Natarle Badgiruel (ナタル・バジルール Nataru Bajirūru?) is a character introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Personality & Character[]
Natarle came from a long family history of honor and prestige to the Earth Alliance, it was natural for her to continue the lineage as a career soldier. As an officer, she acted less emotionally, caring, strict, and by the book when it came to taking action. Her constant soldier mentality, often made her less likable but also maintained a perspective in terms of tactical and military decisions as she was willing to do almost anything to reach a certain end.
She was a strong supporter of the Alliance. Although she was shocked upon hearing that her superiors were planning to sacrifice her former crewmates along with the Eurasian forces at the Battle of JOSH-A, she accepted the Alliance's decision. After the Earth Alliance destroyed Boaz with nuclear missiles, Natarle began to seriously question whether or not she was doing the right thing. When Azrael ordered the Dominion to kill Captain Ramius and the rest of her former crewmates on board the Archangel she defied his orders.
Natarle was least understood by her peers. She had been driven to be a career soldier for so long that people forgot that she was still a woman. Driven by her sense of duty and emotionally protective nature, she never showed her softer side for people to appreciate. It was only in the final moments of her life that she finally broke her mold and listened to her heart.
Skills & Abilities[]
Natarle is a skilled tactical officer, excelling in ship combat tactics, even outmaneuvering the Archangel during the first battle in which it and the Dominion met. Furthermore, she knows how to use the environment to her advantage, thus allowing her to attack decisively. Trained to be a career soldier, she's capable of piloting ships and using firearms.
Physical Aspects & Clothing[]
Natarle is a young adult female with short black hair and purple eyes.
History[]
Early Life[]
Born on December 24, C.E. 46, Natarle's family, one with a long lineage of military service, raised her to value discipline and authority. When she was of age, Natarle registered for military service in the Atlantic Federation. Because of her upbringing and exceptional focus, she obtained excellent results during her time as a cadet and later received a commission as an officer.[1] By C.E. 70 and the start of the First Alliance-PLANT War, Natarle, a promising young Earth Alliance Ensign, was assigned to the EA's space forces.
Joining the Archangel[]
In January C.E. 71, Natarle was stationed on Orb's Heliopolis colony as part of a secret project to produce weapons capable of fighting ZAFT's mobile suits.[2] Natarle was one of the few survivors when ZAFT's Le Creuset Team raided the colony to seize the new weapons.[3] Although an Ensign at the time, during the raid she temporarily assumed command of the Archangel, as she was the most senior officer on board, in order to launch the ship in haste.[3] She then handed over command of the ship to Lieutenant Murrue Ramius, who was the most senior surviving officer.[4] She became the Archangel's executive officer and supervised the ship's Combat Information Center, effectively becoming Murrue's 2nd-in-command. She held reservations about allowing Kira Yamato, a Coordinator, to remain on board the ship as a Gundam pilot, but Murrue Ramius disagreed.[4]
Aboard the Archangel, Natarle and Murrue came into conflict several times, the first incident occurred during the Battle near Junius Seven, when Natarle threatened Lacus Clyne to stave off ZAFT forces after they destroyed an Atlantic Federation fleet.[5] The second incident occurred after the Archangel rendezvoused with Rear Admiral Duane Halberton and his Eighth Fleet. Natarle said that the Earth Alliance couldn't afford to let Kira leave and suggested taking his parents, hostage. Admiral Halberton rebuked her and both actions produced friction between her and Captain Ramius.[6]
Nevertheless, Natarle was a superb tactical analyst with keen judgment and a knack for swift decision-making, which made her a valuable asset to the Archangel. When they finally arrived at JOSH-A, Natarle was transferred to a shore assignment. In their last encounter face-to-face, Murrue thanked Natarle and said she would make a fine Captain someday.[7]
When ZAFT launched Operation Spitbreak on JOSH-A in an effort to wipe out the Alliance, the Archangel and Eurasian forces were dispatched to deal with them, Atlantic Federation personnel secretly made their escape, and Natarle was among them.[7] However, she overheard a few soldiers discussing the Atlantic Federation's plan to use a secret Cyclops System underneath JOSH-A to wipe out the ZAFT forces and the base's defenses.[8]
The Dominion[]
Natarle was eventually promoted to Lieutenant Commander and was again reassigned to command as the new Captain of the Dominion, the Archangel's sister ship.[9] While attempting training exercises with her crew, a representative from the Defense Committee, Muruta Azrael, came to the Dominion as an observer, explaining that they were to hunt down and destroy the Archangel, which had survived the Battle of JOSH-A, and had gone rogue.[10] Tragically, she was forced to fight her former crew at the Battle of Mendel. At first, she tried to appeal to her former crew to come back to the Alliance, but Murrue politely declined, explaining that they have serious doubts about Alliance forces in their entirety. Azrael then mocked Natarle's attempts to solve things through discussion and then ordered the Calamity, Raider, and Forbidden to launch an attack.[10] Through Natarle's strategies, they were able to outmaneuver the Archangel, but came at a disadvantage when it received firing support from the Eternal and Kusanagi.[11] During the final stages of the battle, ZAFT launched a life pod carrying Flay Allster, carrying data on the Neutron Jammer Canceller. Natarle ordered for her retrieval and with her arrival into the Dominion, Flay presented them with the disk which interested Azrael to put this technology to use by using it for nuclear weapons against the PLANTs.[12][13]
Final Battles of the War & Death[]
In September, the Dominion joined the Alliance fleet to engage the whole of the ZAFT forces in Operation Elvis. The Alliance forces engaged ZAFT at the Battle of Boaz, where the Dominion's Gundams escorted the Peacemaker Taskforce when they fired nuclear missiles at the fortress, destroying it and wiping out its defending forces.[13] At the Second Battle of Jachin Due, the EA attempted to repeat Boaz and fire nuclear missiles at the PLANT Colonies, but they were all intercepted by the METEOR equipped Freedom and Justice.[13] Then, ZAFT unveiled its ultimate weapon, GENESIS, which wiped out half of the EA fleet, forcing Natarle to order a withdrawal. Azrael, disregarding Natarle's belief that the fleet should abandon the battle, ordered reinforcements from the Ptolemaios lunar base to meet up with them to re-engage the ZAFT forces.[14]
As the EA Fleet began its second attack on the PLANTs, GENESIS fired its second shot, destroying half of the EA's reinforcements and the lunar base. Outgunned and outmatched, Azrael snapped and ordered that every last nuclear missile be fired at the PLANTs, ignoring Natarle's constant pleas for him to rethink his orders as that would not eliminate the threat of the GENESIS to the earth. Azrael, becoming obsessed with the destruction of the PLANTs, then threatened to shoot her for insubordination. When the Archangel came into view, Azrael demanded that she destroy that ship full of traitors once and for all, an order which Natarle was hesitant to carry out. In the ensuing fight, both ships were heavily damaged. Natarle, wished with all her heart that her former crew-mates could end this. Flay, who was acting as the communication officer at the time, tried to warn the Archangel, causing Azrael to attack and aim his gun at her. Natarle, having had enough, held him back and ordered her crew to abandon the ship, even encouraging Flay to go to the Archangel. In their struggle, Natarle was shot, forcing her to release Azrael who tried to fire from the soon-to-be doomed ship. When Natarle trapped them inside the bridge, Azrael shot her several times in an attempt to get her to let him out. He attempted to fire the remaining Lohengrin, but the shot was intercepted by Mu in the heavily damaged Strike Gundam. She mocked him one last time, saying that he was already lost, prompting Azrael to shoot her again before the Archangel fired back, destroying the Dominion and killing Azrael and Natarle who looked no less than content with her fate.[15]
Relationships[]
Murrue Ramius[]
- The two often differed in their management of the crew, with Murrue prioritizing the feelings of her crew in contrast to Natarle's more pragmatic approach. Murrue was also willing to break protocol, something that Natarle did not agree with. This led to many disagreements between the two, and they were seen arguing on multiple occasions. Despite this, both held each other in mutual respect and Murrue commented on how she would like to reunite with Natarle away from the battlefield during better days.
- Unfortunately, the two would instead reunite as enemies and lead their ships against each other. Although Natarle was fiercely loyal to the Alliance, she hesitated in her loyalty and began to favour Murrue's stance on the matter, eventually betraying Muruta after he placed the crew of the Dominion in jeopardy. She refused to fire at the Archangel and eagerly waited for Murrue to destroy the Dominion, even though she would lose her own life in the process.
Muruta Azrael[]
- Muruta oversaw her tenure as captain of the Dominion, but the two were unable to see eye-to-eye. Natarle went into battle with the lens of a soldier while Muruta went into battle with the lens of a politician, often leading to a difference of opinion. She also disliked his extreme methods against his enemies and didn't want to fight the Archangel despite his orders. This rift widened over time and she began to agree with Murrue's ideals instead, with Muruta lashing out at Flay causing her to ultimately betray him. Despite taking heavy damage from him, she refused to obey him and took great joy in seeing him crumble as the fear of death loomed over him, even at her own expense.
Flay Allster[]
- Natarle valued Flay as a comrade and tried her best to comfort her after she was rescued from ZAFT. When Flay's life was endangered by Muruta, Natarle lept into action and betrayed her superior, allowing Flay to escape.
Quote[]
Gallery[]
Character Designs[]
Anime[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- A series of one-shot quasi-canonical mangas to promote the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Tomo to Kimi to koko de Game Boy Advance game implied that Natarle may have been jealous of Murrue's relationship with Mu La Flaga. During the Archangel's stay in Orb, a damaged shirt of Mu's is missing from the ship's laundry room. Kira and his friends try to solve the mystery, ultimately realizing Natarle repaired the shirt for him, after requesting sewing lessons from Miriallia Haw.
- In the above-mentioned game itself, there is an option to get an "alternate ending" to the TV series. While in Orb, the Heliopolis kids can help Arnold Neumann with his unrequited crush on Natarle. If successful, this side event will culminate in Neumann working up the nerve to confess to Natarle, with the latter returning his affections. This alternate outcome affects the final scenarios of the game, where Natarle also abandons the ship after ordering the Dominion's crew to do so and warns Murrue of Azrael's intentions so the Archangel fires first, negating Mu La Flaga's sacrifice.
- Gundam 00's Kati Mannequin's role is similar to Natarle's. Both characters were once friends with the captain of the protagonist's ship, both thought they were too soft and often found themselves fighting one another, but after learning the true dark nature of their respective factions, ultimately turned against them and helped their former friends deal with them, though in Natarle's case, she willingly sacrificed herself to do it.
- In Super Robot Wars W, her death is prevented by the intervention of Gai Murakumo, and she helps root out the Blue Cosmos elements within the Alliance after the end of the war.
- In Super Robot Wars DD, she was saved by Guy Shishiou, Devilman, and Steel Jeeg. Guy and Jeeg escorted her to Archangel while leaving Devilman to deal with Azrael. Due too this for the first time in Super Robot Wars history Natarle become part of Destiny storyline.
- Natarle shows many similarities to the Star Trek character, Spock. They both are the Cold, logical thinker of their respective Power Trio. She is also known to argue ideals, clashing with Murrue, just as Spock would with Dr. McCoy. Finally, they both heroically sacrificed their lives to save the heroes.
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- PHASE-05, Phase Shift Down
- PHASE-01, False Peace
- First Appearance
- PHASE-02, Its Name: Gundam
- PHASE-03, Collapsing Land
- PHASE-04, Silent Run
- PHASE-06, The Vanishing Gundam
- PHASE-07, The Scar of Space
- PHASE-08, The Songstress of The Enemy Forces
- PHASE-09, The Fading Light
- PHASE-10, Crossroads
- PHASE-11, The Awakening Sword
- PHASE-12, Flay's Decision
- PHASE-13, Stars Falling in Space
- PHASE-24, War for Two
- PHASE-32, In the Promised Land
- PHASE-41, Trembling World
- PHASE-15, The Respective Solitudes
- PHASE-16, Burning Sandstorm
- PHASE-17, Cagalli Returns
- PHASE-18, Payback
- PHASE-19, Fangs of the Enemy
- PHASE-20, On a Calm Day
- PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
- PHASE-22, The Sea Dyed Red
- PHASE-23, Fateful Encounter
- PHASE-25, The Land of Peace
- PHASE-27, Endless Rondo
- PHASE-28, Kira
- PHASE-29, The Turning Point
- PHASE-30, Flashing Blades
- PHASE-31, Grieving Skies
- PHASE-33, Gathering Darkness
- PHASE-34, Seen and Unseen
- PHASE-35, The Descending Sword
- PHASE-36, In the Name of Justice
- Mentioned only
- PHASE-38, Decisive Fire
- PHASE-43, What Stands in the Way
- PHASE-44, Spiral of Encounters
- PHASE-45, The Opening Door
- PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
- PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
- PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- PHASE-49, The Final Light
- Decease
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- PHASE-20, Past
References[]
- ↑ The Official Gundam Perfect File, Issue 80, pg. 15
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-01, False Peace
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-02, Its Name: Gundam
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-03, Collapsing Land
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-10, Crossroads
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-12, Flay's Decision
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-34, Seen and Unseen
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-36, In the Name of Justice
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-41, Trembling World
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-43, What Stands in the Way
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-44, Spiral of Encounters
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PHASE-49, The Final Light