Colonel Ma (Chinese: 馬上校, pinyin: Mǎ Shàngxiào) is a colonel in the People's Liberation Army in the People's Republic of China. He is one of many soldiers who is responsible for building up the PRC's wǎng jūn (cyber army), and as the leader of his own team in the 1st Bureau of the 2nd Department of the GSD, he picked Sergeant Li Xinlin from the PLA's 3rd Department of the General Staff to gain intel on technological knowledge and cyberhacking methods for the benefit of the PRC's cyber army.
Appearance[]
Colonel Ma is a middle-aged Chinese man with short dark hair, a slight build, and pale skin. He wears rounded-rectangular glasses, a wristwatch on his right wrist, and a Chinese PLA Colonel uniform.
History[]
The Wired Red Wild Card[]
Li Xinlin was assigned by Ma to infiltrate Janet Bhai's counterfeiting group to learn more about certain technology and methods for the Chinese Intelligence Department's espionage campaign. After Xinlin arrived in Roanapur, Ma contacted her to confirm any developments in her mission, professing that he could not be more proud of her. Xinlin confirmed that everything was fine except for the room's smell in addition to having to do a hacking job before she could officially join Jane's counterfeiting group. Ma reminded her that her operation was the beginning of the cyber war that would begin in the 21st century, adding that Xinlin would be one of the first instructors of the PLA's wǎng jūn. After hearing Ma's compliment of her bravery and saying that their department would be able to get more funding from the CPC's Central Committee, Xinlin responded that she would not know if her family was proud of her, baffling Ma. She said that she would continue her mission, so Ma hung up.[1]
After Xinlin's data retrieval on Reinbach A.G. turned out to be a trap, Colonel Ma was in his office when he was angrily confronted by Lieutenant General Liu, who was contacted by Wang Jinyong of the Ministry of State Security regarding national security. Liu then ordered Second Lieutenant Yeyin to read the MSS's report, and she told Ma that the German company Reinbach A.G. was accusing the PLA of data theft of Reinbach's avionics data, elaborating that they had evidence that the hacker was an active member of the PLA. Reinbach's company was attacked two months before via the same server, using Annenheim Distributions as a backdoor. Liu confirmed that Annenheim was indeed a front company for the PLA's GSD 2nd Department. Confused, Ma responded that it could not be possible since his team got the information by bribing a Reinbach engineer, adding that Annenheim was merely used to conceal the dealings with the engineer, so the recent infiltration via Annenheim was not true.
Pessimistically, Liu replied that the truth was not their concern since Reinbach's original accusation about the front company was correct and the evidence left behind by Xinlin was all the company needed to back their accusation. Because of the potential international repercussions and the MSS's involvement, Senior Colonel Zhang asked Ma to inform him and Liu of his operation since he suspected that Xinlin was likely a double agent. In response, Ma rebuffed the notion that Xinlin double crossed the PLA, clarifying that his department's mission was merely to infiltrate a counterfeiting group to understand their technology and methods. Nonetheless, Liu articulated that the MSS was using the situation to conduct an internal investigation, which would likely result in purges. Since Annenheim's connection to the 2nd Department was enough evidence, Liu specified that the ties would be hidden and Xinlin would have to be charged with treason to avoid their own purging, giving Ma 72 hours to solve the situation while Liu deflected the MSS's investigation.
Later after Jane fired Xinlin and let the latter know that she was a patsy, Colonel Ma gave a courtesy call to Xinlin to inquire if she was a traitor. Xinlin denied it and replied that she was set up by Jane and her hacking group, with Ma responding that he believed her. Despite this, Ma informed her that he could no longer help her since the PLA was going to have her die as a traitor in Roanapur, but he would compensate her by informing Xinlin's family of her achievements and moving her family to an upscale apartment in Shanghai with the 2nd Department's funds.[2] After telling her this, Yeyin called out for Colonel Ma on behalf of General Liu, and so Ma abruptly ended the call.[3]
After the assassins that Ma contracted via Captain Yang failed to initially kill Xinlin in Roanapur, he went to Liu's office, where the latter berated him for hiring people who could not succeed or finish the murder quickly. Liu finished their talk by clarifying that if the situation was not solved in three days, then specialists would be sent to kill Xinlin as a last resort and Ma would most likely be purged for his failure.[4]
Trivia[]
- In a popularity contest during the 10th manga collection release, Colonel Ma ranked 39th (tying with Rowan) with 6 votes.[5]
- In a popularity contest during the 12th manga collection release, Colonel Ma ranked 76th (tying with several characters) with 0 votes.[6]
References[]
- ↑ Chapter 78: The Wired Red Wild Card Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 80: The Wired Red Wild Card Part 4
- ↑ Chapter 81: The Wired Red Wild Card Part 5
- ↑ Chapter 83: The Wired Red Wild Card Part 7
- ↑ http://sundaygx.info/blacklagoon_contest/
- ↑ http://sundaygx.info/blacklagoon_contest_12/