Natarle Badgiruel

Infobox animanga character
name = Natarle Badgiruel
series = Mobile Suit Gundam SEED


caption = Natarle Badgiruel in Gundam SEED
first = "Gundam SEED" episode 1
last = "Gundam SEED" episode 49
creator =
voiced by = Houko Kuwashima (Japanese)
Sarah Johns (English)
alias =
age = 25 [GS] cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/seed/characters/chara_natarle.html |title=Natarle Badgiruel profile |accessdate=2007-08-08 |publisher=GundamOfficial]
born = December 24, CE 45
death =
nationality = Atlantic Federation [GS]
relatives =
paux1 name = Genetic type
paux1 = Natural
divider = yes
aux1 name = Allegiance
aux1 = OMNI Enforcer [GS]
aux2 name = Rank
aux2 = Ensign
Lieutenant J.G.
Lieutenant Commander (after being promoted to Captain of the "Dominion")

nihongo|Natarle Badgiruel|ナタル・バジルール|Nataru Bajirūru is a fictional character in the "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" anime series.

Gundam SEED

The child of a military family, Natarle is a promising young Earth Alliance officer. Stationed on Orb's Heliopolis colony as part of a secret project to produce weapons capable of fighting ZAFT's mobile suits, Natarle is one of the few survivors when ZAFT's Le Creuset team raid the colony to seize the new weapons. She then becomes the executive officer of the "Archangel", and supervises the ship's Combat Information Center. She holds reservations about allowing Kira Yamato, a Coordinator, to remain on board the ship as a Gundam pilot but Captain Murrue Ramius disagrees.

Natarle is stern and operates by the book, though some incidents show she is willing to do almost anything to reach a certain end, even when it conflicts with Captain Ramius. The first incident occurs when Natarle threatens Lacus Clyne to stave off ZAFT forces after they destroy an Atlantic Federation fleet. The second incident occurs after the "Archangel" rendezvous with Admiral Lewis Halberton and his Eighth Fleet. Natarle says that they cannot afford to let Kira leave and suggests taking his parents hostage. Admiral Halberton rebukes her and both actions produce friction between her and Captain Ramius.

Nevertheless, Natarle is a superb tactical analyst with keen judgment and a knack for swift decision-making, which made her a valuable asset to the "Archangel". In their last encounter face-to-face, Captain Ramius thanks Natarle and says she will make a fine captain someday.

Shortly before the defection of the "Archangel" she is transferred to a shore assignment. She was eventually promoted to Lt. Commander and was again reassigned to command as the new Captain of the "Dominion", the "Archangel"'s sister ship. Tragically, she is forced to battle her former crew at the Battle of Mendel and the Second Battle of Jachin Due. She tried to entice Ramius to return to the Earth Alliance, but Ramius refused because of her doubts about the Earth Alliance Forces. In the Second Battle of Jachin Due, she begins openly rejecting the orders of Muruta Azrael, opposing his extremist actions. Natarle orders her crew to abandon ship and she is shot by Azrael. She barricades herself and Azrael in the "Dominion"'s bridge. Azrael's response to this is to shoot her multiple times. He and Natarle are killed (to her relief) when the "Dominion" is destroyed by the "Archangel".

Throughout most of the series, Natarle comes across as a rather cold individual blinded by her loyalty to the Earth Alliance, although she is shocked upon hearing that her superiors were planning to sacrifice her former crewmates along with the Eurasian forces at the Battle of JOSH-A. But only after the Earth Alliance destroys Boaz with nuclear missiles does Natarle begin to question whether or not she is doing the right thing, and only when Azrael orders the "Dominion" to kill Captain Ramius and the rest of her former crewmates on board the "Archangel" does she defy his orders.

Trivia

*A series of one shot manga to promote the "Gundam SEED: Tomo to Kimi to Senjou de" Game Boy Advance game imply that Natarle may have been jealous of Murrue's relationship with Mu. During the "Archangel"'s stay in Orb, a damaged shirt of Mu's is missing from the ship's laundry room. Kira and his friends try to solve the mystery, ultimately realizing Natarle repaired the shirt for him, after requesting sewing lessons from Miriallia Haw.
**In the above mentioned game itself, there is an option to get an "alternate ending" to the "Gundam SEED" TV series. While in Orb, the Heliopolis kids can help Arnold Neumann with his unrequited crush on Natarle. If successful, this side-event will culminate in Neumann working up the nerve to confess to Natarle, with the latter returning his affections. This alternate outcome affects the final scenarios of the game, where Natarle also abandons ship after ordering the "Dominion"'s crew to do so, and then warns Murrue of Azrael's intentions, causing the "Archangel" to fire first at the Dominion and negate Mu La Flaga's sacrifice (Flay Allster still dies as per the canon).

* In the game, "Super Robot Wars W" for the Nintendo DS, Natarle is also saved from death prior to the destruction of the "Dominion", having been picked up by Serpent Tail pilot Gai Murakumo from "Gundam SEED Astray".

References