====== Rafaél 'Squirt' Irazazábal ======

**Rafaél Irazazábal**, callsign **Squirt**, is a Sapinish electrical engineer and former pilot who first flew with the Sapinish Air Force and then the IUN Sapinish Peacekeepers. A somewhat skilled fighter pilot, Squirt scored several victories during the Sapinish Civil War.

//Original portrait by [[https://www.tumblr.com/silusvesuius|silusvesuvius]].//
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{{infobox>
header_image = sse2:characters:rafael_irazazabal_iun_19971003.png
name = Rafaél Irazazábal
== Biographical Information ==
Callsign = Squirt
Gender = Male (he/him)
Height = 170cm (5'7")
Date of Birth = 1971-04-21
Nationality = Sapinish
Parents = Felícia Poyáto García\\ Iván Irazazábal Hernán
Sibling =  Raquél Poyáto Irazazábal
== Military Service ==
Allegiance(s) = IUN Sapinish Peacekeepers (Former)\\ Sapinish Air Force (Former)
Rank = //Alférez// (2LT.)
Service Period = 1994 – 1997
Aircraft = Su-27P Flanker\\ Su-33 Sea Flanker\\ F-15DJ Eagle
}}



 




==== Early Life ====
Born near the southern coast of Sapin, Rafaél had an unremarkable middle-class upbringing. His parents led a strict household, but Rafaél happened to respond well to the structure. Growing up in Castelorra, Rafaél spent a lot of time in nature, fishing along the sea or in the region's estuaries with his father.

While surrounded by staunch supporters of Castelorran independence, Rafaél focused much more on his own life's outcomes than the political fervor in his environment. He managed to graduate secondary school near the top of his class an accomplished young man. Though polite, Rafaél had built up a dense emotional facade that friends noted as they got to know him.

Rafaél focused much more on his own life's outcomes than the political fervor in his environment. He managed to graduate secondary school near the top of his class an accomplished young man. Though polite and good-humored, Rafaél had built up a dense emotional facade that friends noted as they got to know him.

==== Civilian Life ====
Moving through college in Alcazar, Rafaél graduated with decent marks and received a Titulo de Grado in electrical engineering. In 1992 Rafaél pursued a lifelong dream to become a fighter pilot, entering officer training for the Sapinish Air Force in Grand Rugido.

With a competitive performance and few setbacks, Rafaél was selected to become a fighter pilot and received his wings as a fresh //Alférez//. And his new nickname Squirt from pissing himself during PT.

==== Military Service ====

Rafaél joined the 224th squadron, training into a support role for its fighter-bombers by the time the Belkans invaded Sapin. During the Belkan War, Rafaél's squadron was relocated deep into the San Salvacion region, near the border with Ratio. Covering the retreat of Sapinish and Ustio forces in northern Sapin, Rafaél confirmed his first two air victories over Belkan fighters. 

=== Belkan War ===
As the Belkan advance was repelled in Ustio and Osea, the 224th and allied squadrons pushed into occupied territories in Sapin. Over this time, Rafaél gained three more air victories against Belkan squadrons over Sapin. As they regained the initiative, allies drove the Belkans out of the country by the time of the mid-June nuclear explosions. Allies for the most part laid down their arms while the 224th headed home to contribute aid for fallout victims.

By the time the war ended, Rafaél had a total of five victories in his SU-27P. He had little time to think about next steps in life before tensions in Sapin boiled over into the country's newest conflict.

== Combat Record ==
{{:sse2:characters:su-27_miura-9.png?700|}}

Su-27P Flanker | 5 Air-to-air Kills

=== Sapinish Civil War===
Rafaél joined IUN's Sapinish Peacekeepers shortly after the conclusion of the Belkan War, redeploying to Alcazaba Airbase and returning to the Flanker he used previously.
The pilot personally had little effect on the outcome on the civil war, though participated in a total of 9 peacekeeping operations across the country.

== Injury ==
Near the end of the war Rafaél was shot down by a mercenary hired by Senator Nancy Peluda, costing two limbs and permanently grounding the pilot.

== Combat Record ==
{{:sse2:characters:su-27_siroco-3.png?700|}}

Su-27P Flanker | 6 missions, 9 Air-to-air Kills\\
Su-33 Sea Flanker | 3 missions, 1 Air-to-ship Kill\\
F-15DJ Eagle | No missions

==== Retirement ====
After IUN-SPK Rafael became an electrical engineer in a small Castelorran city.

==== Personal Life ====
Rafael had short flings over the Belkan war, and largely remained celibate during his IUN deployment. Upon moving back into Castellora, he met and later married a local widow.

~~NOTOC~~