Nicol Amalfi

Nicol Amalfi (ニコル・アマルフィ Nikoru Amarufi) is a fictional character in the anime series, Gundam SEED.

Personality
Of all the members of the Le Creuset team Nicol is the gentlest and kindest with a strong dislike for the war and fighting in general. Though he hates the war Nicol feels it is his duty to fight for the safety of his homeland and for his parents honour (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: A Never Ending Tomorrow ), indicating strength of character. While Yzak and Dearka fight their enemy head on, Nicol prefers to come in from the side, using his Blitz's stealth abilities to try and end the fighting as quickly as possible and when making strategic decisions he works with caution, such as when the Le Creuset team infiltrated the Earth Alliance's Artemis military base.

Skill & Abilities
As a ZAFT academy graduate Nicol possesses a range of military related skills including hand-to-hand combat, use of hand weapons such as knives and guns, mobile suit piloting, basic OS programming, tactics and strategy, and an understanding of military protocol. In his academy class he was one of the lowest ranked students in the Le Creuset team, typically last with the exception of explosive handling where he was first. Though a capable soldier Nicol's true skills lies in the art of music as he is an accomplished concerto pianist who has even written his own music. Nicol does think about the piano lessons that he has missed; he "wants to do a proper piano concert someday".

Gundam SEED
Nicol is the youngest member of the Le Creuset team; he pilots the GAT-X207 Blitz, which he steals 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 ZAFT after hearing what happened to Junius Seven, he never really wanted to fight. A gifted musician, his favorite instrument was the piano. He is also the only child of PLANT Supreme Council representative, Yuri Amalfi who represents Maius (which is a plant under the control of chancellor Tad Elsman) and Romina Amalfi, who is was against Nicol's joining the military.

Yzak Joule and Dearka Elsman are very arrogant towards Naturals, but the other half of the Le Creuset team, Nicol and Athrun balance them out with their less extreme views (in Gundam Seed: Special Edition, the fifth pilot, Rusty Mackenzie, who was supposed to pilot either the GAT-X105 Strike or GAT-X303 Aegis, also thinks along the same lines as Nicol and Athrun, but he is killed during the raid on Heliopolis). Le Creuset, 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 frequently loses in battle 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 make him a valuable member. In addition to his talents as a pilot, he was top in his class for handling explosives; he also graduated third in several other classes, such as knife fighting.

After landing on Earth, Athrun Zala is placed in charge of Nicol and the two other members of the Le Crueset Team, Dearka and Yzak. While trying to protect Athrun in battle near the Orb Union, Nicol is killed when Kira sliced into the Blitz (and Nicol) with the Strike's Schwert Gewehr anti-ship sword, the same weapon that he used to kill Miguel Aiman back on Heliopolis.

His death impacts the remaining members of the Zala team, Yzak, enraged that they have lost another comrade at the hands of the Strike, blames Athrun and prompts a fight between the two, in contrast, Dearka remains cool-headed and 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; it was the first time he had killed someone with the knowledge that the pilot was not just another soldier, but someone's friend.

Nicol's death prompts Athrun to avenge him by killing Kira the next time they meet. Although he fails to do so, Athrun does kill Kira's friend Tolle Koenig. The deaths of Nicol and Tolle drive Athrun and Kira into a battle that nearly results in both their deaths. When they meet again, after each has his own revalation, Kira and Athrun finally agree to stop fighting each other and work together to end the war.

Gundam SEED Destiny
Although no longer alive, Nicol lingers in the thoughts of his surviving teammates. In episode 11 of Gundam SEED Destiny, Athrun, Dearka, and Yzak visit a cemetery at a PLANT and lay flowers at the graves of Miguel Aiman and Rusty Mackenzie as well as Nicol. (His name is spelled Nicol Amarfi on his gravestone.)

In the chapter cover art of Phase 4 of the manga Gundam SEED Destiny: The Edge (only shown in magazines where the series is serialized), the three deceased pilots can be seen saluting to the front.

Trivia

 * Nicol's Japanese voice actress, Mami Matsui, also dubbed younger Chibodee Crocket in Mobile Fighter G Gundam.
 * Gabe Khouth, Nicol's English voice actor, also voices Saiji Crossroads in Mobile Suit Gundam 00.