TV-Series
Description
Raidiese "Rai" Fujiwara Branstein hails from the prestigious Branstein family as the second son of Maier V. Branstein and younger brother to Elzam von Branstein. His childhood on the space colony Elpis was shattered by the Elpis Incident, a terrorist attack where terrorists held his sister-in-law, Cattleya Fujiwara-Branstein, hostage. Forced by Cattleya's request to eliminate the terrorists alongside her, Elzam's actions became the source of Rai's enduring resentment. This trauma prompted Rai to renounce his family name, adopting "Fujiwara" as his middle name in Cattleya’s memory.
Departing the colonies, Rai enlisted in the Earth Federation Army, achieving the rank of second lieutenant. Assigned to Mao Industries on the moon, he piloted the experimental Real Trooper Huckebein 008R equipped with a Black Hole Engine. A catastrophic engine malfunction during testing destroyed the facility, costing Rai his left hand – replaced by a prosthetic – and claiming most personnel's lives in the Vanishing Trooper Incident. Irmgult Kazahara and Kirk Hamill survived alongside Rai.
Recruited by Ingram Plissken into the SRX Team, Rai piloted the R-2 Powered, a component unit of the combining super robot SRX. Unlike teammates Ryusei Date and Aya Kobayashi, Rai lacked innate Psychodriver abilities but compensated through exceptional tactical judgment and piloting skill. Initial friction with Ryusei arose from Rai's perceived arrogance and Ryusei's inexperience, though mutual respect developed through combat. When Ingram defected, declaring Rai unnecessary for SRX operations (requiring three Psychodrivers), Rai defiantly asserted his permanent place in the R-2.
Rai's motivations were heavily shaped by his vendetta against Archibald Grimms, instigator of the Elpis Incident. This quest for vengeance often fractured his typically calm composure. During the Neo Divine Crusaders conflict, Rai confronted Grimms directly, ultimately fulfilling his oath by defeating him alongside Elzam at the Earth Cradle. This act reconciled him with his brother, allowing Rai to revisit Cattleya’s grave and find personal closure.
Beyond his core narrative, Rai demonstrated protective instincts toward Princess Shine Hausen, ensuring her safety despite discomfort with her admiration. His relationship with cousin Leona Garstein, initially adversarial due to her allegiance to the United Colony Corps and later Divine Crusaders, shifted following her defection to the Earth Federation Army, though their interactions remained limited.
After the L5 Campaign against the Aerogaters, the SRX Team disbanded temporarily. Rai transferred to the Aggressors squadron under Kai Kitamura, participating in the defense against the Neo Divine Crusaders’ assault on Hawaii and the Wild Falken hijacking. He later rejoined the SRX Team.
Departing the colonies, Rai enlisted in the Earth Federation Army, achieving the rank of second lieutenant. Assigned to Mao Industries on the moon, he piloted the experimental Real Trooper Huckebein 008R equipped with a Black Hole Engine. A catastrophic engine malfunction during testing destroyed the facility, costing Rai his left hand – replaced by a prosthetic – and claiming most personnel's lives in the Vanishing Trooper Incident. Irmgult Kazahara and Kirk Hamill survived alongside Rai.
Recruited by Ingram Plissken into the SRX Team, Rai piloted the R-2 Powered, a component unit of the combining super robot SRX. Unlike teammates Ryusei Date and Aya Kobayashi, Rai lacked innate Psychodriver abilities but compensated through exceptional tactical judgment and piloting skill. Initial friction with Ryusei arose from Rai's perceived arrogance and Ryusei's inexperience, though mutual respect developed through combat. When Ingram defected, declaring Rai unnecessary for SRX operations (requiring three Psychodrivers), Rai defiantly asserted his permanent place in the R-2.
Rai's motivations were heavily shaped by his vendetta against Archibald Grimms, instigator of the Elpis Incident. This quest for vengeance often fractured his typically calm composure. During the Neo Divine Crusaders conflict, Rai confronted Grimms directly, ultimately fulfilling his oath by defeating him alongside Elzam at the Earth Cradle. This act reconciled him with his brother, allowing Rai to revisit Cattleya’s grave and find personal closure.
Beyond his core narrative, Rai demonstrated protective instincts toward Princess Shine Hausen, ensuring her safety despite discomfort with her admiration. His relationship with cousin Leona Garstein, initially adversarial due to her allegiance to the United Colony Corps and later Divine Crusaders, shifted following her defection to the Earth Federation Army, though their interactions remained limited.
After the L5 Campaign against the Aerogaters, the SRX Team disbanded temporarily. Rai transferred to the Aggressors squadron under Kai Kitamura, participating in the defense against the Neo Divine Crusaders’ assault on Hawaii and the Wild Falken hijacking. He later rejoined the SRX Team.