Alexander McCarthy

Lieutenant Alexander McCarthy was a Terran officer most famous for stealing the prototype of the Avenger laser cannon during the Great War in 2335.

Betrayal of the GTA

Main Article: Heist of the Avenger Prototype

Lieutenant Alexander McCarthy stole the prototype of the GTW Avenger laser cannon on 15th January of 2335 while GTA forces were raiding the Vasudan cargo depot the prototypes were stored. He used a hijacked transport, designated as the GTT Omega to carry out his plans. After the mission, Galactic Terran Intelligence found proof that the GTT Omega did not follow its orders. Capturing McCarthy and retrieving the stolen plans became a primary objective for the GTA to complete.

The adamant traitor was tracked down and captured while he was transfering the GTW Avenger technology to his Vasudan contact, the PVFr Rasputin. During the fight, Terran pilots disabled his transport's engines, disallowing McCarthy from escaping. All of McCarthy's loyalist pilots were killed by the GTA and McCarthy himself was captured and put on trial.

It remains unknown what has become of McCarthy after his capture.

Associates

McCarthy tried to carry out his betrayal with the following force:

• GTT Omega, crew wholly loyal to McCarthy. Elysium-class transport
• 8 Apollo-class fighters
• PVFr Rasputin, Isis-class transport

Justification

At the time of his theft, the existence of the Shivans was not common knowledge amongst the Terran population, but McCarthy alluded to them when he claimed "the Vasudans are the least of our worries." It is probable that he hoped to strengthen the Vasudans so that they would be better able to face the Shivans.

Knowledge

Given his knowledge of the truth behind the Ross 128 attack, his knowledge of the existence of the Avenger prototype, and his ability to carry out his theft of the plans from the depot at just the right time, it is quite likely that McCarthy had connections with high-ranking military authorities, perhaps even in Terran Intelligence.

Misc notes

In FreeSpace 2, McCarthy was implied in the Command briefing of the Sixth Wonder mission. It was clarified that the 242nd Suicide Kings were responsible for his capture and the fact that it was their first combat assignment.