- "Everybody pays!"
- — Ramon Solano
Ramon Solano is the President of Venezuela and main antagonist of Mercenaries 2: World in Flames. He originally hired the mercenary to rescue General Carmona from a group of loyalist Venezuelan soldiers following a coup attempt. However, Solano reneges on the deal and betrays the mercenary, leaving him/her for dead. Solano proceeds to take over Venezuela and establish himself as its ruler, with the mercenary swearing vengeance.
Overview[]
Ramon was born the only son of powerful Venezuelan criminal Eduardo Solano. Ramon was brought up to succeed his father and was sent to a prestigious American university where he graduated with honors. Upon returning to Venezuela Solano founded the country's first ISP, amassing an income of three billion dollars. With his newfound success, Solano recruited General Carmona in an effort to overthrow the government in a military coup. The plan back-fired however, and Carmona was captured by troops still loyal to the government.
Through another Mercenary named Blanco acting as a go-between, Solano recruits the mercenary and sends him or her off to rescue Carmona. With the rescue successful, Solano then betrays the mercenary, likely knowing that anyone opposed to his regime could re-hire the mercenary to topple him. After an escape from his villa, which includes getting shot in the ass, the mercenary vows to take revenge on Blanco, Carmona and make Solano remember the mercenary's 'golden rule': "Everybody pays".
The main mission of the game is to gain revenge upon Ramon Solano. Following leads put forth by Universal Petroleum Corporation and the People's Liberation Army of Venezuela, the mercenary eventually neutralizes Blanco, destroys an oil rig and finds Solano's bunker at Angel Falls, which is hardened against everything save a Nuclear Bunker Buster.
After doing favors for either the AN or China's People's Liberation Army (which includes single-handedly taking over the capitol, Caracas), the Mercenary obtains a Nuclear Bunker Buster, but not before Solano detonates a nuclear weapon over the headquarters of the faction that the player worked with to take over Caracas. The said faction then gives the player the nuke to defeat Solano.
After fighting their way to Solano's Bunker at Angel Falls, the mercenary then uses the Nuclear Bunker Buster to destroy the bunker. In a final, harrowing confrontation with Solano on-board an escaping Anaconda, the mercenary confronts Solano for a final time before executing him, escaping the crashing helicopter just before it crashes.
Characteristics[]
In terms of personality, Solano is every bit a cut-throat, ruthless businessman. He overthrows the Venezuelan government in order to rule the country and turn the nation into a "South American Superpower." He gains popular support from the people of Venezuela rather quickly, who, thanks to his maneuvers to nationalize the Venezuelan oil industry, is seen as a "Man of the People." It seems that the only Venezuelans who see through the ruse (or those who simply want someone to fight against) are the members of the PLAV, as frequently the citizens can be overheard speaking praise of Solano. His troops seem just enthralled with him, gasping "Viva Solano" quickly before expiring.
Despite this, Fiona does mention that in personal blogs written by Venezuelan citizens, they seem to see the mercenary as the nation's only hope. It is not made clear whether the people express true devotion to Solano, or public support in the face of possible retribution. He also appears to be rather vain and narcissistic, which is evident through the copious amount of paintings, portraits, busts and statues of his image located throughout his villa.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- If the player has captured every single HVT alive, including Mendez, Blanco, Carmona, and either Joyce or General Peng, then in the final fight, the merc will instead knock out Solano and capture him, instead of killing him. The final cutscene will not change however, and the laptop will remain to say that Solano was "verified".
- In the PS2 version, there is no confrontation with Solano inside the bunker after it is destroyed. Upon contract completion the game transitions straight to the final cutscene which shows Solano as "verified".
- There is a football stadium in western Merida, called Solano Stadium.
- In Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (PlayStation 2) Solano, Joyce, and Zhou Peng are one of the few high-value targets without unique 3D models.