Marcellus

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch Novelizations separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

Ensign Marcellus is a Colonial Warrior and Viper pilot who serves aboard Galactica.

Biography

Academy Training

Marcellus attends the Colonial Academy aboard Academia as a second-year cadet and demonstrates exceptional piloting abilities, earning selection as a Cadet Squad Commander (CSC).

When a critical shortage of pilots develops during the Chitain crisis, Lieutenant Jolly and Captain Hecate select Marcellus for temporary promotion to active duty status. He is chosen alongside fellow CSC Cato, another second-year student, and Cadet Freyja, a first-year student whose exceptional scores warrant her early advancement.

Marcellus gathers his belongings and accompanies Jolly and Hecate from Academia to Galactica for active duty.

Active Combat Service

Early Engagements

Marcellus receives his promotion to Ensign and is assigned to Blue Squadron. During the initial engagement with the Chitain, Marcellus displays considerable confidence—perhaps overconfidence—when reporting to Lieutenant Jolly. Upon being informed that the Chitain are not Cylons, Marcellus responds with bravado, "Received, sir! But these aren't Cylons, after all!"

Jolly immediately rebukes the young pilot, ordering him to "trank it" or face reassignment to Galactica with his Viper given to a pilot with the proper attitude. The chastened Marcellus acknowledges the correction, and Jolly tempers his reprimand with fatherly advice, reminding him, "We're all on the same side. But you have to remember, you won't be any less dead if one of these crawlons gets you."

Saving Jolly

Moments after receiving Jolly's rebuke, Marcellus demonstrates his worth as a Warrior. When Jolly's Viper suffers critical damage from Chitain fire—with his apex pulsar misfiring and a chunk of his starboard wing destroyed—Marcellus alerts him to the approaching threat on his port side. With Jolly nearly defenseless and the attacking Chitain craft about to deliver a killing blow, Marcellus destroys the enemy vessel, saving Jolly's life.

Jolly thanks the young Ensign over the commlink, to which Marcellus replies with characteristic humor, "Thank you, Lieutenant! Just note it in my first review!" Jolly responds by asking him to stay close until his apex pulsar recycles, "so I'll have the chance."

Death

Despite his skill and bravery, Marcellus' combat career is tragically brief. After almost dying once during the battle and having to abandon his shattered Viper for an unfamiliar replacement, Jolly witnesses Marcellus being "blasted to oblivion" only centari after the same young man had saved his life.

Marcellus' death, along with that of Cato, leaves Ensign Freyja as the sole survivor of the three newly promoted cadets.

Character

Marcellus displays the typical confidence and perhaps arrogance of youth that Jolly observes in the newly promoted cadets. However, he also demonstrates courage, skill, and loyalty in combat, saving Jolly's life despite having been rebuked by him moments before. His lighthearted response after the rescue—joking about his first review—shows both his sense of humor and his ability to handle criticism professionally.