Dearka Elsman
Dearka Elsman (transliterated as
Deiaaka Erusuman [ディアッカ・エルスマン;
Dearka Elthman] in the original Japanese version) is a fictional character from the
Gundam Seed anime series. He's voiced by
Akira Sasanuma in the original Japanese version and by
Brad Swaile in the English dub.
A usually humorous and somewhat arrogant pilot of
ZAFT's
Le Creuset team (later reformed as the Zala Team under the leadership of
Athrun Zala), who likes to make fun of
Naturals and weaklings with his usual sarcasm. Dearka is the pilot of the stolen
Earth Alliance's
GAT-X103 Buster and harasses the assault ship Archangel time and time again.
|
Dearka, as he appeared in Gundam Seed. |
After an unsuccessful search for the Archangel in the
Orb Union, the Zala team continues to fight
Kira Yamato and his
GAT-X105 Strike. In the ensuing skirmishes,
ZAFT pilot
Nicol Amarfi is killed by Kira, Earth Alliance pilot
Tolle Koenig is killed by Athrun, Kira is reported MIA and Dearka is held captive after his Buster Gundam was damaged in battle by
Mu La Flaga's
FX-550 Skygrasper.
During his captivity,
Miriallia Haw attacks Dearka with a knife after he insults her by asking if her excessive crying was because her boyfriend died, not knowing that her boyfriend,
Tolle Koenig, had recently died in the previous battle. (Go to
/ Miriberserk)
Sai Argyle intervenes by restraining her, but then
Flay Allster points a gun at Dearka and proclaims all
Coordinators should die. Upon hearing these words, Miriallia quickly saves Dearka's life by tackling Flay. This heroic act ultimately prompts Dearka to rethink everything that he has been taught to believe.
Seeing how both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT had become controlled by genocidal individuals such as
Muruta Azrael and
Patrick Zala, Dearka retakes his Buster and fights along with the
Three Ships Alliance, with his primary reason to defend Miriallia and the other Naturals. During the Battle of Mendel, he confronts his close friend
Yzak Joule, the pilot of the stolen
GAT-X102 Duel and Yzak accuses him of betraying both ZAFT and the
PLANTs. Dearka admits he really is not betraying them; it is just that after being in the Archangel's brig, he gained some respect for the Naturals after befriending Miriallia. Dearka knows he can't return to ZAFT because of Patrick Zala's current goal of exterminating all of the Naturals, and Rau Le Creuset's corruption. Although Yzak refused to believe it and thinks that Dearka is being deceived, Dearka responds by questioning who among the two of them is truly being deceived.
During the Second Battle of Jachin Due, Dearka has his hands full fighting to stop both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT from using their respective weapons of mass destruction. When Le Creuset threatens the Archangel with his brand-new
ZGMF-X13A Providence, Dearka fires the Buster's cannon on him in order to save Miriallia and the others. In diverting Rau's attention, however, the Buster incurs serious damage from the Providence's
DRAGOONs. As Yzak rushes in to save him, the two of them are attacked by an insane
Clotho Buer, the last of the three "Living CPUs" and pilot of the
GAT-X370 Raider. Yzak uses the Buster's cannon to destroy the Raider and kill Clotho. (In
Gundam SEED: Special Edition, however, the creators changed it so that Dearka kills Clotho instead. This is currently the scenario that is considered
canon) Then he helps Dearka make it back to the
Archanagel safely. Instead of resting in the infirmary, however, Dearka decides to join Miriallia on the bridge.
Later when the war is finally resolved and the PLANTs are once again under stable leadership, Dearka rejoins ZAFT. Together with Yzak and other ZAFT "war criminals" from the first war, Dearka was put on trial, but was successfully acquitted by
Gilbert Durandal.
Originally in Gundam SEED, Dearka was one of ZAFT's Redcoats, wearing a red uniform given to elite soldiers. In Gundam SEED Destiny, however, he wears a green uniform which is given to regular soldiers, but it must be noted that in the OVA of Gundam Seed, he was still wearing red. Although it was never stated explicitly, Dearka may have lost his elite status as punishment for his defection, as
Rau Le Creuset's status as a nihilistic traitor was kept confidential by ZAFT for political reasons. He could have also possibly lost his Elite status because he surrendered himself and his Mobile Suit to the enemy instead of doing the "honorable" thing and kept fighting and/or self-destructed. Despite his change of coat however, he apparently either maintains the formal ranking he held before or received a promotion due to the fact that he is apparently one of Yzak's Senior Officers on the Joule Team (along with Shiho Hahnenfuss, who is still a Redcoat), if not his First Officer.
Dearka becomes part of the Joule Team that is headed by Yzak in
Gundam SEED Destiny. His arrogant and sarcastic attitude has toned down, though he remains Yzak's cool headed contemporary. He initially pilots the
ZGMF-1000/A1 Gunner ZAKU Warrior during the Junius Seven Drop and then pilots a custom
ZGMF-1001/M Blaze ZAKU Phantom in the final stages of the war.
*The show's director
Mitsuo Fukuda admitted that he had Dearka switching sides due to the poor sales figures of
GAT-X103 Buster related merchandise.
*Of the 4 pilots of the Le Crueset team, he's the oldest (followed by
Yzak Joule).
*
Thirst! - A Dearka and Miriallia fansite*
Dearka & Yzak site
