Mitchell Lopez

Mitchell Lopez
2642-2669.260
Callsign	Vaquero
Place of birth	Dakota
Place of death	Alcor, Vega Sector
Allegiance	Terran Confederation
Service/branch	Terran Confederation Space Force
Years of service	2660s-2669
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	Gold Squadron

Mitchell Lopez was an Argentinian pilot who flew for the Terran Confederation during the Terran-Kilrathi War.

History

Mitchell Lopez was born in 2642 in the Dakota System to an Argentinian family. He grew up with a love for music, since his family had been renowned guitar creators for centuries, and became a musician himself. He possessed one guitar that was over 200 hundred years old, which he claimed sounded better with every song. He was young, confident, and always ready for a good conversation. When he enlisted in the Confederation Space Force during the 2660s, he became the first member of his family to fly into space.

Mitchell Lopez was a pilot aboard in the TCS Victory's Gold Squadron in 2669. He became good friends with fellow pilots Winston Chang, Laurel Buckley, and Helmut Jaeger. He was well-liked among the ranks and proved to be a highly-reliable wingman. He eventually acquired the callsign "Vaquero", which means "cowboy" in Spanish. However, he had little desire to continue active service after the Terran-Kilrathi War ended. He instead dreamed of opening a cantina after the war's end, where he intended to serve his comrades and hire professional musicians to play his 200-year old guitar.

Vaquero served on the Victory during the final year of the Kilrathi War, and saw action at Locanda, Ariel, Loki, among other campaigns. On 2669.151, Vaquero became Pilot of the Month for risking his life to save two pilots who had ejected after an engagement with the Kilrathi. He participated in the defense of the TCS Behemoth before its destruction in Loki.

During a rescue mission in the Alcor System, Colonel Ralgha nar Hhallas, who was a Kilrathi pilot serving in the Confederation, betrayed his comrades and fled the Victory with intelligence regarding the Temblor Bomb, a weapon specifically designed to destroy Kilrah. Vaquero's friend Cobra was murdered by Ralgha when she attempted to stop his escape on the flight deck, and he cared for her as she lay dying. Colonel Christopher Blair launched in pursuit of Ralgha as he fled to the Kilrathi fleet, and eventually shot down his former ally. While this occurred, the Victory was ambushed by Kilrathi patrols, and Vaquero was killed in action while defending his comrades. Blair arrived too late to save him.

Vaquero's death was a severe blow to the crew of the Victory, most of whom considered Vaquero their friend. Blair was severely reprimanded for placing his own needs before the Victory's. He personally wrote the death-comm to Vaquero's family, and Vaquero was given a traditional space funeral. His guitar and belongings were sent back home. Vaquero was only 27 years old.

Alternate Fate

If Blair chooses not to chase Ralgha after he murders Cobra, Blair instead remains on the Victory and the ambush does not occur. Vaquero remains alive and well as a result. He presumably survives the War and moves on with his dream to open his cantina.