Alister Azimuth

"General Alister Azimuth. Four-Bolt Magistrate of the Lombax Praetorian Guard. Elder Councilman for the Centre of Advanced Lombax Research. And you, my dear boy, look just like your father."

- Azimuth introducing himself to Ratchet.

General Azimuth was a revered, yet rebellious leader of the Lombaxes. The Court of Azimuth was designed by him, and he was a childhood friend of Kaden. He was a Four-Bolt Magistrate of the Lombax Praetorian Guard, and also an elder councilman of the Center for Advanced Lombax Research. Azimuth possessed a variety of equipment including a Praetorian OmniWrench, Hoverboots, and a pocket watch containing a picture of him and Kaden. Azimuth also had his own ship, which looked similar to the Aphelion.

Early life
"Kaden almost broke his arm hoverbooting right over there...we had some good times!"

- Azimuth remembers his childhood

Alister was best friends with Kaden and as children they had many adventures together in the Breegus System, notably hoverbooting on Krell Canyon. As they grew older Kaden had a son and presumably joined Alister in the Center for Advanced Lombax Research and Lombax Praetorian Guard.

Exile
"For my crimes...I was forbidden from joining the Lombaxes. And so...I live in exile."

- Alister speaks of his exile

Later, the Lombaxes were approached by an inventor who, unknown to them, was Percival Tachyon. He possessed ideas for technology considerably more advanced than what they were using at the time. Despite warnings from Kaden to do otherwise, Azimuth helped the inventor by giving him access to Lombax technology, believing it could repair the galaxy from the Great War. Tachyon instead would use this technology to crush Fastoon and build his new empire. The General held himself responsible for the attack as well as the deaths of Kaden and hundreds of Lombaxes. When the Lombaxes escaped, Azimuth was forbidden from joining them and was exiled. He would eventually find himself in the Breegus System on Torren IV. From this point on, Alister began gathering information about the Great Clock, hoping it could undo his mistake.

Rebellion and skirmishes with Nefarious
A few decades later Doctor Nefarious rose to power in the Polaris Galaxy. Alister had many confrontations with the doctor and his henchman Lord Vorselon. Despite being captured briefly by Vorselon, Azimuth managed to destroy one of Nefarious's transports, and an outpost in the Korthos Sector belonging to Vorselon.

Meeting Ratchet
"No.. It can't be... You're Kaden's son."

- Azimuth realises who the "assassin" is

When Azimuth first met Ratchet, he initially thought that the young Lombax was an assassin wearing a Holo-Guise who had been sent by either Vorselon or Nefarious to kill him. Ratchet chased him, and when he caught up, Azimuth recognized Ratchet as Kaden's son. Azimuth spoke with Ratchet about the Great Clock, and taught Ratchet how to use hoverboots. Afterwards Alister told Ratchet to meet him in Axiom City on planet Terachnos, where they could find a way to talk to Clank in the Great Clock. He and Ratchet infiltrated Pollyx Industries, a company specializing in Zoni technology, and discovered that the last remaining Obsidian Eye in the universe was located in Krell Canyon on Lumos. After battling and defeating a VX-99 sent by Dr. Nefarious they set off for Lumos.



On Lumos, Azimuth explained the story of his exile to Ratchet. He also revealed his plan to gain control of the Great Clock and prevent his actions from leading to the vanishing of the Lombaxes and the death of Ratchet's parents. He promised Ratchet that he would help him get his family back.

Conflict over the Clock
"They're not in danger, they've just...moved on. And we'll find them. But the past stays where it is."

- Ratchet speaking to Azimuth at the Great Clock

When Ratchet and Clank learned that the Great Clock could rip apart reality if misused, they unsuccessfully attempted to dissuade Azimuth from using it. Azimuth became upset, and the general left in his ship. After Ratchet and Clank defeated Dr. Nefarious, Azimuth saved them just before the ship they were standing on collided with the Nefarious Space Station. The three of them flew to the Great Clock where Clank requested to stay to protect the facility. Still intent on using the Clock, Azimuth asked Ratchet about the Lombaxes. Ratchet replied that they'd moved on, but said that the past should not be changed, backing out of Azimuth's plan.

Frustrated and outraged that Ratchet no longer wanted to "save" the Lombaxes, Azimuth shot Ratchet with an energy blast from his wrench, killing him. Azimuth raced Clank to the Orvus Chamber, but the robot managed to seal it off before he could reach it. Inside, thanks to advice given to him by the plumber,  Clank shifted time six minutes into the past and prevented Ratchet from being hit by Azimuth's blast.

Duel at the Orvus Chamber and Death
"Take care of yourself, Ratchet."

- Azimuth during the battle

Pursued by Ratchet and Clank, Azimuth raced to the Orvus Chamber and activated a time shift to prevent the attack on Fastoon. Ratchet then fought him to prevent the destruction of the universe. Upon his defeat, Ratchet told Alister that the Great Clock wasn't a time machine—it was only meant to keep time and space intact. Realizing his mistake, Alister bid Ratchet a final farewell and used his wrench to move the damaged master switch, reversing the massive wave of quantum energy  reverting time back to its normal flow. Though he was successful, the resulting final blast of energy killed Alister. Alister's Praetorian OmniWrench was taken by Ratchet and put on the wall of his garage along with his other weaponry.

Legacy
His death effected Ratchet who felt some guilt over the events.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Azimuth appears as a downloadable minion for Ratchet & Clank.

Appearance
Azimuth possessed the usual characteristics of a Lombax, including long ears and a tail. Compared to Ratchet, he was taller and far more muscular. The color of his fur differed as well - he had light gray fur with red-brown stripes and black eyebrows. Azimuth's eyes were yellow with brown irises and he also had a short beard on either side of his jaw. In addition, he wore Praetorian Guard armor with plates on the shoulders and chest. The chest plate in particular had a symbol on it, much like Ratchet's armor.

Abilities
Azimuth was a hardened war veteran and a powerful fighter who could backflip and jump distances Ratchet would not be able to cross without a Meteor Pad or versa-target. His hoverboots were far superior to Ratchet's, enabling greater speed and farther jumps. His close-combat skills combined with his Praetorian OmniWrench made him a deadly adversary, and he was also able to attack from long distances with energy blasts from his wrench.



Behind the scenes
Joey D'Auria provided the voice for Alister Azimuth in A Crack in Time.

Development
Alister Azimuth was developed as a character to introduce another Lombax to the series. Alister Azimuth was considered to be who Ratchet could have become if he didn't have Clank. According to senior writer TJ Fixman, he was a deeper character then was possible in previous games.

Trivia

 * Azimuth was one of the few main characters to die on screen. Others include Luna and Lord Vorselon.
 * The symbol on Azimuth's armor resembles the one on Orvus' head.
 * In real life, an azimuth is an angular measurement in a spherical coordinate system.
 * Azimuth is an unlockable skin in A Crack in Time after collecting 32 gold bolts.
 * Azimuth's wrench was also an unlockable replacement for Ratchet's wrench in A Crack in Time, but it can't fire energy blasts.
 * Azimuth's wrench can be seen on the wall of Ratchet's garage in the opening pages of Ratchet & Clank: Issue 1: Ears of War. Alister Azimuth also appears in a picture in the same comic.
 * On the image in Azimuth's pocket watch he has a small scar over his right eye. This is absent in his in-game model.

Appearances

 * Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
 * Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
 * Ratchet & Clank: Issue 1: Ears of War
 * Ratchet & Clank: Issue 3: Lost and Spaced
 * Race Through Time

Non-canon

 * PlayStation Home
 * PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
 * Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault