TV Special
Description
Dearka Elsman is a Coordinator born on March 29 in Cosmic Era 54 in the PLANTs, the colonies established by Coordinators in Earth's orbit. As the son of Tad Elsman, a member of the PLANT Supreme Council representing the Febuarius colony and a supporter of Patrick Zala, Dearka comes from a prominent political family. Before the events of the war, he graduated third in his class from ZAFT's military academy, a performance that earned him the elite red uniform of a ZAFT ace.
At the start of the conflict, Dearka is a member of the Le Creuset team, an elite ZAFT unit. He participates in the operation to infiltrate the neutral Orb colony of Heliopolis, where Earth Alliance mobile suits are being developed. During this mission, he successfully captures the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam, a long-range artillery mobile suit, and becomes its designated pilot. Alongside his comrades Athrun Zala, Yzak Joule, and Nicol Amalfi, he pursues the escaping Earth Alliance ship, the Archangel, throughout the early stages of the war.
In terms of personality, Dearka is initially characterized by a sarcastic and somewhat arrogant demeanor. He frequently makes dismissive remarks about Naturals, whom he labels as weaklings, a common attitude among Coordinators indoctrinated with ZAFT's wartime propaganda. Unlike his close friend Yzak Joule, who is hot-headed and quick to anger, Dearka is more laid-back, often expressing his scorn through detached, humorous sarcasm. He is pragmatic and adaptable, which allows him to survive situations that others might not.
A significant turning point for Dearka occurs when his Buster Gundam is severely damaged by Mu La Flaga's mobile armor. With the Archangel's main guns locked onto him, Dearka makes the pragmatic decision to surrender rather than be destroyed. While imprisoned aboard the Archangel, his worldview is challenged. After making a careless remark about the deceased boyfriend of Miriallia Haw, a Natural crew member, she attacks him in grief and rage. However, when another crew member, Flay Allster, attempts to execute Dearka out of hatred for Coordinators, Miriallia physically intervenes to save his life. This act of compassion, along with subsequent conversations with Miriallia, forces him to re-evaluate his prejudices and see Naturals as individuals rather than enemies.
Upon the Archangel's arrival in the neutral nation of Orb, Dearka is released. When Orb is later invaded by the Earth Alliance, Dearka voluntarily reclaims his repaired Buster Gundam and chooses to fight alongside the Archangel's crew to defend the nation. He formally defects from ZAFT and joins the Three Ships Alliance, a faction formed to end the war against the extremist policies of both the Earth Alliance and the ZAFT leadership under Patrick Zala. His primary motivation becomes to protect Miriallia and other Naturals he has come to respect.
During the final battles of the First Alliance-PLANT War, Dearka confronts his best friend, Yzak Joule, who accuses him of betrayal. Dearka argues that he is not betraying the PLANTs, but rather refusing to follow orders to indiscriminately exterminate Naturals. The Buster Gundam is ultimately destroyed by Rau Le Creuset's Providence Gundam. Dearka is rescued by Yzak, who, despite their ideological differences, proves his friendship and loyalty by saving him.
Following the end of the war, Dearka returns to ZAFT, now under stable leadership. For his actions in defecting, he is demoted from the elite red uniform to a regular soldier's green uniform, though some sources also show him in a black commander's uniform in later material. He serves as the second-in-command and close supporter of Yzak, who now leads the Joule Team. By this time, his relationship with Miriallia has ended, and it is suggested that she was the one who ended it. His personality has matured; his arrogance has softened, and he is no longer driven by prejudice. He acts as a calm and level-headed foil to his still-fiery commander, Yzak, often serving as a voice of reason.
In the Second Alliance-PLANT War, Dearka pilots a ZGMF-1000/A1 Gunner ZAKU Warrior, a long-range support unit similar in function to his old Buster Gundam, and later a custom black ZGMF-1001/M Blaze ZAKU Phantom. He participates in critical battles, including the effort to halt the fragments of Junius Seven and the defense of the PLANTs against nuclear attacks. Disillusioned by Chairman Gilbert Durandal's use of the superweapon Requiem, which he finds as abhorrent as the tactics used by extremists in the previous war, Dearka and Yzak once again defect during the final battle of the war to side with the Clyne Faction and help destroy the weapon.
Dearka is an extremely skilled pilot who specializes in long-range artillery combat. He leverages the heavy firepower of his mobile suits effectively in battle. While highly capable, he can be at a disadvantage against close-quarters specialists or exceptionally skilled aces. His experiences across both wars hone his instincts and solidify his role as a reliable and tactically aware soldier, making him an invaluable asset to his team and a respected member of ZAFT in the post-war era.
At the start of the conflict, Dearka is a member of the Le Creuset team, an elite ZAFT unit. He participates in the operation to infiltrate the neutral Orb colony of Heliopolis, where Earth Alliance mobile suits are being developed. During this mission, he successfully captures the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam, a long-range artillery mobile suit, and becomes its designated pilot. Alongside his comrades Athrun Zala, Yzak Joule, and Nicol Amalfi, he pursues the escaping Earth Alliance ship, the Archangel, throughout the early stages of the war.
In terms of personality, Dearka is initially characterized by a sarcastic and somewhat arrogant demeanor. He frequently makes dismissive remarks about Naturals, whom he labels as weaklings, a common attitude among Coordinators indoctrinated with ZAFT's wartime propaganda. Unlike his close friend Yzak Joule, who is hot-headed and quick to anger, Dearka is more laid-back, often expressing his scorn through detached, humorous sarcasm. He is pragmatic and adaptable, which allows him to survive situations that others might not.
A significant turning point for Dearka occurs when his Buster Gundam is severely damaged by Mu La Flaga's mobile armor. With the Archangel's main guns locked onto him, Dearka makes the pragmatic decision to surrender rather than be destroyed. While imprisoned aboard the Archangel, his worldview is challenged. After making a careless remark about the deceased boyfriend of Miriallia Haw, a Natural crew member, she attacks him in grief and rage. However, when another crew member, Flay Allster, attempts to execute Dearka out of hatred for Coordinators, Miriallia physically intervenes to save his life. This act of compassion, along with subsequent conversations with Miriallia, forces him to re-evaluate his prejudices and see Naturals as individuals rather than enemies.
Upon the Archangel's arrival in the neutral nation of Orb, Dearka is released. When Orb is later invaded by the Earth Alliance, Dearka voluntarily reclaims his repaired Buster Gundam and chooses to fight alongside the Archangel's crew to defend the nation. He formally defects from ZAFT and joins the Three Ships Alliance, a faction formed to end the war against the extremist policies of both the Earth Alliance and the ZAFT leadership under Patrick Zala. His primary motivation becomes to protect Miriallia and other Naturals he has come to respect.
During the final battles of the First Alliance-PLANT War, Dearka confronts his best friend, Yzak Joule, who accuses him of betrayal. Dearka argues that he is not betraying the PLANTs, but rather refusing to follow orders to indiscriminately exterminate Naturals. The Buster Gundam is ultimately destroyed by Rau Le Creuset's Providence Gundam. Dearka is rescued by Yzak, who, despite their ideological differences, proves his friendship and loyalty by saving him.
Following the end of the war, Dearka returns to ZAFT, now under stable leadership. For his actions in defecting, he is demoted from the elite red uniform to a regular soldier's green uniform, though some sources also show him in a black commander's uniform in later material. He serves as the second-in-command and close supporter of Yzak, who now leads the Joule Team. By this time, his relationship with Miriallia has ended, and it is suggested that she was the one who ended it. His personality has matured; his arrogance has softened, and he is no longer driven by prejudice. He acts as a calm and level-headed foil to his still-fiery commander, Yzak, often serving as a voice of reason.
In the Second Alliance-PLANT War, Dearka pilots a ZGMF-1000/A1 Gunner ZAKU Warrior, a long-range support unit similar in function to his old Buster Gundam, and later a custom black ZGMF-1001/M Blaze ZAKU Phantom. He participates in critical battles, including the effort to halt the fragments of Junius Seven and the defense of the PLANTs against nuclear attacks. Disillusioned by Chairman Gilbert Durandal's use of the superweapon Requiem, which he finds as abhorrent as the tactics used by extremists in the previous war, Dearka and Yzak once again defect during the final battle of the war to side with the Clyne Faction and help destroy the weapon.
Dearka is an extremely skilled pilot who specializes in long-range artillery combat. He leverages the heavy firepower of his mobile suits effectively in battle. While highly capable, he can be at a disadvantage against close-quarters specialists or exceptionally skilled aces. His experiences across both wars hone his instincts and solidify his role as a reliable and tactically aware soldier, making him an invaluable asset to his team and a respected member of ZAFT in the post-war era.