Katia Waldheim

Born in East Germany as the daughter of an NVA general, Alfred Strachwitz, her father secretly smuggled her out of East Germany into the West years ago to protect her. Katia used the battlefield to get herself back into East Germany to see her father, a war hero who scored victories against the BETA even during the era that predated TSFs. A member of the West German army, Katia was rescued by the 666th TSF Squadron after the rest of her unit was destroyed. She later applied for refugee/defection status, but was instead transferred to the 666th as a replacement pilot, with the recommendation of the brigade CO, the 666th's CO and political officer. This odd occurrence initially drew the suspicion of Theodor and the Stasi. Katia is overly idealistic, hard working, and eager to learn and help. Because she is mechanically inclined, she is adored by the maintenance crew. Even though she has little experience as a TSF pilot, she possesses natural talent and instinct, which are things that cannot be taught, which is why people view her as a potential ace pilot.