Mecha Character Profile: Norris Packard - Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

Despite the treacherous higher ups, Zeon soldiers are known for their loyalty, especially to charismatic leaders. Norris Packard is one of the few examples of family’s loyalty in such hard times as the One Year War. As a servant of the noble Sahalin family, he is also a formidable pilot with a strong will of protecting his people.

I. Background:
– Born in the Universal Century of U.C. 0041 Norris Packard served the Zeon’s aristocratic Sahalin family ever since Aina and Ginias Sahalin – the daughter and the son were young. Aina sees Norris as her father-like figure, making them have quite the relationship between each other. Norris is also trained to fight as a mobile suit pilot for the newly formed Zeon’s mobile suit forces when the One Year War broke out in U.C. 0079. Although we did not see Norris’s action up until later in the war.

– During the last stages of One Year War on Earth at around late U.C. 0079 Norris is seen at the mountain base in Asia region on Earth alongside Aina Sahalin whom he adored. He saw action fighting against Shiro Amada’s Gundam Ground Type and the 08th MS Team with his Zaku II in which he lost but was able to escape. Later on he flew a Dopp aircraft to support Aina’s testing of the Apsaras mobile armor before being damaged, leaving Aina and Apsaras downed in a snowy mountainous area which led to her reunion with Shiro.

– During Zeon’s last defense at the mountain base he volunteered himself to stay alone, trying to secure a safe escaping route for the Kergeren ship, at the time he already realized that Aina fell in love with Shiro so he thought that if they won then he would understand why Aina choose him and accepted it. He died piloting a Gouf Custom during a confrontation with Shiro in his Ez8 Gundam and the 08th Team. Sadly the Kergeren was also destroyed during the battle, rendering his sacrifice useless.

II. Skills & Abilities:
– As a servant of the Sahalin family, Norris is quite an honorable man. He raised Aina and her brother – Ginias ever since they were young, Aina was very close to Norris, seeing him as a father figure for her since her parents often worked very far away. Norris often takes Aina’s safety as his top priority and always accompanied her whenever possible, even during the One Year War.

– Not only a good servant, Norris is also a capable pilot, at least on Earth. He was fighting in a deep forest when he first encountered a Gundam from the 08th MS Team piloted by Shiro. His iconic mobile suit was the Zeon’s Gouf Custom which during his last battle, he swiftly took out the 08th MS Team’s 2 Gundam and a Guntank.

– His famous battle was also his last one – his confrontation with Shiro’s Ez8 Gundam in which he lost and died. Norris already knew that Shiro is Aina’s love interest at the time so he decided that if he lost, he would understand why Aina chose Shiro, showing his loyalty to Aina until his last breath.

III. Gallery: