Stephanie Mercado was a fighter and shuttle pilot assigned to the Queen Maria Sophia in 433 IE. A flamboyant pilot, she once did a close fly-by of JT Austin‘s shuttle, prompting jokes about “leaving paint” on each other’s hulls.
When Austin confronted her about the close call, the pair ended up in bed together. However, before they could discuss becoming a couple, Lt. Cmdr. Patty Friese summoned Austin to duty (with a few humorous barbs) to travel to the surface of Mud to retrieve Special Forces commander Edward Windsor, who was now King Edward of Bonaparte. Both Friese and Austin’s roommate, Mitsuko Yamato, believed Windsor would respond to the news of his sudden accession if Austin delivered it. Upon his return, Mercado suggested she become his new bunkmate as they’d only need one bed, as Yamato would be leaving for Bonaparte with Windsor.
A boarding raid by hostile mechs kept the pair from further discussion. Both pilots found their way to the Sophie‘s hangar bay, Austin with the royal party, Mercado with Friese. Friese ordered Austin to flee with the royal family after sabotage destroyed the nearby Marcus Aurelius. Mercado piloted a second Falcon to cover their escape. The radical Cubist Vernis destroyed her shuttle, killing her and Friese instantly.
When Austin arrived on Hanar, Tishla noticed he had suffered another loss and teased out the story of Mercado’s death.
Appearances: Checkmate