TV Special
Description
Rey Za Burrel is a clone of Atlantic Federation politician Al Da Flaga, created by G.A.R.M. R&D alongside Rau Le Creuset to fund the Ultimate Coordinator Project that yielded Kira Yamato. Despite sharing origins, Rey appears significantly younger than Rau for unknown reasons. He traveled with Rau to the PLANTs, where Gilbert Durandal assumed the role of his primary caretaker and father figure.
Rey maintains a calm, collected, and emotionally reserved demeanor, rarely expressing strong feelings except visible happiness in Durandal's presence. Unlike Rau, he lacks universal hatred, tempered by bonds formed with Durandal and peers Shinn Asuka and Lunamaria Hawke. Yet, he shares Rau's conviction that artificial beings like clones and Coordinators—including himself and Kira Yamato—violate the natural order and must be eliminated. Rey suffers chronic pain due to accelerated aging caused by shortened telomeres in his DNA, necessitating regular medication.
Enrolled at ZAFT's military academy, Rey forged close friendships with Shinn, Lunamaria, and Meyrin Hawke. He graduated as a top student and emerged as an ace pilot, demonstrating exceptional spatial awareness and mastery of the DRAGOON remote weapon system. Rey often provided tactical leadership in combat, utilizing his analytical skills to support the more impulsive Shinn. He piloted a white ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Phantom early in the Second Alliance-PLANT War. Key engagements include defending the Minerva during the Battle of Crete, where his ZAKU suffered severe damage, and later aiding Shinn in returning Extended soldier Stella Loussier to the Earth Alliance—an act that nearly resulted in their execution before Durandal intervened. Rey co-devised the strategy that downed Kira Yamato's Freedom Gundam during Operation Angel Down and participated in framing Athrun Zala as a traitor, urging Shinn to destroy Athrun's escaping mobile suit.
Following Athrun's defection, Rey assumed control of the ZGMF-X666S Legend Gundam. He gained appointment to ZAFT's elite FAITH unit and received the Order of the Nebula for his combat achievements. During the Battle of Daedalus, he destroyed two GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundams and killed Blue Cosmos leader Lord Djibril. Rey fervently championed Durandal's Destiny Plan, designed to assign societal roles based on genetics to eradicate conflict. He revealed his clone origins to Shinn to justify the plan, arguing his own painful existence proved humanity required genetic determinism to avoid suffering.
In the final Battle of Messiah, Rey confronted Kira Yamato in the Legend Gundam. Kira persuaded him that even clones possess the right to self-determination, causing Rey to question his loyalty to Durandal. After his mobile suit was crippled, Rey retreated inside the Messiah fortress and shot Durandal during the chairman's standoff with Kira. Choosing to remain with the dying Durandal and Minerva captain Talia Gladys—whom he called "mother"—as the fortress exploded, Rey perished alongside them.
Rey's bond with Shinn blended genuine camaraderie with manipulation to advance Durandal's agenda. He perceived Rau as a tragic counterpart and sensed a telepathic connection with Neo Roanoke (later revealed as Mu La Flaga). His devotion to Durandal bordered on absolute, though he ultimately rejected the Destiny Plan after internalizing Kira's philosophy of individuality.
Alternative portrayals exist: In *Super Robot Wars L*, Rey rejects Kira's arguments and insists on killing him to secure Durandal's new world, requiring Shinn to defeat him in battle. A fan-fiction adaptation depicts Rey surviving an early battle through a coma, later piloting the Legend Gundam only to die fighting Shinn during the Second Battle of Daedalus.
Rey maintains a calm, collected, and emotionally reserved demeanor, rarely expressing strong feelings except visible happiness in Durandal's presence. Unlike Rau, he lacks universal hatred, tempered by bonds formed with Durandal and peers Shinn Asuka and Lunamaria Hawke. Yet, he shares Rau's conviction that artificial beings like clones and Coordinators—including himself and Kira Yamato—violate the natural order and must be eliminated. Rey suffers chronic pain due to accelerated aging caused by shortened telomeres in his DNA, necessitating regular medication.
Enrolled at ZAFT's military academy, Rey forged close friendships with Shinn, Lunamaria, and Meyrin Hawke. He graduated as a top student and emerged as an ace pilot, demonstrating exceptional spatial awareness and mastery of the DRAGOON remote weapon system. Rey often provided tactical leadership in combat, utilizing his analytical skills to support the more impulsive Shinn. He piloted a white ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Phantom early in the Second Alliance-PLANT War. Key engagements include defending the Minerva during the Battle of Crete, where his ZAKU suffered severe damage, and later aiding Shinn in returning Extended soldier Stella Loussier to the Earth Alliance—an act that nearly resulted in their execution before Durandal intervened. Rey co-devised the strategy that downed Kira Yamato's Freedom Gundam during Operation Angel Down and participated in framing Athrun Zala as a traitor, urging Shinn to destroy Athrun's escaping mobile suit.
Following Athrun's defection, Rey assumed control of the ZGMF-X666S Legend Gundam. He gained appointment to ZAFT's elite FAITH unit and received the Order of the Nebula for his combat achievements. During the Battle of Daedalus, he destroyed two GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundams and killed Blue Cosmos leader Lord Djibril. Rey fervently championed Durandal's Destiny Plan, designed to assign societal roles based on genetics to eradicate conflict. He revealed his clone origins to Shinn to justify the plan, arguing his own painful existence proved humanity required genetic determinism to avoid suffering.
In the final Battle of Messiah, Rey confronted Kira Yamato in the Legend Gundam. Kira persuaded him that even clones possess the right to self-determination, causing Rey to question his loyalty to Durandal. After his mobile suit was crippled, Rey retreated inside the Messiah fortress and shot Durandal during the chairman's standoff with Kira. Choosing to remain with the dying Durandal and Minerva captain Talia Gladys—whom he called "mother"—as the fortress exploded, Rey perished alongside them.
Rey's bond with Shinn blended genuine camaraderie with manipulation to advance Durandal's agenda. He perceived Rau as a tragic counterpart and sensed a telepathic connection with Neo Roanoke (later revealed as Mu La Flaga). His devotion to Durandal bordered on absolute, though he ultimately rejected the Destiny Plan after internalizing Kira's philosophy of individuality.
Alternative portrayals exist: In *Super Robot Wars L*, Rey rejects Kira's arguments and insists on killing him to secure Durandal's new world, requiring Shinn to defeat him in battle. A fan-fiction adaptation depicts Rey surviving an early battle through a coma, later piloting the Legend Gundam only to die fighting Shinn during the Second Battle of Daedalus.