Ethan Delansky

== Ethan Delansky ==
Ethan Delansky was an American criminal involved in drug distribution who helped lead a group of subordinates following the Great Collapse. An adversary for Brian Burnett and his group, Delansky served as the main antagonist of Book 1. Dangerously self-assured and spiteful, Delansky became took control of the rival gang following the death of Jason Payne. He was looked to by the others because of his apparent experience in the Army, although was discharged before reaching two years in service.
== Early Life ==
Born in Pittsburgh, Delansky's parents divorced at a young age, and at around ten years old, began to live with his mother in Brooklyn, New York, when school was in session. In the Pittsburgh countryside, Delansky's father attempted to maintain control over him, and in the two environments, Delansky learned to fend for himself by knowing both rural and city settings inside and out. Before he was a teenager, he began to sell drugs for different groups in Brooklyn to support his siblings and his mother.
When he was about seventeen, he met Harper Brooks, and the two began dating, despite Brooks only being twelve. He considered the arrangement to be beneficial to Brooks, who he thought needed protection from other predators. The two were together for a couple years until Delansky's mother died of a drug overdose in 2010. All of his illicit substances were taken, and his paraphernalia was confinscated with the police believing it was the Delansky mover. Feeling cornered, and believing he was going to be cut out of or betrayed by his gang, he promptly joined the Army.
Delansky served for two years in the Army, but was discharged for misconduct involving discipline and drug use. Delansky did not return to Brooklyn, and took his brother and sister to the country near Pittsburgh, where he lived with his father. He stayed in contact with Brooks, and after moving into his own apartment, he began to assemble his own ring of criminal friends which he led.
== Life and Death During the Great Collapse ==
Following the death of Jason Payne, a friend and criminal partner to Delansky, he took it into his own hands to seek retribution for the person that killed him- Brian Burnett. After wounding Kyle Wald and capturing his mother, Brigitta Wald, and her boyfriend, Justin Harlem, the gang planned their attack. They surrounded the Krauss ranch and took them by surprise, disarming the clan and bringing them out of the house.
After Brigitta Wald was unintentionally executed, a battle broke out among the two groups. After the death of Rich Ward and others, Delansky realized his attempts were futile. Kyle Wald charged Delansky, partially severing his hand. Delansky was promptly beat to death by Wald, moments before Damascus, the last man on his team standing, was executed.