Jacob Manley

Jacob Manley
- 2681
Callsign	Hawk
Allegiance	Terran Confederation, Union of Border Worlds
Service/branch	Terran Confederation Navy, Border Worlds Navy
Years of service	- 2681
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Black Widows Squadron, TCS Midway (at time of death)

Jacob Manley was a Terran pilot from the Terran Confederation. He served extensively during the Terran-Kilrathi War, and later defected to the Union of Border Worlds in the 2670s. He returned to the Confederation during his later years.

History

Jacob Manley was born in the Terran Confederation in the 2600s. His birthplace is unknown, but he is known to have grown up on the planet Mylon II, once described as an "economically depressed industrial world". He lived their with his family, who were quite impoverished, but Manley was still able to attend school and proved to be an able student.

When he graduated, Manley enlisted in the Terran Confederation Navy and was assigned as a communications technician on the famed TCS Tiger's Claw before reenlisting in the OCS.

During his service, his homeworld of Mylon II was attacked by the Kilrathi, where Manley's entire family was slaughtered along with countless Terran civilians. Upon learning this, Manley became marked by an intense hatred for the Kilrathi and would become known for his bloodthirsty demeanor in the ongoing war. He eventually became a pilot and soon befriended famed Terran ace Major Michael Casey, who shared Manley's hate for the Kilrathi. During his early service, Manley lost three wingmen on a single mission against a Kilrathi, an incident that left him badly shaken until Casey set him straight.

Manley steadily established himself as a deadly opponent in combat and eventually adopted the callsign "Hawk". He craved warfare against the Kilrathi and openly called for their extermination.

Manley was eventually stationed to the Astoria System where he remained for much of the 2660s. There, he met Tamara Farnsworth, another rising pilot with whom he worked alongside in their fight against the Kilrathi. In 2668, he fought at the Battle of Earth, where he was noted for his bravery. By 2669, Manley had achieved 96 kills and due to receive a Century Award when Colonel Christopher Blair deployed the Temblor Bomb against Kilrah, destroying the planet and finally ending the War. Manley finished the war with the rank of Colonel and was removed from active duty service for his dangerous flying.

Manley became a flight instructor for the TCSF but was removed after he ordered a rookie pilot to perform a dangerous maneuver that ultimately killed him. Colonel Manley eventually reenlisted in the Border Worlds Militia, and became a pilot on the BWS Intrepid.

During the Border Worlds Conflict in 2673, Manley took an active role in defending the newly-formed Union of Border Worlds from rogue elements of the Terran Confederation, who sought to initiate war between the two sides. Manley reunited with Tamara Farnsworth, now a Colonel as well, and became wingman to Terran defector Christopher Blair. After Colonel Blair was given command of the vessel by Captain William Eisen, Manley and Farnsworth both took part in advising the Colonel on the appropriate course of action to undertake in combat. However, this led to a rivalry between the two Colonels, with Manley's bloodthirsty persona often clashing with Farmsworth's cautiousness and restraint.

Colonel Manley flew with distinction on Blair's wing and their campaign on the Intrepid ultimately exposed the Black Lance as the true instigators of the conflict. In 2681, Manley was assigned to the TCS Midway at the personal request of Captain Daniel Wilford, where Manley became the Wing Commander of the Black Widows Squadron. He soon established himself as the top pilot of the vessel. It was also while on the Midway that Manley was called to defend the Confederation once again with the emergence of the Nephilim.

During his service on the Midway, Manley met Lance Casey, the rising son of his deceased comrade Michael Casey. When Lance lost three wingmen in one of his first missions, Manley intervened and helped Lance recover from his initial trauma, repeating the service his Casey had extended to him.

During the fight against the Nephilim, the Confederation often came to the aid of the Kilrathi, who due to their devastating loss of the War were easy prey for the insectoid race. Manley was incensed by Confed's willingness to lend aid to their former enemy, and on some occasions fired upon friendly Kilrathi forces to satisfy his own lust for revenge. This put him at odds with Lance, who objected to Manley's unruly conduct.

Jacob Manley was ultimately killed in action against the Nephilim when two waves of enemy fighters overwhelmed him in combat. He is not known to have any surviving descendants.

Behind the Scenes

• Jacob Manley was portrayed in Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom and Wing Commander Prophecy by Chris Mulkey.