OVA
Description
Barnette Orangello is a significant character from the Mejeiru, a planet populated solely by women, and serves as one of the Dread pilot co-leaders on the battleship Nirvana, holding a rank higher than fellow pilot Dita. She is known for her serious, focused, and highly independent nature, possessing a strong will that is often expressed through stubbornness and a tendency to hold a grudge. Compared to the more reserved Meia, Barnette is more open and expressive with her emotions, but she also displays one of the most aggressive behaviors among the crew. This aggression is particularly evident in her hostile attitude toward the male characters who are integrated into the Nirvana's crew, an animosity that, at times, surpasses even that of the normally stern Meia. Her fighting style mirrors this personality, being notably aggressive and direct.
Unlike the other three main Dread pilots, Meia, Jura, and Dita, Barnette's Dread unit is unable to combine with Hibiki's Vanguard mecha. This limitation is a direct result of her specific spatial positioning when the mysterious entity known as the Paeksys (or Paksis) altered the Dreads. Despite this, her role in the story remains crucial as a frontline fighter and a trusted member of the ship's military hierarchy. Her motivations evolve over the course of the narrative. In the first stage, her primary drivers are her duty as a soldier and her deep-seated prejudice against men, which she actively works to reinforce among the other female crew members. Following a traumatic event where she loses a friend, Gascogne, during a sortie against a Harvester mothership in the second stage, Barnette demonstrates significant character development. She voluntarily steps into a new position of responsibility, taking over leadership of the Registry (or Redge) central system. This new role showcases a greater maturity and a poignant motivation: a determination never to lose another friend in battle. She also adopts a mentorship role, effectively replacing Gascogne as a big sister figure to the protagonist, Hibiki. Despite her new duties, she returns to piloting her Dread to participate in the final battle.
Barnette's key relationships are central to her character. Her most significant bond is with fellow pilot Jura Basil Elden. The nature of their relationship is extremely close, with Jura showing great affection for her, but the series leaves it ambiguous as to whether they are best friends or romantic partners. While Barnette seems to return these feelings, she often finds herself exasperated by Jura's persistent and overt schemes, which include attempting to have Hibiki father a child with her. Barnette also maintains a professional relationship with her commanding officer, Meia, and a higher-ranking but antagonistic one with Dita. In her personal life away from combat, Barnette is a skilled cook and has a notable hobby as a collector of antique firearms, with her impressive collection including pieces like a Calico pistol, a Steyr AUG assault rifle, and a Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun. Her notable abilities are primarily her exceptional piloting skills, which are reflected in her co-leader status and aggressive combat tactics, and her later demonstrated capability for leadership and strategic management in her role overseeing the Registry system.
Unlike the other three main Dread pilots, Meia, Jura, and Dita, Barnette's Dread unit is unable to combine with Hibiki's Vanguard mecha. This limitation is a direct result of her specific spatial positioning when the mysterious entity known as the Paeksys (or Paksis) altered the Dreads. Despite this, her role in the story remains crucial as a frontline fighter and a trusted member of the ship's military hierarchy. Her motivations evolve over the course of the narrative. In the first stage, her primary drivers are her duty as a soldier and her deep-seated prejudice against men, which she actively works to reinforce among the other female crew members. Following a traumatic event where she loses a friend, Gascogne, during a sortie against a Harvester mothership in the second stage, Barnette demonstrates significant character development. She voluntarily steps into a new position of responsibility, taking over leadership of the Registry (or Redge) central system. This new role showcases a greater maturity and a poignant motivation: a determination never to lose another friend in battle. She also adopts a mentorship role, effectively replacing Gascogne as a big sister figure to the protagonist, Hibiki. Despite her new duties, she returns to piloting her Dread to participate in the final battle.
Barnette's key relationships are central to her character. Her most significant bond is with fellow pilot Jura Basil Elden. The nature of their relationship is extremely close, with Jura showing great affection for her, but the series leaves it ambiguous as to whether they are best friends or romantic partners. While Barnette seems to return these feelings, she often finds herself exasperated by Jura's persistent and overt schemes, which include attempting to have Hibiki father a child with her. Barnette also maintains a professional relationship with her commanding officer, Meia, and a higher-ranking but antagonistic one with Dita. In her personal life away from combat, Barnette is a skilled cook and has a notable hobby as a collector of antique firearms, with her impressive collection including pieces like a Calico pistol, a Steyr AUG assault rifle, and a Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun. Her notable abilities are primarily her exceptional piloting skills, which are reflected in her co-leader status and aggressive combat tactics, and her later demonstrated capability for leadership and strategic management in her role overseeing the Registry system.