Hecate (TOS-RH)

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Captain Hecate is a Colonial Warrior and Viper pilot serving aboard Galactica in 7360.

Biography

Early Service

Hecate leads Red Squadron and carries herself with a distinctly military bearing, demonstrating perfect officer material qualities. Though she serves alongside Lieutenant Jolly for many yahren, they are never particularly close, as the healthy rivalry between Red Squadron and Blue Squadron keeps pilots socializing primarily within their own units. Despite being eleven yahren Jolly's junior, Hecate achieves the rank of Captain while Jolly remains a Lieutenant, a testament to her superior officer qualities.

Command Authority

During a critical period when half of Blue Squadron is missing or away from the Fleet, Hecate becomes the highest ranking Warrior pilot on Galactica and assumes temporary command of both Red and Blue Squadrons. When Major Sheba is summoned to address work stoppages by Virgil and other technicians in Galactica's bays, Hecate is ordered to report to Sheba with her entire squadron.

Ursus Rescue

Hecate participates in the incursion aboard Ursus, led by Lieutenant Colonel Athena, to recover Lieutenant Troy and Ensign Dalton from the cultist Tybalt. With the aid of Ursus first officer Portia and able crew members, the rescue mission succeeds.

Battle Against the Cylons

Hecate leads multiple pilots of Fourth Squadron—including Dalton—in the battle against Lucifer's Cylon forces when they launch their first full-fledged attack against the Fleet after a six yahren pause. After Hecate saves Dalton from a pair of Cylon Raiders, Hecate herself is killed shortly thereafter when a Raider collides with her Viper.

Chitain Crisis

Academy Duty

During the Chitain crisis, with a critical shortage of pilots developing, Hecate accompanies Jolly to Academia to select Academy cadets for temporary promotion to active duty. She advocates for deploying young cadets over retired or infantry Warriors, arguing that against the Chitain, the Fleet needs "speed more than anything else. Speed and cleverness and pilots willing to risk it all," which are traits of youth.

Together with Jolly, she selects three cadets for promotion: Cadet Squad Commanders Cato and Marcellus, both second-year students, and Freyja, a first-year cadet whose exceptional scores warrant her advancement. When other cadets protest Freyja's selection, Hecate silences them, noting that Majors Sheba and Boomer had already determined Freyja would be a CSC the following term, and demanding that all Warriors give her the respect she deserves.

Battle of Poseidon

Hecate commands Red Squadron during the defense of Poseidon against the Chitain assault. During the battle, she demonstrates exceptional tactical awareness, noting that the Chitain are "running unnecessary risks. Coming too close before striking, coming within range without firing. It's like they're taking our measure." Her concerns prove prescient, as the Chitain are indeed fighting hard but not fighting smart, apparently studying Colonial tactics.

Despite destroying multiple Chitain warships, Hecate is killed when a Chitain craft fires on her Viper and destroys it. Lieutenant Jolly witnesses her death and is devastated by the loss of a Warrior he had known and greatly respected for many yahren. Following Hecate's death, Commander Athena informs Jolly that he is now the ranking officer still engaged in the battle and has tactical command.

Notes

• Hecate demonstrates loyalty to Commander Apollo's mission, publicly declaring her intention to follow Apollo's lead rather than settle on Poseidon if Apollo chooses to continue the search for Earth.
• The character is likely named after the Greek goddess of magic, crossroads, and the underworld, continuing the Original Series' tradition of utilizing names from various mythologies.