Alex Rivera is the US Secretary of Foreign Affairs who served under President Michener and later briefly under President Oliver.
Biography[]
Rivera was a citizen of one of the regional districts chosen by Jeffrey Michener to serve as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. His appointment was ratified by Senator William Beatty. Rivera worked closely with White House Chief of Staff Allison Shaw despite constantly disagreeing with her.
Events of The Last Ship[]
In a meeting between him, Shaw and President Michener, Rivera accuses Chinese President Peng Wu of hoarding the cure for the Chinese and letting the virus mutate, killing millions of Japanese people and letting it spread across Asia. When CNO Tom Chandler walks in, Rivera says they gave Peng a million doses of the cure two months ago and never delivered them to Japan. By the time their ships reached Japan it was too late and Rivera confirms Chandler's suspicion that he thinks Peng is making a play for Asia. Rivera backs this up using reports saying the Chinese bombed North Vietnam to be bombed all in a plan to conquer Asia. Shaw responds that all that is speculation and Peng is their foreign partner in spreading the cure and they have no alternative, which President Michener regretfully agrees with. Rivera is later present with President Michener and Shaw when Kara tells them they lost contact with several members of the Nathan James' crew during a firefight with unknown hostiles at a nightclub in Hai Phong and when the Acting CO delivers the list of personnel who are MIA. (“The Scott Effect”)
Rivera gets of the phone with Vietnam and tells Shaw that eight of their security detail were all shot outside the nightclub and suggests Peng is responsible but Shaw advises Rivera that they wait for CNO Chandler's report on Peng to draw any conclusions. Rivera suggests sending the Hayward and Shackleton to Hai Phong but Shaw advises waiting until they have more information and President Michener sides with Shaw on the issue. Rivera and Shaw later discuss Michener's presidency while he is on video chat with two regional leaders, Senator William Beatty and Manuel Castillo. Rivera brings up that Chandler and Dr. Rachel Scott are seen as the true heroes of America and that the President was a bit player. Rivera theorizes that the regional leaders feel they would be running the country instead of Michener if the cure was brought to them first. When Shaw says Michener was the only one qualified, Rivera counters that with the fact that he is an unelected president and an Immune to discredit her argument. When Kara reports that the plane, Sasha, and the security team still haven't reported in, Rivera tells Shaw that the President has problems at home whether she wants to admit it or not and needs to handle this foreign issue with strength. When Peng calls Michener and tells him that Chandler's plane went down because of engine trouble, Rivera asks if he buys that story but Michener says he is not jumping to any conclusions. Chandler later turns up alive proving Peng was lying. (“Rising Sun”)
Rivera is present when President Michener talks with Chandler discussing their next move and when the Michener held his press briefing. Rivera bursts into the President's office and shows him, Kara and Shaw the live feed the pirates sent to their news stations of all the captured sailors displayed as POWs. Rivera then states that their secret is officially out. (“Shanzhai”)
Rivera watches the video with the rest of the command staff and comments on how they can't video conference with the Nathan James but the pirates are broadcasting in hi-def. Rivera asks Kara how long it would take the Hayward and Shackleton get to the Nathan James' location, Kara says fifteen to eighteen hours. Rivera concludes it is enough time to join the hunt for the hostages but Shaw says it wouldn't give them time to evacuate before the pirates' deadline. Rivera questions Shaw's advise to give into the pirates' demands and reminds her that Kara has said these are the only ships available to investigate a second outbreak or fight the pirates and Peng. Rivera later watches when the pirates send a new video of Eric Miller and Ray Diaz being tortured and Barnes interviewing Barbara Miller, who condemns Michener for not telling her about her son sooner. (“Devil May Care”)
Rivera stands to Michener's left as he holds a press conference stating he has ordered the evacuation of their forces in Japan and are working to rescue the hostages. Rivera later tells Michener that revealing Chandler is on the Nathan James to save the hostages is a bad idea as it is a matter of national security. When Shaw walks in telling them the regional leaders are demanding a meeting with the President and recommends telling them about the Nathan James being trapped in a minefield Rivera agrees, saying they are their partners, speaking for millions in their regions and that their support is crucial now more than ever. Rivera attends the meeting and witnesses Michener refuse to rescind his domestic policies to appease the regional leaders. When Kara tells Rivera, Michener, and Shaw that Barnes knows CNO Chandler is on the Nathan James from one of the regional leaders, Shaw and Rivera both say they can't risk a confrontation with the regional leaders right now. Rivera suggests the President throw them a bone to fend them off. Kara counters it won't be an issue if the Nathan James makes it out of the minefield, Rivera counters that they can't count on them bailing the White House out. When Michener refuses to concede anything, Rivera tries to convince him otherwise but the President stand firm. (“Minefield”)
Rivera helps keep track of the islands the Nathan James has searched for Takehaya and his pirate crew. When the Nathan James thinks the pirates are located on Kumonosu Island, Rivera asks Kara why they aren't already deployed and Kara explains the Nathan James can't without the President's official order to do so. Michener gives them to go ahead to investigate and wants updates every thirty minutes. When the Nathan James is ten minutes late to report for its second check-in, Rivera stays silent as the others discuss the situation. (“Dog Day”)
Rivera watches as President Michener apologizes to the nation about being derelict when he got his son airlifted from a known Red Flu hot zone to a safe zone he was running and Rivera angrily walks out of the room. (“In the Dark”)
After Michener supposedly committed suicide, Rivera asks Shaw if Judge Watkins is with Vice President Howard Oliver to give him the oath of office and when she says she is Rivera says that is good and leaves. When newly sworn in President Oliver arrives, Rivera welcomes him home alongside Shaw and Kara as he gets settled. Rivera is present during the briefing on the Nathan James' mission to investigate Wu Ming's family for information on why Peng manipulated Takehaya to go after them and later attends Michener's memorial service delivering the eulogy personally. After returning to Oliver's officer, Rivera agrees with the regional leaders that the ration cards and limited bank withdrawals are the primary source of unrest among the American people. When tries to voice her own opinion on the matter, Rivera cuts her off saying if they need her opinion of military matter not domestic policies, she will be first one they ask. When Kara tries to attend another meeting with the President, Rivera stops her saying the President wants these meeting with only senior officials like him and Shaw and closes the doors. (“Sea Change”)
Rivera is present when CNO Chandler explains over the phone that Peng is manufacturing an anti-cure weapon to use against the neighboring countries on a campaign of extermination. Rivera later asks Kara where President Oliver is and Kara tells him he is in the Oval Office. Rivera notices Kara is carrying the troop readiness reports and takes them from her as he heads to the Oval Office with Shaw. Rivera later searches Kara's office looking for something before Kara walks in catching him, Rivera claims he wanted to talk to Kara about whose side she is on. When Kara says she is committed to rebuilding the country, Rivera tells her that Kara needs to focus her time and energy into their country not Chandler and this genocide conspiracy as facts and truths are victims of the Red Flu too. Rivera ends by suggesting she take a careful look at who she can trust and leaves her office.
Rivera attends a meeting alongside President Oliver and Shaw as Kara informs them that Chandler found evidence of the missiles and that they are on a Chinese Destroyer heading to Korea through the Formosa Strait. Rivera gets a message during the meeting and hopes this operation will put an end to this once and for all. While observing their three Navy Destroyers plot a course to intercept, Rivera witnesses all three come under attack and lose contact with them just as Kara tries to warn them. Rivera questions Kara about how she knew the ships were going to be attacked and Kara simply tells him it was based on instinct and the fact they were ambushed before, but Rivera is skeptical.
When CNO Chandler makes contact with the White House, Rivera picks up immediately as Chandler explains they were ambushed with the Nathan James still standing, the Shackleton destroyed, and Hayward badly damaged, with its crew and Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Meylan aboard the Nathan James. Rivera asks Chandler how this happened and Chandler believes that their communications are compromised and until it is resolved they will be at EMCON alpha one and hangs up. When Allison and Oliver walk in, Rivera tells them he was on the phone with Chandler and reports everything Chandler told him with Kara adding they went radio silent believing their communications were compromised.
President Oliver leaves in frustration with Shaw following close behind while Rivera sends a text and heads out with Kara following him discretely. Rivera meets with Senator William Beatty in an underground parking lot, but both are shot by in a drive-by shooting by Secret Service agents on Allison Shaw's orders. Kara runs to Rivera and tries to get him help before Rivera stops her. Shortly before his death, he revealed to Kara that he was trying to stop the regional leaders from taking power and that she isn't safe at the White House. (“Paradise”)