Introducing Miles Gether (The Protagonist of NFG)
Table of Content
Strength (4)
Agility (2)
Intelligence (4)
Weapons Mastery (5)
Experience (4)
Overall: 19/25 (4 out of 5 Stars)
As the first entry to our Character Analysis Series, we wanted to uncover some of the information surrounding Never Far Gone’s Protagonist: Miles Gether. With so much history to unpack, fans need to understand all the aspects that make a character who they are; Miles is no exception. Without further ado, let’s dive into some of the lore surrounding the leader of one of the most formidable organizations in post-apocalyptic New York.
Warning: This article may contain Spoilers! The following article is recommended for those who have completed Never Far Gone (NFG)
Character Overview
Miles Gether (The Ember That Lit a Revolution)
Disclosure: ALL Ages are displayed in accordance with the installment of the series they were introduced.
Age: 36 (Born on December 12th, 1977)
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, PA
Former Occupation: Military, Elementary School Security Guard
Characteristics: Goal-oriented, Leader, Marksman, Paranoid, Selfless, Conflicted
Position: Leader of the Thrivers, One of the 7 in the Delegation
Primary Weapons: Custom Kimber TLE II (.45ACP), S&W 686 (357 Magnum, 4-inch), Sig MPX
Life Before The Outbreak
Born as an only child in 1977, Miles Gether grew up in a strict Hispanic household near a poverty-stricken area of Philidelphia. Having been born during a time of economic and political turmoil following the conclusion of the Vietnam War just 2 years prior, Miles and his mother, Marisol Gether, soon relocated to the Greater Area of New York when he was just 12 years old. With Miles’s not knowing his father - who left just months before he was born - he was forced to step into the shoes of an adult from a relatively early age, opting to work in the city to provide for his single mother.
Fun Fact: Having always presented himself professionally while also looking older than he was, Miles had lied about his age to secure work while attending High School in Manhattan, being granted his first job at 13 years old.
After he turned 18 years old, Miles - against the will of his only living relative - made the last-minute decision to join the United States Marine Corps to secure a stable foundation for himself and his mother. There, Miles was able to garner a sense of selflessness - both for his country and those around him - that will stick with him even during the later years of his life. Miles’s loyalty to the service only strengthened following the events of September 11th, 2001, which directly caused the demise of his mother, who was working in Lower Manhattan at the time of the attack.
With his participation in the large-scale military operations that followed (including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom), Miles gained an uncanny ability to adapt to stressful situations without buckling under pressure. This, coupled with his remarkable accuracy in marksmanship, propelled Miles to new heights within the Armed Forces.
Fast forward a decade, Miles - having a love/hate relationship with his beloved city due to the mental anguish that festered at the time of his mother’s death - decided to purchase a large cabin near Millinocket Lake in Maine, primarily serving as a getaway whenever he needed a break from the overwhelming city life. Accompanying his fascination with firearms and survival, a second residence proved to be an essential purchase that would ultimately play a large role in how his life would be altered just a few years later.
In the months that followed, after incurring a near-fatal injury while stationed in California, Miles is forced to sever his ties with the military following a Medical Discharge he received due to the event. After a lengthy recovery period, Miles hesitantly makes his way back to the only place he’s ever felt a sense of comfort: New York.
Wanting to avoid the memories associated with Manhattan, Miles chooses to work as a Security Guard for an Elementary School in the Northern part of the Bronx. This position, coupled with his military disability checks, was enough for him to maintain his materialistic lifestyle and two residences (one in Maine with another in Scarsdale, NY). As time progresses, Miles soon finds himself deep within New York as a nationwide pathogen sweeps the city, ultimately changing his life forever as he’s forced to adapt to the brutal world unfolding around him.
Military Incident
In 2011, just three years prior to the events of Never Far Gone (NFG), Miles - now a Master Sergeant - was stationed in Camp Pendleton, California acting as the Chief Specialist in Weapons R&D (Research and Development). With his retirement coming up in a few years, and wanting to stay as far away from New York as possible following the death of his mother a decade prior, Miles volunteered to help with the process of testing new weapons in search of a new rifle for the Marine Corps to adopt.
With his love for weapons and unwavering loyalty to his subordinates and superiors, alike, Miles ultimately offered to show a few of his company’s Junior Enlisted Personnel how to hold their post at the base’s front gate due to a staff shortage at the time. It was during this time that Miles had an altercation with a Marine who stumbled to the front gate severely intoxicated.
After trying to de-escalate the situation, Miles was shot in the abdomen by the Marine who was illegally concealing a .38 Special Revolver in his jacket pocket. Having failed to draw his service weapon on time, Miles had incurred an injury that not only resulted in his Medical Separation in the months to come but inevitably caused a mountain of regret to simmer from within due to his lack of performance on the job. After nearly 16 years on the job, Miles was forced to cut his ties with the only organization he knew and retreated back to the endless chaos within New York City.
Strengths
With a firm understanding of Miles’s background, we can explore some of the characteristics he possesses that set him apart from some of the other characters we encounter throughout Never Far Gone (NFG).
Influential Leader
With nearly 20 years of service in the Armed Forces, as well as his selfless outlook on those around him, it comes as no surprise that Miles is incredibly influential. With a charismatic attitude and charming looks to match, Miles can effortlessly motivate people to act in a way that would otherwise be incredibly immoral to the untrained eye.
This is especially true in Chapter 5: Yield to the New Order when Miles utilizes his power and influence over the group of people he has recruited within the Consulate to convince Pancho “Jawbreaker” Ruiz to shoot the marauder who had previously held him hostage. The same can be said when, later in the chapter, Miles persuades Charlotte Kennedy to kill Simon in retaliation for his involvement in the Marauder Attack, as well as indirectly causing the demise of Charlotte’s Fiance, Jayden Walker. Although some may argue about whether these murders were justifiable or not, one cannot dismiss just how far Miles’s influence over those around him can go. With no laws governing people’s behavior, and danger looming around every corner, Miles has little problem leading others down the path of survival.
Aside from his charisma, Miles also demonstrates his leadership by participating in dangerous operations with the other Thrivers, instead of merely issuing orders and letting others do the heavy lifting. Whether walking the floors of the Consulate as part of the Noctorunal Patrols, securing deals with other traders in the Thrivers’ network, or merely training others in firearm training, Miles consistently demonstrates his ability to lead from the front, which no doubt compounds to the respect of those around him.
Efficient in Marksmanship
One of Miles’s most defining characteristics is his Mastery of Firearms. While attributed to both his military service and his extensive collection obtained throughout the years, his marksmanship is amongst the best in the group. This, compiled with his lack of remorse when facing adversity, makes Miles one of the most fearsome people in the city.
As shown in his Journal Entry in Chapter 11: Rendered, Miles even remarks how he is “mediocre at many things, but shooting isn’t one of them,” indicating he’s fully aware of his capabilities. Coupled with the fact that he has virtually no trouble handling any weapon he picks up throughout the story, it’s safe to say that Miles has truly set a high standard for those within the Consulate.
It’s even mentioned that, shortly after the execution of Simon Adams in Chapter 5: Yield to the New Order, Miles had established an isolated Training Campground about 12 miles north of the Consulate. This was primarily done to train inexperienced Thrivers in important survival tactics, including the following:
Firearms Training
Hand-to-Hand Combat
FIrst-aid Procedures
Note: For an in-depth overview of the Training Campground, as well as the Thrivers as a whole, check out our article here, where you can uncover information surrounding Never Far Gone’s most formidable faction.
Military Experience
Arguably Miles’s biggest advantage over those at the Consulate has to be his tenure in the United States Military. While not an exclusive experience seeing as though other characters throughout the story, such as Luca Silvio and Graham Whitlock, also possess military training, what sets Miles apart is the lessons learned throughout his lengthy career. This includes the following:
Increased Awareness
This is shown a few times throughout the story, including when Miles is scanning the Train Station from Right to Left in Chapter 17: Endure.
Effective Combat Strategies
Most prevalent when looking at the Thrivers’ Defense against the Spectrals in Chapter 4: Survive and Chapter 14: Overboard, respectively, as well as the Incursion of Troy, where Miles supervised the implementation of a fierce military strategy known as Maneuver Warfare.
Weapon Manipulation
With nearly two decades of experience with firearms, including his participation in two wars, Miles is extremely proficient with weapons -as mentioned in the previous section- which allows him to use any firearm with ease (which is seen whenever Miles is in the Consulate’s Armory).
Mental Fortitude
Having experienced hardship, countless setbacks, and loss throughout his life from an early age, Miles is well-versed when dealing with stress and can keep a level head whenever facing adversity.
Mixed with his tenacity and selflessness, Miles’s military experience has undoubtedly provided him with the tools necessary to build a formidable organization. With a loose moral compass and a willingness to do whatever it takes to protect those he loves, Miles has proven -time and time again- to be quite a force to be reckoned with.
Adaptive
There are countless moments throughout Never Far Gone (NFG) where Miles has demonstrated his ability to adapt to situations very fluidly. This, accompanied by his reliance, has allowed Miles to rise as the leader of New York’s most prominent factions. Some examples we see of this throughout the story include:
Creating the Network of Traders
Although he led the operation that was initially drafted with the help of others at the Consulate, including Derrick Simmons and Lance Ridgehall, it is Miles’s ambitious vision of the future that led to the creation of the Thrivers’ priceless Network following the events of Chapter 6: Onboard.
Introducing Security Measures in the Consulate
Following the death of Jayden Walker and Simon Adams, Miles draws up the plans for implementing Security Measures within the Consulate in order to assist the Thrivers with fending off Spectral and/or Marauder attacks.
These defenses include the Nocturnal Patrols, as well as the traps seen in Chapter 14: Overboard; Death From Above (Gasoline Drums thrown from the rooftop onto unsuspecting victims), Death From Below (the Grenade-ridden Chandelier above the Main Lobby), & the Swinging Pendulum (the heavy desks positioned on a metal chain above both staircases in the Lobby)
Thinking on his feet when faced with an Ambush
In the latter half of Chapter 11: Rendered, Miles makes a call to flank the Ravelers attacking their convoy, resulting in their temporary victory. He also demonstrates his quick thinking by disposing of the group’s weapons prior to their surrender at the end of the chapter, likely saving their lives.
Implementing the Delegation
The creation of the Delegation was primarily done to protect the Thrivers from the consequences of a single leader, who may make the wrong decision(s) based purely on emotion or greed. This realization was after the murder of Simon and Archer, as well as the Ravelers in Chapter 8: Rusty Beginnings.
Weaknesses
Like all great heroes (and antiheroes), there are weaknesses that counteract some of their strengths; Miles Gether is no exception. Here, we’ll uncover some of the characteristics that limit the growth of Never Far Gone’s most audacious leader.
Unneccesary Risktaker
While Miles has undoubtedly achieved many feats, both before and after the start of his apocalyptic journey, there are many times when his bold risks could’ve proven to be his unmaking. One of the most prevalent examples of Miles’s unnecessary risk-taking mentality can be seen in Chapter 8: Rusty Beginnings, when he decides to retaliate against the Ravelers who killed over half a dozen Thrivers.
Another moment highlighting Miles’s precariousness is his decision to return to the Consulate with the hopes of assassinating Graham Whitlock and Luca Silvio, the two responsible for the coup that resulted in the death of many Thrivers (referred to as the Whitlock Coup). With Miles, Corver, & Vito having successfully escaped to Maine following the tragic event that unfolded near the end of Chapter 14: Overboard, there was no reason for Miles to risk returning to the city, other than avenging his fallen comrades.
Although these two moments, in themselves, don’t categorize Miles as a bad leader, his willingness to risk the lives of others for an outcome that may not have any foreseen advantages to the group he’s leading makes him dangerous.
Obsession with Control
As the Theme of Never Far Gone (NFG), Control serves as a constant reminder to Miles why he acts the way that he does. While selfless, to an extent, his gradual rise to power and fear associated with the possibility of losing loved ones eventually leads him to become obsessed with Control, as mentioned by Damien Gifford during Miles’s interrogation in Chapter 12: No Way Out.
In a bizarre twist of fate, Miles’s obsession with control is exactly what causes him to lose it. Through betrayal, hubris, and lack of judgment, a single act of violence set his entire empire ablaze.
Impulsive
Whether discussing his decision to flee to Maine near the end of Chapter 1: Insight or choosing to kill Archer for putting the rest of the Thrivers in danger near the latter half of Chapter 6: Onboard, it’s safe to say that Miles’s seemingly brazen and impulsive behavior has had a lasting effect on those around him (for better or for worse).
Although Miles repeatedly tries to relinquish his authority over the Thrivers in an attempt to set them on a straighter path, including when he agrees to surrender his spot in the Delegation near the end of Chapter 13: Concessions, his inclination to intervene in the affairs of the Thrivers - especially without thinking of the consequences his choices may have for him and those around him - is just one of the things that ultimately makes Miles a dangerous leader. The most prevalent example we have to demonstrate his erratic behavior is when Miles supersedes the Delegation to initiate a large-scale attack against Damien Gifford and the remainder of the Ravelers. This attack (referred to as the Incursion of Troy) was primarily launched due to the deaths caused - directly or otherwise - by the Ravelers, including:
The seven Thrivers that were killed in the Home Improvement store
David Hall, who was killed during the Highway Ambush in Upstate New York
Jorge Montero, who was allegedly killed during his interrogation by Damien
Sergio Caruso, who was killed by Graham Whitlock, allegedly due to his association with the Ravelers.
Family Oriented
While some may argue that being family-oriented is exactly what forged Miles into becoming the formidable leader he’s eventually recognized as, it’s also important to note how nearly all of the sinister events that have occurred throughout Never Far Gone (NFG) are a direct result of the Thrivers being harmed or threatened, in one way or another.
The most prevalent example is Miles commencing the Incursion of Troy, in which Miles led a retaliatory assault on the Ravelers. While there are a variety of reasons why Miles chose to launch the attack, seeing how mentally distraught Renata and Vito Caruso were following the death of Sergio Caruso at the end of Chapter 12: No Way Out was enough to ignite the impulsive onslaught that followed.
Power Rating
Introducing one of the most important metrics to our Character Analysis: the Power Rating. Here, we’ll assess the character’s efficiency in the following sections (from 1 to 5):
Strength
Agility
Intelligence
Weapons Mastery
Experience
With everyone in Never Far Gone (NFG) having different experiences before the outbreak, it’s important to determine how strong they are in each area. With an insight into everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as a brief overview of their capabilities within the apocalyptic world, readers and fans alike can get a better idea of just how strong their favorite characters are.
Join us as we take a look at the Power Rating associated with NFG’s most influential leader: Miles Gether.
Strength
Miles has maintained his physique following his medical separation from the military, further adding to his intimidating presence. When combined with his above-average height (standing at just over 6 feet and 1 inch tall), Miles is certainly a force to be reckoned with.
Although there are a few examples throughout the story that demonstrate Miles’s immense strength (including when he prevents Corver from falling to his death after jumping off the roof of the Consulate, as well as carrying him through the Spectral-ridden streets near the end of Chapter 14: Overboard), we get to see his strength in action when he’s forced to engage the Lockers within the Overwatch Convoy in Chapter 17: Endure.
Within a short period, he’s not only able to block an incoming swing from a collapsible baton but also breaks the Locker’s arm with ease before engaging another threat. While his strength is seemingly counteracted by his lack of agility (as seen in the next section), it’s safe to say that Miles can undoubtedly hold his own against even some of the most aggressive adversaries.
Agility
What Miles gains in strength, he loses in agility. Often trading speed for brawn, Miles uses his momentum to deliver powerful blows to his opponents, as seen when engaging the Ravelers while in his cell near the beginning of Chapter 12: No Way Out. While maintaining a healthy physique that certainly provides him an advantage when facing off against other people, Miles’s muscular build prevents him from being as quick as some of the other Thrivers seen throughout Never Far Gone (NFG).
Intelligence
Having displayed remarkable creativity over his year in power, it becomes clear that Miles’s quick thinking, adaptability, and strategic planning have all contributed to his success as a leader. Some of the most prevalent examples of his intelligence include:
His idea to establish a Network of Traders
Planning the Incursion of Troy
Implementing Training Programs for the Thrivers
Creating a Diversion to Infiltrate the Consulate in Chapter 18: Retribution
Inventing Traps to be used throughout the Consulate
While Miles’s lack of impulse control certainly hinders his performance as a leader, his cunning approach to adversity and his knack for innovation places him into the higher echelons of this category.
For an in-depth look at the Thrivers, as well as what sets them apart from other organizations seen throughout Never Far Gone, click here.
Weapons Mastery
Arguably Miles’s greatest asset has to be his obsession with weapons (more specifically Firearms). Due to his tenure in the Armed Forces, Miles has gained decades of weapons training that certainly contributes to his success when encountering enemies. Throughout the story, we also get a glimpse at his incredible accuracy whenever he engages an enemy with a firearm.
His proficiency in weaponry isn’t exclusive to firearms, however, as we see Miles effectively turning any item at his disposal into a destructive tool. While there are a few examples of this throughout the story, the most notable would be when he makes a shiv out of a loose chair leg at the beginning of Chapter 12: No Way Out.
Even when faced with a lack of resources around him, it becomes evident how Miles’s training and creativity make him an excellent marksman, as well as a dangerous fighter who will resort to anything if it means getting out of the corner he’s backed into.
Experience
While this category analyzes the character’s experience before and after the outbreak begins, it’s clear how Miles had gained invaluable training prior to the events of Never Far Gone (NFG). His improvision in the field and his increasing knowledge of the Spectrals (including how they react to light and how the infection works) sets Miles apart from just about all of the other Thrivers he encounters.
Conclusion
Overall, Miles has proven to be an effective leader who -just like anyone- has his own set of flaws that prevent him from reaching his full potential. With a knack for survival and a seemingly undeterred loyalty toward those he cares about, it’s clear that Miles is one of the most formidable and cunning characters introduced in Never Far Gone (NFG).
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