Ratchman
Summary
Ratchman serves as the leader of the Aryan Socialist Union, a neo-Nazi group active within the United States. He was recruited by Lord Alfred, a former SS officer hiding in South America, for a specific mission: to retrieve the painting 'The Twelve Knights led by Brunhilda' from the wreck of the U-1324. This Type IX-C U-boat had been sunk on March 24, 1945, by a U.S. Navy patrol just outside its target of Batavia, now Jakarta. Lord Alfred promised financial backing for Ratchman’s organization in exchange for this task, though he oddly assigned the same objective to the Lagoon Company, primarily using it as a test for Ratchman’s capabilities. Characterized as petty and cowardly, Ratchman relies on grandiose, overly emotional speeches to motivate his subordinates. He lacks any sense of foresight or strategic planning, a fatal flaw exposed when Revy and Dutch raided their vessel after stealing the painting from Revy and Rock, who had infiltrated the U-boat before the A.S.U. The subsequent raid resulted in a bloodbath among the celebrating, drunken A.S.U. members, with Dutch and especially Revy causing widespread destruction. After surviving the initial attack, Ratchman contacted Lord Alfred, only to discover via phone that he and his men were merely being tested and deemed inadequate Nazis. His life ended when Revy and Dutch confronted him; Revy handed Ratchman one of her firearms. Attempting suicide, Ratchman instead pointed the gun at Dutch, only to find it empty.
