Hera

For subjects with a similar name, see: Hera (disambiguation).

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Berkely 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.

Cadet Hera is a Viper pilot aboard the battlestar Galactica. A native of Vaile, she is known for her tall stature, direct manner, and skilled piloting abilities.

Biography

Hera is a Vailean, originating from the planet Vaile. As a Vailean, she exhibits the cultural traits of her people, including a tendency to speak her mind directly and a preference for resolving conflicts through direct confrontation rather than prolonged discussion. On Vaile, when misunderstandings develop, the cultural norm is to "knock heads to work things out" rather than engage in what she considers clever wordplay.

Hera is notably tall, standing two inches taller than Lieutenant Starbuck. She has a long and lean body with ruddy skin and black hair that often falls in her face during intense situations. Her dark eyes are particularly striking and appear to change color depending on lighting and her emotional state—most commonly appearing violet when she is angry. People who know her often disagree about the exact color of her eyes due to this shifting quality.

Military Service

Pilot Training

As a cadet aboard Galactica, Hera serves as a Viper pilot and has proven herself to be exceptionally skilled in combat. She flies one of the newer "twister" model Vipers, which earned their nickname from their distinctive corkscrew nose design.

Combat Performance

During a major battle involving the experimental SuperViper, Hera demonstrated exceptional piloting skills. When SuperViper suffered critical damage and Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Starbuck were forced to eject in escape pods, Hera provided crucial air cover for their return to Galactica. She destroyed multiple Cylon fighters during this engagement, including one that was bearing down on the defenseless escape pods just moments before it would have fired. Her performance during this battle was particularly noted by Apollo, who commended her shooting skills over the communication system.

For her actions during this engagement, Hera was awarded a medal in a formal honors ceremony, though she modestly referred to it as merely a "trinket."

Relationships

Starbuck

Hera has a complex relationship with Lieutenant Starbuck that is marked by both mutual attraction and significant tension. Their relationship began on a friendly note, and they were good friends before the Yevra mission. However, complications arose when Hera, in typical Vailean fashion, directly propositioned Starbuck, announcing that she wished to be "his woman." This direct approach contradicted Starbuck's preference for being the pursuer in romantic relationships, leading to a rejection that strained their friendship.

Their relationship became further complicated when Hera intervened to prevent Starbuck from deserting the fleet to search for the missing Apollo. Having deduced Starbuck's intentions, she initially tried to reason with him. When Commander Adama questioned her about Starbuck's plans, she resisted revealing them but inadvertently confirmed the commander's suspicions. When Starbuck was about to take unauthorized flight, Hera physically intervened by striking him on the jaw to prevent his departure, then summoned Adama with the support of other crew members including Lieutenant Boomer.

This intervention created lasting resentment from Starbuck, who felt she had violated the fighter pilots' code and betrayed his trust. Their subsequent interactions were marked by tension, with Starbuck treating her with cold formality and even pulling rank by addressing her as "Cadet Hera" in a dismissive manner.

Eventually, the two pilots had a frank discussion about their relationship, during which Starbuck admitted that he liked being a womanizer and had no intention of changing his nature. He also acknowledged that he genuinely liked Hera despite their conflicts. Their conversation ended on a somewhat conciliatory note, with both agreeing to accept each other as they were.

Other Relationships

Hera maintains friendships with other women aboard Galactica, including Cassiopeia and Athena. She is known to confide in them about her frustrations with the male pilots' attitudes toward women aboard the ship. During conversations with these friends, Hera has expressed her views on women's treatment aboard Galactica, arguing that women should be treated as human beings rather than objects.