Editing Aaron Sandoval (32nd c.)

{{Otheruses|the thirty-second century Lord Governor of Prefecture IV|the thirtieth-century Lord of the Draconis March|Aaron Sandoval (30th c.)}}
{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Aaron Sandoval II.jpg
| caption             = 
| name                = Aaron Sandoval II
| birthdate           = [[3099]]<ref name=DARoSp29>''Dark Age: Republic of the Sphere'', p. 29: "Aaron Sandoval profile"</ref>
| died                = 23 May [[3145]]<ref name=ER3145p25>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 25</ref>
| othernames          = Aaron Sandoval-Ito
| affiliation         = [[House Sandoval-Ito]]
| rank                = 
| title               = [[Duke of Caselton]],<ref name=SoSc26>''Sword of Sedition'', ch. 26</ref><br/>[[Count of Addicks]],<ref name="ED:DA">''Era Digest: Dark Age'', p. 21: "Aaron Sandoval Profile"</ref>
| position            = [[Lord Governor of Prefecture IV]]<ref name=DARoSp29/><br>[[Planetary Governor of Addicks]]<ref name=DARWp47>''Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130)'', p. 47: "Addicks"</ref>
| profession          = Noble
| parents             = [[Mark Sandoval]] (father)<ref name=DARoSp29/><br/>[[Pamela Sandoval]] (mother)<ref name=DARoSp29/>
| siblings            = 
| spouse              =  
| children            = 
}}
Duke '''Aaron Sandoval''' was a [[thirty-second century]] nobleman, politician, MechWarrior, rebel faction leader, and the last Lord Governor of [[The Republic of the Sphere]]'s [[Prefecture IV]].

==History==
===Early Life===
He was born on [[Robinson]] as per his parents designs to have him dual citizenship in the [[Federated Suns]] and the [[Republic of the Sphere]], he lost his mother as she died during childbirth. After two years, his father Mark brought Aaron back to the Republic on the planet [[Addicks]]. Sometime later his grandmother [[Countess]] [[Edwina Sandoval]] joined them on Addicks and helped raise Aaron.  During Aaron's infancy, his father returned to Republic politics as Addicks' [[Assistant Governor]] in [[3107]]. Aaron's grandmother became important to him and gave him an early education in the world of politics.<ref name=DARoSp29/>

Growing up, Aaron was influenced by his grandmother, and as a result pursued an education focused on politics. After going to a number of Republic schools, he went overseas to the [[Federated Suns]] world of [[Marlette]] in [[3115]] to study.  At the Brighton Preparatory School, he quickly became friends with his cousin and the future [[First Prince]] [[Harrison Davion]].  After time with Harrison, he was encouraged to excel in his education, especially in political science.  He then attended the Republic's [[Sandhurst Royal Military College|Sandhurst MechWarrior Academy]] from [[3117]] until [[3120]]. When there, he tested well as a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]. He also went to the League University to pursue degrees in political science before entering the RAF military as part of his mandatory military service requirements.<ref name=DARoSp29/>

===Brief Military Career===
During his career with [[Republican Armed Forces]], he served principally as military aide to [[Legate]] [[Orwin Fahns]] and his successor, Legate [[Therese Olson]] on Addicks.  Despite his good performance as a MechWarrior, he was drawn into serving the military bureaucracy. However, he was drawn into active combat as part of a Task Force of Republican forces to combat and hunt down smuggling on the border. During the campaign he soon discovered that the pirates and smugglers were backed by members of his family from the Federated Suns during a battle on [[Schedar]].  He was instrumental both in secretly covering up his family ties in the pirate/smuggling activities and shutting them down.  Publicly, it was unknown that his family was involved in the raids. His active combat role ended prematurely as he was pulled from duty to become aide to Prefecture VI's Legate [[Amanda Cross]].<ref>''A Call to Arms'', p. 43: Aaron involved stopping his FedSun family members from continuing their smuggling/raids into the Republic</ref><ref name=DARoSp29/>

In [[3123]], his father, then Count Addicks, died of a stroke prior to attempting a restart of his career as a Republic Senator.  His father's death proved to be a turning point that pushed Aaron to choose to get into politics after his mandatory time in the military ended.<ref name=DARoSp29/>

At the end of his military service time in [[3124]], the Republic Military attempted to convince Aaron to remain with the Armed Forces; however due to personal reasons, Aaron chose not to in favor of a political career.<ref name=DARoSp29/>

===Early Political Career===
During the early days of his career, he steadily rose in Addicks' politics.  He proved to be able to administrate well and he served as aide to Prefecture IV's [[Lord Governor of Prefecture IV|Lord Governor]] [[William Sung]]. In [[3127]], Aaron was elected as [[Planetary Governor of Addicks|Governor of Addicks]], where he began efforts to spread his influence across the Republic's political scene.  He built goodwill where he started projects that helped get noncitizen residents jobs.  Through his efforts, the Immigrant Coalition Committee would allow him become the Lord Governor of Prefecture IV a [[3128|year later]].<ref name=DARoSp29/>

===As Lord Governor of Prefecture IV===
During his service as governor of Prefecture IV, Aaron worked hard toward his goals.

In [[3130]], Aaron appointed [[Kal Radick]] as Prefect instead of the experienced General [[Michael Sampson]]. General Sampson withdrew his candidacy and instead became Prefecture IV's training Commandant.<ref name=RotS>''Republic of the Sphere PDF'', p. 32: "Kal Radick profile includes Aaron giving him appointment as Prefect"</ref>

Regardless of his efforts, Aaron made a number of enemies, including some on his homeworld of Addicks. CEO [[Jacob Bannson]] of Bannson's [[Bannson Universal Unlimited]] became a critic of Aaron due to the passing of an antitrust measure which blocked Bannson from expanding his empire.<ref>''Inn Profile'', ''Republic of the Sphere PDF'': WizKids' original profile for Aaron Sandoval (II) includes as Governor of Prefecture VI, which he earns enemy in form of Businessman Jacob Bannson</ref> Aaron traveled between the Prefectures of the Republic in his private DropShip, ''[[Opportunity (Individual DropShip)|Opportunity]]'', on diplomatic and trade missions; he was noted for his personal wealth.<ref>''3132-3134 ComStar INN PDF'', Duke Sandoval Departs on Trade Mission - when Aaron commencing a trade mission</ref> Aaron visited [[Northwind]] and later [[Terra]] where he saw Tikonov's [[Earthwerks Incorporated|Earthwerks Ltd]], and signed an expansive deal between multiple Prefectures.

Also during the time prior to the [[Blackout]] in August 3132, he was seen exchanging harsh words with Prefect [[Katana Tormark]]. He claimed she had a lack of loyalty to the Republic despite her actions in curbing [[BattleMech]] smuggling.<ref>''3132-3134 ComStar INN PDF'' Prefect Katana Tormark Declines Knighthood, Sandoval Strikes Historic Earthwerks 'Mech Deal, & Tormark Exposes Black Market 'Mech Ring - Sandoval and Katana Tormark exchanges political jibs through INN</ref>

===The Blackout and Swordsworn===
After the collapse of the [[HPG]] Network in early August 3132,<ref>''Ghost War'', p. 104: "Date of the HPG Grid collapse and attacks noted."</ref> Aaron began to use his influence to form his own armed force, the [[Swordsworn]]. Using his influence and a regiment of personnel, he started bringing worlds under his influence while not openly admitting rebellion against the Republic.  Aaron believed that bringing these worlds under the aegis of [[House Davion]] would reward him later on.

Aaron put his cousin, [[Erik Sandoval-Groell]] (whom he had helped raise since childhood) into a commanding role in his army. Erik was a leading agent against other renegade Republic splinter factions including his own Prefect [[Kal Radick]]'s. He first dispatched Erik to [[Mara]], where he was to convince the Sandoval family of [[Prefecture III]] to join his Swordsworn group, but failed and was defeated. In response, [[Christine Sandoval]] returned Erik back to him on [[Tikonov]].

Aaron then dispatched his disgraced cousin to [[Achernar]] in [[3133]]; there his Swordsworn forces on planet would attempt to gain control of a rare functional HPG Station from Republican and Radick's [[Steel Wolves]] forces, with a mixed success.<ref>''Call to Arms'' - Aaron hurt by Stone leaving prompts the creation of Swordsworn and Erik being dispatched to Mara and Achernar to attempt to bring these worlds under Aaron's control</ref>

===The Liao Incursion===
====New Aragon and New Canton====
In [[3134]], the [[Capellan Confederation]] commenced an incursion into the Republic's Prefectures V and VI. Seeing this as an opportunity gather more worlds under his banner, Aaron offered his Swordsworn to aid in the fight against the Confederation forces. On [[New Aragon]] in October, the bulk of Aaron's forces made a blunt attempt to take the planet.  Aaron had selected the planet because it was well defended and would be the best place to bloody the nose of the invasion force.  Despite his force's success and his swooning support by the planetary governor, he knew efforts to stop the invasion were beyond his ability.<ref>''Fortress of Lies'', pp. 17–18: The reasons why Aaron selected New Aragon to be point of aid against Liao forces</ref>

Leaving his Cousin in charge of cleaning up New Aragon, Aaron traveled to Prefecture's VI capital on [[New Canton]]. There he attempted to negotiate a defense pact with the Prefecture's government. The New Canton government delayed his talks for days, and Aaron only met with Prefecture's [[Lord Governor]] [[Jose Sebhat]] once.  It wasn't until days later that New Canton's Legate, General [[Divos Sebhat]], announced that the talks were called off. He told Aaron that they were occupied with talks with House Liao officials to sign a nonaggression pact (in which three of their worlds would be surrendered to avoid open conflict on New Canton). He also admitted that he knew the Duke's allegiance to the Republic was questioned, and that he had his own agenda to join House Davion. The Legate then warned Aaron that he only had an hour to leave the planet alive.  Aaron and his party made a mad dash through New Canton's capital of Merrick City. After fighting through relentless traffic, they made it to the spaceport and took off in Aaron's flagship, a ''[[Union]]''-class DropShip, ''Kiwanda''.  During liftoff the DropShip experienced an explosion which destroyed the ship's landing gear and damaged the ship's engines.  With no help from the ship's captain, Aaron took his bodyguard [[Ulysses Paxton]], his [[w:Valet|valet]] [[Deena Onan]], and rushed to the 'Mech bay. There he mounted his modified ''[[Black Hawk (BattleMech)|Black Hawk]]'' and had his two employees squeeze into the confines of his 'Mech (the bodyguard crawled into an empty missile bay, and Deena squeezed into a small alcove in the back of cockpit).  Aaron was forced to blow open the DropShip's bay door and use his 'Mech's [[Improved Jump Jets|improved jump jets]] to fly free from the doomed ship.<ref>''Fortress of Lies'', ch. 3, pp. 46–55: DropShip sabotage, Aaron takes his personal aides and escapes using his customized MWDA ''Black Hawk'' with its IJJs and escapes doomed DropShip</ref>

Aaron managed to control the descent of his 'Mech so he would land near a reef offshore Barosa Island.  Aaron managed to keep his bodyguard alive as he piloted his 'Mech along the shallow reef to the shore.  He kept his 'Mech away from the huge wave of his DropShip's crash landing.  Once on the isle's shore from Gulf of Emeralds, he made his way to the island's spaceport.

Once Aaron got to the spaceport perimeter, he was attacked by the spaceport's security forces.  His 'Mech was damaged and running hot.  Aaron reflected on his situation and wouldn't believe that it was an accident, but rather sabotage that claimed his DropShip.  He then offered a reward to any DropShip crew who would aid his escape from New Canton.  He was rescued by Captain [[Gus Clancy]] with his ''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip, the ''[[Tyrannos Rex]]''.<ref>''Fortress of Lies'', ch. 4, pp. 66–69: Aaron's exploits to escape New Canton's security forces and him escape on board the Tyrannous Rex</ref>

====Tyrannous Rex and the Campaign to Swoon Worlds====
Captain Clancy used his loading 'Mech to drag Aaron's ''Black Hawk'' aboard the ''Tyrannous Rex'' while under fire by a pair of SecurityMechs.  The ''Rex''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s guns fended off the attempt to take out the Duke, but spaceport SecurityMechs hit Aaron's ''Black Hawk'' near the cockpit; this injured him as he and his passengers were being pulled aboard.<ref>''Fortress of Lies'', pp. 68–69, 93: Aaron's races to ''Tyrannous Rex'', Erik notes damage to Aaron's cockpit could have been fatal</ref>

After liftoff and an escape from the spaceport, Aaron woke up and met the ''Rex''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s captain.  Aaron was amused by Captain Clancy's rough and honest character and negotiated a deal with him to rent out his ship as a flagship.<ref>''Fortress of Lies'', ch. 5, pp. 70–79: Escape on the Excalibur and hiring of Captain Clancy and Tyrannos Rex</ref>

While Aaron was on the run, the New Canton government began to circulate rumors of Aaron's demise.  By October 20th, Aaron managed to counter the circulating news of his death with his own announcement of his survival of an assassination attempt.

Aaron next traveled to [[Pleione]] to a Swordsworn Fleet staging area and met with Erik.  He revealed to Erik that he had a revelation of how to gather new worlds to their banner. He revealed that the only way he could muster enough forces to fight off the Liao Incursion was to muster sufficient worlds into a Coalition.  Aaron said he had decided to utilize the ''Tyrannous Rex'' which he converted into a mobile headquarters and palace.  He then dispatched Erik to [[Shensi]], where he was to conduct an important diplomatic mission to win world for the Swordsworn.  Secretly, Aaron had dispatched Deena to conduct a mission to guarantee Erik's success on Shensi. A Liao mercenary company, [[St. Cyr's Grenadiers]], attacked Shensi during Erik's negotiating effort, which led to many difficulties.

After parting ways with his nephew, Aaron took the ''Tyrannous Rex'' to [[Azha]].  While on planet, he had the ship refitted into his envisioned flying palace and command center.

In late November, Aaron arrived with the newly refitted ''Tyrannous Rex'' and put on a spectacular show to announce his arrival.  On board his ship, he conducted an extensive party for notable government officials as well as local celebrities.  He used the planned Liao raid on Shensi to encourage the local government to sign into his coalition of worlds.<ref>''Fortress of Lies'', ch. 13, pp. 185–207: Aaron uses dramatic angling to exploit Shensi's government into winning them over to his coalition</ref>

On December 5th, his nephew arrived in orbit to meet Aaron's flagship. Erik congratulated him after he heard that Shensi was for their cause, however Erik was distressed to find out that he was sent on a planned mission that would likely have killed him. Aaron then dispatched Erik to take command of Swordsworn forces struggling against the invasion on [[St. Andre]].

Aaron then traveled to [[Poznan]] to convince the highly contentious population to join his cause.  Before any deal could be made, word arrived that Erik's forces' situation on St. Andre had turned desperate; Aaron then mustered all the troops he could and rushed to aid his nephew's forces.

On December 24th Liao forces began their invasion of the ancient Star League outpost, Fort Ravengale.  Aaron's force of four DropShips and numerous 'Mechs hot dropped after destroying Liao reinforcements that were attempting to conduct an orbital insertion against the Fort.  He then led his men with a hot drop in his refurbished ''Black Hawk''; this rallied his troops and helped force out Liao forces.<ref>''Fortress of Lies'', ch. 19, pp. 261–282: Aaron bring coalition of BattleMech forces to arrive in time to brunt the siege of his Swordsworn forces at Fort Ravengale</ref>

His troops gave him the nickname the ''Flying Duke'', due to his dramatic hot drop insertion to save the fort.  After the cleanup, he met with his nephew and told him he had learned of the Liao spy that he had been dealing with. Erik casually told him that he'd taken care of her.<ref>''Fortress of Lies'', ch. 20, pp. 283–292: Aaron quietly confronts Erik of his dealings with Liao spy</ref>

===The Funeral of Victor Steiner-Davion===
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===Meetings with Scions of House Davion===
{{sectionstub}}

===Caleb Davion===
Aaron gradually lost power when [[Caleb Davion]] came to power. His nephew Erik, which had defected with the Suns, taking half of the Swordsworn with him, became the commander of all the Swordsworn in [[3134]].<ref name=ER3145p93>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 93</ref>

===Letters of Marque===
In May [[3135]] he started issuing open letters of marque within The Republic, Prefecture IV - or the Tikonov March, as he called it - for anyone who wanted to privately help the [[Federated Suns]].<ref>''Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals'', p. 188: "26 May 3135"</ref>

[[File:Aaron Sandoval death ER3145.jpg|thumb|right|Aaron Sandoval's ''Black Hawk'' surrounded by destroyed Capellan units.]]
===Capellan Invasion===
After the Confederation took [[New Syrtis]] and [[Taygeta]], they turned their attention to [[Tikonov]]. Aaron was on the world at that time, and led the defense in May 3145. The [[CCAF]] invaded the world with [[Warrior House Dai Da Chi]] and two other regiments. The defending Federated Suns forces prevented the Capellan invasion from being successful, but Aaron Sandoval was killed in action. When reinforcements arrived to his last stand's place, they found Duke's 'Mech fallen surrounded by Capellan machines. Apparently, a capellan [[Battle Armour]] had taken him out from his mech's cockpit and killed him from a laser shot to the head. However, his sacrifice prevented the capellan's victory on Tikonov... at least for the time being.<ref name=ER3145p25/>

===Legacy===
Sandoval's death signaled the death toll to the semi-independence of the Swordsworns. Mostly, those which survived shifted their loyalty to his nephew, Erik Sandoval, becoming his personal regiment.<ref>''The Damocles Sanction'' ch. 1</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[A Call to Arms]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN]]''
* ''[[Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals]]''
* ''[[Dark Age: Republic of the Sphere]]''
* ''[[Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130)]]''
* ''[[Era Digest: Dark Age]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]''
* ''[[Fortress of Lies]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Fortress Republic (novel)|Fortress Republic]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Ghost War]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Sword of Sedition]]'' (novel)
* ''[[The Damocles Sanction]]'' (novel)


[[Category:Republic of the Sphere Characters|Sandoval, Aaron II]]
[[Category:Federated Suns Characters|Sandoval, Aaron II]]