Mariko Tanaka
| Mariko Tanaka | |
|---|---|
| - 2666.356 | |
| File:Spirit.gif Mariko on the Tiger's Claw | |
| Callsign | Spirit |
| Allegiance | Terran Confederation |
| Service/branch | Terran Confederation Space Force |
| Years of service | 2653-2666 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Mariko Tanaka was a pilot on the TCS Tiger's Claw. Her father was Shun Tanaka, who died during the McAuliffe Ambush and her fiancé Philip was an officer in the Medical Corps. She was of Japanese descent.
Mariko Tanaka was began service with the Terran Space Forces in 2653, eventually serving on the Tiger's Claw during the Vega Sector Campaign. Although a pilot of few words, Mariko was pleasant company and proved herself to be an able pilot. She eventually received the callsign "Spirit".
Spirit was a close friend of Christopher Blair and Jeannette Devereaux during her service on the Claw. She flew with distinction during the Vega Sector Campaign and participated in Operation Thor's Hammer and the Siege of Firekka. During the action at Firekka, her fiancé Philip was taken prisoner by the Kilrathi during their attack on Epsilon Station.
After the destruction of the Tiger's Claw, Mariko transferred to the TCS Concordia. Ten years later, Zachary Colson, who was also on the Concordia began his betrayal.
During 2666, Mariko received a message from the traitor claiming that her fiancé was still alive despite being captured ten years earlier, and was on the Heaven's Gate Starbase. The traitor blackmailed her, urging her to join the Society of the Mandarins so that Philip's life might be spared. Even though the Concordia was preparing to destroy the starbase, Spirit refused to tell anyone else about the message. The only one who knew was her old comrade Christopher Blair, whom she forced to remain silent on the matter.
Later, Mariko flew with Christopher Blair on a mission to destroy the Heaven's Gate Starbase. However, Colson had sabotaged her fighter, and the ship exploded, crippling it beyond recovery. Her gunner, Meron, was immediately killed in the blast. With her Sabre losing air pressure, Mariko flew her Sabre straight into the space station, against Blair's protests. All of her torpedoes exploded on impact, killing her and destroying the starbase. Her fiancé Philip, who was on the base, also died. Her last words to Blair were, "Tengoku de omachishi te imasu", which means, "I will wait for you in heaven."
Zachary Colson was later captured by Blair after his allegiance to the Kilrathi was discovered. Mariko's murder was one of the many crimes he was charged with. Blair would ultimately avenge Spirit's death by killing Colson when the latter attempted to return to the Kilrathi.
