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Border Worlds
Jacob "Hawk" Manley
A pilot from the fourth and fifth games. In the fourth, he's a retired Confed colonel who has taken up arms with the Border Worlds, becoming one of Blair's most trusted wingmen and providing a war-minded Spock to the McCoy of Tamara "Panther" Farnsworth. He returns in much the same vein in Prophecy, being one of several Mentors to Casey. Played by Chris Mulkey.- Colonel Badass: And every bit as good as his reputation suggests.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: It doesn't take much to set him off - though most of what triggers him is Maniac, who seems to make an art out of annoying other people.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: He's been fighting a long time, and unable to accept the idea of peace with the Kilrathi.
- The Spock: Favors practical and unsentimental solutions.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Usually prefers that his laser cannons and missiles do the talking, even if it might mean risking lives in order ensure the success of their cause.
Tamara "Panther" Farnsworth
One of the two Border Planets colonels which a defecting Blair joins up with. She is one of his wingmen during the events of the game. Played by Elizabeth Barondes.
- Colonel Badass: One of the two Border Planets military commanders before Blair takes over.
- The Heart: Is much more emotional and sympathetic than Manley.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: Hates the idea of returning to war even in a good cause.
Robert "Pliers" Sykes
Another spaceplane-maintainer, this time working for the Border Worlds. He's grandfatherly and channels a little bit of the inventive spirit. Played by Richard Riehle.- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": His name is mentioned in dialog, but it was used only once, the rest of the time he was addressed by his nickname.
- Percussive Maintenance: When he first finds a flash pak (a mine that cooks any ship from the inside out) he tries to work out what it is by dropping it on the ground, before resigning himself to actual work when it doesn't go bang.
- Oral Fixation: Rarely seen without a wad of dip (chewing tobacco) in his mouth, especially in the novelization. This presents some difficulty to him while he's aboard the TCS Princeton, as he couldn't indulge in his normal habit of spitting out tobacco juice onto the deck without messing up the nice clean carrier.
Black Lance
"Seether"
A pilot whose official name is never established, he serves Admiral Tolwyn and is a member of the Genetic Enhancement Program. Played by Robert Rusler.- Artificial Human: As part of the Genetic Enhancement Program, his base genome was modified with a genetic template composed of some of the finest pilots in the Confederation.
- Blade Enthusiast : One of his defining traits outside the cockpit is his love for a unique two-blade knife.
- Blood Knight: He was literally bred for war, and gleefully participates in some of the most heinous atrocities of Wing Commander IV
- The Dragon: In The Price of Freedom, to Admiral Tolwyn.
- Duel Boss: He takes on Blair in the final showdown mano-a-mano to keep him from reaching Admiral Tolwyn and to finally prove he's the superior being to Blair. He fails in both endeavors.
- Master Race: Between genetically modified as the ultimate warrior and being brought up with the propaganda by the project, he believes himself and his fellow Genetic Enhancement Program members to be superior to un-modified humanity.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: His record was blanked by Confed, and the only person who recognized him by his Mine shockwave riding trick couldn't remember his real name, so his callsign of "Seether" is the only identifier.
- Putting on the Reich: His uniform is not subtle.
- Small Name, Big Ego: For all his talk about being superior and his zero tolerance to failure, he falls rather quickly in battle (probably because he doesn't have the advantage of technology anymore).
- Sociopathic Soldier:
- You Have Failed Me: Pulls this at the point of a combat knife on Captain Paulsen.
Terran Confederation
Captain Hugh Paulsen
A Confederation Space Navy captain who relieves Captain Eisen of his command of the TCS Lexington upon supposed orders from Confed HQ and directs your missions. He was sent to upsurp Captain Eisen because the Black Lance found out he was gathering information on them and their activities. He is later killed by Seether for failing to arrest Eisen and allowing Blair, Marshall and Chang to defect with Eisen. Played by John Spencer.- Fantastic Racism: If you take the choice not to defect immediately, Captain Paulsen takes the time to admire the new stock of genetically engineered human pilots aboard the Lexington while sitting with Blair. He disparages the Border Worlders as subhuman garbage.
