James Pierce is one of Adam Malkovich's 07th Platoon Marines in Metroid: Other M. His role of the team is Communications Expert. Adam orders him to investigate the Control Bridge.
As Adam orders everyone to regroup at the Exam Center of the Biosphere, James is the first one to arrive, even though Lyle was also in the area. When discovered by Samus, he is seen working underneath a computer. As Maurice Favreau repairs the damaged files on a computer, he asks James to hack it if he cannot bypass the security protocols, although James reassures Maurice that it will "take some time."
Afterwards, James' official status is clouded while he takes on a much more sinister role (see below).
James is found dead in the Bioweapon Research Center, with his visor broken.
The Deleter
Concept art for James.
| “ | How can I trust you when your troops are willing to kill each other? | „ |
—MB | ||
As Other M progresses, it is revealed that the 07th Platoon came with an assassin to kill all witnesses, and destroy all evidence linking Bottle Ship to the Galactic Federation, including his own team. Samus refers to this assassin as the Deleter.
While the game drops the subplot of the Deleter before it's solved, there is evidence that point to James being the most likely culprit, leaving the player to figure it out on their own.
Evidence
Evidence supporting James' secret role as the Deleter is as follows:
- He is the first to arrive at the Exam Center overlooking the virtual training grounds of the Biosphere, although Lyle had been sent there first, and is seen doing something underneath the computer. When Maurice analyzes it, it is discovered the CPU "self-destructed" and that they will need to reconstruct it. Later, Lyle's body is found and the building explodes.
- James and the Deleter both have a faded "07" on their helmet.[1]
- The Deleter is seen moving towards the Bioweapon Research Center, making effort to keep Samus from following him.
- James' body is discovered in the same area in which the Deleter had confronted MB.
- He is the last member of the 07th Platoon to die (not including Anthony or Adam).
Known acts
The following is a list of known actions that James Pierce took as the Deleter, supported by cutscenes, processes of elimination, and plain evidence:
- Arrived first in the research building, possibly causing the computer to self destruct.
- Destroyed the Exam Center to eliminate evidence linking the Bottle Ship and the Galactic Federation.
James shoots Maurice dead with his Freeze Gun.
- Killed Maurice with his Freeze Gun at point blank.
- Attacked MB and Samus with the RB176 Ferrocrusher.
- Killed K.G. with his Freeze Gun, and followed up by incinerating his body in a pool of lava.
- Disabled communications between Adam Malkovich and Samus.
- Led Samus from the Main Elevator to the Bioweapons Research Center.
- Confronted MB in the Bioweapons Research Center once Samus left, thinking she was helpless, but ultimately underestimated her which caused his death.
Speculation
Even though most of his actions are definite and seen on-screen, there are many things hinted at, and only hinted at to happening off-screen.
- Because of his role as Communications Expert, the all-pervasive electronic interference may have been his own doing in order to keep his teammates from contacting others in times of need or informing others about who the assassin is.
- It's known that the Deleter was sent to eliminate all evidence, including witnesses, of the Bottle Ship's connection to the Galactic Federation. When James is first found in the Exam Center, he is seen working underneath a large mainframe by Samus. When accessed by Maurice, the memory had been fragmented. While this could have been James, it may have also been an automatic function in case of emergency. Instead, James may have been planting explosives from the start in order to wipe out his team in one fell swoop. Unfortunately for him, Samus had arrived early. Also, Samus mentions in her monologues that Madeline Bergman must have been the one who set the facility's system to self-destruct. This implies that James was not responsible for that; he was probably planting explosives when Samus first saw him under the system.
- How did James get enough explosives to destroy the Exam Center as the Communications Expert? As Samus and the 07th Platoon were rushing to the site, they may have completely overlooked Lyle's body, the Demolitions Expert of the team. It would explain why Lyle, the first person sent to Sector 1, wasn't the first to arrive. James may have killed Lyle for his explosives, and tossed his body into the shrubbery so no one would immediately notice it. By coincidence, Little Birdie would find a snack and cover up James' work by turning Lyle's body into rags than whatever James had done to him.
- One of the Desbrachian cocoons in the room where his corpse is found is missing. However, MB is also known to have immense physical strength as an android. Either one could have easily killed him by surprise.
- Before the battle with MB, she is seen holding a Freeze Gun; most likely received after killing James.
Official data
Concept art for the RB176 Ferrocrusher, featuring the Deleter.
Credentials
"James Pierce (Communications):
<Battle Code Number>
104
<Service Record>
Galactic Federation Acedemy, Training Base #6
Federation Central Information Agency, Intelligence Group 2
Galactic Federation, 07th Platoon
ID: 3721-07:74425"
Character Log
- Beginning
- "Investigating the BOTTLE SHIP under Adam's command after receiving the distress signal."
- After Brug Mass
- "Currently investigating the Control Bridge under Adam's command."
- After King Kihunter
- "Currently heading toward the Exam Center in Sector 1 under Adam's command."
- After first Exam Center cutscene
- "Currently investigating the Exam Center under Adam's command."
- After Mystery Creature
- "Currently investigating the BOTTLE SHIP interior under Adam's command."
- After Rhedogian battle #2
- "Currently heading toward the Geothermal Power Plant in Sector 3 under Adam's command."
- After Main Elevator cutscene
- "No information available. Details unknown."
- After return to Bioweapon Research Center
- "Discovered killed by something in the Bioweapon Research Center."
Trivia
- James has a scar on his left brow. This is more apparent in his concept art than in-game.
- When disabling the communication link between Adam and Samus, a shell weapon is fired, although none of the 07th Platoon's handguns are ever unholstered on-screen. His handgun is fired again, off-screen, when the screen goes dark after confronting MB.
- James bears a strong resemblance to Carter Burke from Aliens. Both individuals secretly attempt to kill off the Marines and protagonist in an effort to erase potential witnesses for their true motives. In addition, they are both killed in the end.
Gallery
| Galactic Federation 07th Platoon | |
|---|---|
| Members | Commander Adam Malkovich • Anthony Higgs • Lyle Smithsonian • Maurice Favreau • James Pierce/Deleter • K.G. Misawa • Samus Aran |
| Equipment | Freeze Gun • Plasma Gun • Galactic Federation Power Suit • Adam's helmet • Galactic Federation Military Transport Hygieia • Submachine Gun • Assault rifle |