Todd "Maniac" Marshall is a fictional character in the Wing Commander series. He acted as Christopher Blair's friend and competitor throughout much of the series, with Marshall playing the wild younger brother to Blair's reserved personality. Maniac was played in Heart of the Tiger, The Price of Freedom, Prophecy and Academy by Tom Wilson, best known for his portrayal of "Biff" in the Back to the Future movies. (Mark Hamill initially auditioned for this role, and was sorry to lose it, as he felt that Maniac was by far the more amusing character.)
Personal biography
For such a flamboyant personality, Marshall had a relatively quiet start; he moved through the Academy fairly quietly, showing a flair for improvisational flying but none of the rebellious attitude, though his rivalry with Blair had already been kindled by the time both graduated and were transferred to the TCS Tiger's Claw. Once there, the 'Maniac' persona began to fully emerge and flourish. His dazzling flying skills only excelled, but he became notoriously unreliable, preferring to "do his own thing" than obey a wing-leader's orders... or pleas for assistance. Regardless, his abilities were top-notch. One tale, circulated endlessly during the last five years of the war, told of a time when Maniac, leading a recon wing, came across two Kilrathi destroyers. Lacking anywhere near the weapons to deal with these two craft, any other pilot would have bugged out; but Maniac, through sheer flying alone, managed to coax the two capital ships into a fatal collision. To this day, nobody has any idea how he did it. But the demands of his reputation and high-risk flight patterns eventually took their toll; partway through the Vega campaign he suffered a nervous breakdown and had to be rotated off of frontline service.
Once pieced back together, Marshall was assigned as senior pilot in the new Morningstar heavy fighter flight-test program. Here he reunited with Blair aboard the TCS Concordia (the Claw being long gone) and was peripherally involved in the Mandarin affair. After the Battle of Earth, he was assigned to the TCS Victory, where he flew alongside Blair in a number of missions, including the doomed Behemoth defense and the Temblor Bomb run at Kilrah. He was, in fact, the only one of Blair's wingmen to survive the Temblor run; he ejected in Kilrah's atmosphere and was captured and 'interrogated' until the Temblor Bomb ended the war.
Instead of deactivating into the reserves, Marshall decided to remain in the cockpit, and was aboard the TCS Lexington when Blair was assigned there to investigate the Border Worlds' alleged aggressions. He defected to the Border Worlds alongside Blair, Capt. William Eisen and Lt. Winston "Vagabond" Chang, and flew in the Black Lance campaign. He continued in active service for over a decade and was aboard the TCS Midway during the Nephilim campaign. Temporarily achieving the long-desired position of squadron commander, he led the Black Widow squadron for a short time before renouncing the post and its associated responsibilities. He was in space on Blair's and Casey's respective wings when the Savior of the Confederation made his final jump. Now over fifty years old, the only major hero of the Kilrathi War who is still in the cockpit, he is finally considering retirement. He is also working on his memoirs: Me: The Life and Battles of "Maniac" Marshall.
Other media
*In the 1999 Wing Commander feature film, Maniac was played by actor Matthew Lillard.
*Maniac also appears in the Heart of the Tiger, Price of Freedom and film novelizations.
Personal biography
For such a flamboyant personality, Marshall had a relatively quiet start; he moved through the Academy fairly quietly, showing a flair for improvisational flying but none of the rebellious attitude, though his rivalry with Blair had already been kindled by the time both graduated and were transferred to the TCS Tiger's Claw. Once there, the 'Maniac' persona began to fully emerge and flourish. His dazzling flying skills only excelled, but he became notoriously unreliable, preferring to "do his own thing" than obey a wing-leader's orders... or pleas for assistance. Regardless, his abilities were top-notch. One tale, circulated endlessly during the last five years of the war, told of a time when Maniac, leading a recon wing, came across two Kilrathi destroyers. Lacking anywhere near the weapons to deal with these two craft, any other pilot would have bugged out; but Maniac, through sheer flying alone, managed to coax the two capital ships into a fatal collision. To this day, nobody has any idea how he did it. But the demands of his reputation and high-risk flight patterns eventually took their toll; partway through the Vega campaign he suffered a nervous breakdown and had to be rotated off of frontline service.
Once pieced back together, Marshall was assigned as senior pilot in the new Morningstar heavy fighter flight-test program. Here he reunited with Blair aboard the TCS Concordia (the Claw being long gone) and was peripherally involved in the Mandarin affair. After the Battle of Earth, he was assigned to the TCS Victory, where he flew alongside Blair in a number of missions, including the doomed Behemoth defense and the Temblor Bomb run at Kilrah. He was, in fact, the only one of Blair's wingmen to survive the Temblor run; he ejected in Kilrah's atmosphere and was captured and 'interrogated' until the Temblor Bomb ended the war.
Instead of deactivating into the reserves, Marshall decided to remain in the cockpit, and was aboard the TCS Lexington when Blair was assigned there to investigate the Border Worlds' alleged aggressions. He defected to the Border Worlds alongside Blair, Capt. William Eisen and Lt. Winston "Vagabond" Chang, and flew in the Black Lance campaign. He continued in active service for over a decade and was aboard the TCS Midway during the Nephilim campaign. Temporarily achieving the long-desired position of squadron commander, he led the Black Widow squadron for a short time before renouncing the post and its associated responsibilities. He was in space on Blair's and Casey's respective wings when the Savior of the Confederation made his final jump. Now over fifty years old, the only major hero of the Kilrathi War who is still in the cockpit, he is finally considering retirement. He is also working on his memoirs: Me: The Life and Battles of "Maniac" Marshall.
Other media
*In the 1999 Wing Commander feature film, Maniac was played by actor Matthew Lillard.
*Maniac also appears in the Heart of the Tiger, Price of Freedom and film novelizations.
Vili and Ve
Vili and Ve (sometimes called Hoenir and Lodur) were Odin's brothers.No one knows very much about them because they vanished shortly after their birth. Most say it was because Vili and Ve felt inferior to Odin, but the Scandinavian people still argue so no oneknows how or why they vanished.
Vili and Ve (sometimes called Hoenir and Lodur) were Odin's brothers.No one knows very much about them because they vanished shortly after their birth. Most say it was because Vili and Ve felt inferior to Odin, but the Scandinavian people still argue so no oneknows how or why they vanished.
Longfellow Middle School serves grades 7-8 in Falls Church, Virginia. It is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools system. The principal is Vincent Lynch and the two assistant principals are Jane O'Hara (8th grade), and (taking over for Mary Taube) Peter Pommetto (7th Grade, who returned to being a gym teacher after one year). The school was named after the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It is a two story building with 2 gymnasiums, 1 cafetorium, and a "Little Theater." It also has a 21 room modular building and a two room "mini mod."
Demographics
Longfellow Middle School's student body in 2006-2007 was 66% White,19%Asian, 7% Hispanic, 3% Black, and 5% Other.
Feeder schools
The Elementary schools that feed into Longfellow are: Chesterbrook, Haycock, Kent Gardens, Franklin Sherman, and Timberlane. Additionally, some students come from from Westgate, Spring Hill, Colvin Run, and Churchill Road Elementary school.
Most Longfellow students go to McLean High School, but some go to Langley High School, Marshall High School, or Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, although they must apply and be accepted to the latter as it is a magnet school.
Athletics
Longfellow has two gymnasiums, two playing fields, 4 tennis courts, a basketball court, and a quarter mile gravel track. The gym uniform is Carolina blue with "Longfellow Physical Education" printed on it in large white letters. Longfellow does not have any school sponsored sports, but they do have many after-school activities which include flag football, basketball, and tennis.
Once a year the students at Longfellow M.S. participate in an annual Track Meet versus Thoreau Middle School and Cooper Middle School. Longfellow's current mile run time record is 5 minutes 11 seconds.
Demographics
Longfellow Middle School's student body in 2006-2007 was 66% White,19%Asian, 7% Hispanic, 3% Black, and 5% Other.
Feeder schools
The Elementary schools that feed into Longfellow are: Chesterbrook, Haycock, Kent Gardens, Franklin Sherman, and Timberlane. Additionally, some students come from from Westgate, Spring Hill, Colvin Run, and Churchill Road Elementary school.
Most Longfellow students go to McLean High School, but some go to Langley High School, Marshall High School, or Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, although they must apply and be accepted to the latter as it is a magnet school.
Athletics
Longfellow has two gymnasiums, two playing fields, 4 tennis courts, a basketball court, and a quarter mile gravel track. The gym uniform is Carolina blue with "Longfellow Physical Education" printed on it in large white letters. Longfellow does not have any school sponsored sports, but they do have many after-school activities which include flag football, basketball, and tennis.
Once a year the students at Longfellow M.S. participate in an annual Track Meet versus Thoreau Middle School and Cooper Middle School. Longfellow's current mile run time record is 5 minutes 11 seconds.
Poe Middle School is a school in the Fairfax County Public Schools System. It is named after the author Edgar Allan Poe and their mascot is the Raven.
Feeder school
Most students feed into Annandale High School or Jeb Stuart High School for grades 9-12.
A select few also test into Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
Demographics
Poe's student body during the 2005-2006 school year was:
33.06% Hispanic
28.07% White
21.04% Asian
11.17% Black
3.54% Unspecified.
During the same school year,
47.68% of the student body received free/reduced-priced meals.
44.69% were classified as having limited English.
Feeder school
Most students feed into Annandale High School or Jeb Stuart High School for grades 9-12.
A select few also test into Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
Demographics
Poe's student body during the 2005-2006 school year was:
33.06% Hispanic
28.07% White
21.04% Asian
11.17% Black
3.54% Unspecified.
During the same school year,
47.68% of the student body received free/reduced-priced meals.
44.69% were classified as having limited English.