Raul Ortega

Raul Ortega
Raul-Ortega-A-Call-To-Arms-2021.jpg
Personal
AffiliationRepublic of the Sphere
Career
Title(s) Knight-Errant
ProfessionMechWarrior

Raul Ortega was a Knight-Errant MechWarrior for the Republic of the Sphere. He was a militia reservist in the Achernar Republic Standing Guard before the invasion of Achernar.

History[edit]

Ever since Raul was a small child, he wanted to become a MechWarrior. He did not care about the allure of battle; he wanted to become a pilot because with the reduction of these machines of war, he would become a legend.[1]

During the final test to become the militia's newest 'Mech pilot, he lost to his rival in the final moments of the mock battle. As runner-up, he became the planet's reservist pilot.[2]

Invasion of Achernar[edit]

Raul got his chance to be a front line 'Mech pilot during the opening minutes of the invasion of his homeworld. The Steel Wolves destroyed the planet's high-speed monorail which was carrying Raul's rival. With the pilot presumed dead, Raul was activated from reserves to pilot the Legionnaire to defend against the enemy's advance.

During the course of the battle, Raul gradually became the lead strategist and commander of all militia forces on the planet. After the death of Kyle Powers, Raul knew that the militia would not be able to hold out for much longer, and any victory would leave the militia too weak to repel future invasions. He came up with a cunning plan to plant fake explosives at the planet's working HPG station, seemingly destroying the only real tactical prize on Achernar.

With the withdrawal of the Steel Wolves and the Swordsworn forces from the planet, he used the "destroyed" station to talk to Knight-Errant Janella Lakewood, who praised Ortega for his cunning plan and for it actually succeeding. She said that with his bravery and resourcefulness in protecting the planet, she would be put his name forward for promotion to Knight-Errant, helping to defend other Republic planets that were in need of support.

Career as Knight-Errant[edit]

In 3135, Raul, on the advice of Janella Lakewood, led a group of Republic forces to the Federated Suns planet of New Hessen to help the Suns troops defeat Liaoist mercenaries attacking the world. Soon after, he returned to Achernar.[3]

Battle of Terra[edit]

During the Wolf and Jade Falcon invasion of Terra in 3151, Ortega was commanded the Alexandria Defense Force in North Africa. When the Falcons' Iota Galaxy made landfall in the Sinai, Ortega managed to lure the Falcon warriors into an ambush, but with the loss of air cover, he was forced to withdraw into Egypt. After a running battle with the Falcons down the Nile, Ortega and his unit were cornered in Juba, where the Knight was defeated. The Falcons slaughtered the entire Defense Force except for Raul. Thinking he may have useful information, the Falcon commander kept him as a prisoner. Within ten days, a Republic operative known as "Shimmer" rescued Ortega from captivity.[4][5]

BattleMechs[edit]

The Achernar militia had a couple of Legionnaires available to all MechWarriors, both active and reservists. At the beginning of the Steel Wolves' invasion, he piloted one of the Legionnaires, later piloting the Jupiter of Knight-Errant Kyle Powers. It remained his 'Mech until his defeat and capture on Terra.

References[edit]

  1. A Call to Arms, p. 6
  2. A Call to Arms, p. 12
  3. Sword of Sedition, p. 88
  4. IlClan, pp. 49–50
  5. Hour of the Wolf, ch. 16

Bibliography[edit]