Geoffrey Tolwyn

Born:2613
Homeworld: Earth
Death: 2671
Rank: Space-Marshall

Appearences:Action Stations, WC2, SO1, SO2, End Run, Fleet Action, WC3, WC4
Major Campaigns: McAuliffe I, McAuliffe II, Enigma, Ghorah Khar, Vukar Tag, Hari, Earth Offensive, Baka Kara, Border Worlds Conflict (enemy)
"Well let's hope that war is not our only option."

Information in bold from The Definitive Guide to the Wing Commander Universe

Space Marshal Geoffrey Tolwyn is truly one of the most controversial and enigmatic military leaders of our time. One of the few who single-handedly saved Humanity from the Kilrathi, it is bitterly ironic that he would eventually betray that which he had given his whole life to protecting. Nevertheless, rather than condemn him for his actions during the Border Worlds Conflict, he should be remembered for what he had been before: one of the Terran Confederation's most unwavering protectors.

Born to a distinguished English family, Geoffrey Tolwyn came from a long line of soldiers, with fighters serving all the way back to the Battle of Britain in the 20th Century's Second World War; in fact, just go back three generations and you will find four admirals, one general, and three senators. Graduating at the top of his academy class, Tolwyn was recruited by Admiral Banbridge as part of a covert team to discover the Kilrathi Empire's plans for the conquest of Earth. This of course led to the Battle of McAuliffe, in which Tolwyn played a key role as a pilot. McAuliffe continued to be the focus of hostilities between the Confederation and the Empire, and Tolwyn remained a key figure in those battles. In 2639, Tolwyn executed the McAuliffe Ambush Engagement, a brilliant military operation that saved the lives of a quarter of a million Confederation citizens, while retaking the planet from the Kilrathi.

Tolwyn became Chief of Naval Operations for the Vega Sector, and with the command upheavals in 2646, rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral. The success of the Vega Campaign and the Firekkan Crusade reaffirmed his genius, as well as his reputation for "risking lives but getting the job done". He was made Commander of the 14th Battle Fleet in the Enigma Sector, in charge of operations for the Enigma Campaign. In 2656, the destruction of the TCS Tiger's Claw brought Tolwyn face-to-face once more with Christopher Blair, a meeting that was anything but amicable. Despite Colonel Blair's acquittance by the military tribunal, Tolwyn was convinced of his treachery, and it was only Colonel Blair's successful attack on K'Tithrak Mang that finally convinced him of Blair's innocence.

Following the Enigma Campaign and the loss of Deneb, Admiral Tolwyn became part of the task force that executed Operation Back Lash, as commander of the TCS Concordia. After successfully engaging the Imperial fleet at Vukar Tag, Tolwyn risked the Concordia -- half the Confederation's assets -- in a daring jump behind enemy lines to rescue the crew of the besieged TCS Tarawa. Kevin Tolwyn. With the loss of his wife, Clara Elizabeth Tolwyn, and his sons, including Reggie, in the Terran-Kilrathi War, Kevin and his family became Tolwyn's only living relations.

During the False Peace, Admiral Tolwyn was once more called upon to serve the Confederation, by participating in a covert operation to discover the Kilrathi's military intentions, in cooperation with the Landreich Republic. After the death of Admiral Banbridge, President Rodham placed Admiral Tolwyn in charge of the fleet, with orders to protect Earth from the Kilrathi Hari fleet. This Admiral Tolwyn succeeded in doing, employing battle tactics that are now legendary. Rarely has such an outnumbered and outgunned defense been able to beat back as superior an attack force as the Kilrathi Hari Fleet.

As the war entered its third decade, Confed began looking to a number of black projects for salvation, one of which was the construction and development of the Behemoth weapons platform; Admiral Tolwyn was charged with the development and successful deployment of this awesome weapon. Unfortunately, before it could be fired in the Kilrah System, the Behemoth was destroyed by a wing of Kilrathi fighters, its vulnerabilities revealed to the Kilrathi by the Imperial mole Colonel nar Hhallas. This was a huge blow to Admiral Tolwyn's reputation, and his career suffered greatly despite being cleared by the subsequent inquiry. Fallen from grace, Tolwyn took a temporary leave from Confed and joined the Republic of Landreich Navy, to aid in their salvation of the Kilrathi supercarrier Karga. Once again in command of a carrier and crew, Tolwyn and the Landreich crew were able to rout Ukar dai Ragark and his forces at Baka Kar.

By 2672, Admiral Tolwyn's star was on the rise once more -- he was made head of the Confederation's Strategic Readiness Agency, and on his way to being promoted to the rank of Space Marshal. As is now known, Tolwyn's ascendence was brought to a halt by Colonel Christopher Blair of the Union of Border Worlds Forces. Blair revealed that Space Marshal Tolwyn was in fact the perpetrator of a conspiracy to ignite a war between the Terran Confederation and the Union of Border Worlds. Tolwyn was placed under arrest, and convicted of treason at a military tribunal. He was sentenced to death for his crimes against Humanity.

One can only wonder what could have happened to warp as a loyal soldier as Geoffrey Tolwyn into betraying that which he had sworn to defend. In the final, powerful scenes of WC4, as he is brought on trial for "crimes against humanity," we see him finally realize that somewhere during the war, his humanity died. In the end, he takes his own life: The night before he was slated to be executed, Space Marshal Geoffrey Tolwyn hung himself in his own cell. In his hand were his original Ensign's wings, and the Medal of Honour he received for the Battle of Earth.

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