Manny Ortega

Manny Ortega is a major character in Tom Clancy's The Division 2. He's a JTF SIGINT who became a coordinator for Division agents in Washington, D.C., filling a role similar to Faye Lau Tom Clancy's The Division.
== Biography ==
He was a National Guard signal-intelligence and communications specialist. He lost an uncle to a Proto-Hyena gang while the two of them were together, and this fueled Manny's desire for justice. He rapidly became part of the hardcore contingent of the Joint Task Force stationed at the White House, and became the voice in the earpiece of surviving Division agents. He assigns the missions for the agent to complete and is in charge of coordinating SHD operations throughout Washington, D.C..
Mixing a shrewd of situational awareness with acerbic humor, Manny quickly wove himself into the fabric of The Division in D.C. He still has some family in California, but he is not able to contact them at present due to SHD Network issues.
== History ==
=== Tom Clancy's The Division 2 ===
Manny Ortega was in Washington, D.C. when the outbreak hit. During the first days, before the total collapse of society, Manny's uncle (Mateo Ortega) was killed by two future members of the Hyenas. After this point, Manny spent his time as a signalyst in the JTF. He slowly rose in rank mainly through attrition. His superiors, for one reason or another, left their positions, and he took their place. It is mainly due to JTF command evacuating the city due to the chaos as well as the large number of defectors who formed the True Sons. He became the Division Coordinator after their SHD Network went down. 
When Agent Kelso told Manny about the broad-spectrum antivirals, he found it hard to believe. However, he was convinced, knowing the stakes.
Manny and the JTF had difficulty maintaining the White House due to skeleton crew. With the chaos engulfing D.C, it didn't take long for Hyenas to the attack the base. Thankfully, Division agents went in and helped them. And with them on the city, they could start the road to not only restore the SHD Network, but take back the city from hostile belligerents.
Over the course, Manny coordinated Division agents to work their way to decimating the Hyenas, Outcasts, and True Sons as well as taking steps in restoring the SHD Network. As the SHD Network was restored and President Andrew Ellis was rescued, the Division set their sights against the strongholds of their enemies. The Hyneas and the Outcasts went into disarray after their strongholds fell, culminating with the True Sons defeat in Capitol Hill and the recovery of President Ellis' briefcase, marking a victory for the Division and their allies.
However, this victory was short-lived with the Division facing a new and dangerous enemy.
=== Black Tusk invasion/Classified assignments ===
In the midst of Black Tusk's invasion of Washington, D.C. and President Ellis's disappearance, Manny coordinated with Division agents to push the hostiles off the city, including territories and strongholds previously held by other enemy factions. After the discovery of a facility under the White House which held the anti-virals and later stolen by Black Tusk thanks to Ellis, Manny coordinated with the agents towards Tidal Basin to recover the anti-virals while dealing with the hostiles. When Wyvern attempted to blow up the White House with missile launchers, Manny made an evacuation attempt to prevent mass casualties. Thankfully, the agents disabled the launchers and eliminated Wyvern, allowing the White House staff to live for another day.
Manny also coordinated a team of eight Division agents to the Washington National Airport to push off Black Tusk who were holding experimental technology there. Despite the advantage those hostiles had, the agents managed to defeat Black Tusk right here and there.
Obviously, this wasn't the end for Black Tusk as they were still fighting in the city. Meanwhile, Manny helped agents in Classified Assignments in various locations of D.C. A few notable ones being NSA Site B13, Mexican Embassy, and Central Aquarium. In NSA Site B13, Manny learned that NSA were keeping watch on Gordon Amherst. In the Mexican Embassy, agents rescued Pilot John Yazzie from Outcasts when his helicopter got shot down. And lastly, agents rescued the Aquarium community from Hyenas, one of them being Mari Singh, Manny's future girlfriend.
=== Camp White Oak/Kenly College ===
When the Division became aware of President Ellis's location at Camp White Oak, Manny coordinated with Division agents to find and capture President Ellis while a couple JTF squads distracts Black Tusk. Evidently, Black Tusk anticipated the threat, eliminated all JTF squads and evacuating the Presidents via Marine One helicopter. Despite this setback, agents managed to put down B.T.S.U. Operator Ellis Galveston.
When a distress call came from missing JTF Squad Proteus, Division agents were sent to Kenly College while Manny helps coordinate across the three areas to find the squad. In the process, they disrupted the Outcasts' plans, recovered the Mobile SHD Server, and rescued Jack Arnold.
=== Recruitment event at Manning National Zoo ===
When Black Tusk took over Manning National Zoo, Manny coordinated the agents there, to eliminate any threat the hostiles are posing. However, it'd turn out there was a recruitment event going on due to the losses Black Tusk sustained. Thus, agents eliminated the hostiles as well as leaders of Alpha, Bravo, Gamma, and Delta.
Manny remarked that Black Tusk are getting desperate in replenishing fresh troops, making them more dangerous.
=== An invaded Camp ===
After the events of Camp White Oak, a dozen of JTF forensics teams were sent to recover any data left behind. Black Tusk became aware of this, so they sent forces including Bardon Schaeffer's candidates for his unit to prevent their enemy from extracting any information. Agents were sent to stop them, including the elimination of Schaeffer's candidates.
Manny was satisfied, knowing that Schaeffer was frustrated at how it went down in the camp.
=== Post-Coney Island ===
Manny became aware of the actions Cindy McAllister did by hacking the Black Tusk mortars to assist the Division during the events at Coney Island. He got worried that McAllister was too wrapped up in the digital world, thus he relieved her of duty and ordered her to spend around time with people, even sending McAllister to Doctor Mitchell Billings to help with her problems, psychologically 
=== Warlords of New York ===
Manny was not involved in the events for Warlords of New York campaign, but he was aware of Faye Lau's defection to Black Tusk and her assassination of President Ellis in the climax for End of Watch, which made him upset at her and disavowing her for her actions.
== A resurgent True Sons and an alliance with defectors ==
In the aftermath of Faye Lau's death, a resurgent True Sons force made their way to Washington, D.C. led by Captain Fred Lewis. Lewis used to work together with Manny, until he defected to True Sons. When Manny learned the truth about Faye Lau and Bardon Schaeffer, he was reluctant at first as he saw Schaeffer as the enemy and not an ally. Though Agent Kelso convinced him that they need Schaeffer as he's the key to stopping Black Tusk.
After the events at Jefferson Trade Center and considerable losses, the True Sons leader General Peter Anderson decided to rebuild an alliance with the Black Tusk.
Not wanting anything to do with Black Tusk, Captain Lewis reached out to Manny to help in stopping this. Manny refused at first, given Lewis' culpability in True Sons' atrocities. But over time, Manny put his feelings aside and helped Lewis in this venture alongside the assistance from Candice "Wally" Wallace. At one point, Lewis got captured by Black Tusk and was sent to Pentco Fairview Power Plant, prompting Manny to send Division agents to rescue him.
Despite losing the opportunity to take down General Anderson, agents managed to rescue Lewis and getting him to extraction. Although that meant the True Sons and Black Tusk are now allies, Manny was grateful that his friend was in one piece.
== Reconstructing the Castle/A Deceptive Scheme ==
After decontamination efforts cleaned up the DC-62 chemicals that devastated the Castle few months prior, Manny decided to recruit civilians to help in reconstruction efforts for the settlement. This included Mari Singh, Lauren Fong, Eva Garcia, John Yazzie, Jack and Mel Arnold, Mitchell Billings, Cindy McAllister. At some point, Manny and Mari got close, conceiving a child, although Manny wouldn't be aware of that until Mari told him. At one point, Manny was in a session with Doctor Billings, venting about his obsessive need to try control everything and worrying what his child would think of him.
Manny also allowed Vikram Malik into the Castle to help with the power grid. Despite the latter backstabbing him and the Division, Manny let Vik in as he had valuable intel on Natalya Sokolova and Calvin McManus and it would turn out that Vik only betrayed the Division because he was forced to delete any dealings Nat had with ODEA Tech.
There was still work to be done against Black Tusk. Natalya Sokolova had personally hired EoD specialist Zachary "Stovepipe" Beattie and gave him a team to secure and deploy explosive ordnance. Considering the rumors of dirty bombs that Outcasts which devastated Saint Louis, eliminating Stovepipe was a top priority.
However, it would turn out that Stovepipe was a distraction as Natalya had him killed due to disobedience after he learned further about the dirty bombs, which were recorded in encrypted Hunter drones that were intercepted by Division agents. Furthermore, Nat used that distraction to have Black Tusk attack the White House and cripple the Division's Network using the countermeasure. 
Despite the Division's counterattack thanks to the Mobile SHD Server, Black Tusk managed to take the Perfusion Bioreactor. And despite not being able to eliminate Bardon Schaeffer as his unconscious body was in the panic room, Lewis was killed by a Hunter when he held off a squad of Black Tusk. The revelation that Black Tusk managed to cripple the SHD Network worried Manny, as he was concerned they'd be screwed if their enemy uses their countermeasure again.
And to add further insult, Black Tusk kidnapped the civilians from the Castle, with Natalya leaving a Hunter Drone recording meant for Manny. There, she taunts him and makes it clear that D.C., the United States, and the entire world belongs to Black Tusk. Nat also revealed that Mari is under Black Tusk's custody and demands to Manny to hand over the White House if he wants to see her again.
== Rescuing civilians ==
In the aftermath of this, Manny and Wally assessed the number of people kidnapped by Black Tusk, which included Vitaly Tchernenko and Harlan Lloyd. Manny mourned for the loss of Fred Lewis by giving his friend's dogtags to Ransom (Fred's dog), as a way to remember him. Not wasting time, Manny coordinated with Division agents to rescue their people
Over the course of these rescues, Manny was puzzled over the humane treatment that Black Tusk was doing to their captured civilians, making him wonder what exactly is Natalya Sokolova planning. But it soon turns out that those humane treatments are just a scheme to make Black Tusk look benevolent and for the people.
After Mari was rescued, Manny reunited with her and was happy to learn that their child is gonna be a girl. While Manny suggested to give the White House to Black Tusk as he was still trying to wrap his mind over the events, he changed his mind when Mari tells him that working with them will not end well and it is for the best interest for the future of his people and his child to stop Black Tusk.
== The hunter becomes hunted ==
After Mari's rescue, the Mobile SHD Server has been acting oddly, having spotty range and glitched connection. At the same time, Brian Johnson made his appearance after his absence, which was around the same time The Recruiter was out in the open and securing the kidnapped civilians. Manny coordinated with SHD Agents to rescue more of their people in addition to making their move against The Recruiter.
One by one, the civilians were rescued, and after Vikram Malik was rescued from his captivity (again...), he requested the Division to go to Camp White Oak to rescue his sister, Birdie. During the assault, the agents were having trouble with their SHD Tech and Johnson not saying anything. After Birdie was secured, it'd turn out that Johnson is the Recruiter and had the mobile SHD server with him. Agents found themselves in a tough fight with the Hunter as conventional weaponry were no use against him. Thanks to Birdie deploying the countermeasure, agents managed to put a dent to Johnson, but that wasn't enough, so Birdie used the mortars against him and ending him. With Cal's most esteemed Hunter gone, the Mobile SHD Server was secure and Birdie was sent to the Castle.
The revelation that Hunters are embedded in the Division was unnerving to the settlements, arousing suspicions and doubts, even asking questions if Agent Kelso can be trusted. Manny didn't entertain the notion when Vikram asked him about Kelso. Around the same time, Natalya Sokolova began broadcasting propaganda to sway people to Black Tusk. And to make matters worse, Manny was informed by Roy Benitez that Agent Kelso went missing.
Manny debriefed with Birdie, wondering about Natalya's intentions the Mobile SHD Server. It turns out that Nat wanted it to modify Black Tusk's tech. When Manny asked her if its possible, Birdie told him its possible with the right code and right coder, but maintained it that she didn't give Nat the code as that's not her area of her expertise and something like that requires an expert coder like Wally, Claire, or Maira.
Later, Manny debriefed with Birdie about Black Tusk's HQ, as she was sent there many times to fix structural issues with one of Natalya's inner circles in Black Tusk. She also explained that the HQ's security systems are accessed via a biometric, requiring a hand, retinal, biorhythm, and voice confirmation at the same time. This lead Manny to think that the person is the key, making Birdie call him the "most dad non-dad person she met", which was not a complinment.
== Search for Kelso ==
As SHD Agents go to Lower Manhattan to search for Kelso, they learn a few shocking things. "Cassandra" was the codename for Faye Lau and it would turn out that she was secretly working with the Rogue Agent - Aaron Keener, to undermine the Black Tusk and the Hunters with "the key" inside a specialized SHD Crate.
When Kelso's location got pinged in the Stranded Tanker, Agents fought through Black Tusk/True Sons forces, including a Hunter. Manny was shocked when he hears that Black Tusk is looking for Cassandra as he believed Faye Lau was alive. Though in reality, it was actually Kelso as she had Faye Lau's watch with her. After the agents got a shock therapy from the SHD Crate, Keener cloned ANNA to his watch and opened the crate, revealing a Mobile SHD Server. Kelso joined alongside him and Theo Parnell, marking her Rogue, and left New York.
This upset Manny heavily, leading him to vent his frustrations with Mari. However, Manny managed to calm down when Mari helped rationlize things when she told him that Kelso is trying to finish Faye Lau's mission against DIAMOND.
At some point, Manny talked with Birdie as he was confused how the Division and Black Tusk communication systems are the same. Birdie explained that they work in the same root network and that Natalya was working to fix that exploit that needed more server power. Birdie admitted in her help with this, as she was deceived by Brian Johnson that it would get rid of the Rogues plaguing the Division and wasn't aware that Manny and SHD Agents in D.C are the rogues the whole time. Manny protested the notion, but Birdie retorted that he and the agents are fighting Black Tusk and Calvin McManus is working with them. And the way Birdie sees it, if Cal is still in charge, they're still the rogues.
Later, Manny discussed with Birdie about Black Tusk's biometric security systems as he was still confused how they work. He thought the systems only needs an eye and a hand for access, though Birdie remarked it'd be too easy as someone could take a BT's hand and a eye. 
She explained that Claire Ortiz went extra steps for the security systems by adding biorhythm and voice recognition, as it can be unique for each Black Tusk individual in addition to requiring all 4 keys being used at the same time to get past deepfake tech. However, the security systems aren't foolproof as the wrong key or wrong biorhythm signature can lock a user out. Best-case scenario, someone else resets the security systems and the user is sent for interrogation. Worst-case scenario, it activates the killswitch that kill a user and anyone around them.
Manny was confused about these measures, feeling they're a bit extreme. Birdie explains those measures are only for high-security locations and in some territories that Black Tusk control like a cargo ship, they use the gas or shock treatment to any user who entered their credentials the wrong way.
== Trials of Aaron Keener ==
While Manny wasn't involved in the first couple trials that Agents go through, he was aware of what Keener's doing. During the Nyx trial, he called out the rogue agent as he believed the trials could get the agents killed. However, ANNA revokes comms access to both as she needed the agents to complete the final trial without interruption. Manny was surprised as he didn't see ISAC do something like that, but Keener retorts that ANNA is more advanced and intelligent than ISAC and he proposed a ceasefire.
During their discussion, Manny made it clear to Keener that he doesn't trust him, though he still wants to trust Kelso. Manny wanted to know what Keener showed to Kelso that made her join him, though Keener requested to discuss in person. Manny agreed to let Keener in the White House with a few conditions: No weapons or tech, only his watch and comms. Be put in a cell for interrogation. Stay in the cell until he brings Agent Kelso and can vet him. Keener accepted the deal without hesitation.
After Keener arrived to the White House and was incarcerated in the panic room, he shared his first bit of intel to Manny, discussing about the Cabal; A shadow organization of powerful people and Natalya Sokolova is a member of that organization. Calvin McManus has aspirations to become one, but lacks wealth and legacy, making him a lackey for the group. Manny found the information a little far-fetched, even calling it "so 80's".
== Personality ==
Throughout the crisis, Manny has worked his way through attrition. With JTF Command evacuated from D.C, he's become the leader for the JTF as well as being coordinator for the Division and their operations across the city. This causes him some conflict between his duties as a leader for the people he's supposed to protect and coordinating Division agents. As an example, Jack Arnold's, Mel, chewed him out when Manny didn't prioritize rescuing Jack and made excuses. 
Manny is not without flaws. For instance, he made poor judgement during the attack on Camp White Oak to capture President Ellis when he sent a JTF unit at the bridge on the way to White Oak, when he should've been aware that Black Tusk anticipated the arrival and rigged explosives to counter-attack.
During his time in the JTF, he struck a friendship with Frederick Lewis as they served in the same unit. That friendship went sour, when Lewis joined the True Sons. Later, when Lewis came in to help the Division against General Anderson, Manny wasn't keen to help as he was still hurt by his friend's betrayal. But he managed to put this aside and let his old friend into the fold. When Lewis died during the Black Tusk's attack on the White House, Manny moured for him, giving his dog-tags to Ransom as a way to remember him.
At some point, after Mari Singh and her Aquarium community were rescued, Manny struck a relationship with Mari, even conceiving a child. This puts immense pressure on Manny, given his duties and the fact that he's becoming a dad. During a session with Dr. Mitchell Billings, Manny was worried how his child would see him.
If there's one thing that could define Manny's flaws, its his obsessive need to control everything. He gets upset or angry when things happen outside of his control, and couldn't do anything to stop it. As an example, he was upset when his friend, Agent Alani Kelso, joined with Aaron Keener. And only calmed down when his lover Mari helped him realized that Kelso is only working with Keener to intercept Black Tusk's AI, DIAMOND.
Given the stakes and the war to come, time will tell how Manny will deal with it and the aftermath. While he allowed the Keener into the White House, Manny put the rogue agent a cell as he's not yet willing to trust him yet.
== Trivia ==
* Despite Manny being in his late 20s, his face is weathered and his side-hairs are greying due the amount of stress he goes in his work.
== Appearances ==
*Tom Clancy's The Division 2
Category:People
Category:The Division 2
Category:Division Agents
Category:NPC