User:LadyLameness/FM

{/{character |image=Sunreach US Cover Art.jpg |aliases=Callsign: FM |profession=DDF pilots |world=Detritus |universe=Cytoverse |books=Skyward }} {/{spoilers|sf1}} {/{update|sf1}}

“Defiance is not ‘Defiant’ to them unless it doesn’t actually defy anything. ”

—FM describing the hypocrisy of the DDF.

Freyja Marten (callsign FM) is a DDF pilot on Detritus. She is a member of Skyward Flight and one of the only two members who completed and graduated flight school.

She is from the lower caverns, has multiple sisters, and was raised to believe and follow Defiant ideals. She comes from a highly-merited family, giving her a large degree of freedom, wealth, and influence. She does not know the old stories from Earth.

Appearance and Personality

by Jill Andersen

“Being a Defiant, isn’t just about our nationality. It’s always expressed as a mindset. ‘A true Defiant will think this way’ or ‘To be Defiant, you need to never back down,’ things like that. So, by their own logic, I can un-Defiant myself through personal choices. ”

—FM explaining her world philosophy.

FM is tall and skinny, around 185 centimeters in height. She has short blond hair, that she will sometimes pin back with glittery barrettes. FM is of Nordic heritage, has subtle physical features indicating as such, and is named after Freyja, the goddess of love and beauty from Nordic mythology.

She has a slight accent which is associated with the people of the deep caverns, and sometimes speaks in a formalized manner and proper tone. She is fashionable and and wears new and pristine clothing, courtesy of her family's wealth. Her regular DDF uniform is well tailored, and she is able to look fashionable in a flight suit. When not in uniform she enjoys wearing feminine clothing such as blouses and skirts.

FM wears her emotions on her sleeve, is rather perceptive, and good at reading others. She is highly confident and unafraid to speak her mind, nor is she opposed to skirting or breaking the rules. This confidence, along with her refined and poised manner, makes FM appear older than the rest of her flight. She can be a perfectionist and dislikes her own shortcomings, even when she is doing better than her classmates. FM is more conservative when presented with risky choices, choosing to take the safer option. She may do this as a statement against the strong risk taking attitude promoted by the DDF.

She's is a people person who is often the instigator of group trips off the base, and also enjoys reading. She is not interested in leadership positions, and prefers to work under the command of others.

Her upbringing deep within Detritus, has instilled a sense of security in her for enclosed spaces. Because of this, she finds the openness of the sky daunting and terrifying.

Disputer

FM self-identifies as a Disputer, a member of a movement that believes the Defiant culture is becoming too jingoistic and authoritarian and that the dictatorship ruling Detritus has too much power. She likes being asked about her beliefs, and will often complain that her flight members are too aggressive.

She's highly critical of military culture and worship of the First Citizens, and is quick to notice and challenge any hypocrisy from her peers. The rhetoric about glory is disturbing to her, as is the way the National Assembly uses the war to justify any action. When younger, she would discuss sabotaging the chemical testing center near her home, although she does not appear to have ever gone through with the plans. She empathizes with the rats and their captivity, sometimes feeling like her life is also a cage.

However, for all her misgivings she is supportive of the continued war against the Krell and works hard to become a pilot, despite feeling guilty for conforming to DDF militaristic society. Prior to flight school, she did not understand the push that lead the pilots and the DDF to work as a homogenous group. Although she understood that violence was the only option presented to the DDF, she did not agree that violence was a good way to solve problems. Although she used to believe that pilots were naive sheep being lead around by the National Assembly, she has grown to understand why the strong bonds exist between pilots, that help them work together as one unit. Despite this change in understanding, FM still believes that the military is not entirely right, nor can they define her life and how she fits in the world.

Attributes and Abilities

“I figure these clowns will all get themselves killed, sir. I could probably win without any points at all. ”

—FM feeling cocky during the light-lance game

FM is highly knowledgeable about piloting and starfighters, having achieved the rank of pilot. She is best suited to smaller ships.

During flight school FM trains to pilot a Poco, perform aerial maneuvers, and use its weaponry. It is unknown as to whether she was required to sit the entrance exam or whether she is the descendant of a First Citizen and was granted free admission. She may have had flight experience prior to joining the DDF, however lacked some of the background tactical knowledge known by her classmates.

FM is an excellent pilot who is highly skilled with a light-lance and at maneuvers. She is good enough with destructors to be able to take down enemy units by brute force, although this weapon is not her strong suit. She has a tendency to be overly cautious, though this habit has lead her to greatly improve her precision in the cockpit. She is well suited as a scout, and for a time join their ranks after graduation, though was initially resistant to the idea. Prior to graduation, FM was also offered a place in Nightmare Flight. When Skyward Flight was reformed, she joined in a specialized capacity, likely flying an interceptor. Although it was expected by her family that she would dropout of the DDF after graduating, FM continues to fly, despite her issues with the military, because she believes she is a asset who can support and help her flight mates and friends.

History

FM grew up in one of the lower caves that was also home to a chemical testing facility. While growing up, FM and her Disputer friends would talk about breaking into the facility and releasing the rats that were being used for experimentation. After being accepted into flight school, FM was placed in Skyward Flight under the tutorledge of Cobb. She was roomed with the other female members of her flight, with the exception of Spensa, who was denied accommodation.

Unlike many of the other members of Skyward Flight, FM successfully launched her Poco during the first lesson run by Cobb. When the lesson was interrupted by a Krell attack, FM, along with the rest of Skyward Flight, were ordered to take to the sky and line up close to the battle to deceive the Krell into thinking there were more pilots ready to join the conflict. When the Krell began to chase Jorgen, FM expressed her surprise that they wouldn't attack the weakest members of the team first.

“I was raised Defiant. But I choose, now, to be what people down below call a Disputer—I raise objections about the way the war is being run. I think we should throw off the oppressive mantle of military government.”

—FM explaining the Disputers movement to Spensa

FM played it safe during the ring game when Skyward Flight practiced their light-lancing. She stuck to the easiest rings in the first two rounds and avoided the rings entirely on the final round, regardless of their difficulty.

A few days later, Skyward Flight was once again sent into battle against the Krell, this time fighting alongside full pilots. FM survived the battle, however, lost two of her other flightmates: Bim and Morningtide.

FM approached Spensa the day after the battle to thank her for what she had said about Bim and Morningtide's death. As the two left the classroom for the day, FM introduced Spensa to the Disputer movement and explained how and why they opposed the Defiant leadership.

When the shipyard began falling, the first time Skyward Flight had flown since Morningtide and Bim's deaths, FM, Arturo, Hurl, and Jorgen, ended up cut off from the other members of the Flight after they were attacked by Krell. Eventually the members of the Flight were able to regroup and joined Riptide Flight as they returned back to base.

by Hitori Maron

The next week, FM, along with Kimmalyn and Hurl, devised a plan to sneak Spensa into their dormitory for the evening. Following the day's lesson, FM and Kimmalyn retired to their bunks before dinner, claiming to be unwell. Kimmalyn lead Spensa to their room, meeting up with FM near the door and smuggled Spensa inside where she found blankets piled as a makeshift bed and food waiting for her. As the girls waited for Hurl to return, FM rambled about the militaristic Defiant culture, it's negative effects on their society, as well as the DDF's treatment of Spensa. She explained her motivations for why she had agreed to go to flight school when signed up by her parents and how she hoped it would give her a platform she could use to push for change.

After a later training session, Skyward Flight was called to action to help defend against a Krell attack. The flight took up position near one of Alta's AA guns away from the main fight to wait as backup. After the flight was given the green light to engage, FM tried to fall in behind Kimmalyn to try provide assistance when she was swarmed by Krell. Despite her best efforts, the Krell kept locking onto Kimmalyn even after they were driven away, leading to FM picking up a tail of her own, however, before long it disengaged to instead target Spensa.

After the death of Hurl, FM, along with the other remaining members of Skyward Flight, were given a weeks leave in order to recover. During their week of leave, FM attempted to find Spensa, even asking Cobb if he knew the location of her cave, likely in an attempt to get the other girl to hangout with the members of Skyward Flight. After meeting up with Nedd, Arturo, and Kimmalyn, FM returned to the barrack's at Kimmalyn's request to retrieve a necklace the other girl had accidentally left behind when she quit the DDF. On her way, FM ran into Spensa and convinced the other girl to come with her to the restaurant where their flightmates had decided to meet.

Once the pair had arrived, FM left Spensa with the group while she went to order the other girl food and a drink, knowing that Spensa had eaten not much more than rat for the last few months. Although the meal was paid for by Arturo, FM studiously continued to bring Spensa food, in order to treat her friend who had not been able to access real meals since before flight school began. After returning the necklace she retrieved to Kimmalyn, FM and her friends spoke of Hurl, remembering their friend and reminiscing about their time in flight school. When Arturo's girlfriend, Bryn, went to the bathroom, the members of Skyward Flight talked briefly about the strangeness of Krell tactics and the DDF's hesitancy to talk about these things.

Before the end of their temporary break, FM and Arturo went to see a League game when they were given tickets by Nedd. Shortly after the end of Skyward Flight's medical leave, FM gained Spensa as a roommate, as the other woman had been given permission to live and take meals at Alta Base.

Several days later, FM and Spensa joined the other two cadet flights, Inkwell and Firestorm, in the dining hall and discussed the possibility of the three cadet teams being joined into one. FM dismissed the idea of joining the scouts when it was suggested, as she believed it to be too much of the obvious choice.

“This is callsign: FM. Cloak died in the blast. There are…sir, there are three of us left in the scout flight. The others died in the fighting.”

—FM radioing in to Ironsides, during the Battle of Alta Second

The week before graduation, the remaining members of Skyward Flight -- FM, Spensa, and Jorgen -- joined with Nightmare Flight during a routine debris tagging exercise. Thoroughly unimpressed by the dismissive attitude of some of Nightmare Flight's pilots, FM and Spensa gave a demonstration of their light-lancing skills after Bog and Tunestone attempted to condescendingly belittle the cadet's skills. During the mission, FM spotted the second half of the shipyard as it began descending from orbit. The group was set upon by Krell, who had been scouting the shipyard, and took up a defensive position, providing aid to Nightmare Flight members when they were swarmed by enemy ships. During the battle, FM was able to destroy at least one Krell ship by brute force, without needing to engage her IMP.

The next week, FM and Jorgen graduated from flight school, along with six other cadets. As the ceremony ended, the newly promoted pilots joined the rest of the Defiant fleet to go and defend the falling shipyard. FM joined the scouts for this mission, who were tasked with driving the Krell bomber away from the ship, even if it meant sacrificing Alta Base. When the lifebuster increased its speed, FM and the scouts were ordered to engage the Krell ship. They successfully destroyed the bomber, but at a great cost, with only three scouts, including FM, surviving the encounter. FM and the other two remaining scouts, joined with Riptide Flight and departed for Alta Base. Once reaching the battle near Alta, FM and Jorgen were ordered by Spensa to take down the bomber's shield, allowing Kimmalyn to detach the lifebuster from the enemy ship.

Following the battle, FM took up a specialized piloting role in the reformed Skyward Flight. She accompanied Spensa, Kimmalyn, and Sadie into battle against the Krell shortly before the arrival of the Superiority battleships. When the Defiant ships are ordered to cease communication and go dark, FM pairs up with her wingmate Sadie, to try and navigate the rest of the battle.

Relationships

Spensa

“...You can’t help being a product of your environment! It’s not your fault you’re a bloodthirsty ball of aggression and destruction. ”

—FM describing how she see's Spensa

Spensa admires FM for her fashion sense and outward appearance, finding the other girl to epitomize beauty standards. FM's confidence can at times intimidate Spensa as it makes FM appear more mature and refined. Spensa is never quite able to get past her nervousness even after they have finished flight school though nonetheless, Spensa considers FM a close friend who truly understands her.

FM finds a lot of Spensa's bravado to come from indoctrination of the toxic and aggressive culture promoted by the Defiants, however, appreciates the sincerity behind Spensa's attitude, particularly after the deaths of Bim and Morningtide. She doesn't blame Spensa for her attitude, believing it to be caused by the culture they live in - a sentiment that Spensa does not agree with and struggles to understand. FM is dismissive of Spensa's concerns about experiencing fear, likely because she does not understand Spensa's underlying fears about being a coward. Following the revelation that Spensa's father was Zeen Nightshade, FM began acting more cautious around Spensa, although it is unclear if this was because of her parentage or her temper.

FM worries about Spensa, particularly after the death of Hurl, and takes it upon herself to regularly check in with her flight-mate. The departure of Arturo set off worries in Spensa, that FM might also be removed from flight school as, like Arturo, her parents are influential and wealthy. After being dismissed from the DDF, Spensa avoided all of her former flightmates, including FM.

While FM doesn't think that Spensa generally causes the issues that surround her, she is acutely aware that trouble often follows the other women.

Rodge

“You will not tell her I said those things. She probably doesn’t even remember who I am....Does she? ”

—Rodge talking to Spensa after admitting he likes FM

Rodge has a crush on FM and thinks she is smart, cute, and has nice eyes. Spensa, while playing matchmaker, asks FM about her dating preferences to see whether she would be interested in someone like Rodge, although her attempts to find out information do not go very far.

Others

• Nedd: Nedd may have a crush on FM. They have a playful relationship, often exchanging friendly insults and joking comments. Nedd had hoped to celebrate with FM after her graduation, and was disappointed that she had immediately been sent on a DDF mission.
• Jorgen, Arturo, and Nedd: As FM is from the deep caverns, she may have attended school with Jorgen, Arturo, and Nedd prior to flight school.
• Lizard: FM is friends with a pilot in Nightmare Flight, who graduated not long before FM.

Notes

{/{partial}} {/{demoted|sf1}} {/{Skyward}}

I smiled. We worked well as a group, though we didn’t fly together regularly. Before I joined the DDF, I hadn’t understood the mentality that pushed people to fight as one, to keep doing so even as their friends died around them. I’d never felt that violence was the best way to solve problems, though I understood that violence was the only solution that kept us alive when the Krell kept trying to bomb us out of existence. Still, I’d found the rhetoric about glory disturbing, the way the National Assembly seemed to justify anything they wanted by saying it would help us fight the Krell. I had thought pilots were sheep. Skilled, determined, well-respected sheep who did what they were driven to do because they didn’t know any better. Now though, I understood the glue that held us together, and it wasn’t stupidity. It was the bond shared by people who faced death together. It was a sense of belonging, of being a piece of something bigger, something important, though I still wasn’t convinced everything about it was good. I’d never felt that I needed a military to tell me my place in the world before, and I still didn’t.

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