Editing Aaron Sandoval (30th c.)

{{Otheruses|the thirtieth-century Lord of the Draconis March|the thirty-second-century Lord Governor of Prefecture IV|Aaron Sandoval (32nd c.)}}
{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Aaron Sandoval HDTFS.jpg
| caption             = Aaron Sandoval
| name                = Aaron Sandoval
| birthdate           = [[2962]]<ref name=HDp182>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 182, "Aaron Sandoval profile"</ref>
| died                = [[3048]]<ref name=FMFSp32>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 32 - "James Dassert Sandoval profile" - delay in ducal title being transferred to his son James.</ref>
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Sandoval]]
| rank                = 
| title               = [[Duke of Robinson]]
| position            = [[Minister of the Draconis March]]
| profession          = Noble
| parents             = [[Benjamin Sandoval]] (father)<ref name=HDp182/>
| siblings            = Two older brothers<br/>[[Valentine Sandoval]]
| spouse              = [[Jessica Danforth]]<ref name=HDp182/>
| children            = [[James Sandoval]]<br/>[[David Sandoval (31st c.)|David Sandoval]]<br/>[[Talbot Sandoval]]<br/>[[Jessica Sandoval]]<br/>[[Katheryn Sandoval]]
}}
'''Aaron Sandoval''' was a [[Federated Suns]] nobleman and Lord of the [[Draconis March]]. He began his military career as an enlisted [[Combat Vehicle|armor]] commander but would later command a regiment of [[BattleMechs]].

Duke Sandoval was characterized as politically ambitious whose loyalties lay primarily in the Draconis March and preserving it from [[Draconis Combine]] aggression.

==History==
===Early Life and Military Career===
Born at Castle Sandoval on Robinson, he was the third son of Duke Benjamin Sandoval. During his childhood and early teenage years, Aaron endured his father's harsh disciplinary and over-bearing moralistic ways. Aaron grew at odds with his upbringing and ran away to join the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] at the tender age of 16 under an assumed identity.<ref name=HDp182/>

In the AFFS, he trained to become a tanker and was eventually assigned to the [[159th Galax Heavy Tank Regiment]] in [[2979]]. Aaron's perseverance and exceptional skills in armored vehicles led to his promotion to the rank of [[Sergeant Major]] where he would command a [[Partisan]] tank.<ref name=HDp182/>

In [[2982]], Aaron would meet his future wife, a tank driver named Corporal Jessica Danforth, who hailed from a poor family from [[Broken Wheel]]. She had been assigned to Aaron's tank and they both fell in love. However, early regulations did not permit individuals having a relationship while serving in the same unit, so Jessica was reassigned to a different tank.<ref name=HDp182/>

Later that year, the 159th was attached to the [[Fifteenth Avalon Hussars]] as part of an offensive mission to the world of [[Rio]] against the [[Capellan Confederation]]. During the battle Jessica's tank was threatened by a Capellan ''[[Marauder]]''. Seeing her in mortal danger, Aaron took his tank from its hiding spot and placed it in the path of the enemy BattleMech. He fired all its weaponry in hoping to distract the 'Mech from Jessica's tank. Most of his shots missed the target, however Aaron was successful in gaining the attention of the ''Marauder''.  The 'Mech unloaded its arsenal into Aaron's tank, turning his vehicle into wreckage.<ref name=HDp182/>

Gravely wounded, losing both of his legs from the action<ref name=HDp182/>, Aaron's father heard of his whereabouts and his heroic actions on Rio. He had his unconscious son and Jessica brought to Robinson to recover. When Aaron awoke from his coma, he learned that his father had been searching for him for two years. He soon discovered that his older brother had died in a [[DropShip]] accident and that he was now the heir to the Dukedom of Robinson. His father had accidentally discovered what had happened to him after seeing a new vid of his actions with the 159th Galax.<ref name=HDp182/>

===Family life and reign as Duke===
On Robinson, Aaron and Jessica were soon married and had a loving and fruitful marriage together before her death in [[3001]], with three sons and a daughter born to them. Aaron became Duke shortly after the birth of his eldest son, James.  

After becoming Duke, he rejoined the AFFS, attended the [[Battle Academy of Robinson]] to become a officer. After graduating with honors, his acceptable skills and abilities allow him to rise to command a regiment, [[First Robinson Rangers]]<ref>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 32 - "James Sandoval profile" - James's first military command he joins was his father's personal command.</ref>, which he retained command as of [[3025]].  

As a politician, Duke Aaron kept keen eye on protecting the interests of the Draconis March. He became a firm supporter of [[FedCom Accords]] signed in [[3022]] as he felt the alliance with [[House Steiner]] against their mutual enemy, the Draconis Combine, would benefit his region greatly. However, when the AFFS' focus against the [[Capellan Confederation]] during the [[Fourth Succession War]] led to the loss of Draconis March worlds to House Kurita, Aaron nearly started another war with the Combine. Choosing instead to utilize politics to achieve his goals, Aaron retired from the post of Minister of Draconis March either in [[3034]]<ref name=HTTDchap60>''Heir to the Dragon'', Chapter 60</ref> or [[3037]]<ref name=FMFSp32/>, arranging for his eldest son James to replace him as Duke.

Aaron was also responsible for promoting the creation in [[3032]] of Regional Finishing Schools in the Federation for the uneducated people, replacing the earlier and expensive mobile DropShip based [[Vagabond Schools]]. One of the first of these civilian institutions would be established on his capital world of Robinson.<ref>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 143 - Other Education Initiatives/Regional Finishing Schools - "Duke Aaron Sandolval credited in improving education by founding schools replacing the DropShip rules."</ref>

In retirement on [[New Avalon]] Aaron relentlessly campaigned for a war to end the Draconis Combine as a threat once and for all, reminding [[Hanse Davion]] of his coronation oath to reclaim Suns worlds lost to the Combine. He also bolstered his arguments with intelligence about the Combine's rearmament, arguing that the Dragon should be attacked while it was still weak. Aaron saw his efforts come to fruition when the newly forged [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] finally launched an [[War of 3039|all-out invasion]] of the Combine in [[3039]].<ref name=HTTDchap60/>

Aaron Sandoval died of old age in [[3048]] and his title of Duke of Robinson would finally pass to James that year.<ref name=FMFSp32/>

==Notes==
* The character profile in [[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]] states that Aaron had four children: [[James Sandoval|James]], David, Talbot, and [[Jessica Sandoval-Groell|Jessica]], but lates sources would add a second daughter, [[Katheryn Sandoval|Katheryn]]<ref name=HDp182/>. Given that Aaron's wife died in 3001 and at the time of the profile he was of the advanced age of 63 it is unlikely that Katheryn was fathered after the profile was written.

* House Davion (The Federated Suns) states that Aaron Sandoval's eldest son Jacob Sandoval, Count of Olkman, fills in for his father at High Council meetings when Aaron Sandoval is too busy to attand himself. This is the only reference to Jacob Sandoval.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Davion]]''
* ''[[Heir to the Dragon]]''
* ''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''

[[Category:Federated Suns Characters|Sandoval, Aaron (30th c.)]]