Kate Laswell

Station Chief Kate Laswell is the overarching protagonist of the Call Of Duty Modern Warfare sub-series reboot. 
She is the supervisor for the CIA's Special Activities Division, often overseeing missions for CIA operative "Alex" to stop the Al-Qatala and other global threats. After the failed operation in Verdansk, Laswell called in her old friend Captain Price to aid her in stopping the Al-Qatala and find the stolen Russian gas.
She is voiced by .
== Biography ==
===Early Life===
Kate Laswell was born in Annapolis, Maryland, and later attended the American University of Beirut and Cornell University, gaining her master's degree in strategic intelligence analysis and her BA in international affairs. She believed the past was prologue, having studied the military failures in the war on terror, and wanted to break the cycle. At some point before or starting her service in the CIA, she married an unnamed woman.
===CIA Career===
She began her career as a communications analyst, and she was later relocated to Pakistan because her acumen and intellect was noticed by the Islamabad Station Chief. In Pakistan, she served as a "targeter", a critical support role in the drone strike program. Later on, Laswell was transferred to the U.S. Africa Command at Camp Lemonnier, which was later the ground zero for a attack by a suicide bomber. She survived the incident, and saw it as her calling to devote her life to global security.
Joining the Central Intelligence Agency, Laswell climbed the ranks, and attempted to find a female mentor. Despite failing to find a role model, Laswell became known in the agency for being reliable on unconventional information warfare. In 2008, Laswell was called to supervise the Special Activities Division, and began working on the "black site" program in Europe, Asia and South America. Her time and leadership doing this became controversial, a she refused to testify in open hearing on the use of rendition. Despite this, Laswell became respected, and her detainee information saved countless lives over the years.
By the 2010s, Laswell reports to the CIA Inspector General through an elite TS/SCI, a clearance which authorizes special agents to respond to critical terrorist activity. She began working closely with multiple agents and officers home and abroad, notably "Alex", who was under her command. Around an unknown time, Laswell met and befriended S.A.S. British Captain John Price, having a close professional relationship with him. She met Price at a football game, and caught his attention by calling it a "soccer game" so he could perform an operation. While stationed in the southern country of Urzikstan, Laswell became friends with the SAS operative Charlotte "Charly" Johnstone, as the latter managed to defend and liberate the CIA safehouse.
===Modern Warfare===
Laswell and Colonel Norris oversee "Alex" and the 1st Marine Raider's operation in Verdansk, Kastovia to collect chemicals from Roman Barkov's shipment. The operation fails as a group of raiders kill the marine's and takes the chemicals, but "Alex" survives the event. He informs Laswell that the operation was a failure, and Laswell is informed by General Lyons that the Kremlin has suspended all deconfliction channels, the chemicals are out in the open, and that their fingerprints are all over the operation. Despite Laswell's attempt to downplay the situation, Lyons tells her to get a "better weapon" than intelligence.
Laswell calls in Captain Price for help, and informs him that the chlorine gas is now in terrorist hands. Asking where they might go, Price suggests in London, and after finishing his assignment, goes there to fight off the Al-Qatala insurgents. Afterward, Laswell informs Price that the Al-Qatala have taken responsibility for the attacks in London, and has sent "Alex" to Urzikstan to find the chemicals. "Alex" manages to become allies with the Urzikstan Liberation Force, mainly it's leader, Farah Karim, and her brother Hadir. "Alex" aids Farah in trying to get the Russians out of Urzikstan, and Laswell sends in an unmarked helicopter to aid them in capturing Barkov's airbase.
Later on, "Alex" works with the United States Marine Corps in capturing Omar "The Wolf" Sulaman, the leader of the Al-Qatala and take him to the U.S. Embassy in Urzikstan. Laswell is heard helping "Alex", Price, Kyle Garrick and American soldiers in trying to stop the Al-Qatala from getting The Wolf, but they fail. Later on, Farah, "Alex" and Hadir decide to stop The Wolf from escaping by going to the highway of death, but Hadir reveals that he stole chemicals, and uses them to stop the Russian forces.
Laswell meets with the group, who realize that Hadir stole the Russian gas, and is now working with the Al-Qatala after they found him. Despite her concern with starting a war with Russia, Laswell decides to give executive authority to Price, Farah, "Alex" and Garrick to hunt down Hadir to stop him and the Al-Qatala from starting World War III. Price and the team manage to kill The Wolf, but Hadir escapes before he could be apprehended. Knowing that Hadir plans to attack Russia with the gas, Laswell and Price discuss a plan to stop him. Price asks Laswell for him and Garrick to do a secret mission to capture Jama "The Butcher" Rahar in Moscow. Though reluctant, Laswell allows them to, and they manage to capture and interrogate The Butcher, learning of Hadir's location.
Price and Garrick go to Barkov's estate to capture Hadir, and barely manage to do so due to battling Barkov's forces. Laswell goes to the estate with reinforcements, telling Price that they have to hand Hadir over, and he reluctantly agrees to do so, but keeps the intel Hadir gave them. Laswell later helps Price and the team attack Barkov's factory, giving them support via a helicopter and aid of Price's comrade, Nikolai. Price and the team succeed in destroying Barkov's factory and Farah kills Barkov, but "Alex" decides to stay to set off the explosives, but managed to survive.
===Fighting the Al-Qatala===
Afterward, Russia disowns Roman Barkov for his actions, and Laswell and Price meet since the latter called for her. Price tells Laswell that he wants to create a task force, but Laswell refuses, not wanting to fund outlaws. Price threatens to leave, and Laswell relents and decides to help him, asking the soldiers he chose from the files he got from General Shepherd. Price tells her that he has chosen John "Soap" MacTavish, Simon "Ghost" Riley, and Garrick for his task force, which he names "1-4-1". Laswell also informs Price Victor Zakhaev, the son of Imran Zakhaev, is gaining power, and Hadir has gained attention for his actions.
Not long after Price assembles his task force, Laswell informs Price and Nikolai that the Ascendant has taken control of the Al-Qatala, and is taking over the city of Verdansk. FSB Sergeant Kamarov decides to cooperate with Laswell to stop the Al-Qatala, and the two create the Armistice to stop the terrorist group. The Armistice was later dissolved due to countless casualties, with only Ghost being the only survivor.
===Modern Warfare II===
In 2022, the United States gathered intel that Quds Force General Ghorbrani was preparing an arms deal in Al Mazrah, and Laswell worked with General Shepherd on the operation. Sending in Ghost and Shadow Company commander Phillip Graves, the latter assassinates the target with a navigation missile. Despite successfully eliminating the target, Ghobrani's colleague Major Hassan Zyani allies with the Al-Qatala to get revenge against America. Months following this, 141 is assigned to lead the MARSOC Marines to capture or kill the major, but discover that he has an American ballistic missile in his possession. Fearing the possibility of Zyani launching them against the states, Laswell contacts Captain Price and Gaz to find any information on the cell in Amsterdam. She also decides to return back to the field, telling Shepherd that she wants the operation done right.
Price and Gaz find information of an upcoming meeting between Al-Qatala and the Las Almas Cartel, whom are working with the terrorist organization. Laswell assists Gaz in taking out several agents and capture the smuggler, learning that they are smuggling Zyani into the states. Kate then contacts Mexican Special Forces Colonel Alejandro Vargas, asking him to prevent Hassan from crossing the border. The operation goes awry when Hassan is assisted by the cartel during the smuggle, and escapes into Las Almas due to being found. 141 and Shadow Company are then tasked with performing joint operations with Vargas' group, the Los Vaqueros, to apprehend Hassan for interrogation.
The joint operation is successful, and Laswell and Shepherd watch Graves' interrogation of Hassan, whom doesn't give them any information. The group hack into his phone to find any intel, but Laswell and Shepherd order the team to let the major go due to jurisdiction. Finding that Hassan was discussing with a smuggler in Spain, Laswell, Price and Gaz perform an operation to see if there are any signs of a missile. During the mission, Kate is kidnapped by the Al-Qatala and is taken to Al Mazrah, but is rescued by her allies alongside Farah and Nikolai. Afterward, Laswell learned of Shepherd's botched illegal operation when he attempted to transport the missiles through the Middle East, and tells Price and Gaz to locate 141 in Mexico.
Once Price and Garrick help Soap, Ghost and Los Vaqueros escape from Shadow Company, Laswell informs them of Shepherd's actions, and the captain confronts the general. 141 and Vaqueros then perform a joint operation to eliminate Graves, and learn from the cartel's leader that the last missile is located in Chicago. Laswell assists in the operation, telling Soap how to destroy the missile before it hits the Pentagon, and Hassan is eliminated by Ghost. Following this, Shepherd goes off the grid, and Laswell investigates into Konni, the private military company that ambushed Graves' unit to steal the missiles. Learning that it was Ultranationalists, Kate contacts 141 to meet with her, and tells them that the faction is being led by someone new. However, Price tells her that the man is not someone new, with him identifying the leader as Makarov.
===Warzone 2.0===
Following Hasan's death, Laswell continued her CIA service to fight against Al-Qatala and Konni Group in Al Mazrah, creating a covert unit Jawbreaker and later the mercenary group Phalanx to deal with them.
====Atomgrad====
After Alex and several ULF soldiers went off the radar when investigating an abandoned nuclear bunker, Laswell contacts Captain Price, Gaz and Farah to locate them. The group learned that Al-Qatala had infiltrated the bunker and managed to reach the solo area, discovering it containing several missiles in each. Additionally, they found Alex, whom informed that Hadir had become the terrorist group's new leader and was planning to release the missiles onto Russia. Despite the revelation, the group eliminated Hadir and informed Laswell of the mission's success.
=== Modern Warfare III ===
In 2023, Laswell is informed of Vladimir Makarov's escape from the Zordaya prison complex and contacts Price, whom ends his and 141's current assignment to stop the terrorist leader. After 141 fails to stop Konni from leaving with chemicals from Barkov's era, Laswell infiltrates the Arklov Military Base to speak with her contact Yuri Volkov, obtaining a flash drive on Barkov's chemical weapons he planned to develop. During the discussion, the base is attacked by two missiles launched by Konni which 141 failed to stop, forcing Laswell and Yuri to escape with the help of Nikolai. During the hunt for Makarov, she is contacted by General Shepherd and Graves, asking to help 141 in dealing with the terrorist leader and Konni.
With their assistance, Laswell is able to gain intel on Makarov's financer Milena Romanova, sending Ghost and Soap to interrogate her for information. Romanova revealed that Konni recently set up a safehouse in St. Petersburg, and Price and Gaz manage to capture Vladimir's right-hand Andrei Nolan for interrogation. Learning of Konni transporting cargo in Siberia, Price leads 141 and Farah into ambushing the convoy, discovering that the high-valued target is General Shepherd. Laswell and the team confront the general, giving him an ultimatum - give them intel on Makarov's plans in exchange he tells Congress the truth about what happened in Las Almas. The general agrees, revealing that Vladimir sent Konni to destroy the Gora Dam to kill Verdansk's citizens in the area.
After Ghost and Soap protect the dam and Price leads an assault on one of Konni's bases with the ULF and Shadow Company, Laswell and the group watch Shepherd and Graves turn on each other while speaking to Congress. Kate continues to assist 141 in their search for Makarov, which leads them to London to stop the terrorist leader from destroying the Channel Tunnel. During the operation, Soap is killed by Makarov before he escapes with Konni reinforcements, leaving Price to defuse a bomb left by Vladimir. Following the mission, Laswell assists Price into confronting Shepherd in his office, resulting in the general's death.
==Zombies==
In the Dark Aether storyline, Laswell and Soap join Operation Deadbolt to stop the zombie incursion happening Zaravan caused by Victor Zakhaev and Terminus Outcomes.
==Quotes==
==Gallery==
Kate-Laswell.png|Laswell in Modern Warfare.
Price-Nikolai-Laswell.png|Laswell with Price and Nikolai after the credits, planning to stop the Al-Qatala.
Laswell-MWII.png|Laswell in Modern Warfare II.
Laswell-Spain.png|Laswell in Spain.
Price-Laswell-celebrate.png|Laswell and Price drink to stopping Graves and Hassan.
Laswell-MWIII.jpg|Laswell in Modern Warfare III.
==Trivia==
*She is similar to Rachel Kane from Call of Duty: Black Ops III:
**Both are CIA agents.
**Both support and overlook operations for the protagonists.
**She also bares some resemblance to CIA agent Karen Bowman from Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands.
*In multiplayer, Laswell will call enemy locations sighted by Coalition operatives.
== Navigation ==
Category:Female
Category:Video Game Heroes
Category:Call of Duty Heroes
Category:Spouses
Category:Honorable
Category:Supporters
Category:Leaders
Category:Strategists
Category:Protectors
Category:Selfless
Category:Damsels
Category:Fighters
Category:Determinators
Category:Successful
Category:Lawful Neutral
Category:Secret Agents
Category:Big Good
Category:Counter-Terrorists
Category:Failure-Intolerant
Category:Deal Makers
Category:Protectors of Innocence
Category:Truth-Seekers