Raidiese F. Branstein

Infobox animanga character
color = lightsteelblue
name = Raidiese Fujiwara Branstein
series = Super Robot Wars


caption =
first =
last =
creator =
voiced by = Ryotaro Okiayu (Japanese)
portrayed by =
nickname =
alias = Rai
age = 19
gender = Male
species = Human
born =
death =
nationality = German
class =
occupation =
title =
relatives = Elzam von Branstein (Brother),
Maier von Branstein (Father),
Cattleya Fujiwara-Branstein (Sister-in-law),
Leona Garstein (Cousin)
divider = Military History
aux1 name = Affiliation
aux1 = Londo Bell (Shin SRW, Alpha 1/Gaiden),
Alpha Numbers (Alpha 3),
SRX Team (Shin SRW, Alpha 1/Gaiden/3, OG 1/2/OGs/OG Gaiden),
New Aggressors Team (OG 2/OGs/OG Gaiden)
aux2 name = Rank
aux2 = Second Lieutenant
aux3 name = Units Piloted
aux3 = Huckebein 008 R (Before Shin SRW, Alpha 1, OG 1/OGs),
Schutzwald (OG 1/OGs),
R-Blade (Super Hero Sakusen)
R-2 (Shin SRW, Alpha 1, OG 1/OGs),
R-2 Powered (Shin SRW, Alpha 1, OG 1/2/OGs/OG Gaiden),
SRX (Shin SRW, Alpha 1, OG 1/2/OGs/OG Gaiden),
Huckebein MK II M (Alpha Gaiden, OG 2/OGs),
SRX Altered Banpreios (Alpha 3)

Raidiese "Rai" F. Branstein is a fictional character in the Super Robot Wars series. In canon, he is one of the pilots for the SRX Altered Banpreios, and is joined by fellow pilots Ryusei Date, Aya Kobayashi and her sister Mai Kobayashi in the Alpha timeline, and pilots the R-2 Powered, combining it with Ryusei's R-1 and Aya's R-3 Powered to form the SRX in all other timelines.

Appearances

Rai appears in the following games:

*Shin Super Robot Wars - Playble character
*Super Hero Sakusen - Playable character
*Super Robot Wars Alpha - Playable character
*Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden - Playable character
*Super Robot Wars Alpha 3 - Playable character
* - Playable character
* - Playable character
*Super Robot Wars Original Generations - Playable character
*Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden - Playable character

Rai also appears in the following anime:

*
*

Theme Music

* "Ice Man" (Retitled "Cool As Ice", in the North American localization of Original Generation 2) - Default theme in all appearances
* "Everywhere You Go" - Default theme in Shin Super Robot Wars

Personality And Traits

Although not a Psychodriver like his fellow SRX teammates, 19-year old Raidiese "Rai" F. Branstein has exceptional piloting skills, with a unique sense of judgment on the battlefield. Hailing from the esteemed Branstein family, he is the second son of Maier von Branstein, and the younger brother to Elzam von Branstein. A calm and loyal individual, Rai holds great respect for the Branstein name, and holds his friends and family close to his heart. However, his relationship with Elzam is strained for several years: Rai blames him for the death of his beloved sister-in-law Cattleya, after the attack on the Elpis colony, the Branstein clan's home. His relationship with Princess Shine Hausen isn't quite clear, but he makes sure she feels safe whenever he's around her.

Only one man is capable of truly breaking Rai's calm demeanor -- Archibald Grims, the man behind the Elpis Incident.

History

Before the start of Original Generation, terrorists seized one of the space colonies where Raidiese's sister-in-law, Cattleya Fujiwara-Branstein, was held hostage. She was killed, at her request, along with the terrorists, and the man who executed it was none other than her husband, Elzam V. Branstein. Completely distraught over his brother's decision, Rai renounces his family name, even going so far as to changing his middle name to "Fujiwara", in honour of Cattleya. He soon leaves the colonies and joins ranks with the Earth Federation Army. By the time Original Generation starts, he is given the rank of second lieutenant, and is sent to Mao Industries on the moon, in order to test the Huckebein 008 R. However, the Black Hole Engine test on the machine fails; as a result, Rai loses his left hand. He is given a prosthetic one, just before Ingram Prisken recruits him as the final member of the SRX Team.

Although he and the young, prominent psychodriver Ryusei Date have initial scuffles with one another, he begins to respect him as his performances on the battlefield improves. When Ingram defects to the Aerogaters, Rai is told that he is not needed on the SRX Team anymore, as the SRX machine requires three Psychodrivers to utilize its full potential. Instead, he responds that as long as he exists on the team, his seat in the R-2 will always be his. As such, Rai continues to do battle with the Divine Crusaders and Aerogaters in the war, alongside his teammates.

After the L5 Campaign against the Aerogaters, the SRX Team is temporarily disbanded; Ryusei stays in Japan to train with Viletta Vadim, Irmgult Kazahara, and Aya Kobayashi, while Rai is transferred to the reformed Aggressors, with Latune Subbota and Kai Kitamura. When the Neo Divine Crusaders attacks Hawaii and hijacks the prototype Wild Falken, Rai is forced to retreat with his teammates and rendezvous with the Earth Federation Army forces stationed at the Izu Base in Japan.

In addition, the formation of the Neo Divine Crusaders brings a more personal side to the battle for Rai. Though normally a cool and collected individual, he finds himself face to face with the man responsible for Cattleya's death: Archibald Grims, now a major for the Neo Divine Crusaders. To avenge his sister-in-law, Rai swears to defeat Archibald himself. He eventually fulfills his vow by teaming up with his brother, Elzam, and killed Archibald in the battle at the Earth Cradle. With the war against the Shadow-Mirror, Inspectors and the Einst over, Rai revisits Cattleya's grave one last time, finally making peace with himself.