TV-Series
Description
Hakim Asheed is a complex character from the anime Planetes whose true nature and allegiances are revealed gradually over the course of the story. He is a man driven by a deep-seated conviction, though the exact nature of that conviction shifts dramatically as his background comes to light.
Hakim hails from Mananga, a fictional, impoverished nation in Western Asia whose economic hardships have been worsened by the decline of its oil reserves in favor of space-based resources. This background is central to understanding his worldview and ultimate motivations. He is an alumnus of the legendary EVA instructor Gigalt Gangaragash, making him something of a former classmate to Hachirota Hachimaki Hoshino, the protagonist. Gigalt recognized Hakim's talent, referring to him as a real diamond in the rough.
On the surface, Hakim presents himself as a disciplined and capable leader. He initially works as a riot squad leader for the Orbital Security Agency, a role in which he comes into contact with the debris section crew. He is highly skilled in extra-vehicular activities, a talent he honed under Gigalt's tutelage. His calm demeanor, professionalism, and strong sense of purpose earn him the respect of Hachimaki, who sees a kindred spirit in his dedication and competitive drive.
This perception is shattered when it is revealed that Hakim is, in fact, an undercover operative for a terrorist organization known as the Space Defense Front. His role at the Orbital Security Agency was a long-term cover to gain access to security information and plan acts of sabotage. His true motivation stems from a fierce criticism of the world's economic inequality, where the benefits of space development are monopolized by powerful, wealthy nations, leaving resource-rich but impoverished countries like his own Mananga to suffer. He views the grand space exploration projects, such as the Jupiter mission on the spaceship Von Braun, as arrogant symbols of this injustice and believes radical action is necessary to halt this exploitation.
His role in the story is that of an antagonist, but one whose ideology presents a direct challenge to Hachimaki's blind ambition. Hakim resigns from the Orbital Security Agency to apply for the Von Braun's crew选拔, using the recruitment process as a cover to get close enough to destroy the ship's critical tandem mirror engine. It is during these final tests that Hachimaki discovers his true intent, leading to a profound ideological confrontation between the two men. Hakim accuses Hachimaki of being a slave to his own selfish desires and an agent of the very system that oppresses the developing world, while Hachimaki sees Hakim as a fanatic willing to sacrifice innocent lives.
Throughout the story, Hakim maintains key relationships that shape his path. His bond with his instructor, Gigalt, is significant, and even though he was working under false pretenses, he is said to have held the man in genuine respect, a point of deep personal conflict. His primary relationship is with Hachimaki, who initially sees him as a rival and then as a betrayer. Their encounters force both characters to confront their own convictions, with Hakim challenging Hachimaki to prove his determination through action, not just words.
Hakim undergoes a subtle but crucial moment of development near the story's end. After failing to destroy the Von Braun, he reappears on the Moon. There, he encounters a young girl named Nono, a Lunarian born on the Moon who has no concept of nations or borders. When he raises a weapon to silence her, Nono innocently asks him to point out his country on the distant Earth. In that moment, Hakim is forced to realize that from a distance, the borders and conflicts that define his life are invisible. While this encounter shakes him, he ultimately admits he cannot see the world the way she does, suggesting he is unable to abandon his identity or his cause, and he disappears into the shadows.
In terms of notable abilities, Hakim is an exceptionally skilled astronaut and EVA specialist, having been personally trained by the renowned Gigalt Gangaragash. He also demonstrates the tactical cunning and patience necessary to maintain a deep-cover infiltration for years, as well as the technical knowledge required to plant explosives on a complex piece of spacefaring machinery. His most defining characteristic, however, is not a physical skill but his unshakable, though morally fraught, resolve.
Hakim hails from Mananga, a fictional, impoverished nation in Western Asia whose economic hardships have been worsened by the decline of its oil reserves in favor of space-based resources. This background is central to understanding his worldview and ultimate motivations. He is an alumnus of the legendary EVA instructor Gigalt Gangaragash, making him something of a former classmate to Hachirota Hachimaki Hoshino, the protagonist. Gigalt recognized Hakim's talent, referring to him as a real diamond in the rough.
On the surface, Hakim presents himself as a disciplined and capable leader. He initially works as a riot squad leader for the Orbital Security Agency, a role in which he comes into contact with the debris section crew. He is highly skilled in extra-vehicular activities, a talent he honed under Gigalt's tutelage. His calm demeanor, professionalism, and strong sense of purpose earn him the respect of Hachimaki, who sees a kindred spirit in his dedication and competitive drive.
This perception is shattered when it is revealed that Hakim is, in fact, an undercover operative for a terrorist organization known as the Space Defense Front. His role at the Orbital Security Agency was a long-term cover to gain access to security information and plan acts of sabotage. His true motivation stems from a fierce criticism of the world's economic inequality, where the benefits of space development are monopolized by powerful, wealthy nations, leaving resource-rich but impoverished countries like his own Mananga to suffer. He views the grand space exploration projects, such as the Jupiter mission on the spaceship Von Braun, as arrogant symbols of this injustice and believes radical action is necessary to halt this exploitation.
His role in the story is that of an antagonist, but one whose ideology presents a direct challenge to Hachimaki's blind ambition. Hakim resigns from the Orbital Security Agency to apply for the Von Braun's crew选拔, using the recruitment process as a cover to get close enough to destroy the ship's critical tandem mirror engine. It is during these final tests that Hachimaki discovers his true intent, leading to a profound ideological confrontation between the two men. Hakim accuses Hachimaki of being a slave to his own selfish desires and an agent of the very system that oppresses the developing world, while Hachimaki sees Hakim as a fanatic willing to sacrifice innocent lives.
Throughout the story, Hakim maintains key relationships that shape his path. His bond with his instructor, Gigalt, is significant, and even though he was working under false pretenses, he is said to have held the man in genuine respect, a point of deep personal conflict. His primary relationship is with Hachimaki, who initially sees him as a rival and then as a betrayer. Their encounters force both characters to confront their own convictions, with Hakim challenging Hachimaki to prove his determination through action, not just words.
Hakim undergoes a subtle but crucial moment of development near the story's end. After failing to destroy the Von Braun, he reappears on the Moon. There, he encounters a young girl named Nono, a Lunarian born on the Moon who has no concept of nations or borders. When he raises a weapon to silence her, Nono innocently asks him to point out his country on the distant Earth. In that moment, Hakim is forced to realize that from a distance, the borders and conflicts that define his life are invisible. While this encounter shakes him, he ultimately admits he cannot see the world the way she does, suggesting he is unable to abandon his identity or his cause, and he disappears into the shadows.
In terms of notable abilities, Hakim is an exceptionally skilled astronaut and EVA specialist, having been personally trained by the renowned Gigalt Gangaragash. He also demonstrates the tactical cunning and patience necessary to maintain a deep-cover infiltration for years, as well as the technical knowledge required to plant explosives on a complex piece of spacefaring machinery. His most defining characteristic, however, is not a physical skill but his unshakable, though morally fraught, resolve.