Giovanni Marshall was born in 780 A.S., to humble beginnings. He was the son of a widowed mother of two. Dorothea Marshall did her best to take care of her children living in the sprawling ghettos of Planet Los Angeles. Her husband, Blaine Marshall, had left her at the altyr, for meanings still unknown to Gio. Dorothea was an overworked, underpaid seamstress in a broken down factory in Los Angeles. She did what she had to, to make ends meet.
A few years later, when Gio was only five, Dorothea became very sick. They could not afford health care, even though Giovanni's sister, Geraldine, also worked to support the family. Dorothea became sicker and sicker. The siblings did the best to take care of their dying mother. She died, August 25th, 785 A.S. Geraldine and Gio were placed into seperate, equally unsanitary orphanages in the slums of L.A. Geraldine was quickly scooped up, the social worker had tried to offer the well-to-do couple Gio too, but they only wanted girls... Giovanni was not so lucky, unfortunately. He watched for years as many other children, some his friends, went to loving homes. He was beggining to think something was wrong with him
One day, a middle-aged family walked in. Somehow he knew his saviors were almost upon him. The old man was balding. The wife, looked as if she knew exactly what to look for. As if she had kids before. Perhaps they had an empty nest to fill. Melvin Hughes leaned over and whispered to his wife, and seemed to eye towards Gio. He was ten years old, not considered desireable to many newly engaged couples who wanted an infant. Gio strained his ears to listen to what they were saying... It was then he heard them ask the social worker "What was wrong with 'that one.' "
Giovanni hoped for the best, but he prepared for the worst. He'd been in 8 different foster homes, all of which were not interested in permanent custody. He'd been dissappointed before. He'd grow comfortable in their arms, then they'd betray him. Sending him back into this horrible place. It was a viscious cycle. The pair casually walked up to him and asked him questions... The usual. He couldnt tell if they thought he was charming or a tazmanian devil... They left, however, with foster-papers in their hands. So Giovanni waited. And waited. He'd simply admitted to himself, they were not coming back. His liberators had abandoned him.
Five months after the Hughes have been at the orphanarium, His saviors arrived. They had the biggest smiles on their faces that Gio had ever seen on a person. They wanted him in their lives, and he needed their love. They took him home that day and began building a new, a better life, for Gio.
In 800 A.S, Gio had fully accepted the Hughes as his parents. Although, he kept his last name Marshall to honor his late mother. The Nomad war broke out early in 800 A.S., and strong men & women were immediately drafted into the Liberty Navy to combat Rhienland's growing agression. Rich men ussualy paid off corrupt government officials in order to not go to war, but Melvin didnt have nearly enough. He was drafted as a fighter pilot, as was Giovanni. Both Father & Son piloted Guardian class VHF's for their country. Melvin had flown sport ships in his youth and he was an excellent fighter pilot, quickly impressing his superiors.
Bloody battles in Bering and Hudson against the encroaching Rhienland forces went badly. The fighters of these battles were gallant warriors fighting for their freedom. Rhienland inched closer and closer to New York system. Melvin was promoted to Lieutenant for his valliant battle above Akta, Hudson. He was put in command of the Liberty Navy Gunboat LNS-Greenville He succeded in this ship and was a brilliant tactician. Giovanni was no softball, However. He had risen to Commander, taking control of a terrible situation near Freeport 2 in Bering and diffusing it without even firing a shot. The duo was unstoppable, it seemed. They were destined to be the best pilots in the entiretey of the Liberty Armed Forces.
These good times, could not last however. In 801 A.S., The Nomad situation in Liberty & Rhienland struck its zenith. Rhienland had seized control of Hudson, Bering, Texas, Honshu, and Sigma-13 among others. The colonies were at full war. The infested Libertonians controlled a large part of the central government, turning the democracy Giovanni and Melvin left into a bloodthirsty millitary dictatorship. Gio joined his adoptive fathers' side in the Sons & Daughters of Liberty, one of the remnant groups of loyal Libertonians. Gio proved his skill time and time again against the hordes of Rhienland fighters invading New York and California. Melvin was the wing leader aboard the Greenville, with Giovanni closely at his side.
Melvin's luck ran out during the Battle of The Texas Jumpgate. Battleship Unity, one of the only battleships in the remanant forces, had taken serious damage. Three of the five cruisers had been lost to the Rhienlander forces, and the fighters were being shot down like flies. Melvin's nimble gunboat zipped and twisted through space avoiding heavy capital fire. A missle slapped into a Valkryrie, blowing it up in a sickening BOOM.
Gio was actually having trouble keeping up. Two fighters were on Gio's tail as Melvin manuevered his nimble ship and both fighters were destroyed in seconds. Gio quickly tapped in a "Thank you" Comm burst as Melvin acknowledged.
Just then, a massive Rhienland Battleship uncloaked nearby and began concentrating all turrets on the Greenville, who had been causing quite a lot of trouble for them. Neither of them could anticipate those' gunners skill and targeting probabillity. The remaining two Liberty Cruisers opened fire on the battleships broad side, blowing off turrets and explosively decompressing the docking bay. The heavy ship took so much damage it began to list to the side. One of the cruisers must have hit the Gravity alignment rays. In a final blow, both cruisers concentrated fire on the engines, causing a chain reaction blowing up the ship in a huge white explosion. Gio let out a sign of relief as two of his Lancer Missles cracked a Valkryie in the nose.
There was a strange feeling, however it was not over. These were realized when a Nomad Battleship along with an entire armada of their tiny fighters coalesced out of nothing. The remaining cruisers had left scanner and radio range for repairs on the Remnant's base, The huge alien ship concentrated on the largest target within range-- The Greenville. Giovanni let out a NO! as huge streams of energy lashed the Gunboat, as it imploded on itself.
"They'll pay for this" Giovanni thought.
Twenty of the tiny Nomad fighters fell to Gio's angry rage. He and his wingmen escaped the battle unscathed... but he lost the closest thing he had to a father in the entire world...
Vice Admiral Richard Calhoun stood at the podium. He coughed, checked the mic, and began.
"I welcome you all to this award ceremony, Congradulations on all your success." He said, and began to read the names.
Hale Grand Hall was filled with civillians, Navymen, and even some of those hush-hush LSF agents.
Giovanni fixed his uniform, as neat and clean as it was the first day he worn it. He stepped out of the room at sat down at a table. He watched as many people recieved honors. Some were medals, others were ribbons and badges. Some of the receivers were civillians, probably taking the honor for their deceased relatives.
"Commander Marshall" The Vice Admiral said, seeming as if he was nearing the end of the list.
Giovanni stood up, cracked his neck, and strode across the stage.
"This medal, hereby awarded to you, Commander Marshall, in honor of your late father, Melvin G. Hughes."
The Vice Admiral held a cross in his hands. Giovanni's heart skipped a beat as he realized it was the Cross of Liberty.
"The Cross of Liberty is awarded to you for you and your father's gallant actions in both the Battles of Freeport 2, and The Texas Gate." The Vice Admiral continued.
"In addition, you are hereby promoted to Captain for your exemplary service to the Republic of Liberty." Admiral Calhoun said.
"This will conclude our awards ceremony, Thank you, and congradulations to all of you." He ended as
thunderous applause echoched through the theatre.