Francine

Anime depiction

**Francine** (***フランシーン***), also known as the ***Brigadier*** (***ブリガディア***), is a Magical Girl with the designation of ***Chevalier*** (***シェバリア***) who was the leader of the magical girls from the Distonian War. She was thought to have died in the war, but Asuka’s hidden revival magic caused her to survive, and she became the leader of the Babel Brigade and the primary antagonist of *Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka*.

She is killed in a suicide attack by Mia Cyrus in Chapter 60.

## Personality

As the leader of a terrorist organization Francine is a Machiavellian figure who primary purpose and goals are morally and ethically questionable once revealed and requiring great power, means that Francine is not to picky on whom joins or for what reason, thinking of the big picture and operating on the mantra of "the end justifies the means" as justification. However Francine herself seems to genuinely believe that she is doing the right thing by instigating a Magical Girl Fascist rule.

Because human governments only fight each other and themselves without a common threat like the Disas to unite them, Francine is disgusted and resentful of the post-war life: many of her friends died fighting for the peace to come afterwards, but the war never truly ended, humanity only fought itself when the Disas were no longer as great a threat, and so she has come to the conclusion that a new world order is necessary to finally achieve peace once and for all.

Because of this, Francine only seems to value her subordinates if they are useful or are Magical Girls; she was completely unbothered by Giess's death, but risked her life and exposure for Abigail's safety. The only exception to this might be her own Father for obvious reasons.

During the Disas Crisis Francine generally gave off the impression that she did not take her role as a leader in an important military power or the actual threat of the Disas seriously. Opting to goof off and flirt with those around her. She showed a degree of being unable or unwilling to restrain her sexual impulses and made numerous "orders" to have Magical Girls accompany to to her room.

This might have been to cope with the stress of the situation, as she did show that she was a worthy leader when the need would rise. As she was "dying" Francine revealed a degree of vulnerability in what was assumed to be her last moments and entrusting Asuka with leadership in her stead.

## Relationships

### Magical Girls

#### Asuka Ootorii

In life Asuka seemed to have been frustrated by Francine and her antics. Francine herself held an attraction towards Asuka, though this was not mutual. As Francine was dying she left Asuka to lead the Magical Girls in her stead, and she eventually succeeded in avenging the other Magical Girls, Francine included.

When Asuka first caught a glimpse of Francine when she rescued Abigail she had the sensation of the enemy leader being "familiar". Interestingly while Francine ordered Abigail to capture Kurumi she did not extend this to Asuka.

#### Kurumi Mugen

The two were never shown to have directly interacted but Francine seems to desire to recruit Kurumi as she ordered Abigail to bring her in alive. The only instance thus far shown when they were in the same general area was when Francine "ordered" Asuka into her room, which Asuka blatantly refused, and Kurumi in an attempt to hide her own attraction deemed "gross".

As they both had an attraction to Asuka they might have some common ground in that front.

#### Mia Cyrus

Francine was the leader of the Magical Girls during the war, and Francine was never shown objecting to her as a leader. The two were in a relationship during the Distonian War, and kept it a secret feeling that the others were "too young" to know or understand it. Mia's previous relationship with Francine and identifying her father as a part of Babel is ultimately what led to her realizing the Brigadier's identity. When the two came face-to-face Mia opted to face Francine while the other tried to rescue Sayako Hata after her transformation into Sekmet. During the battle Francine offered Mia the chance to join her, but Mia shot down the offer as it was "too late", implying that their might've been a chance for Mia to follow Francine, if not agreeing with her ideals than desiring to side with her a person. Francine responded to this rejection by no longer holding back in the fight and bifurcating her former lover in cold blood. Though she had earlier claimed that she did not wish to kill Mia, Francine did not appear to mourn her death.

Mia took not of a particular contradiction within Francine's actions: her donning of a mask to purposely hide her identity while sprouting idealism and an end to the world's issues, implying something deeper in motive.

### Abigail

The sociopathic and sadistic Magical Girl Big Scissors Abby is currently Francine's subordinate. She seems to place some emphasis on her over the likes of Geiss whom she dismissed after death as she personally rescued her from M-Squad. Abigail herself is shown to be a useful asset despite her bloodthirsty nature, something that she can reign in when it is for a long term benefit for the Babel Brigade. The two also share a sexually intimate relationship.

### Other

#### Leyla Basticon

The former commander of the Disas Dragoon corps, Leyla became an associated and ally of the Babel Brigade for mutual interest as a part of Francine's plan involved the resurrection of the Disas Beast, and also allowed Leyla the opportunity at revenge against the other Magical Girls for the deaths of her subordinates. However Francine censored the part of the plan that involved the Beast's energy being recycled into the creation of Sekmet. Wrathful at being used for Francine's goals, Leyla attempted to strike at the Brigadier but was killed Sayako before she could.

#### Sayako Hata

A friend and classmate of her old friends Asuka and Kurumi, Sayako has the potential to be a powerful Magical Girl and Francine realized this before anyone else and so abducted and brainwashed Sayako, turning her into Sekmet, the Magical Girl of Mass Destruction for her ends. Now Sayako is utterly loyal to Francine, defending her from any danger, and attacking at her command. Francine believes that with Sayako at her side victory is assured, but the very fact that Sayako needed to be brainwashed shows that Francine never cared for her aside from her potential as a powerful weapon.

## Chronology

### Distonian War

Francine was a part of the First Generation of Magical Girls, and was also their leader. Her father was a part of the French Military which could've been a deciding factor to Francine opting to join the fight as well.

Secretly, Francine entered into a relationship with Mia Cyrus. During an unspecified time in the war, the two of them were both at Francine's house and in an intimate moment when Francine's father returned allowing Mia to become acquainted with him.

At some point in the war before their battle against the Disas beast, Francine died in Asuka's arms and left her role and the responsibilities of leadership to Asuka's hands. Francine clarified when her identity was exposed that she had indeed died, but was later "revived" through Asuka's power. After she returned home, either during or after the war, she discovered that her mother and grandparents had been killed.

### Post-war

After the war and the new societal issues that sprung from it, Francine started Babel Brigade with the ultimate goal of a new world order: specifically an absolute order with Magical Girls as the ruling class of the world and the purging of humanity.

### Epilogue

During the final chapter, Asuka receives a pre-recorded message from Francine. In it, she reveals how she survived: it turns out that Asuka's true ability is to revive the dead, even healing excessive injuries.

## Kill Count

* Numerous Disas
* Mia Cyrus

### Indirectly

* Leyla Basticon, the brainwashed Sekhmet killed her after attempting to attack Francine. Could be argued as Francine's kill sense she has complete control over Sekhmet at this time.

#### Failed Attempts

* Nozomi Makino, it is unknown if Brigadier personally order Nozomi's abduction or if it was Abigail's plot to fulfill her mission and lure out Asuka Ootorii and Kurumi Mugen. Regardless Nozomi was left in bad shape and nearly died from the experience.
* The entire human race.

## Unanswered Questions regarding the Brigadier

* Why did the Brigadier hide her identity from her former compatriots until chapter 54?

## Trivia

* Francine was theorized to be the Brigadier by many fans before it was officially revealed in Chapter 54.
* Francine is voiced by Aya Hisakawa and dubbed by Caitlin Glass.
* As the Brigadier, she is voiced by Yumi Hara and dubbed by Mallorie Rodak.
	+ Aya Hisakawa was the original voice of Sailor Mercury in Sailor Moon.
* As the Brigadier, Seigo Tokiya decided to dress her in white to contrast Asuka Ootorii's mostly black outfit.