Armando Latorre

Armando Latorre is the first mate on the Sunnese battlecruiser SNCV Abraham. He is currently sentenced to an unknown duration of stay at Retirement Row prison. He is a long time friend of Peter Reynolds, an ex-lover of Naia Lore, and an ex-lover of Martha Zlata.

## Appearance & Character:

Armando is described a bear of man, barrel chested and muscular, with a thick, coarse black beard and well groomed black hair. Armando is considered to be very handsome. He is a stand-up fellow, and is loyal to his friends, and is respectful to a fault. Armando has slight self-control issues regarding romantic encounters, and struggles between private and professional settings. Armando is quick on the draw with ideas and plans, and was one of Peter's selected two crewmen to come with him to shore, due to his personable nature. Armando would willingly sacrifice himself for those he loves and admires. He is clearly an astute thinker, as he rose to the ranks of First Mate on the Sunnese flagship; SNCV Abraham. He is last seen wearing the uniform of a first mate of the Sunnese navy.

Armando has a romantic relationship with Martha Zlata, and this has put him at odds with his long time friend, and ex-lover Naia Lore.

## History:

Armando is of Mexican descent, and arrived to the afterlife when his fishing boat capsized, and he drowned. Not to be outdone by fear, Armando enlisted in the Sunnese Navy at the first chance he could. In the officer's academy, he met Peter Reynolds, and Naia Lore, and became fast friends with them both. He became slightly faster friends with Naia, whom he had a brief romantic engagement. This fling effected Naia emotionally, despite it not being possible for them to be together once Armando began dating Martha Zlata. Eventually, Peter, Naia, Zlata, and Armando were all assigned to the SNCV Abraham in various positions. It is unknown whether Armando fought in the battles of the Abraham's storied history, but describes sailing "more than a hundred times" on the Abraham, implying Armando is a Moon Sea War veteran. When the Abraham was pulled from mothball at the end of the Moon Sea War, Armando and the other officers were tasked with preparing the ship for the voyage.

## Recent Events:

### *Universe Eight:*

Armando is already at the docks when the Reynolds family entourage arrives with Peter. He sends the soldiers harassing them away, jokingly (but somewhat seriously) telling them they ought to know who they were speaking with. Peter tells Armando "we're not mafiose," and then proceeds to embrace his long time friend. Armando and Peter discuss the plans, and Armando informs Peter that the two *Century Class* battleships that were to accompany them, will not be doing so. This dismays Peter, but he promises Armando that they will do their best with what they have.

When the seaplane is first spotted over the High Isle, Armando is in command of the bridge, as Peter is resting. They confer briefly over the ship's phone, before it is determined that the seaplane has hostile intentions. Armando cedes command to Peter when the captain returns to the bridge. Armando and Martha Zlata share inappropriate tenderness, and the captain notes that Naia Lore is upset by this. Armando questions where Thane's Isle got enough bluesteel to make an airplane, bluesteel being a rarer material on the Sun Nation. After the seaplane lands in the water and sinks, a torpedo strikes the Abraham on the port side, as well as the transport K-26.

As the evacuation of the Abraham commences, Armando recommends the crew wear earplugs, as they will be passing the still active 12-inch turrets. This may have been partially a joke. Armando makes a quip about fireball whiskey when Peter orders the KN-401 sunk in retribution.

Armando participates in the fight against the Knights of the Northern Isles, and is captured with the rest of the Sunnese crew. Armando, having heard Peter talk about Benjamin Reynolds on their journeys, attempts to get to know him, but his conferring with Ben angers the Knights of the Northern Isles. When Peter starts talking about the initial plan to bring Benjamin back, Armando plays it off as though he doesn't know, so the rest of the crew doesn't catch wind, as they were to be informed upon "mission successful".

Armando and Peter marvel at one of the locomotives of the West-North Railway, a 2-12-2 type made entirely of bluesteel. The respectful Commander Artemon educates them. As they ride the train, Armando debates the perceived hero status of the Abraham with Commander Artemon. They discuss the brutality of the Moon Sea War, and come to an understanding. Armando is dismayed when Peter is cordially forced to give up the nature of their mission, which causes a massive rift in the crew.

Armando tries to convince Ben to steal away with them, but is unsuccessful.

In the prison cell, when Laura Skarpelis attempts to wound (or kill) Ben, Armando holds Peter back as the captain's rage overtakes him. He is devastated when the Butcher executes Skarpelis, and it is revealed to the Sunnese that the cordiality shown to them by Artemon does not extend to any other commander. Armando begins to question Peter's command. Though, Armando sticks by his friend and tells Casper Roald to "shut up" when Casper tries to rally the crew against Peter, cementing his loyalty. Armando is torn when Zlata and Naia get into an argument, and he picks his duties over his love. This enrages Zlata, and they effectively end their romantic relationship.

Armando supports the idea of a parlay with Captain Manuel Jaco, and reassures Peter that he is bound to his service. He assists the preparations for the parlay by giving Artemon useful information about Jaco and the destroyer, Ugetsu. The parlay is refused, and the party is ambushed. Artemon, in a last ditch attempt to save Benjamin from the Sunnese, trusts Peter, Armando, and Naia to bring Benjamin north to confer with the thane, promoting them all (semi-officially) to privates in the Knights of Fall. Armando escapes with the others, as the tent they were just in burns to the ground.

In the long walk north, Armando's cheerful demeanor begins to wane, and he reconsiders whether the plan was soundly implemented. When Ben takes a drink from the Salt River, Armando remarks that apocolites are capable of filtering the salt from their bodies. He expresses joy when the group comes across a seldom-used road. It is then they encounter a Thane's Isle guard patrol, led by Leon Broks.

Leon questions the nature of the party, first assuming they are deserters. When he realizes Ben is an apocolite, he becomes doubly curious. Leon brings them back to the reinforcement camp, where Armando first meets Desiree Forcier, and Caitlin Baudin. Eventually, Sophia Miller arrives, and taunts them, saying that most likely the Sunnese will be executed. Thane Zenzele Azikiwe states that he would allow two of them to go free back to the Sun Nation, as Ben wishes, but one would be brought to Retirement Row for questioning. Armando is selected, and Peter and Naia are sent free, though Naia does her best to swap places with him. Zenzele does not allow this swap, and Armando is taken by Desiree Forcier to the East Stein Airport, presumably to be flown to Retirement Row.

## Notes:

1. Armando is noted to enjoy the music of Frank Zappa, implying he is of a more modern age of Earth.