Blake Rathen (Character)

Character details

Digital Image from Corporate Database.
Name	Blake Rathen
Gender	Undisclosed
Race	Caldari
Bloodline	Deteis Scientist
Licensed	YC110.04.14
Corporation	Yurai-Tenshin Zaibatsu
Occupation	Industrial Associate
Specialization	Applied Astrogeology

Overview

Blake Rathen (Napanii variant: Bureeiku Reiiden, nee: Bureeiku Komaatsu) is a capsuleer of mixed Caldari and Gallente orgin, born in the Caldari State, Lai Dai territory.

Corporate Affiliations

Blake is presently an industrial associate and Cultural Preservation Officer of the Yurai-Tenshin Zaibatsu.

Employment Record

Biographical Data: Pre-Graduation

Family History

Father: Aatos Komaatsu, Mother: Celeste Rathene

Blake's parents figured strongly in his formative years. Aatos instilled in his son both a sense of duty and a curiosity in astrophysics. Despite her Gallentean origins, Celeste embraced her adopted homeland and infused in Blake her love of Caldari culture and traditions.

Dr. Aatos Komaatsu, served as a prominent scientist with Lai Dai Corporation managing a research group in their Deep Space Exploration division. Valued for her cross-cultural understanding, Celeste was employed as a assessor at the Caldari Customs Authority.

When Blake was still young, Aatos was suspended from Lai Dai when allegations of espionage were leveled against Celeste. Using his remaining alliances in the megacorporation, Aatos had Celeste smuggled out of the State to protect her from corporate scrutiny. Though the charges agaist his wife were never resolved, Aatos was deemed a traitor by implication, and was shunned.

Not wanting Blake to suffer the humiliation and shame of ostracization, Aatos formulated a plan to give him a new life. Entrusting him to the care of close family friends, Blake was given his mother's maiden name and sent to live on Saisio during the remainder of his adolescence.

Achur Influence

Growing up on Saisio III, Blake was immersed in the Achur culture. While his adoped family was careful to teach him Caldari history, his maturation was tempered by Achura spirituality, which was crystalized during the mandatory monastic service. Living up to his now buried family name, Blake ranked very high in the State testing program, capturing a coveted spot at the School of Applied Knowledge where he completed his pilot's training.

Education

Graduated with distinction from the Caldari State's School of Applied Knowledge [SAK], industrial program, on 110.04.14

Biographical Data: Post-Graduation

Out of the School of Applied Knowledge, Blake's graduate liaison from Lai Dai found him a position in the Torchwood Institute, ostensibly performing astrogeophysical research, but which turned out to be a cover for a covert Caldari intelligence operation. When the 'deep agents' of that corporation when 'off grid,' the remaining corp members formed a more open organization, State Security and Intelligence [SECSI], to continue their work for the State. However, Blake never really fit in with the SECSI officers, not being prone to outspoken nationalism, and drifted to an allied corporation, the Yurai-Tenshin Zaibatsu [YTZ]. In his time with Torchwood, he'd had various exposure to YTZ pilots and became enamoured of their quasi-spiritual exploits in Space (the heavens). Re-connecting with his spiritual roots from his time on Saisio, Blake discarded the floundering SECSI (as it strove to maintain nationalistic spirit in the face of increasing megacorp cultural degradation), and joined the Zaibatsu.

The Zaibatsu

The Zaibatsu offered Blake access to a vast array of data on Achur and Caldari culture, including 'lost' historical files that had revealed information not part of Blake's formal education. His exposure to other pod-pilots over this period also tempered his world view and his understanding of the Caldari in the larger galactic powerplay (even in the spiritual and historical schemes, though to a lesser degree). Blake took the title of 'Rock Whisperer', a Caldari word play on a popular Raata legend surrounding the exploits of 'The Tree Talker', a spirit-man who could commune with nature. Blake's time in the Zaibatsu was productive however being largely taken up with astrogeologic studies in mineral extraction, including technical training in the use of astral mining equipment.

Information Office

Around this time, his confidence in alliance politics and his reputation among his colleagues were maturing. Pro bono work in the alliance management offices earned him a name with the Executive Council and culminated in him being awarded the position of Alliance Information Officer, and a director on the sub-Council (which was a new political unit of the alliance being tested by the Executive at that point).

Provist Rise

The rise of Heth to power in the State was a pivotal event for Blake, as it rekindled his hope in the survival of Caldari culture through the reforms Heth proposed and later enacted. Blake became more militarily active, shifting his training focus to ship command and combat skills. Re-connecting with an old Achuran friend, he took up missions under Kaalakiota, aiding them in their battles against the Guristas, Sanshas, and Blood Raiders, as his work took him from Tash-Murkon to The Citadel, to Domain.

Recent

Over the past half-year Blake's sense of place in the Kyaraban and yet also as a 'citizen' of the Caldari way, have crystalized in his mind. He is more clear in his commitments, and has a strong awareness of the interplay between galactic powers. Yet, he continues to grow in his understanding of the pod-pilot community and how their paths are shaping the future.