Marcus Fenix was a sergeant in the COG Armed Forces. A legendary war hero, Marcus served with distinction in the Pendulum Wars which earned him the Embry Star, COG's highest military award, for his actions during the Battle of Aspho Fields. Like the rest of humankind, he saw everything change on Emergence Day. Marcus bravely fought the Locust for ten years, then, during an intense battle, he abandoned his post to rescue his father, Professor Adam Fenix, but could not reach him in time. Marcus was tried for dereliction of duty and sentenced to 40 years in Jacinto Maximum Security Prison. Incarcerated for four years before being released by his longtime friend, Dominic Santiago. Marcus was later promoted to replace Minh Young Kim after his death. Along with the rest of Delta Squad, he successfully detonated the Lightmass Bomb and destroyed much of the Locust Hollow. With his reputation restored, Marcus finishing the war against the Locust, now works with the military to rebuild civilization. It's presumed that he holds romantic feelings for Anya Stroud.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early History

Marcus was born 21 years before E-Day to Elaine Fenix (a doctor) and Adam Fenix (a scientist and ex-COG Officer). At age 9 he was sent to Olafson Intermediate School by his parents in order to "mix with people". He became fast friends with Carlos Santiago, and his younger brother, Dominic. A few years later, Marcus' mother mysteriously disappeared, leaving Marcus with a severe traumatic effect. His only refuge was with the Santiago Family, as his father was preoccupied with unknown affiliations. Marcus joined the COG as an infantry soldier four years before E-Day after his best friend Carlos at age 17 against his fathers wishes, who wished Marcus to be a scientist instead.

[edit] The Pendulum Wars

[edit] Operation Leveler

A young Marcus Fenix at Aspho Fields, holding a Pendulum Wars Era Lancer

The war had been going on for over 75 years when Marcus and Carlos Santiago were sent to Sarfuth to guard an Imulsion pipeline. He was only a Corporal back then. Marcus wouldn't wear his COG issued helmet but his "do-rag" was acceptable headgear as long as the ties were tucked neatly. He was in Alpha-Five along with Carlos. During their tour of duty in Sarfuth they took part in the Sarfuth-Maranday Border Incident. Dominic Santiago, Tai Kaliso and Bernadette Mataki were also members of the 26th Royal Tyran infantry; All of which are veterans of Aspho Fields. At that battle Marcus watched his best friend Carlos Santiago commit suicide on a bridge after attempting to destroy an "Asp."

[edit] The Locust-Human War

[edit] The Hammer of Dawn counterattack

Approximately a year and a month^[4] after E-Day Marcus was serving in A Company Two-Six RTI^[5], in a unit with Dom, Tai Kaliso, and Padrick Salton, when the recall order for all military units to return to Ephyra came in. Despite their orders they took a detour to engage Locust forces at Jannermont, and were involved in a skirmish there.

[edit] Imprisonment

During a battle ten years after E-Day, Marcus abandoned his post in a vain attempt to save his father, Adam Fenix. As a result, he was jailed for cowardice and failure to obey orders, and only narrowly avoided execution due to his two exemplary tours of duty in the Pendulum Wars. Dominic Santiago testified for him, but to no avail. He was sentenced to 40 years in Jacinto Maximum Security Prison, where he was prisoner number 098356-GX.

[edit] The Lightmass Offensive

After four years served, the other prisoners are freed, but Colonel Hoffman leaves Marcus in jail. Dom comes and frees Marcus himself. After Dom springs Marcus from his cell, they fight their way through the abandoned prison. Eventually they board a King Raven helicopter and narrowly escape an emerging Corpser. Marcus and Dom rendezvous with Delta Squad, a COG unit comprised of Dom, Private Anthony Carmine, and Lieutenant Minh Young Kim. Delta Squad is quickly deployed into the field on a mission to locate the missing COG unit, Alpha Squad. Alpha possesses a Sonic Resonator, a newly developed tool that the military believes capable of mapping the Locust underworld. Marcus and the rest of Delta eventually locate one member of Alpha Squad, Augustus Cole. Delta then rendezvoused with the remaining Alpha Squad members, and a firfefight ensues. The newly formed Delta Squad is forced to retreat from battle into the Tomb of The Unknowns, and during said retreat the current Lieutenant for Delta, Minh Young Kim, is killed by General RAAM. Once in the Tomb of The Unknowns, Delta encounters a Beserker, which is eventually defeated by Marcus and Dom. Colonel Victor Hoffman then promotes Marcus as Sargeant and CO of Delta. Marcus leads Delta Squad through what's left of Sera with the intentions of mapping the Locust tunnels in order to destroy the Horde with the Lightmass Bomb, which after a series of challenges eventually is detonated by Marcus.

[edit] The Pirnah Badlands and Mission to Montevado

Marcus and Anya at The Rusty Nail.

Several weeks after the Lightmass Offensive, Delta-One (including two new members; Jace Stratton and Gil Gonzalez) were sent to the Pirnah Badlands to search for and rescue missing Gears. The only survivor they found was Michael Barrick of Echo-Six^[6]. After recovering Barrick, Delta set off on the return to Jacinto. However, during the journey the squad picked up a distress signal, which turned out to be a Locust ambush. Although all enemy forces were destroyed, Gonzalez was fatally wounded^[7]. Despite this Marcus was able to get his squad back to Jacinto, and gave Gil a proper funeral.

During down time in Jacinto, Fenix went to The Rusty Nail for rest, relaxation and to meet up with Anya, but ended up fighting (and beating) two men. After the week of leave was up, Fenix and the rest of Delta-One was sent to Montevado. Whilst flying over the Dorado Hills, they were shot down by Locust, but survived and managed to reach a Stranded camp outside of Montevado, appropriately named Fucked. Marcus and Delta-One had to neutralize a force of Locust raiders in order to protect the encampment, in what became known as the Battle for Fucked. Afterwards, Delta used a junker (that a stranded named Jonboy had promised them) to get to Montevado. During the journey they were attacked by a brumak, but were saved by the intervention of Sigma-One. Fenix and the rest of Delta made it to Montevado. Unfortunately, however, the Riftworm sank the city just after they had entered.^[8]

[edit] Operation: Hollow Storm

Marcus Fenix and Dominic are at a hospital in Jacinto six months after the Lightmass bombing. He and Dom both clear out the hospital, and then meet up with Tai Kaliso and Benjamin Carmine, who he trains beforehand. After facing the Locust raid, Chairman Prescott orders dozens of Gears in the Coalition to assault Landown, a nearby location, and drill deep into the Locust's Inner Hollow. Marcus boards an Assault Derrick named "Betty" with the squad and an ex-Stranded soldier named Dizzy Wallin. Many Gears are lost on the trip due to an Aerial Assault, but Marcus and company reach Landown safely. As he boards the Grindlift, the drilling device, Skorge, the Kantus priest leader, leaps onto the Derrick and engages in a chainsaw duel with Tai and Dizzy. Tai instructs Dizzy to escape, and Marcus attempts to exit the lift to assist Tai, but the Grindlift launches too soon.

The two of them land in the Hollow and quickly engage Locust forces to save other Gears. The fate of Dizzy and Tai remains unknown, but Carmine is saved by Marcus as he is cornered by two emergence holes. They journey further underground, making a first-time engagement with the Locust Kantus Priests at what appears to be a locust stronghold and witness the movement of a gigantic Riftworm. The worm, large enough to swallow the foundations for which entire cities were built on, destroys the city of Illima just as Marcus, Dom and Carmine exit the Hollow. They trek across the city, meeting up with Cole and rescuing Baird from Locust captivity. They board a Locust Prison Barge, and discover a brutally tortured Tai. Marcus arms him with a Gnasher Shotgun, not noticing/taking into account the countless scars and whip marks on him. Tai glances at the Shotgun, realizing his soul already left his body, then points it at his chin, and fires. At this point and further on, Dizzy is still MIA. The squad leaves the Beast Barge and order an extraction from Illima. Just as their King Raven picks them up, the Riftworm bursts out of the ground and swallows the helicopter whole. The fate of the pilot is unknown, but the squad wakes up inside the worm, finding that Carmine is missing. They battle parasitical Nemacites and find Carmine being mauled by one. He soon dies, and the remaining four chainsaw themselves out of the worm after disabling its three hearts. Marcus then calls for extraction.

A King Ravens drops Delta Squad a Centaur tank instead of an extraction, and they are instructed by Hoffman to drive to a nearby research facility, where Niles, an autonomous security system, warns them to stay away from the status tanks. Marcus and Dom extract data from the lab about the Locust queen, and accidentally awaken the Sires inside the tanks. They burst free, but Marcus and Dom make it out of the facility alive. Marcus and company then drive the Centaur atop Mount Kadar and into the highway to Nexus, the Locust stronghold. Chaps, a gas station owner, tells them the only way to Nexus is via the internal river location inside the mountain. Baird and Cole extract several human survivors to the surface, whilst the two others make their way to Nexus, boarding a Locust gunboat and slaying a Locust Leviathan Fish.

They both make it to the entrance, as Dom expresses his desperation for his missing wife, Maria. Marcus is reluctant to follow him on the search, but gives in. They find Maria, who is bruised up and battered, similar to Tai, and realizing that she will never function again, Dom kills her so she won't have to suffer a slow death. They enter Nexus, a complex network of structures deep underground, inside an immensely gigantic cavern, above a seemingly infinite sea of Imulsion below. They fight to a location where summoning COG reinforcements would be probable. The beacon is activated, and the assault on Nexus begins. Baird and Cole reunite with Marcus and Dom, so the four of them enter the Locust palace and face the queen. She escapes, and Baird and Cole give chase. Myrrah instructs Skorge to kill Marcus and Dom before leaving however, so a fight ensues. Skorge is beaten, and boards his mutated Reaver mount, the Hydra, and lifts off. Delta hops on two Reavers give chase to him, assisting COG forces in the fight.

Aboard the Reavers, Delta flies to Jacinto. After Dom and Marcus encounter the High Kantus's mount, they dogfight with him in a drawn-out chase and eventually (presumably) kill Skorge. They assist in the COG defense against a massive Locust raid, and Colonel Victor Hoffman orders Marcus and Dom to clear out the underground space beneath Jacinto to allow a Lightmass Bombing; doing so would flood the Hollow, which the COG believes would kill the Locust Horde. Marcus and Dom make their way down, hijacking a Brumak, and wreaking havoc with it in the process. The Brumak is infected with Imulsion after having to step in it clear out the aforementioned underground space, and turns into an explosive, Lambent Brumak. The Brumak hits the raven carrying the bomb, and it is lost. Marcus then realizes that a Lambent Brumak is the same as a Lambent Wretch, except on a gargantuan scale. Baird confirms this, and Marcus then destroys the Brumak, causing an enormous explosion which ultimately ends up flooding the Hollow, making Operation Hollow Storm a success.

[edit] Jacinto's Remnant

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[edit] Return of the Lambent

In the upcoming Gears of War novel Gears of War: Anvil Gate, the Lambent Horde comes to the surface of Sera and poses a new threat.

[edit] Personal Journal

"I got to admit, It's tough to keep going. Everyone I loved is dead. Some call them the lucky ones.. the ones that died on E-day, they never lived to see how much we've lost and how many principles we've compromised. But whenever I doubt what we're fighting for I just look to my squad. I mean maybe it's a good thing we lost everything. It's like a clean slate. We can make the world we always wanted to. Without repeating the same mistakes. I look at guys like Jace and Dom and realize we'll inherit this world. We're the ones who will make Sera beautiful again. That's a world worth fighting for."

— Sgt.Fenix journal found in Tollen^[9].

[edit] Personality and Traits

Fenix is a legend among the Gears, but it does not do him any good^[10].

A totally professional soldier, Marcus Fenix is generally gruff and aggressive. He is a natural leader; being promoted to corporal not long after he joined the army^[11], and was promoted to sergeant after the death of Lt. Kim^[12], ; despite Hoffman’s dislike of him. However, there have been several times when Marcus has put friends and family before the call of duty; he deserted his post to try and save his father, as well as going with Dom to look for Maria despite that not being their mission. He frequently displays great loyalty to others.

Marcus is a very cold person, and he rarely displays any emotions other than anger. Part of his cold demeanor stems from the loss of his best friend Carlos Santiago and a strained parental relationship during his childhood and adolescent years. However, on occasions a glint of caring is seen under the hard exterior. He tells Ben Carmine that he will get out of the Hollows, and later appears distressed by his death, as he was about Tai Kaliso’s suicide. He also cares a great deal about Dom, and it is hinted, about Anya Stroud. He appears shocked and saddened by the discovery of Maria Santiago in the Hollow, although soon manages to refocus on the mission at hand.

[edit] Multiplayer

Marcus Fenix is also a playable character in Gears of War multiplayer matches for the COG team.

[edit] Notable Quotes

"Anybody need some sniper practice?"

— Marcus Fenix Upon seeing a Locust Patrol.

"Alright guys, sit tight. We came here to help you, and that's what we're gonna do. Dom, let's go."

— After receiving instructions on how to defeat a Berserker in Act 1 of the first game.

"Well, we're not here to sell cookies, so they know something's up."

— First encounter with Theron Guards in Gears 1.

"Drop the sir shit kid, we're not that polite out here."

— Gears of War 2, to Carmine.

"What do I look like, a fucking botanist? Some kinda plant, I don't know."

— To Benjamin Carmine inquiring what the glowing red plants in the Hollow are.

"And I used to be so pretty"

— Marcus on his scars from the slab^[13]

"Next lake you're swimmin'!"

— After Baird challenged Marcus's driving skills in Ascension after traveling over an icy lake with the Centaur.

"We're not saints. But we are gonna win this fucking war and I'd rather have you on the winning side."

— Marcus Fenix to Tai

"They can eat shit and die for all I care."

— Responding to Ben Carmine's inquiry if the Locust feed on immulsion.

"I think you're bat-shit crazy. That's what I think."

— Responding to Baird's comments on the Corpser saving Delta Squad as a snack.

"But this thing's at full power, and I haven't seen one of these in about fifteen years...aw,shit."

— Marcus upon a transmitter during the Mission to the Pirnah Badlands.^[14]

"That's one! That's two! That's three! That's four! That's five motherfuckers!"

— Marcus Fenix upon a sniper side mission.

"Looks to me like you need all the help you can get."

— To Victor Hoffman.

"Always the shit closest to home that hits you the hardest."

— Marcus during a conversation with Dom and Carmine about how long the Locust have been in the Hollow.

[edit] Behind the Scenes

• Marcus is voiced by John DiMaggio, the voice of 'Bender' from the popular TV series 'Futurama" and the Brute Chieftain from Halo 3 also, the voice of Schnitzel from the cartoon,"Chowder" on Cartoon Network, as well as the voices of Wakka and Kimahri in Final Fantasy X and also Superman Returns (game) as Bizarro.
• Before the game's release, Marcus' face looked a lot thinner and closer to normal proportions and scarless.^[15]
• Marcus has a knife on his right leg which you can see if you Roadie Run, though you won't see him or any other Gears use it during the entire series.

[edit] References

1. ↑ Destroyed Beauty
2. ↑ Gears of War:Aspho Fields
3. ↑ Gears of War:Aspho Fields pg 102
4. ↑ Gears of War:Jacinto's Remnant p.52
5. ↑ Gears of War:Jacinto's Remnant p.133
6. ↑ Gears of War:Hollow issue 1
7. ↑ Gears of War:Hollow Issue 2
8. ↑ Gears of War:Hollow Issue 5
9. ↑ Last Day
10. ↑ Gears of War:Hollow Issue 1
11. ↑ Gears of War: Aspho Fields
12. ↑ Gears of War
13. ↑ Gears of War:Jacinto's Remnant pg 102
14. ↑ Gears of War:Hollow
15. ↑ Art of Gears of War