Name: Giddeus Modesto
Species: Human
Birthplace: Etrusca
Birthdate: 402 ID
Giddeus Modesto is a Compact Navy pilot and one of the more enigmatic figures in the resistance against the Occupation of Amargosa. Though trained and capable, Modesto often operates with a volatile independence that makes him both a powerful asset and a liability. He is frequently compared to JT Austin, though unlike JT, Modesto lacks the steadying influence of someone like Suicide or a military family legacy like Quentin Austin’s to guide his development. As a result, he is rawer, more impulsive, and at times dangerously undisciplined.
By late 429 IE, Modesto is flying for the Cygnus when he participates in a mission to retake a derelict asteroid facility overtaken by Goshenite radicals. After destroying a Gelt heat ray with a torpedo—risking collapse of the base—he barely manages to extract Lt. Mitsuko Yamato and her team. His violent treatment of a captured insurgent leads to his demotion and reassignment to the Challenger—a retrofitted Zephyr-class ship housing the Compact’s experimental Warp Drive.
His arrival on the Challenger follows another misstep: attempting to impress Yamato by diving through Demeter’s atmosphere, crash-landing and earning latrine duty from Chief Engineer Peter Lancaster.
His career nearly ended during the Metis bombing incident, when he defied orders to disarm a Gelt device in a public square. His efforts saved the life of Athena Jovann, which earned him a little bit of redemption as the Challenger traveled to Hanar.
Despite his rocky path, Modesto proves instrumental during the warp program’s inaugural deployment to Hanar, supporting missions against separatists and training future shuttle pilots—JT Austin among them. During a raid on a separatist stronghold, he and Mitsuko spend a night hiding in a shed, during which they become romantically involved. However, his offhand dismissal of the event as “combat sex” causes a rift between them.
Their bond remains unresolved until the eve of the Liberation, when Mitsuko tells him, “Just survive, and I’ll finish what we started.” This moment marks a subtle but important shift in Modesto’s emotional maturity, suggesting he may yet outgrow his reckless edge.
Relationships:
- Mitsuko Yamato:
Modesto is romantically involved with Mitsuko, a fellow Navy officer and the daughter of a Mitsuko Yamato noble house. Their relationship is passionate and intense, though Mitsuko often finds herself managing both his ego and his risk-taking behavior. While he deeply respects Mitsuko’s combat prowess and command sense, Modesto’s protectiveness—and occasional jealousy—sometimes causes friction. Still, their connection is real, and they operate with remarkable cohesion in the field. His death later leaves a significant emotional wound for Mitsuko, shaping her arc in the aftermath of the war. - JT Austin:
Modesto and JT share a fraught but brotherly relationship. Modesto sees in JT a kindred spirit—young, talented, and headstrong. However, Modesto lacks JT’s internal brakes: where JT has Suicide and Quentin Austin to rein him in, Modesto often barrels forward on instinct. JT frequently covers for Modesto’s missteps, sometimes to his own detriment. Despite this, there’s genuine respect between them, and their camaraderie grows over time. JT understands that, without the same structure he himself was given, Modesto simply needs someone to believe in him.
Fate:
At the climax of Storming Amargosa, Modesto sacrifices himself during a critical operation that helps turn the tide of the conflict. His death is a sobering moment for the team—particularly JT and Mitsuko—and his legacy becomes one of raw potential, passion, and ultimate selflessness. Though flawed, Giddeus Modesto dies a hero, emblematic of the high cost of liberation.
Appearances: Flight Blade, Storming Amargosa