Samantha Marquez

You can't quit until you try, you can't live until you die, you can't learn to tell the truth until you learn to lie, you can't breathe until you choke, you can't swear on your life that no one will cry at your funeral - Samantha Marquez on Victor Mancuso's funeral

Samantha-Jane Marquez
Profile
Origin	Nación Maltesa
Occupation	Squadron Leader/Kirkwall Base administrator
Affiliation	Outcasts
Born	December 21, 756 A.S. Planet Malta

Early Life

Serving under Don Vitorio

Samantha was born in a family of 2nd generation "slaves". Her grandmother was born on Leeds she got captured and sold as a slave on planet Malta, she married a local and had a daughter - Paola Hernandez but according to Maltese law if you are a slave so is your child until you "earn" your freedom. Samantha's father was born on Malta in a very poor family, the lack of money forced them to work as servants at least that way they had something to eat. Sam's mother and father eventually ended up serving Don Vitorio, where they met and married. She had a younger sister Victoria Marquez who passed away in 779. Samantha served under Don Vitorio until 774 A.S

Life in Malliena City

Malliena City at dusk.

In 774 A.S Don Vitorio passed away leading to a power struggle between his sons who shall inherit their father's riches. Samantha saw this as an opportunity to change her life. One nigh she sneaked away with almost nothing but her clothes, leaving her family behind. She ended up in one of the few cities on Malta- Malliena City. Samantha was 18 at the time. She spent 3 months living with in the slums with other homeless people until she started endorsing in criminal activities to get her by. She resorted to prostitution, mugging and even blackmail. In 776 A.S she finally had enough to get a small room in the suburbs. According to her those were the most horrific 2 years of her life.

University and marriage

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Sam at her wedding.

In December 776 A.S she was picked up several times by Victor Mancuso a wealthy drug lord. He sold the illegal synthetic Marijuana, as well as cardamine that he didn't pay tax for to the Assembly. He asked her to do a special job for him promising good payment. In desperate need of money Samantha took the job. She was to "work" on a Council Member take pictures with a hidden camera and then give them to Victor Mancuso. When the job was done she had enough money to afford a decent house. Getting into that business was easy, getting out however was not. She continued to do jobs like this for Mancuso, who used the evidence to make the Council turn a blind eye him. After working together for a while Samantha and Victor hooked up. They started living together. In early 778 A.S Sam started a business course in Malliena University, at that time she was with Victor for 2 years and his idea was that Samantha could take care of the legal side of his business. They married the in January 779 A.S

Back to square one

In July 779 A.S Samantha got news that her sister has been killed in an explosion at a cardamine processing plant where apparently she's been working. This was the first time Samantha has heard news of her family since she ran away in 774. The hardly recognisable charred remains were transported to Malliena city where eventually she was buried. The next time Samantha heard about her family was 3 weeks later when she got a message from her mother that her father committed suicide. Her mother disappeared without a trace after this.

In 780 A.S Samantha was 24 and she was doing the final year of her business degree when her husband Victor Mancuso was assassinated by the Assembly or possibly a rival. The council decided that all of his belongings should be confiscated to aid the nation. Samantha was back at square one, she couldn't afford to pay for the university. At that time the Maltese navy was recruiting from universities all around Malta so it was either that or back to the streets for her.

Life in the Navy

Military academy and graduation

In 784. Samantha graduated from the academy certified to fly the Borderworld- Dagger, she was assigned to a light recon regiment. In the following year she flew sorties in the home system. In 785 A.S Her regiment was sent deep within the Edge Nebula to carry out a long term reconnaissance mission of the Corsairs. The mission took nearly 5 years to complete. After five years in the hostile space what was a mediocre outfit quickly turned into a veteran squadron. Upon their return in 790 A.S most of the pilots from the recon outfit were transfered to frontal strike force and sent to Cali Base in Tau-23 in responce to the growing IMG presence in the sector. In 796 she took a one year shore leave before returning on duty in 797 A.S

The Nomad War

Razor wing opening fire on the Rheinland battleship, Razor-2; Samantha's fighter is on the right

In 800 A.S Samantha was still a pilot on Cali. Colonel Kress of the Order was on the station at that time and the Outcasts were still unaware of the his true intentions. The Navy assigned Samantha as his Maltese advisor and observer. She was even to fly in his "Razor" Squadron. When Kress got news that some scientists want to escape from Bretonia and are being chased by the Rheinland Military the Razor squadron launched and headed for Tau-29 where Samantha flying the Razor-2 had the rare opportunity to fight Rheinland made fighters and capital ships. Shortly after the battle for Tau-29 Kress departed Cali and Samantha was assigned back to her normal duties. During the battle she got noticed by the Cali's quick response wing (which was the forerunner of the 13th) CAG Jose "Vaquero" Lopez. She was assigned to his squadron and promoted to XO. In 801 A.S she went to back to the academy to certify for then newly upgraded Series "Z" Sabre getting her Sabre wings in 803 A.S

The Gamma offensive

In 803 A.S The Cali quick response wing was reassigned to Omicron Eta from there they could strike deep in the heart of the Corsairs. During the first raid however things went horribly wrong. Two squadrons of four Series "Z" Sabres were to preform a hit and run mission in Gamma The first group consisted of Jose Vasquez, Samantha Marquez, Fernando Halsey and Apollo, the second one of Clementina Ortiz, Palacha, Pedro Guerrero, and Vito Callente. When they reached Gamma the attack wings were intercepted by a squadron of Corsairs, nothing they couldn't have handled. However Samantha spotted an unescorted Bomber so she went in for the easy kill instead of covering Vasquez's six o'clock. While Sam was chasing the bomber a Titan got behind Vasquez and evaporated him before he could eject. With the sqaudron leader dead and the XO god smacked by what just happened the attack group turned into chaos. The Corsairs had no problems eliminating the chaotically flying Sabres. Out of the 8 Sabres that went in only 4 made it back Samantha, Halsey, Apollo and Palacha.

Leaving the Navy

Addiction

Samantha became an emotional wreck blaming herself for the death of Vasquez. She was unable to command a squadron of four people bearing the scars of a humiliating defeat in no small part to her. She returned to Malliena City and became addicted to Cardamine according to her own words:

It's funny thing about Cardamine the first time you take it as drug you throw up you feel sick you can't move, you lay on your back and your head spins your body flips and jerks...You say to yourself, it's the stupidest drug ever yet you do it again and again and again...

The medical records show that she's been hospitalized at least 6 times for OD-ing in the course of 4 years.

Rehab

In 807 A.S Samantha checked in a rehab centre to fight her addiction. She fought the drug for 4 years until finally her old squadron mates managed to track her. Once upon visiting her in July 811 A.S, Halsey offered her a ride in the newly refurbished Series "Z" Sabre. The thrill of the fight and her only friends at that time being next to her was enough to persuade her to join the Navy once more.

Cardamine is powerful but not as nearly powerful as the roar of the engines braking orbit or the sound of the metal screaming when you pull a hard-G atmospheric turn...All the time I was high couldn't compare to those 5 minutes in the cockpit - Samantha Marquez at her re-admission trial

Back to active duty

Re-certification and formation of the 13th 811A.S - 819A.S

The insignia of the 13th Squadron

The "Hydra" being escorted by its fighters

From 811 to 813 A.S Samantha went through a re-certification course for the Series "Z" Sabre. When she got back her wings with excellent marks. She went back to service in September 813 A.S as a regular pilot. For the next 3 years she made her way up through the ranks until becoming a squadron leader in 816 A.S. One month later along, Halsey, Apollo and Palacha, she formed the 13th. For the next 3 years the 13th Squadron proved exceptionally successful in doing their job earning a reputation in front both enemies and allies alike. Their influence extends as far as New York were several pilots currently operate. The 13th consists of almost exclusively Series "Z" Sabres though there are some exception. The mobile command centre of the 13th is the Hydra.

Administration of Kirkwall Base

In 819 A.S The 13th moved most of their resources to Kirkwall Base in the Orkney system. The reason being that it is both close to Tau-23 which is their main operation area and at the same time strategically close to Gallia for securing potential deals with the "lost house". However there are still 13th Fighters operating in New York and Omicron Alpha

Administrator Jameson saw fit to leave the administration of the station to Samantha, she is to make sure that the best interests of the nation are ensured.

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Samantha is both the CO of the 13th and the administrator of Kirkwall Base. Recently she's been taking increasingly important role in Maltese politics along with the Administrator and one of the leaders of the XTF wing - Lich

After becoming a squadron leader her past problems with money are nothing but a blurry memory. In 818 A.S She bought the then abandoned and decaying residence of Don Vitorio - the place where she was born and served until she was 18. Even though she rarely stays in the villa it's one of her favourite places to be

Sam currently flies the last version of the Seriez "Z" Sabre named the "Parabola" by her. It is equipped in "Kraken Type 2" Outcast Particle Gun/Mini Razor configuration which Marquez finds best suited for her combat style

"The Parabola" Flying in Tau-23

Injury and recovery

In August 819A.S Samantha engaged in a bloody skirmish in Tau-37 with a fugitive wanted by the Maletese Navy. During the battle Samantha's fighter was shot down, she managed to eject, but her adversary shot at the ejection pod. Samantha sustained vacuum exposure, head trauma, fractured vertebrae and femur, 4th degree burns on her right arm and 3rd degree burns on her back. She damaged pod was recovered by a search and rescue party. She was trasnported to Gran Canaria, where only the expertise and the quick reaction of Dr. Doreen Nagger saved Samantha's life. Samantha underwent a hard 3 month recovery process. Her leg couldn't be saved and was amputated, being replaced by a cybernetic prosthetic. About that time she got news that one of her pilots was KIA near the Barrier Gate station.

Return to active duty and the decline of the 13th

Samantha recovering at her home

Samantha returned to active flight duty in January 820A.S. However times were hard for the Maltese nation. Attacks by the house of Gallia were commonplace, as well as frequent raids by various bounty hunters and the Maltese' archenemy the Corsairs. Despite being one of Malta's finest squadrons. The 13th lost nearly 30% of its assets by April 820A.S. The command ship Hydra was ambushed and destroyed by royalists in Tau-23, then Kirkwall was sacked. The following month the MNS-Implosion was heavily damaged and it was forced to return to Valetta for extensive repairs.

MIA

In the morning of 4th July 820A.S Samantha and of her closest friends Fernando Halsey went on a two man patrol of the Omicron Alpha system. When they entered the Siniestre Cloud, Samantha ordered Halsey to continue with the patrol while she checked some weird readings near Carinea. After Fernando finished his designated course he became worried about Samantha and followed the train of ionized atoms her engine left through the nebula but there was no sign of her. There are different versions circulating Matla's naval circles. One of them is that Samantha deserted and left for Kusari, another claims she was intercepted and shot down, her ship burning up in Carinea's atmoshpere, yet another suggests she was infected by the Khara who often manifest themselves in the nebula. Without her the squadron dismantled, many of the pilots were killed or went AWOL. Samantha has not been seen since.

Personality

Samantha takes nothing for granted, and the em always justify the means. She doesn't stop at anything between her and goal. Sam might be described as the "all business" type with ruthless image ready to sacrifice even relatives in they are in the way of her job, as she demonstrated when escaped from servitude. She's got quite a few friends she can trust and almost as much enemies even within the nation. The tough image she creates is furthered by her love for whiskey with expensive cigars. While she is viewed as an "iron lady" while on duty, off duty she is known to be quite soft among friends. She often crosses the line while drinking but once she puts on the uniform or walks in the cockpit everything is locked away. In an excerpt from her statement while undergoing rehab in 808 A.S she said to her therapist;

I was always viewed as the tough nut...all business and heart of stone...in fact it's just a mask, I'm weak and pathetic on the inside just like everybody else. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't