable and Kamille Bidan to be a Cyber-Newtype, though this was never confirmed. However, books such as Gundam MS & Character Encyclopedia noted that she had Newtype powers before joining the Titans’ Newtype laboratories.

Voice acting

Sarah was voiced by Yūko Mizutani in the original Japanese version of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. This was Mizutani’s debut role as a voice actress, having started her career in 1985. Mizutani went on to voice many famous characters throughout her career, including Sora Takenouchi in Digimon Adventure, Sakiko Sakura in Chibi Maruko-chan, and the Japanese voice of Minnie Mouse. Sadly, Mizutani passed away on 17 May 2016 due to breast cancer at the age of 51.

In the compilation movies Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation, Sarah was voiced by Chizuru Ikewaki and Kaori Shimamura. In the English dub, she was voiced by Maizun Jayoussi.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam – episodes 21–50
• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ – episode 47 (as spirit)
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation – films II and III
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn

External links

• Sarah Zabiarov on the Gundam Wiki
• Sarah Zabiarov on Behind The Voice Actors