Mitchell Lopez

{{Infobox Terran Person |name= Mitchell Lopez |lived= 2642-2669.260 |image= |caption= |callsign= Vaquero |placeofbirth= Dakota |placeofdeath= Alcor, Vega Sector |allegiance= Terran Confederation |branch= Terran Confederation Navy |serviceyears= 2660s-2669 |rank= Lieutenant |unit= Gold Squadron |commands= |battles=[[Battle of Ariel], Operation: Unseen Death |awards= |relations= |laterwork= }}

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

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 Navy 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 fellow fighter jocks and hire professional musicians to play his 200-year old guitar.

Vaquero served on the Victory during the final year of the War, and saw action at Locanda, Ariel, Loki, among other campaigns. He assisted in the escort of the TCS Behemoth prior to that vessel's destruction.

During a rescue mission in the Alcor System, Colonel Ralgha nar Hhallas, who was a Kilrathi pilot loyal to Confed, betrayed his comrades and fled the Victory with intelligence regarding the Temblor Bomb, a superweapon meant 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, who considered Ralgha his friend up until now, took off and dueled Ralgha as he fled to the Kilrathi fleet, and eventually killed his formed friend. 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.