Name: Scott Valentine
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Height: 175.26 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 65kg (145lbs, roughly)
Hair Color: Sandy Blonde
Eye Color: Green
Blood Type: B+
Date of Birth: 21/06/1976
Nationality: FCU citizen
Affiliation: Indepdendent States Allied Forces Navy
Assignment: VFA-44 'Angry Angels'
Allegiance: ISAF
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Call Sign: Angel Nine
TAC Name: Romeo
Starter Aircraft: A-7E Corsair II Standard Weapons:
- Internal M61A1 20mm Vulcan Cannon (600rnds)
- SDM Multi-role Missile (maximum of 30 SDM, but usually complemented with a variety of SP weapons, below, as per mission requirements)
SP Weapons:In Depth Physical Description: Square-shouldered and almost stocky in appearance, Scott has a fairly solid and angular build, especially for a fighter pilot. His limbs are fairly thick, and his hands are also large, which relates to his powerful build. This does make him a little unusual or clumsy-looking, but he nonetheless has a fairly rugged square-jawed appearance, with almost permanent 5'o'clock shadow and a twinkled in his eyes, coupled with a somewhat drawling accent.
His hair is threaded through with grey, and the beginnings of laughter-lines and wrinkles are creeping onto his face, and he has the tan of a man who's worked outdoors for most of his life.
His body language and general posture also present the image of a very laid-back and relaxed man, but one who carries his weight with practice and training, as well as the practiced and drilled habits of checking the exits and entrances to a room, and keeping an eye on one's surroundings.
He doesn't have many scars or other distinguishing marks, beyond a slightly squashed broken-once-too-often nose, due to a few too many arguments with his drill sergeant and physical instructor in PT, as well as falling off of a climbing wall.
His appearance in terms of clothing leans toward - obviously - wearing his flight suit when appropriate on duty, and the associated equipment and items. When not on duty or on base, he leans toward rugged yet casual clothes, such as timberland or caterpillar style boots, jeans or cargo-type trousers and T-shirts under a checked or work-style shirt.
Personality: Much as his appearance would suggest, Scott approaches life with a relaxed attitude. Not to say that he waits for things to happen, but more that he doesn't let himself get too worked up. He likes to relax and have a good time with friends and colleagues, and values those same people and using his skills to help them, and expects the same back.
Very much a Naval Aviator, he sees his profession as the only thing he could be doing, and the most worthwhile thing in his life. He follows in the footsteps of earlier generations of his family, and carries the tradtion strongly. He is proud of his role and his service, and of the work he has one. He has something of the 'typical fighter pilot' mentality, though is not much for the swaggering arrogance that is the stereotype, instead being quietly confident and self-assured.
Having served in the military for the longest portion of his life, he finds it hard to imagine himself doing anything else, especially as he nears the end of his career. While he has accumulated a great deal of experience, he tries to keep in mind that there's always more to learn despite your experience, and that passing on what you've learned is always a goal to reach toward.
While he is dedicated to his duty, he is also well aware that he has a family waiting for him, and sometimes struggles with the responsibilities and expectations of his profession - i.e. the reality of mortal danger - against the responsibilities of a father and husband to come back alive. While he also loves the life of a combat squadron and spending time with his wingmen and combat buddies, he also misses his home and family, and feels a little isolated from the younger men and women around him by his age.
Typically, he tries to see the best in others, and treats everyone well, unless they give him cause to do otherwise. He is good-natured and nice to those he meets for the first time, and believes in the essential goodness of people, despite having seen some awful things happen.
History: Scott followed in the footsteps of his father and his father's father in joining the Navy and particularly Naval Aviation. Previous generations of Valentine men fought in other wars across Usea, and their stories encouraged him to follow suit. Scott's father fought in a number of small actions while he was growing up, cementing his position as a 'hot shot fighter jock' when he was a young man, and implanting the mystique of the fighter pilots' life firmly within his mind.
A life of moving around with his mother and brother had left him with no real roots as they followed his dad from base to base and assignment to assignment, and he was eager to find a place for himself, with the Navy already being a firm feature of his world, having grown up with it all around him.
At the time of his graduation from high school in 1994. however, the knowledge of Ulysses was only recent, but the world was quietly murmuring about what it would mean.
Breezily unconcerned, the young Scott entered the Naval Academy, and dedicated himself to training. He struggled in placed, but persevered, being assigned to a Naval Attack Squadron at the end of his training. The Usean rebellion of 1997 coincided with the tail-end of his training, and he and his fellow academy graduates were rapidly pressed into service, flying their hastily-armed training aircraft in a handful of sorties against coup ground forces in a notable incident that later made his graduate class famous, and gave him his first taste of combat.
His first tour of duty was tinged with horror, as in July 1999 the Ulysses asteroid impacted the planet, and his squadron were rapidly pressed into service flying disaster relief, search and rescue and general patrol duties, as well as on the ground where they provided extra manpower in helping recover survivors and sort through the ruins of cities for survivors.
This experience tinged his world-view for a long time afterward, and gave him a very thoughtful approach to life. It also likely started his deep interest in poetry and literature to find some solace from the horrors of seeing death, destruction and injury so close.
It was during this time that he first met Layla, who was working as a photographer, as well as assisting in the disaster relief efforts. At first sparks flew between the pair, though they later hit it off and became good friends.
His first cruise aboard ship followed shortly afterward, and primarily consisted of escorting cargo and refugee vessels, and enforcing territorial waters. During this time, there were numerous small scale clashes with Erusean forces, some of which resulted in brief incidents of shooting or combat. It was also during this cruise that he experienced some difficulties with authority and was placed on reprimand a couple of times. Toward the end of this period he was assigned - along with a few other members of his unit - for counselling, as a result of the PTSD they suffered from events around the Ulysses disaster. These events would later shape his career.
Following the end of his first cruise, he and Layla met again, and he proposed to her following an intense romantic involvement. She agreed, and they made plans for their wedding.
Unfortunately, at this same time, the Eruseans launched their effort to change the balance of political influence on Usea by invading the neutral country of San Salvacion and occupying the Stonehenge facility. Following this, the FCU's armed forces are reorganized into ISAF. With this reorganization, the chain of command is changed somewhat.
As Scott's squadron are mobilized in response to increasing tensions, his wedding with Layla is put off, much to both of their regret.
During this cruise, the carrier is struck by Erusean Naval forces, and the squadron are forced to launch and engage enemy units. Scott is shot down, and imprisoned for the majority of the war. Later, during the counter-offensive by ISAF, he and many of his fellow pilots are freed, and after a short period of rehabiliation, are able to join in the last few offensives of the war, including the attack on Farbanti.
Layla became part of the anti-occupation movement in the FCU, though were under observation due to their family ties with the FCU Navy and ISAF by extension. His mother was watched almost constantly, and was frequently taken in for questioning, despite knowing nothing. Similarly, his brother was branded as a 'potential troublemaker'.
Scott was again, challenged mentally and physically by his experiences, and was put on reduced duty for 18 months due to problems with his emotional and mental stability, as it turned out he had suffered terribly in the POW camps, including watching a close friend die. He and Layla married during this time, and also had their first child together, a young boy named Roy, after Scott's lost friend. The experience healed him emotionally and mentally, and he also published a short book of his poetry with her assistance during this time.
He later was judged fit to return to service, although the record remained on his file. He went back to his old squadron, who were still flying A-7's, due to the tight budgets for hardware and re-armament at the time.
Scott flew several successful tours of duty, transferring to a number of different aircraft types during his career. His operations were primarily a number of patrols and escort missions for FCU and Usean naval and merchant shipping convoys and borders during the following years during the many regional conflicts across the globe. Notably, as part of one of these missions he was instrumental in sinking a number of motorboats attempting to board and seize a cargo ship from San Salvacion, as well as also shooting down two armed helicopters on another sortie, attempting to do the same. He was also involved in an incident at the time of the Estovakian Civil War, where a ship full of refugees was radioing a distress call, and the ISAF naval group he was part of responded to fend off attacks on the unarmed vessel. Due to the sensitive international nature of the incident, he received no recognition officially or publicly for it, but privately received acclaim and praise for his quick-thinking actions during the operation.
Following this, he began to consider retirement, or reassignment to spend more time with his family as his son was growing up fast. Many of his fellow pilots were moving into other areas as well, and the ISAF forces were in a period of re-organization following changes in government and spending programs. After consultation with Layla, he decided to take an incentive to remain in the Naval Aviation forces for a further tour of duty, in order to instruct and aid new pilots flying older aircraft types, and in so doing was selected for the Peace Games - however, following this, he thoroughly intends to retire and transfer his skills to the private sector as an advisor and consultant. Currently, he has found himself again flying the A-7 Corsair, the type he started his career flying.
Scott's favourite colour (and mine) is blue. His Aircraft is painted in the scheme currently adopted by his squadron, of
two-tone low-visibility blue.