Sayla Mass

Sayla Mass, born Artesia Som Deikun, is one of the main heroines of the Mobile Suit Gundam anime series. She is a communications officer of the White Base crew who later becomes a Mobile Suit pilot.

Past
Sayla Mass was originally born as Artesia Som Deikun, the daughter and second child of Zeon Zum Deikun, ruler of the Republic of Zeon. After Deikun died under mysterious circumstances and the Zabi family took power in Side 3, Artesia and her brother Casval Rem Deikun went into hiding with the help of Jimba Ral to prevent them from being assassinated by the Zabis along with the loyalists to Deikun who refused to submit to the Zabi family's rule. Artesia and Casval were eventually adopted by the aristocratic Don Teabolo Mass, and took the names Sayla Mass and Edward Mass to conceal their true identities.

Mobile Suit Gundam
When the One Year War broke out, Sayla and Casval found themselves on opposite sides. Sayla served as a communications officer aboard the Earth Federation's White Base while Casval resurfaced as Zeon's flying ace, Char Aznable. During the One Year War, Sayla became close with the pilot of the RX-78-2 Gundam, Amuro Ray, and the two developed a good working relationship. She eventually became a Mobile Suit pilot herself after her piloting skills were recognized and she was promoted form communications officer.

During the Battle of A Baoa Qu, Sayla interrupts the battle between Amuro and Char, reminding Char that the Zabis are their true enemy and causing him to leave to finish off the remaining members of the Zabi family while Sayla and Amuro escape with their lives and survive the war.

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Sayla has a brief cameo as one of the people watching Char's televised speech at the Earth Federation summit in Dakar.

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Sayla eventually returns when she is revealed to be the one who saved Judau Ashta's sister Leina. During a conversation with her old captain, Bright Noa, Sayla states that she is certain her brother is still out in space somewhere and waiting for the right time to return. She comments that his ambitions are dangerous and that his death might be the only path towards peace, foreshadowing the events of Char's Counterattack.