Cliff
| NPC | Enemy |
- SCN: 鲁伯特
- TCN: 魯伯特
- JP: ルパート
- KR: 루퍼트
- Real name: Prince Rupert's drop
- Nom de guerre: Stripper clip
- Blacksteel Worldwide
- Columbian Revolutionary Army (formerly)
- Scarmarket Nexus (non-canon)
"Clip" Cliff is an NPC in Arknights. He first appears as a background character in Jessica's Operator Record, The Slow Walk Ahead, before appearing in person as one of the deuteragonists of Come Catastrophes or Wakes of Vultures.
Background[edit]
Born Rupert, Cliff is the founder and CEO of Blacksteel Worldwide, and a veteran of the Columbian Revolutionary War. Considered an "Apostle" of war by some, and a scum by others, his philosophy regards using war and armed conflicts as a business to help end them at the same time, and ensuring that his advanced replica firearms are available for all of the company's professional consultants. As a matter of fact, Cliff himself brought the idea of replicating and simplifying Sankta firearms for its use.[1] Due to his approach on warfare and the job opportunities he gives to many mercenaries, Cliff has become a controversial figure within the mercenary industry. Nevertheless, his business strategy managed to break the industry's unwritten rules. Cliff not only wanted to act as an intermediary in high-risk contracts through official channels, but also ensure that his mercenaries take stable, low-risk contracts.[2]
Alongside two other Sankta companions, one of which being his former partner Woodrow Bianchi, he traveled from Laterano in the Terran year 1016 to join the Columbian Revolutionary Army as mercenaries fighting in the Southern front, helping to turn the tides of war in the colony. As someone who was never taught by The Law on how to race death and strife, Cliff decided to use a more pragmatic approach on the battlefield, saving the lives of his comrades.[2]
However, his relationship with Woodrow would shatter during a rescue mission on Camp Collus, a Victorian Army POW camp known for its inhumane treatment towards the captives. In order to preserve combat power since the enemy encirclement on the right side suddenly tightened, Cliff had no option but to abandon the original rescue plan and leave Woodrow and his men behind, leading to their capture. By autumn of 1019, only Woodrow managed to make it out alive. After refusing Cliff's advise to return to Laterano, the two would part ways.[3][4]
Reshaped by the never-ending nature of various conflicts across the years, Cliff continued his life as a mercenary. In 1026, in the wake of the seventh anniversary of Columbia's independence, Cliff founded Blacksteel Worldwide alongside various other retired veterans from the Revolutionary War that he personally persuaded, establishing themselves as the "Ring of Steel", the five core members of BS. Cliff and his comrades initially worked as a state-owned organization, but the company's turning point would come in the Terran Year 1083, when mutated needleflies breached containment from a Tower Mountains Biotech lab located in the Barron Mine in the Southern Columbian wastes, due to an experiment of the Department of Defense that went haywire. Although B.S. managed to contain the situation and were even awarded the Citizen Medal of Honor by the Maylander Foundation, the incident was nevertheless exposed by the media. As the mercenary industry was changing, and many of the original members were no longer around, Cliff took the opportunity to reform Blacksteel into a PMC.[5][2]
Story[edit]
Come Catastrophes or Wakes of Vultures[edit]
Blacksteel Leader, "Clip" Cliff came into contact with the Columbian State Government to assist them in reclaiming the ruined nomadic plate city of Davistown from riots and bandits in order to restore its mobility and to prepare for Blacksteel Landship, Fot Barron. A mercenary squad and engineers, led by Liskarm, was sent to the immobile plate with Jessica among them. But before she leaves, her employer, Cliff, tells her not to feel sorry for the townspeople. Additionally, he gives her an ancient engraved bullet, which he wants her to give to Woodrow Bianchi, another Sankta.
Expedition Joklumarkar[edit]
A team of Rhodes Island operators led by Raidian intercepted a communication which occurred in a cocktail party in Columbia where Cliff attended. He seems interested in the Collapsal research conducted in Sami by Rhine Lab for unknown reason though the person he talked to said that he "shouldn't involve nature in his mercenary business". Andenate Maryam later confronted him over his interests in the Collapsals while confessing that he's not the team leader of the expedition.[6]
Sarkaz's Furnaceside Fables[edit]
Warning!
This section contains story information that is non-canonical to the plot of Arknights.
In an alternate timeline, Cliff is a seasoned Djall mercenary who fought relentlessly for the control of the Scar Market, Kazdel's infamous mercenary guild. He eventually took over the guild and reorganized it into "Scarmarket Nexus", a professional PMC. At some point he assigned his old friend Woodrow as his second-in-command.[7]
The Masses' Travels[edit]
Cliff is seen receiving reports from his many subordinates when a sudden blackout caused a bit of panic with Tila trying to calm everyone down and gets annoyed by it. After the power is back on, she and another Blacksteel member is shocked at the sight of Cliff's condition due to the Lateran Disaster affecting all Sanktas.[8]
References[edit]
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