Nathaniel Taylor
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 1
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Actor: Stephen Lang, Ref: Terra Nova
Concept
Badass Benevolent Dictator
Tropes
Father To His Men; Commanding Coolness; Old Soldier; Screw The Rules! I'm Doing What's Right; Well-Intentioned Extremist
Details
In the Show
- Long military service. Saw combat in multiple theaters. Served under General Richard Philbrick.
- Wife Ayani, and son Lucas. In August of 2138, during the war in Somalia, the family was captured; Taylor was forced to choose one of them to be killed, and chose Ayani. Lucas hated him afterward for it, and/or Nathaniel hated Lucas, depending on which one is asked.
- First human sent through the Portal on the First Pilgrimage, departing in 2142. Arrived ahead of his team for unknown reasons, and spent 118 days alone, surviving the savage jungle of Terra Nova, before the rest of the people in his group arrived. It is said that he lived in Pilgrim's Tree during his time alone, but this could just be part of his legend.
- Lucas came to Terra Nova on the Second Pilgrimage, and was assigned to the science division.
- Some time before the Third Pilgrimage, Taylor found out Lucas was trying to make the Portal allow two-way transmission, allowing an unidentified group/sponsor to plunder this world. Taylor destroyed his son's research, and later, followed his son to the portal, where Gen. Richard Philbrick emerged to assume command of Terra Nova. When Taylor refused to step down, guns were pulled, and Gen. Philbrick was killed. Taylor banished his son, and listed him as missing, hoping that he would one day repent and return. Tom Boylan helped Taylor bury Philbrick's body under Pilgrim's Tree.
- Lucas reappeared just before the Eleventh Pilgrimage, having completed his calculations. He reversed the portal and returned to Homeline, bringing back corporate management, and their hired PMC, Phoenix Group, to take over the colony, forcing their surrender. Taylor and much of the security team managed to escape, and fought a guerilla resistance, until Jim Shannon escaped through the portal with a bomb, and severed the connection. The Phoenix Group was stranded Backline, and so retreated from Terra Nova to the Badlands.
In the Campaign
- Strict, but usually fair. He will make sure he gets things his way, as long as they help Terra Nova, in his eyes
- “Green” true-believer, conservationist (but not to the point of total-idiocy)
- Hand-picked by former Pres Washington & given total authority over Backline operations
- Extra-suspicious of military types after the takeover incident
- Still a father-figure to Skye, though he still keeps her at some distance, since the revelation of her spying for the Sixers
Traits
Strong, tough, and scrappy, even at his age; Fearless and unwavering; Expert commando; Charismatic leader; E&E and survival expert; Trust-issues (esp. since the occupation)
Notes
- Chews wooden matches sometimes
- Popular movie at Homeline: 118 Days: The Nathaniel Taylor Story, a sensationalized "propaganda" account of Taylor's experience before the remainder of P1 arrived.
