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| “ | This is what Menendez planned all along. Taking out the G20 leaders will cripple capitalist governments across the world. | „ |
| ~ David Mason. |
| “ | My father, Alex Mason, gave up everything he had. He abandoned me, so he could defend his country from people like you. I hated him for that. But now, here I am, with you. | „ |
| ~ David to Raul Menendez while interrogating him. |
Lieutenant Commander David Mason (code-named: Section) is the main protagonist of Call of Duty: Black Ops II. He is a Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Navy SEALs and SEAL Team Six. He is also the only son of Alex Mason, former agent of the Central Intelligence Agency and the retired Captain of the United States Marine Corps, who also battled David's foe, Raul Menendez.
He is portrayed by Rich McDonald while as a kid, he is portrayed by Hayden Byerly.
Biography
Early life
David Mason was born in 1979 to CIA Agent Alex Mason and his unidentified wife. Raised in his father's hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska, David's relationship with his father soured after the death of his mother. Due to his father's past experiences, harsh upbringing, and his commitment to serve the U.S., David held a deep resentment towards his dad but did not want to lose him, which was why he made his dad promise to not go on any more missions for the military.
In 1986, the retired Alex Mason returned to active duty with the CIA to rescue Frank Woods, leaving the young David in the care of Jason Hudson's wife, Jenny. David tried to stop his father from going but Alex told David, Woods would do it for him. In 1989, Raul Menendez kidnapped David, drugged him unconscious, and brought him to Panama prior to Mason's mission to capture then-dictator of Panama, Manuel Noriega. Menendez taunted David about the upcoming set up, telling him that for his sister Josefina, Alex Mason would die.
Menendez's moles within the CIA helped facilitate Noriega's capture and fooled both Mason and Woods into believing that they would be trading the captured dictator for Menendez. After Woods was tricked into shooting and possibly killing Mason, believing it was Menendez, the narco-terrorist killed Hudson and left both the young David and crippled Woods alive. David later came out of his trance only to see his father unresponsive. Believing his father to be dead (depending on the player's actions), David started to cry while Woods attempted to comfort him only to lose consciousness from his wounds.
Guilt-ridden about having shot his best friend, Woods took the young David in and raised him. However, to spare David the pain of the circumstances of his father's death, Woods told David that it was just "some nut" who did it. When Woods was put in the Vault retirement home, he kept several of David's childhood drawn pictures.
Early Military Career
In 1996, David was commissioned as an officer of the Navy (though how he did is unspecified) and eventually made it into the elite U.S. Navy SEALs. After a few years serving with the SEALs, David was recruited into the ultra-elite SEAL Team Six, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander before the events of the Second Cold War occurred. Thirty years since his last encounter with David, Menendez rose to power and planned to launch a cyber attack in an attempt to start the Second Cold War. On April 19, 2025, David became a Navy SEAL Commander, code-named 'Section', and befriends Mike Harper.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
The Vault and Learning Menendez's story
In light of Menendez visiting Woods at the Vault, Section, Harper, and several SEALs went to Woods' room and asked him about his knowledge on Menendez. Woods gives Section a pendant left by Menendez, but Section begins to see images of Menendez and himself as a child. Harper initially thought that Woods was just a waste of time until Woods recollected his adventures with David's father, Alex Mason, from his rescue at Angola and Mason's attempted murder of Menendez, leading him to wanting revenge.
The second was his adventure with Mason and Tian Zhao in Afghanistan where they encounter Lev Kravchenko, an old enemy of Mason who was responsible for the numbers brainwashing and the hallucinations of Victor Reznov. Woods comments that David was just like his father in believing that it was Reznov who saved them from Rahmaan's betrayal. Woods finally has his encounter with Menendez in Nicaragua, revealing that he accidentally killed Menendez's sister Josefina. They also learned that the drone fleet created was actually based on a rare earth element controlled by China which made them worried. However, when Section questioned Woods and inquiring why he was still alive though Menendez paid him a visit, Woods ignores the question and tells him to "go find that maniac".
Celerium
The day after, Section, along with Harper, Salazar and Crosby went to investigate the presence of Menendez's soldiers at Myanmar. Here, they discovered that Menendez was planning to use Celerium as a basis for a cyber attack that could cripple the entire technological world. They also learned that Menendez was using all his cartel money to hire Yemeni Militia, Strategic Defense Coalition and Mercenaries. He was using the facility in Myanmar to build his own army of CLAWs, quad-rotors (MQ-27 Dragonfire), A.S.D.s, and MQ Drones.
Thanks to the Intel from Woods, Section figured out that all the money Menendez built was invested in all the weapons. Section and his team then found a scientist named Erik Breighner who had been brought in to process a Celerium core which would make all existing microchip technologies useless. Though Erik was killed, he was able to give Section the Celerium core, which he later gave to Admiral Tommy Briggs who brought in an extraction team.
Pakistan
About a month later, Section and his team went to investigate Menendez's second-in-command, DeFalco, who was spotted in Pakistan. However, before leaving, Section began seeing images of Menendez and himself as a child again. David then realized that Menendez played a part in Alex's death 30 years ago. Once in Pakistan, they were able to infiltrate Anthem, and managed to record Menendez's conversation with the leader of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence, revealing that General Tian Zhao of the SDC was secretly forming an alliance with Menendez and that they would have a meeting on June 17.
They also discovered that Menendez had assigned DeFalco to capture Karma. The team managed to escape after almost being compromised, but ran into Zhao's forces. However, Zhao let them live since he assumed they were only after Menendez, and didn't know his secret because he didn't want to get captured.
Karma
The intelligence recorded from the conversation also revealed that Karma, which was then assumed as the cyber weapon Menendez planned to use, was on Colossus. Section, Harper and Salazar went to Colossus, and after fighting through several PMCs found out that Menendez planned to bomb the entire floating island. They also discovered that "Karma" was not a weapon, but a woman named Chloe Lynch. They located Chloe at Club Solar, but at the same time DeFalco also appeared and took several bystanders hostage. After Chloe decided to give herself in, Section and his team gave chase.
If the player manages to catch up to DeFalco, he will return fire and will be killed in the fire fight. His body will then be carried back to a VTOL by Harper and Salazar, and Chloe will be saved.
If the player fails to catch up to DeFalco (or intentionally fails), he will escape with Chloe and survive. However, the player will be given another attempt to save Chloe in the strike force mission "Second Chance".
Learning Alex Mason's true death
Knowing that Woods still had some information, Section went to The Vault and asked about what happened at Panama. As the story was told, Section was shocked to find out that his father did not die by the hands of Menendez, but rather Woods himself. Knowing that it was not his fault, Section reassured Frank that Menendez would be defeated.
Strike Force Missions
These missions can be skipped if wanted to, but to do so will result in the eventual destruction of the U.S.S. Barack Obama.
Section and Briggs brief a group of JSOC soldiers on battles against Tian Zhao to counter his plan of taking over Russia and making SDC the largest military force on the planet. Section communicates with the JSOC assets deployed in India, Singapore, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Pakistan.
Capturing Menendez
Section assisted in the ambush on a Cordis Die rally in Yemen, and appeared in person after either Harper or Farid was killed. Harper or Farid were evacuated and Section advanced on a crashed VTOL transport where Menendez was. Section captured Menendez without incident and brought him back to the U.S.S. Obama. But Menendez tormented Section on the way back about seeking a newer world together and even referring to him as David.
U.S.S. Obama attack
Section interrogated Menendez, but he took Salazar hostage and incapacitated Section. When he came to his senses, Section fought through the Obama, defending it from an attack by the Mercs. Section attempted to contact Briggs but to no avail. Over the security cameras, he witnessed Menendez take Briggs hostage and Salazar betrays them, as well as Menendez killing or wounding of Briggs. If Farid is dead at this point then Chloe will die either at Salazar's hands or DeFalco's.
If Farid is still alive, he will sacrifice himself to save Chloe, resulting in his death. Menendez used the Celerium worm in his fake eye to hack the world's defense systems. Section came down, and either Chloe (if alive) attempted to reboot the system or Section will have the technicians work on it. He then confronts the captured Salazar, who surrendered without incident. Section expresses his disappointment in Salazar for his betrayal.
If Harper is dead, Salazar will be taken into custody. If the Obama is destroyed, it is presumed that he dies with everyone else on the ship.
If Harper is alive, he will execute Salazar with a single bullet to the head from his Five Seven.
Section then escaped the U.S.S. Barack Obama with Harper (if he survived) and Crosby.
If the Strike Force Missions are finished and Briggs was spared, the U.S.S. Obama will be saved by Chinese fighters.
If the Strike Force Missions are incomplete, failed, or if Briggs was executed, the U.S.S. Obama will be destroyed by the drone fleet.
Protecting President Bosworth
Believing that Menendez might be planning to target the U.S. President, Section took charge of escorting President Marion Bosworth through the streets of Los Angeles amidst the worldwide chaos of Menendez's hacking. He also assisted several G20 convoys (including the French President's), and piloted Captain Anderson's FA-38 to cover the convoy from above until they reach the Prom Night Hotel.
Assault on Menendez
Having finally secured the president, Section led an international group of special forces troops in a massive raid on Menendez's Cordis Die facility in Haiti, where the systems were being controlled. Midway, he witnessed a live broadcast by Menendez, and the self-destruction of the hacked drone army. He continued pursuing Menendez (with Harper, if he survived). As they reached a room, the floor beneath them exploded.
Section managed to grab hold of the ledge, but then noticed Menendez about to escape with two Mercs soldiers (one of which could be DeFalco, if he survived; as well as Harper having his leg injured). Section slid down, while grabbing a KAP-40 from a dead soldier's holster, and shot the Mercs (and DeFalco, if he wasn't killed earlier). He then stabs Menendez in the leg with his knife, then in the shoulder, grabbed his Tac-45, and could either execute or capture him.
If the player chooses to capture him then David will stand Menendez up on his feet and walk him to a VTOL where he will be handcuffed and flown away.
If the player chooses to kill Menendez then David will execute him with his own Tac-45 and walk out of the hangar either alone or carrying a wounded Harper by his side, if the player spared him in Yemen. This is considered the canon choice.
Endings
Depending on Section's and Woods' actions, there are number of endings which all have rewards and consequences. These are four of the possible endings, but there are some endings that can be unlocked, depending on the actions the player makes.
If Woods shot Mason anywhere except the head, Chloe survived Salazar's betrayal and David spares Menendez, then Mason himself will reappear at age 92 to Woods in the Vault. Alex will later meet David in the vault as well and Alex then reminds David of the scar he got back in 1986, and how he made him proud that day as he got back up. Chloe will be able to stop Menendez's cyber attack and he will be stuck in custody.
Woods shot Mason in the leg, Chloe did not survive Salazar's betrayal and Section captured Menendez, then Mason himself will reappear at age 92 to Woods in the Vault. However a year later Menendez will escape custody after a cyber attack, kill Woods and then himself.
Woods killed Mason, Chloe survived Salazar's betrayal and Section spares Menendez, then David and Woods will visit Mason's grave where David reveals that he will retire. which Frank is pleased to hear and says that Alex is glad too. Chloe will be able to stop Menendez's cyber attack and he will be stuck in custody.
Woods killed Mason, Chloe did not survive Salazar's betrayal and Menendez was killed, then David and Woods will visit Mason's grave where David reveals that he will retire. which Frank is pleased to hear and says that Alex is glad too. However Menendez will have a video triggered to play upon his death, causing massive public outrage, worldwide riots and chaos, with military and police forces weakened by Menendez's attack, hinting at the destruction of the U.S. government.
Non-Canonical Ending
David "Section" Mason (along with Harper, Alex Mason, Karma, and Woods) attend a concert held by Avenged Sevenfold playing the song "Carry On". David is seen waving around a Cordis Die sign.
MK Operations Research
Whilst researching the MK operations, Sebastian Krueger asks his partner SL Wickett for information about him.
Quotes
| “ | Dad, I'm scared. I-I need help. | „ |
| ~ David to his father in Alaska. |
| “ | I hate you. | „ |
| ~ David to his father. |
| “ | Go back to the army, like you did when mom died... | „ |
| ~ David to his father. |
| “ | Dad, you said you'd never go back to the army. You promised me. | „ |
| ~ David to his father. |
| “ | Dad... no, DAD! | „ |
| ~ David seeing his father's corpse/his father unconscious. |
| “ | Hey, Old Man. Was Raul Menendez here today? | „ |
| ~ Mason to Woods in the Vault. |
| “ | That's what Menendez wants his followers to believe. Trust me... it isn't. | „ |
| ~ Mason to Crosby. |
| “ | What did you just say? Come suffer ...What? | „ |
| ~ Mason to Harper, having flashbacks to the night in Panama. |
| “ | These flashes I'm getting...I know I was kidnapped the night my father died, but I could never see... | „ |
| ~ Mason. |
| “ | He killed my father, to get to you. | „ |
| ~ Mason to Woods. |
| “ | What the fuck happened in Panama? | „ |
| ~ Mason to Woods. |
| “ | Did he go out like a soldier? | „ |
| ~ Mason to Woods on his father's "death". |
| “ | There's nothing you could've done, Frank. It wasn't your fault. | „ |
| ~ David forgives Woods for the death of his father. |
| “ | Times have changed, old man. He's going down. | „ |
| ~ David to Woods, telling him he will stop Menendez. |
| “ | I'm not a kid this time...But you can go ahead and try what you did back then. | „ |
| ~ Mason to Menendez. |
| “ | He's just a sad old man talking to himself. Let him talk. | „ |
| ~ Mason to an officer upon capturing Menendez. |
Gallery
Trivia
- Liam O'Brien was Section's voice actor during the E3 2012 LA demo. In the finished version of the game, Rich McDonald portrays Section in 2025, while Hayden Byerly portrays a young David Mason in the 1980's.
- In the mission "Cordis Die", during the E3 2012 game play, Section's reflection has many differences to the finished in-game cut-scene, the largest being that he does not have any glasses on and he bears a resemblance more to Harper than his finished self.
- Section also appears in Call of Duty: Black Ops II's video, dancing and holding a Cordis Die sign.