Raul Menendez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Menendez's hatred for the United States stems from a fire in 1972 that disfigured his sister, Josefina, which was linked to an American businessman's insurance fraud. When an earthquake left his family destitute, he and his father turned to drug running, leading the CIA to assassinate his father. In September 1986, Menendez profited from the Soviet–Afghan War before being captured by Mason, Woods, and Hudson in Nicaragua. Although Woods attempted to kill him during a raid on his compound, Menendez faked his death after Josefina was accidentally killed by Woods. By December 1989, during the American invasion of Panama, he revealed himself, crippling Woods in the kneecaps and murdering Jason Hudson while coercing David into a trap.

In Their Own Story

In 2014, Menendez re-emerged under the alias "Odysseus" to form Cordis Die, a militant populist movement. By 2018, his organization executed a cyberattack that crippled Chinese stock exchanges, sparking a Second Cold War between NATO and the Chinese-led Strategic Defense Coalition. By 2025, Cordis Die claimed an estimated two billion followers. David Mason, now a DEVGRU Lieutenant Commander, leads JSOC alongside Mike Harper and Javier Salazar to neutralize Menendez. The narrative includes a visit to "The Vault," where an elderly Frank Woods recounts his history with Menendez and shows them Josefina's heart-shaped pendant. Menendez's plan involves manipulating the 2025 timeline to exact revenge on those who wronged him, with campaign outcomes shifting based on whether players succeed or fail in specific Strike Force missions.

Reader's Guide

Raul Menendez appears as a historical figure and active threat throughout Black Ops II's campaign. Players encounter him in the 1980s segments alongside Alex Mason and Frank Woods, where his capture is a pivotal moment. In the 2025 timeline, he leads Cordis Die from the shadows, driving the plot toward a Second Cold War. His presence is felt through non-linear gameplay; success or failure in Strike Force missions alters the campaign's conclusion and Menendez's ultimate fate. The game allows players to customize loadouts before missions, influencing how they approach encounters with his forces. Retrospective reviewers praise him as one of the series' best villains due to his personal motivations and the branching storylines he triggers.

Did You Know?

• Menendez is a Nicaraguan arms dealer who later becomes a terrorist responsible for sparking a Second Cold War in 2025.
• He was responsible for kidnapping David Mason in the 1980s, coercing Jason Hudson into luring Alex Mason and Frank Woods into a trap.
• By 2025, his organization Cordis Die boasted an estimated two billion followers worldwide.
• Menendez faked his death after being wounded during a raid on his compound in Nicaragua, where his sister Josefina was accidentally killed by Frank Woods.