Ferdinand Clooney is an NPC in Arknights. He is briefly mentioned in Mansfield Break and acts as a major supporting character in Dorothy's Vision and Lone Trail.
Background[]
Ferdinand is the head of Rhine Lab's Energy Section and one of its first members alongside Ahrens Parvis. He is known for his aggressive yet confident approach in gathering resources to support Rhine Lab and drive its projects forward, and often projects an intelligent yet domineering presence who cares more about tangible results or worth rather than projects or their creators. He is tremendously dedicated to his work and rather neglectful towards everything else, even his own assistants and family; because of this, he is also willing to use any means necessary to support his work, no matter what or whom he must sacrifice or manipulate. To that end, he is known to engage in shady dealings such as secretly supplying Rhine-made equipment to external parties, such as corporations, mercenary groups, or even the Union Army of Columbia through his collaboration with Blake the Colonel, uncaring of why or how his buyers will actually use the resources he provides.
Ferdinand places great value on progress and the future, with his ultimate goal being to push for the advancement of humanity, as he believes that all things will eventually end except for progress itself. Because of this, despite his businessman-like behavior and focus on obtaining wealth and connections, he sees everything as a mere means to an end to ensure Rhine Lab can continue advancing into the future. Even the prospect of him not being there to enjoy the future he makes doesn't deter him, with him even being willing to put his own life at risk if it means his contributions will live on.
Behind the scenes, Ferdinand distrusts and plots to replace the R.L. director Kristen Wright, believing that her own focus on her personal research and apathy towards the rest of Rhine Lab's wellbeing will cause the company's decline and eventual end.
Side Stories[]
Mansfield Break[]
Although he doesn't have a direct appearance, Ferdinand and the Energy Department are mentioned as the one behind HydeBro's attack on Simon Co., making them indirectly responsible for Anthony Simon's imprisonment and many of the events of the story.[1][2][3]
Dorothy's Vision[]
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At Kristen's silent approval, Ferdinand's latest project at Research Site 359 goes smoothly, until the Pioneers staged a hostage situation that catches Elena, Silence and Ptilopsis by surprise, threatening their lives and the whole project led by Dorothy Franks. At first, it would seem like the Pioneers merely rebelled, but as more of the project's true nature is revealed, it becomes clear that Ferdinand's ambition once again reared its ugly head, in the guise of more technological advancements meant to benefit the Columbian military.
To this end, he was willing to betray Rhine Labs, Kristen (under the moniker Control) and even Parvis, though the latter is already aware of his motives. He enlisted the help of the sly Ho'olheyak for his plans.
As the situation deteriorated, Ferdinand was eager to show the final results to his backer, the Colonel. When Dorothy pulls the plug on the entire experiment, and Elena, with the help of Rhodes Island, alerts the Columbian authorities, he escapes arrest, realizing everybody he knew has pulled the rug under him. Only Ho'olheyak was there to help him evade the Columbian authorities, using a power suit that he ironically envisioned.
Escaping to the barrenlands, he meets hostile Pioneers who immediately mobbed him. His fate remains uncertain from there.