Melinda May

"Is that who I think it is?" "She's just the pilot." "Melinda May is just the pilot?""

- Grant Ward and Phil Coulson

Melinda May is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., also known as the "Cavalry." A veteran pilot and soldier with years of experience, she went into retirement after a mysterious event which left her slightly damaged. However, she returned to active duty when Agent Phil Coulson recruited her into his team.

Early Life
"Forgot I was working with 'The Cavalry'." "Don't ever call me that."

- Grant Ward and Melinda May

Nothing is known about Melinda May's youth. However, at some point in her life, she joined S.H.I.E.L.D., believing that the agency is the best defense of the United States of America against any possible threat.

Trained by all kinds of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, she became an ace pilot and a weapons expert, a soldier who can perform above and beyond the call of duty. She's one of the few S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who have more black belts than the notorious Natasha Romanoff. During her career, she met Agent Phil Coulson, one of the highest-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and the right-hand man of Director Nick Fury.

Over the years, Melinda became something of a legend in the agency, earning herself the nickname "The Cavalry". However, she endured some kind of trauma in one action, which left her a little damaged. She decided to withdraw from field duty and resigned herself to a quiet desk job.

New Actions
"I'm not going back in the field." "Yeah. You've got such a nice setup here. You ever thought about adding a moat? I just need you to drive the bus, liase ground transpo, some on-site supervision. This isn't a combat op." "Then you don't need me."

- Melinda May and Phil Coulson

However, after the battle of New York, Agent Phil Coulson came to the office where she worked and asked her to join his team. Still haunted by her past experiences in the field, she was reluctant to say yes, but she agreed when Coulson told her that he just needs her to "drive the bus."

However, field work is not always a stable environment. May was angered after seeing inadvertent combat in Peru, but her skills helped save her team from Camilla Reyes's hijackers.

During the action in Malta, May initially assumed that she would be on the strike team to rescue Dr. Franklin Hall, to her dismay. When Coulson informed her that he was going in with Ward instead, May expressed doubt, stating that field work and specialist work were two different things.

During the operation, May was frustrated at being stuck at the backend of the op, where she couldn't do anything to help her team. Upon Coulson's return, May informed him that she would report the next time combat duty came up.

Personality
Melinda May is a quiet person who has been proven to be a veteran pilot and soldier until she was 'damaged' from a previous combat experience. After that experience, she said she would not work on Level 7 but instead work on Level 3 until being brought back by Phil Coulson.

Relationships

 * Phil Coulson - Team leader
 * Leo Fitz - Teammate
 * Jemma Simmons - Teammate
 * Grant Ward - Teammate
 * Skye - Teammate

Trivia

 * This character was originally listed with the name Agent Althea Rice (a.k.a. The Cavalry) on casting sheets.