Madilyn Willows-Cavanaugh
Lieutenant Colonel Madilyn Willows-Cavanaugh
Natasha Henstridge
Natasha Henstridge as Madilyn Willows-Cavanaugh
Personal
Alias:
Age: 40
Features: Tall; blonde & blue
Colony: Caprica
Professional
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Department: Marines
Position: Commanding Officer

"He walked out in the gray light and stood and he saw for a brief moment the absolute truth of the world. The cold relentless circling of the intestate earth. Darkness implacable. The blind dogs of the sun in their running. The crushing black vacuum of the universe. And somewhere two hunted animals trembling like groundfoxes in their cover. Borrowed time and borrowed world and borrowed eyes with which to sorrow it."
— Cormac McCarthy, "The Road"

Background

Born into Caprican wealth and a (former) wife and mother of two, Madilyn Willows-Cavanaugh is a woman that seems as unlikely a candidate as there may be for the role of Marine Company Commander. However, she thrives on a challenge, and believes in a policy of social responsibility accompanying such wealth and privilege. Relying on training as much as maternal instinct, Madilyn prides herself on leading the Bravo Company marines with a softer touch than some of her male counterparts. This puts her at odds with several other members of the fleet, as on more than one occasion Madilyn has demonstrated greater concern with the here-and-now survival of the species rather than the lore and mystery surrounding 'salvation' being found in ancient relics and text.

Immediate Family

"I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, 'Mother, what was war?'"
— Eve Merriam

Unlike some, Madilyn doesn't hold hope that her family survived the events of Warday; her entire immediate family was on Caprica that day. As such, all family listed here are presumed dead by Cylon attack.

Name Relation Notes
Andrew Cavanaugh Husband 41, aspiring novelist, married 16 Jun 2025 AE
Olivia Cavanaugh Daughter 7, aspiring princess, born 05 Oct 2033 AE
Timothy Cavanaugh Son 4, aspiring artist, born 28 Jun 2036 AE
Daniel Willows Father Professor of Colonial History, Caprica University
Morgana Willows Mother Caprican socialite and busybody
Vincent Willows Brother Caprican banker with a hobby of tackling math problems for fun

Education

  • Colonial Fleet Academy: Scorpia - 4 years; earns BSc in Systems Engineering; leaves commissioned at rank of Ensign
  • Caprica University - 2 years; earns MSc (non-thesis) in Systems Engineering
  • CMC Basic Training - 9 weeks
  • CMC AIT: Rifle - 21 days
  • CMC AIT: Assault Engineering - 96 days

Service Jacket

"There will one day spring from the brain of science a machine or force so fearful in its potentialities, so absolutely terrifying, that even man, the fighter, who will dare torture and death in order to inflict torture and death, will be appalled, and so abandon war forever."
— Thomas A. Edison

Year Rank Station Notes
2026 AE LTJG Gunstar Phobos (CG-23) Entered at rank of LTJG having earned an MSc degree
2028 AE LT BS Volans (BS-23) Bravo Platoon Leader
2033 AE LT BS Ilium (BS-49) Marine S4; 2033 service year abbreviated by birth of her first child
2036 AE CPT BS Corvus (BS-78) Marine XO; 2036 service year abbreviated by birth of her second child
2041 AE MAJ BS Cerberus (BS-132) Bravo Company (1/9 BN) Commanding Officer
Apr 2042 AE LT. COL BS Cerberus (BS-132) Bravo Company (1/9 BN) Commanding Officer

Physical Features

Madilyn Willows-Cavanaugh stands 5'11" tall. Her hair is a naturally dirty blonde, a little beyond shoulder length, though often worn in a tight bun at the back of her head (think Seven of Nine style); her eyes are a pale yet clear blue, the color of Caprica's sky on any given day. Her frame is solid, neither thick with muscle nor thin from lack of work. There's no hiding the fact that she's a woman, and a mother twice over, with ample bust and wide, feminine hips. The years of military and domestic service show on her face, with age lines at the corners of her mouth and eyes, accentuated when she smiles.

swing.jpg

Miscellaneous Details

  • Widow and Mother: This is certainly not unique among the crew of, well, any ship in the fleet. She doesn't brood on it, and attempts not to dwell on it, but the simple fact is that you can't just ignore this if it happens to you. Don't be surprised if Madilyn starts to get watery-eyed or excuses herself if the topic comes up!
  • Systems Engineer: She spent 6 years in college and grad school to earn a master's in systems engineering. What is that? Well, you could ask! (If you're lazy? It means she's pretty decent at coming up with mathematical models of things and crunching the numbers in a computer - it doesn't mean she knows the fields, just the governing equations).
  • Music (Piano): Several years of her past life were spent religiously attending piano lessons at the behest of her mother. Back in the day, she was quite good. Though her skill has dropped off over the years, she's got enough muscle memory and knowledge left that she could pretty easily eek out something coming close to the right melody without much of a hassle.
lily.jpg

For Olivia



On the Grid

"We must remember that we are no longer alone. We are in the midst of a great company. Three-quarters of the human race are now moving with us. The whole future of mankind may depend upon our action and upon our conduct. So far we have not failed. We shall not fail now."
— Winston Churchill

Known Associates

1st Battalion 9th Marines ("The Mountaineers"): Bravo Company
Headquarters Unit
Mathers_icon.jpg Captain Zane Mathers: I'm still trying to get a read on this man. He seems casual if not quite flippant under most circumstances, but I've yet to find problems with his work. Given the upheaval associated with the prior XO, I hope this one sticks around long enough to figure him out.
Corrath_icon.jpg Captain Corrath O'Hare: Coming soon!
Vandenberg_icon.jpg Captain Natalie Vandenberg: Oorah, mother frakker. That seems to sum up her attitude fairly well, I think. She's the brains behind the operations, and so far, they've worked. Ballsy, but they've worked. She may be a little gung-ho for my taste, but I chalk that up to a difference in experiences.
Able Platoon (Military Police)
Cadmus_icon.jpg Lance Corporal Cadmus Maragos: A very capable officer with what seems like an infinite stack of work on his desk. I feel bad that he's saddled with so many reports of sabotage, but it's given him a chance to rise to the occasion and put his professional police skills on display. Duty above all else, in the face of horror.
Constin_icon.jpg Corporal Eleftherios Constin: If you mentioned the CMC to me in my youth, this is the sort of marine I would've pictured. He's big and burly, menacing…and that's not a bad thing. I'm really quite glad to know that he's pointing the rifle at the same person I am, not the other way around.
Kincaid_icon.jpg Corporal Daniel Kincaid: Coming soon!
Samuel_icon.jpg Sergeant Samuel Blaine: Coming soon!
Charlie Platoon (Marine Rifle)
Lunair_icon.jpg Lieutenant Raine Lunair: Enthusiastic, if not absent-minded. The habit of keeping track of everything related to her work on sticky notes is somewhat aggravating (and offends my sense of order within the offices). If you want coffee made though, she's the one to talk to.
Lysander_icon.jpg Sergeant Garret Lysander: Coming soon!
Dog Platoon (Training)
Richards_icon.jpg Sergeant Christopher Richards: Coming soon!

Recent Logs

"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out and meet it."
— Thucydides


Jukebox

This is a small sample of the things you're likely to find stored on Madilyn's digitial music player, along with what she might say about each piece/song.

Frédéric Chopin - "Waltz Opus 69 No. 2 in B minor"

This is a wonderfully expressive song, and among my all-time favorites.

I find it difficult, at best, to listen and not be simultaneously happy and sad.

There was a point where I would've considered myself talented enough to play
this with some degree of skill, though now, I can only hope to dabble in playing
bits and pieces at this level.

The images it evokes are reminiscent of elegant romantic dinners by firelight that
are, of course, doomed to never lead to any significant romantic attachment.

Gallery

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