Bes Jordan is an Earth soldier stationed on the planet Solo, who rises to become the captain of the Solo Ship following the devastating attack by the alien Buff Clan. Before his assignment to the Solo colony, he was a top-performing military cadet, born on Earth into a family with a respectable history of military service. His background as a career soldier informs his disciplined and responsible approach to the desperate situation he and the other colonists face.

As a person, Bes is defined by a strong sense of duty and a protective nature. While he can be stern and occasionally clashes with the younger, more impulsive crew members like the pilot Cosmo Yuki and the pragmatic Sheryl Formosa, he is generally well-liked and respected as the leader of the Solo Ship. His leadership is not that of a distant commander; he shows a notable kindness toward the children aboard the ship, a trait that contrasts with the frustration other adults sometimes display. This combination of firm resolve and underlying compassion makes him an effective leader for a group composed of both military personnel and civilian refugees.

Bes's primary motivation is the safety and survival of the people under his command. As the highest-ranking military survivor after the initial Buff Clan assault, he assumes the crushing responsibility of protecting the Solo Ship and its crew during their relentless flight from the enemy. He feels the weight of every loss, and the stress of leadership is only exacerbated by the exhaustion of constant battle and the deaths of comrades, such as his fellow soldier Moera Fatima. While his initial role involves piloting the Ideon's main torso unit, the Sol Vainer, he eventually steps aside from this duty, recognizing that the younger pilots like Cosmo have a greater natural aptitude for controlling the giant robot. This decision demonstrates his lack of ego and his commitment to doing what is best for the group's survival, even if it means ceding a central role.

One of the most significant aspects of Bes's role in the story is his complex and crucial relationship with Karala Ajiba, a woman who is later revealed to be the daughter of the Buff Clan's supreme commander. Bes develops an immediate connection with her upon their first meeting, and he is quick to support and defend her even when she is deeply distrusted by other members of the crew. His kindness is rooted in a moral refusal to harm women, and this protective instinct deepens into a genuine, interspecies romance. Their love becomes a powerful symbol of potential peace between their warring peoples, and it is a relationship that crosses the ultimate divide, as Karala eventually becomes pregnant with Bes's child.

Throughout the narrative, Bes demonstrates notable abilities beyond his leadership. He is a highly capable soldier with excellent combat skills, often seen fighting Buff Clan troops hand-to-hand with a beam saber and ray gun in a manner that has drawn comparisons to a science fiction knight. He is also shown to be physically adept, capable of piloting the Solo Ship's equipment and other mecha when necessary. His character develops from a soldier following orders to a commander bearing the immense burden of his people's future, and his personal journey is inextricably linked to his love for Karala, a relationship that forces him and his crew to confront their prejudices.

In the final battle, Bes remains aboard the Solo Ship to fight off invading Buff Clan soldiers rather than piloting the Ideon. He is shot in the waist and neck, but he continues to fight despite bleeding to death, ultimately becoming the last living person on the bridge. He perishes when the Buff Clan's superweapon, the Gando Rowa, destroys the Solo Ship. Even in death, his story does not end. He is spiritually reunited with Karala, and their unborn child, named Messiah, is reborn as a spiritual entity who guides the souls of Bes, Karala, and the rest of the deceased crew toward a new, reborn Earth.