ONA
Description
Iria Solari is the protagonist of the series and serves as a captain in the Principality of Zeon's armed forces during the One Year War. Before the conflict, she was a classical violinist by trade, a career she shared with her husband, Daltum. She was recalled to service during the military mobilization in October U.C. 0078 and, due to her exceptional piloting skills and natural leadership, was appointed commander of the newly formed Red Wolf Squadron. Her squadron achieved legendary status within the Zeon military for destroying three Earth Federation Space Force fleets during the Battle of Loum. Following the stalemate of Zeon's Earth invasion forces, Solari and her unit were reassigned to the 1st MS Company, 7th Battalion of the Mixed Mobile Brigade operating in Romania.
In terms of personality, Solari is defined by her pragmatic and levelheaded approach to warfare. While patriotic, she is not blinded by the ultranationalist propaganda of the ruling Zabi family, viewing her military service as a duty rather than a sacred cause. She leads by example, never hesitating to protect her teammates or place herself in harm's way for the good of the group. Her selflessness is a core trait, as she is willing to sacrifice herself to ensure the safety of others. On the battlefield, she remains calm and reads situations quickly to make sound decisions, rarely letting her emotions dictate her actions. She is also noted for her quick thinking and ingenuity, able to devise effective strategies and solutions even in desperate circumstances. The loss of her husband, Daltum, who was killed in an airstrike on Earth, only strengthened her resolve to survive and continue fighting.
Solari’s primary motivation throughout the war is to reunite with her young son, who remains safe in space on Side 3. He becomes her anchor, and her desire to return to him drives her will to live. This maternal aspect of her character is so pronounced that she earns the nickname Wolf Mother, as she leads her squadron with a protective, almost maternal instinct. This quality also allows her to connect with others on a deeper level, most notably when she attempts to reason with the young pilot of the opposing Gundam EX, seeing in him a child not unlike her own.
Within the story, Solari plays the central role of a seasoned commander facing an unwinnable war. After the Red Wolf Squadron is decimated by the Federation's new Gundam EX, she becomes the driving force for the surviving Zeon forces in her sector. She rallies survivors, including mechanic Alfee Zydos, tank commander Ander Heaton, infantry soldier Hailey Arhun, and her wingman Kneeland LeSean. Her actions drive the plot forward, from defending a recycling center with makeshift mobile suits to leading a covert mission to steal Federation GMs. Ultimately, she is forced to confront the Gundam pilot one last time during the Zeon retreat at Odessa, a confrontation that solidifies her resolve to fight against the injustices that lead to child soldiers.
Key relationships shape her journey significantly. Her bond with her subordinate, Kneeland LeSean, is one of deep camaraderie, as he ultimately sacrifices his life to save hers. Her friendship with the head mechanic, Alfee Zydos, proves invaluable as he helps her secure mobile suits against overwhelming odds. Her most significant and complex relationship is with the young, unnamed pilot of the Gundam EX, a Newtype child soldier. Despite being enemies, they share a telepathic connection and a moment of mutual understanding, with Solari attempting to appeal to his humanity before he is killed in battle. Her son, though only appearing in a photograph within her late husband's pocket watch, is a constant presence in her thoughts and the primary reason she fights to survive.
Over the course of the story, Solari undergoes significant development. She begins as a confident and capable squadron leader but is deeply shaken by the sudden and brutal loss of her comrades to the Gundam EX. Her pragmatic will to survive, centered on returning to her son, is tested repeatedly. However, her experience with the young Gundam pilot transforms her perspective entirely. Witnessing the death of a child soldier, someone she saw as a victim of the war's cruelty, changes her ultimate goal from simple survival to a higher purpose. She decides to remain on Earth after the war and join the Zeon remnants fighting in Africa, dedicating herself to combating the injustice and cruelty that creates child soldiers on the battlefield.
As for notable abilities, Solari is an accomplished mobile suit pilot, piloting a customized MS-06F Zaku II F Type with distinctive red shoulder armor and a wolf-ear-like antenna on its head. Her piloting skills are demonstrated by her ability to dodge heavy cannon fire and even halve incoming shells with a heat hawk. She is a natural leader, capable of inspiring loyalty and devising audacious plans in times of crisis. Perhaps most significantly, Solari exhibits the traits of a budding Newtype. These abilities manifest as heightened spatial awareness, premonitions of danger, and superb reflexes when piloting a mobile suit. She can sense the presence of other Newtypes, such as the Gundam pilot, and her enhanced senses allow her to hear the distant firing of beam weapons. Despite these clear signs, Solari herself is pragmatic about her abilities, downplaying them as the result of long military training and natural human evolution rather than a supernatural phenomenon.
In terms of personality, Solari is defined by her pragmatic and levelheaded approach to warfare. While patriotic, she is not blinded by the ultranationalist propaganda of the ruling Zabi family, viewing her military service as a duty rather than a sacred cause. She leads by example, never hesitating to protect her teammates or place herself in harm's way for the good of the group. Her selflessness is a core trait, as she is willing to sacrifice herself to ensure the safety of others. On the battlefield, she remains calm and reads situations quickly to make sound decisions, rarely letting her emotions dictate her actions. She is also noted for her quick thinking and ingenuity, able to devise effective strategies and solutions even in desperate circumstances. The loss of her husband, Daltum, who was killed in an airstrike on Earth, only strengthened her resolve to survive and continue fighting.
Solari’s primary motivation throughout the war is to reunite with her young son, who remains safe in space on Side 3. He becomes her anchor, and her desire to return to him drives her will to live. This maternal aspect of her character is so pronounced that she earns the nickname Wolf Mother, as she leads her squadron with a protective, almost maternal instinct. This quality also allows her to connect with others on a deeper level, most notably when she attempts to reason with the young pilot of the opposing Gundam EX, seeing in him a child not unlike her own.
Within the story, Solari plays the central role of a seasoned commander facing an unwinnable war. After the Red Wolf Squadron is decimated by the Federation's new Gundam EX, she becomes the driving force for the surviving Zeon forces in her sector. She rallies survivors, including mechanic Alfee Zydos, tank commander Ander Heaton, infantry soldier Hailey Arhun, and her wingman Kneeland LeSean. Her actions drive the plot forward, from defending a recycling center with makeshift mobile suits to leading a covert mission to steal Federation GMs. Ultimately, she is forced to confront the Gundam pilot one last time during the Zeon retreat at Odessa, a confrontation that solidifies her resolve to fight against the injustices that lead to child soldiers.
Key relationships shape her journey significantly. Her bond with her subordinate, Kneeland LeSean, is one of deep camaraderie, as he ultimately sacrifices his life to save hers. Her friendship with the head mechanic, Alfee Zydos, proves invaluable as he helps her secure mobile suits against overwhelming odds. Her most significant and complex relationship is with the young, unnamed pilot of the Gundam EX, a Newtype child soldier. Despite being enemies, they share a telepathic connection and a moment of mutual understanding, with Solari attempting to appeal to his humanity before he is killed in battle. Her son, though only appearing in a photograph within her late husband's pocket watch, is a constant presence in her thoughts and the primary reason she fights to survive.
Over the course of the story, Solari undergoes significant development. She begins as a confident and capable squadron leader but is deeply shaken by the sudden and brutal loss of her comrades to the Gundam EX. Her pragmatic will to survive, centered on returning to her son, is tested repeatedly. However, her experience with the young Gundam pilot transforms her perspective entirely. Witnessing the death of a child soldier, someone she saw as a victim of the war's cruelty, changes her ultimate goal from simple survival to a higher purpose. She decides to remain on Earth after the war and join the Zeon remnants fighting in Africa, dedicating herself to combating the injustice and cruelty that creates child soldiers on the battlefield.
As for notable abilities, Solari is an accomplished mobile suit pilot, piloting a customized MS-06F Zaku II F Type with distinctive red shoulder armor and a wolf-ear-like antenna on its head. Her piloting skills are demonstrated by her ability to dodge heavy cannon fire and even halve incoming shells with a heat hawk. She is a natural leader, capable of inspiring loyalty and devising audacious plans in times of crisis. Perhaps most significantly, Solari exhibits the traits of a budding Newtype. These abilities manifest as heightened spatial awareness, premonitions of danger, and superb reflexes when piloting a mobile suit. She can sense the presence of other Newtypes, such as the Gundam pilot, and her enhanced senses allow her to hear the distant firing of beam weapons. Despite these clear signs, Solari herself is pragmatic about her abilities, downplaying them as the result of long military training and natural human evolution rather than a supernatural phenomenon.