TV-Series
Description
Null Albatro, also known as Eiji Asuka, is a hybrid born to Japanese astronaut Ken Asuka and a Gradosian noblewoman. Raised within the Grados Empire's hierarchy, he served as a low-ranking Super Powered Tracer pilot. Despite his militaristic upbringing, he cultivated fundamentally pacifist ideals. Learning of the Gradosian Empire's planned invasion of Earth, motivated by pre-emptive fear of humanity's expansion, he rebelled. He secretly boarded an invasion vessel, stole the advanced SPT-LZ-00X Layzner, and fled to the Sol system to warn Earth.
His first encounter with humans occurred during combat near the UN Mars base in 1996. Pursued by three Gradosian SPTs, the battle destroyed the base and killed most members of the visiting Cosmic Culture Club. Landing near the six survivors – instructor Elizabeth Clabery and students Anna Stephanie, David Rutherford, Roanne Demitrich, Simone Reflann, and Arthur Cummings Jr. – he identified himself and delivered the warning: "The Earth has been targeted". This act placed him under immediate suspicion from the traumatized survivors, particularly David, who blamed him for his friend Juno's death.
Eiji's primary goal became protecting the survivors and conveying the invasion warning to Earth's governments. His mission was complicated by intense internal conflict. Torn between loyalty to former comrades – including close friend and future brother-in-law Lieutenant Gale, and his loyalist sister Julia Albatro Mill – and his desire to prevent bloodshed, he consistently sought non-lethal methods to disable enemy SPTs. This refusal to kill, even against relentless pursuers like the sadistic Gosterro, frequently increased risks for himself and the group, causing friction with David. His pacifism was constantly challenged by the Layzner's advanced but amoral AI, "Rei". Possessing a childlike personality devoid of morality, Rei routinely advocated lethal cockpit shots as the most efficient solution and sometimes seized control to implement its strategies. A deeper, dormant AI, "Fouron", created by Ken Asuka, could override Rei. Activated only during extreme peril, Fouron possessed an adult male persona but retained Rei's amorality, exhibiting distinctive purple eyes when in control.
Overcoming initial distrust, Eiji gradually formed bonds with the survivors. His quiet determination and protective nature earned the intuitive Anna's trust first. The strategic Roanne and the initially hostile David became key allies, piloting other recovered SPTs (Baldy and Babel) as his wingmen. Simone developed romantic feelings for him, though his strongest connection remained with Anna. Their journey from Mars to Earth involved constant evasion of Gradosian forces, confrontations driven by his internal loyalties, and the challenge of convincing skeptical Earth authorities, preoccupied with Cold War tensions, about the alien threat. Powers like the United States ignored his warnings, imprisoned him, and attempted to reverse-engineer the Layzner for military advantage against the Soviet Union.
Following the Gradosian invasion fleet's arrival and Earth's defeat after failed orbital defense, Eiji was separated from the group. Reappearing three years later during the Gradosian occupation, he found a subjugated humanity ruled from locations like a pyramid base in New York. The surviving Cosmic Culture Club members, notably Anna and Simone, had undergone significant changes and joined the human resistance. Eiji rejoined this struggle against occupation forces led by ruthless Supreme Commander Ru Kain. Ru Kain, believing in Gradosian superiority, became Eiji's primary rival, though he maintained a personal code of honor contrasting with the psychopathic Gosterro.
The conflict intensified with the return of his sister Julia. Initially a loyal Gradosian engaged to Gale, her experiences and capture led to a change of heart. Ru Kain, drawn to her spirit despite sentencing her to death for treason, kept her imprisoned. Julia later unlocked the "Seal of Grados", revealing that Gradosians and Earthlings shared a common ancestry, descending from humans abducted from Earth in the distant past by Grados's original, now extinct inhabitants. This revelation forced a profound reevaluation for Ru Kain. While initially reinforcing his supremacist views, it ultimately contributed to his decision to cease hostilities. Confronted by Eiji and Julia and recognizing the shared heritage, Ru Kain laid down his arms. He chose to return to Grados with Julia to advocate for peace, acknowledging the futility of conflict based on false notions of superiority.
Eiji's journey concluded with Earth's liberation. Having persevered through isolation, conflict, and profound moral dilemmas without abandoning his core pacifist ideals, he was reunited with Anna and his friends. His actions, centered on protecting others and seeking understanding despite overwhelming violence, positioned him as a symbol of potential reconciliation between humanity and Grados.
His first encounter with humans occurred during combat near the UN Mars base in 1996. Pursued by three Gradosian SPTs, the battle destroyed the base and killed most members of the visiting Cosmic Culture Club. Landing near the six survivors – instructor Elizabeth Clabery and students Anna Stephanie, David Rutherford, Roanne Demitrich, Simone Reflann, and Arthur Cummings Jr. – he identified himself and delivered the warning: "The Earth has been targeted". This act placed him under immediate suspicion from the traumatized survivors, particularly David, who blamed him for his friend Juno's death.
Eiji's primary goal became protecting the survivors and conveying the invasion warning to Earth's governments. His mission was complicated by intense internal conflict. Torn between loyalty to former comrades – including close friend and future brother-in-law Lieutenant Gale, and his loyalist sister Julia Albatro Mill – and his desire to prevent bloodshed, he consistently sought non-lethal methods to disable enemy SPTs. This refusal to kill, even against relentless pursuers like the sadistic Gosterro, frequently increased risks for himself and the group, causing friction with David. His pacifism was constantly challenged by the Layzner's advanced but amoral AI, "Rei". Possessing a childlike personality devoid of morality, Rei routinely advocated lethal cockpit shots as the most efficient solution and sometimes seized control to implement its strategies. A deeper, dormant AI, "Fouron", created by Ken Asuka, could override Rei. Activated only during extreme peril, Fouron possessed an adult male persona but retained Rei's amorality, exhibiting distinctive purple eyes when in control.
Overcoming initial distrust, Eiji gradually formed bonds with the survivors. His quiet determination and protective nature earned the intuitive Anna's trust first. The strategic Roanne and the initially hostile David became key allies, piloting other recovered SPTs (Baldy and Babel) as his wingmen. Simone developed romantic feelings for him, though his strongest connection remained with Anna. Their journey from Mars to Earth involved constant evasion of Gradosian forces, confrontations driven by his internal loyalties, and the challenge of convincing skeptical Earth authorities, preoccupied with Cold War tensions, about the alien threat. Powers like the United States ignored his warnings, imprisoned him, and attempted to reverse-engineer the Layzner for military advantage against the Soviet Union.
Following the Gradosian invasion fleet's arrival and Earth's defeat after failed orbital defense, Eiji was separated from the group. Reappearing three years later during the Gradosian occupation, he found a subjugated humanity ruled from locations like a pyramid base in New York. The surviving Cosmic Culture Club members, notably Anna and Simone, had undergone significant changes and joined the human resistance. Eiji rejoined this struggle against occupation forces led by ruthless Supreme Commander Ru Kain. Ru Kain, believing in Gradosian superiority, became Eiji's primary rival, though he maintained a personal code of honor contrasting with the psychopathic Gosterro.
The conflict intensified with the return of his sister Julia. Initially a loyal Gradosian engaged to Gale, her experiences and capture led to a change of heart. Ru Kain, drawn to her spirit despite sentencing her to death for treason, kept her imprisoned. Julia later unlocked the "Seal of Grados", revealing that Gradosians and Earthlings shared a common ancestry, descending from humans abducted from Earth in the distant past by Grados's original, now extinct inhabitants. This revelation forced a profound reevaluation for Ru Kain. While initially reinforcing his supremacist views, it ultimately contributed to his decision to cease hostilities. Confronted by Eiji and Julia and recognizing the shared heritage, Ru Kain laid down his arms. He chose to return to Grados with Julia to advocate for peace, acknowledging the futility of conflict based on false notions of superiority.
Eiji's journey concluded with Earth's liberation. Having persevered through isolation, conflict, and profound moral dilemmas without abandoning his core pacifist ideals, he was reunited with Anna and his friends. His actions, centered on protecting others and seeking understanding despite overwhelming violence, positioned him as a symbol of potential reconciliation between humanity and Grados.