Nicol Amalfi
Template:Infobox Gundam Character
Nicol Amalfi is a fictional character in the Gundam universe, or more specifically, Gundam Seed. He is portrayed by Mami Matsui and Paku Romi (special edition only) in Japanese and Gabe Khouth in English.
Gundam SEED
Nicol is the youngest member of the Le Creuset team; he pilots the GAT-X207 Blitz, which he stole during the raid on Heliopolis. He is mostly calm and good natured, and becomes friends with Athrun Zala. His thoughts of the war are moderate, and he says in one episode that he joined in the fight after hearing what happened to Junius Seven.
As Yzak Joule and Dearka Elsman form a rather arrogant duo against Naturals, the other half of the LeCreuset team consisting of Nicol and Athrun balance them out with their less extreme views. (As revealed in Gundam Seed: Special Edition, the fifth pilot, Rusty Mackenzie, who was supposed to pilot the GAT-X105 Strike, also thinks along the same lines as Nicol and Athrun, but unfortunately he does not last long as he is killed during the raid on Heliopolis.) LeCreuset, during the battle against the 8th Fleet, notes that while Yzak and Dearka thrive in battle, Nicol and Athrun are too soft for his tastes.
Nicol seems a bit out of place, despite being recognized as an elite ZAFT pilot, because of his somewhat gentle nature. In part because of his attitude and because of the specialization of the Blitz Gundam to act as a stealth unit, Nicol is frequently found at the losing end of duels against Kira Yamato, the pilot of the Strike. However, his tactical ability - as evidenced when he launches a sneak attack that culminates in the destruction of the Eurasian military base, Artemis - and loyalty to his team makes him an invaluable member.
After landing on Earth, he is placed with the two other members Dearka and Yzak to the Zala team, led by Athrun. While trying to protect Athrun in battle near the Orb Union, Nicol is killed when Kira Yamato drives his beam saber right through the cockpit (and through Nicol too) causing the Blitz to explode.
His death deeply impacts remaining members of the Zala team. Yzak, enraged that they have lost a close comrade, pins the blame on Athrun, who accepts it and prompts a fight between the two. Dearka, remaining coolheaded despite the loss of Nicol, attempts to redirect their anger at the Strike pilot rather than one another. Kira Yamato, though fighting against the Zala team, is also profoundly affected as it was the first time he had killed someone with the knowledge that the pilot was not just another soldier, but someone's friend.
His death prompts Athrun to avenge him by killing Kira the next time they meet. Although he fails to do so, one might suggest that Athrun evens the score by killing Kira's good friend Tolle Koenig. The deaths of Nicol and Tolle drive Athrun and Kira into a deadly duel and nearly results in both their deaths. When they meet again, Kira and Athrun finally agree to stop fighting each other and work together to end the war before both sides kill each other.
Despite the fact that Nicol and Tolle had to be sacrificed in order for Kira and Athrun (and Dearka and Yzak as well) to join forces and remove any animosity between them, they would most likely have joined the Three Ships Alliance as well if they had survived.
Gundam SEED Destiny
Although no longer alive, Nicol continues to linger in the thoughts and prayers of his surviving teammates. In PHASE-11 of Gundam SEED Destiny, Athrun Zala, Dearka Elsman, and Yzak Joule are seen walking through a cemetery and laying flowers at the graves of Miguel Aiman and Rusty Mackenzie as well as Nicol.
In the chapter cover art of Phase 4 of the manga Gundam Seed Destiny: the Edge (only shown in magazines where the series is serialised), the three deceased pilots can be seen saluting to the front.
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