Dale Ortega

Dale Ortega
Character Profile
Died 17 April 3133[1]
Affiliation House Ortega
Rank Lieutenant
Profession Noble, Soldier
Parents Sergio Ortega (father)[2]
Siblings Austin Ortega[2]
Spouse Hanna Leong (lover)[2]

Dale Ortega was the first-born son of Sergio Ortega and, until his death in 3133, was first in line to inherit the governorship of Mirach.

History[edit]

Dale grew up alongside his younger brother Austin on Mirach, governed by his father Sergio. His mother died in his youth, killed in an air transport crash.[3]

Through training and perseverance, Dale was able to rise through the ranks of the First Cossack Lancers, the personal bodyguards of the governor of Mirach, and become a Lieutenant and a Republic citizen. In the post-Blackout years, he earned ribbons for combat twice, once for fighting copper miners on Ventrale in 3132, and again for helping fend off a possibly Jacob Bannson-funded mercenary attack on the same continent. Along the way, he gained a reputation as somewhat of a womanizer, at least until he found a deeper relationship with journalist Hanna Leong.[2][3] By April 3133 he planned to resign his commission and move on to civilian life.[2]

In early 3133, Mirach faced a crisis. Minister of Information Elora Rimonova, in close association with Legate Calvilena Tortorelli, plotted and agitated against the government.[4] Hanna Leong probed Elora's past and activities, finding evidence that she was planning to overthrow Governor Ortega and offer the planet to the Steel Wolves.[5] After Hanna attempted to present her findings to the governor in early April, Elora summarily fired her and ordered her assassination. On 15 April, shortly after her firing, Hanna was struck down, killed in an apparent car accident right in front of her boyfriend Dale.[6]

Dale quickly grew obsessed with finding the truth about Hanna's death. He did not have much chance to investigate, though. On 16 April, Governor Sergio Ortega placed the First Cossack Lancers under the legate's command, merging them into the legate's Mirach Home Guard. Two days later, while participating in the Lancers' final training exercise before dispersion, Dale was himself assassinated on Elora's command, his death made to look like an accident.[7]

Physical Description[edit]

Dale stood at 195 centimeters tall with closely cropped thick black hair and gray eyes. He had a well-trimmed moustache, a straight nose, and the physique of a long-distance runner, and was generally seen as good-looking.[2][3]

References[edit]

  1. The Ruins of Power, ch. 12
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 The Ruins of Power, ch. 1
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Ruins of Power, ch. 2
  4. The Ruins of Power
  5. The Ruins of Power, ch. 4
  6. The Ruins of Power, ch. 6-9
  7. The Ruins of Power, ch. 9-14

Bibliography[edit]