Lily Cortez

Lily Cortez was an Agent working for the Central Intelligence Agency who, whilst stationed over in Afghanistan, had a relationship with Major John Sheppard. This relationship lasted for five months until she was in a Pave Hawk helicopter with Sheppard and Lieutenant Dixon and the trio discovered a trio of Rangers trying to escape from a Taliban base. Despite being told to return to Bagram Air Base, Sheppard instead decided to save the Rangers against Cortez's protestations, an act which broke off their relationship.

Following this act, Sheppard was put on trial for disobeying orders and damaging property belonging to the United States Air Force due to the helicopter being shot and a near crash landing following the rescue. Cortez was able to put a stop to the trial by delivering an affidavit to Judge Vance which stated that Sheppard was to keep his rank and flight privileges, his only punishment being a transfer to McMurdo Air Force Base. This decision was made due to intelligence gathered by the Rangers which Sheppard rescued.