Samuel Ostergaard II
Samuel Ostergaard II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Died | 3025[1] |
| Affiliation | Taurian Concordat[1] |
| Career | |
| Rank | DropShip Captain of the Newgrange[1] |
| Family | |
| Parents | Samuel Ostergaard (father)[1] |
| Children | John Hillson[1] |
Samuel Ostergaard Junior, or Samuel Ostergaard II,[1] was the captain of the Taurian Defense Force DropShip Newgrange, ostensibly a civilian freighter. He was responsible for covertly supplying ammunition to the Aurigan Directorate in cooperation with, and implicitly under orders of, the Taurian Concordat who supported the Directorate uprising.[2]
History
Samuel joined the Taurian Defense Force like his father at some unknown point in time.
In 3023 Samuel was working alongside former Kell Hounds pilot Andrea Hillson who hired her Slayer out for DropShip security operations. From this union John Hillson was born in 3024.[1]
Death
As mercenary forces in the employ of Lady Arano and Lord Simon Karosas descended on Anvelt, they were given orders to disable the Newgrange's engine. The ship's captain (identified only as "arms dealer") opened up communications to Lady Arano urging her not to attack the Newgrange. She asked him to surrender, but he cut his communications with her. Kamea then gave the mercenary unit permission to destroy the fuel tanks next to the Newgrange, destroying the DropShip and taking the arms dealer with it.
Legacy
Kamea: "Your son was aboard the Newgrange, wasn't he? That's what this is about."
Samuel: "He was the Captain of the Newgrange. You spoke to him. I listened to his flight recorder -- I heard you order his death."
Kamea: "If that is the truth, then you know that I ordered him to stand down."
Samuel: "He was under orders. He couldn't stand down. But even if he could, do you think that matters? He was my son."
--Lady Kamea realizing that the Arms Dealer was Samuel's son.
When word of the Newgrange's destruction reached Taurian space, Samuel Ostergaard allied with Victoria Espinosa to bring down the Aurigan Restoration. He would take his revenge so personally that he would even forsake his duty to the Taurian Concordat and get dishonorably discharged from their Navy. His grief and determination to avenge his son would cost him his life.[2]
Notes
- The character originated in the (apocryphal) computer game BattleTech video game, where he was refered to only by his role of "Arms Dealer".[2] The (fully canonical) short story Second to None, narrated in the first person by his son John Hillson, would eventually name the character as Samuel Ostergaard Junior, or Samuel Ostergaard II, and also canonize his character history from the computer game in broad strokes at least (though some details might remain apocryphal).