Gaelio Bauduin

Overview

A major character in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, Gaelio Bauduin is a Special Duty Major in Gjallarhorn and the heir to the prestigious Bauduin family, one of the Seven Stars governing the organization. Serving as a security officer accompanying McGillis Fareed, he is a skilled mobile suit pilot who specializes in high-speed, hit-and-run combat utilizing lance weaponry. Throughout the series, he finds himself caught between his noble ideals, personal bonds, and an unforgiving battle for political control.

Appearance

He is a tall man with short purple hair and blue eyes. His attire ranges from standard Gjallarhorn officer uniforms to layered armor pieces including pauldrons, gauntlets, faulds, greaves, and high-heeled armored boots, often complemented by a jacket, cape, or open-front tunic. While concealing his identity under the alias Vidar, he wears a face-concealing mask and black outfits. He is also depicted wearing bandages during periods of severe injury.

Personality

Though often coming across as easygoing or slightly blunt, Gaelio possesses a deep sense of justice and basic chivalrous manners. Raised in absolute privilege, he rejects prejudice against those of lesser origins, treating lower-ranking subordinates like Ein Dalton with genuine care and dignity. However, his elite background initially blinds him to systemic flaws, leaving him with an earnest yet naive worldview that makes him overly trusting. Deeply repulsed by cybernetic surgeries like the Alaya-Vijnana System, he gradually matures through tragedy, eventually accepting his own shortcomings and showing respectful recognition toward his enemies.

Abilities

Gaelio is a highly capable mobile suit pilot capable of operating advanced machines such as the Schwalbe Graze, Gundam Kimaris, Gundam Vidar, and Gundam Kimaris Vidar. His combat specialty lies in high-speed maneuvers using lance-type weapons for devastating single-pass strikes. Later, his machine is fitted with the Alaya-Vijnana Type-E system—a pseudo-interface utilizing the neural data of Ein Dalton—granting him superhuman reaction speed and pilot interface efficiency without straining his own body.

Background

A descendant of Gargin Bauduin, Gaelio grew up among Gjallarhorn's high society. While inspecting Mars alongside McGillis, he crossed paths with Mikazuki Augus and Tekkadan. His pursuit of Tekkadan grew personal as he sought justice for his fallen comrade Ein, only to be betrayed and nearly killed by McGillis during the battle of Edmonton. Secretly saved by Rustal Elion and fitted with an organic device to regain mobility, he assumed the masked identity of Vidar. He eventually unmasked himself to challenge McGillis directly in combat. Years after the conflict, having removed the Type-E interface, he relies on a wheelchair while recovering.

Relationships

He shared a childhood bond with McGillis Fareed and Carta Issue. Although he deeply admired McGillis, the revelation of his friend's cold betrayal turned them into mortal enemies. He is protective of his younger sister, Almiria Bauduin, despite their frequent bickering. His deep bond with his loyal subordinate Ein Dalton drives much of his resolve, even using Ein's neural system in combat. Saved by Rustal Elion, he works closely under his faction and mentors Julieta Juris, with whom he maintains a close relationship post-war. Mikazuki Augus famously infuriated him by calling him 'Gari-Gari' or 'the guy next to the chocolate guy.'

Trivia

His background as an aristocratic officer betrayed by a masked friend serves as a narrative homage to Garma Zabi from the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Originally intended to be a minor character who died early in the story, his role was significantly expanded due to the voice actor's compelling performance. In spinoff media such as the SD Gundam Gaiden series, he is sometimes depicted in alternative storylines where he fights alongside McGillis and Tekkadan against a shared evil.