MEET THE CREW OF THE FREE TRADER "THE PAW OF PROFIT"
The crew of the merchant cruiser "The Paw of Profit" is an unlikely assortment of lovable rogues, each hailing from a secretive or otherwise questionable past. The ship's captain, Raglah T'Rag, has recruited each of them for their particular and unique abilities. Half of them are on the run from the law or otherwise unable to show themselves in public without false identities or diplomatic clearance, but fortunately the crew has the means to create or acquire such documents. This does not mean that the crew is safe from any bounty hunter who might recognize or otherwise suspect that these are wanted individuals.
Reactions 1
Speed 4"
Combat Skill +0
Toughness 3
Savvy +0
LUCK: 1
EQUIPMENT: Boarding Saber, Shotgun, Communicator
Raglah was born on Uvena, a Unity protectorate world. He is of the Feral species known as Vargr in their own tongue. Raglah's parents were members of the Merchants' Guild, so he traveled frequently as a young pup. By coming into contact with the people of many worlds and species, his family taught him that this was the true essence of trade. He learned the importance of understanding a society and its culture, for this was the way to know what they wanted and valued. As such, he has developed a shrewd mind for trading and finance. When his parents died, his sizeable inheritance included the merchant cruiser known as "the Paw of Profit" (along with its equally sizeable debt). What he needed, however, was a crew - and what better place than starport bars to find people looking for reliable work, travel, and adventure?
EQUIPMENT: Military Rifle
Kadyn Halcorr grew up on New Deseret, an colony world belonging to an esoteric religious cult known as The Envoys. Founded upon ancient spiritualist texts, The Envoys are philosopher priests who seek Unity, not as a political concept but as a spiritual aspiration. An important coming-of-age tradition is for each youth to undertake a pilgrimage, returning to their home world only after receiving their own personal epiphany. The Envoys believe that this journey of self-discovery and the insights shared by the returning pilgrims will strengthen their society's collective understanding of The Word.
Kadyn chose a path that was uncommon but not unheard of, and joined the Diplomatic Corps as a Chaplain. However, when his term of enlistment was over, he did not return to New Deseret, for his vision was of a life as a missionary among the many worlds of the Fringe. Seeking passage, he was approached by Raglah, who promptly hired him to handle licensing issues and negotiate trade contracts. While violence is generally a last resort to him, Kadyn is not a pacifist and his years of Federal service taught him that sometimes, "gun barrel diplomacy" is the only effective response.
Reactions 2
Speed 4"
Combat Skill +2
Toughness 3
Savvy +0
EQUIPMENT: Stealth Gear,
Marksman's Rifle (Seeker Sight, Stabilizer)
The soldier known only by the callsign "Ghost" comes from a harrowing past. He is a Limonian, a race which possesses an ability similar to the teleportation power exhibited by Stalkers. Limonia is a war-ravaged world, with irradiated lands and toxic skies from centuries of conflict. Aside from a few small dome cities on the surface, the inhabitants live in vast underground warrens. Ghost joined the resistance movement against the forces that attempted to conquer his homeworld. An exceptional marksman and a stealthy hunter, Ghost found his calling as a sniper. He and his fellow insurgents used their ability to "Shadow-Step" to great effect, attacking from one position and fading out of sight, only to appear almost impossibly in another location a moment later.
Having driven the occupiers from their world, some Limonians have ventured out into the galaxy, plying their skills to seek fame and fortune. Ghost is no different and has found success as a gun for hire. His particular skills were of great interest to Raglah, who hired him as a bodyguard. Woe to any who try to double-cross the crew, for they will be met with shots out of the darkness, seemingly from all directions. Ghost is a being of few words, and while he does not dislike his crew mates, he tends to keep to himself when not on a mission or task.
Reactions 3
Speed 4"
Combat Skill +0
Toughness 3
Savvy +3
EQUIPMENT: Machine Pistol,
AI Companion ("Max")
Rumors and allegations abound, but little actual information is known about the individual called BLANK-REG. Even the most thorough research would never yield his real name, the date or world of his birth, or his employment history. His behaviors and proficiencies are indicative of an upbringing in the Tech Guilds, and rumors say that the man now known as Reg was ostracized from the Guild on suspicion of corporate espionage and embezzlement. In order to avoid prosecution and imprisonment, Reg absconded and erased his prior existence from the Net - overwriting his files in governmental databases with a blank registry. As a "blank", he does not officially exist, and has adopted the name "Reg" from the only line of data that remains on his file: "BLANK-REG". No longer in possession of Guild credentials, he is unable to seek legitimate employment with reputable corporations. This suits him just as well, for extra-legal opportunities abound for a man with his skills and abilities. However, the money never seems to last, as Reg prefers to spend it on intoxicants and Companions.
While Raglah had already procured the services of a legitimate negotiator by hiring The Padre, he also realized that it might sometimes be necessary to "bend the law" in order to procure the best business opportunities. Thanks to both of these crew members, The Paw of Profit possesses trade and travel permits of both the official and unofficial varieties.
Species: Feral
(uplifted Chimpanzee)
Reactions 2
Speed 5"
Combat Skill +0
Toughness 3
Savvy +0
EQUIPMENT: Handgun, Blade
Link is a member of a Feral species that was uplifted from Chimpanzees many centuries ago. His troop lived on Pan IV, a jungle world that serves as a Unity research facility. His species (commonly called "Chimps" by society at large) often served as test subjects for behavioral science and biological studies. Generally, the Chimps are unwilling test subjects, even though most of the research is not directly harmful to the participants. When a corporate security team discovered his troop and attempted to capture some of them for study, the adults of the troop fought back and were killed.
Without a community to raise him, Link was taken in as a foundling of the Orphan Utility Program. Little is known of its purpose or methods but it is generally believed that this organization was designed to indoctrinate its young members to serve in whatever useful capacity Unity might have in mind. Link was being trained as a government operative and was given the new code name "Lancelot". In addition to infiltration and other covert skills, Lancelot was trained in sign language, as this was more effective means of communicating with the research teams than the Chimps' limited and sometimes primitive grasp of the common Galactic language.
However, a chance encounter with one of the program's sociobiologists would change Link's life and his destiny. Now on the run, Link has rejected the name given to him by Unity and seeks only to travel as far beyond the reach of the government as possible. He and Frankie share a life-bond of loyalty and only the most exceptional circumstances could separate them.
Species: Pure-Strain Human
Reactions 1
Speed 4"
Combat Skill +0
Toughness 3
Savvy +2
EQUIPMENT: Rattle Gun
Francesca Franklin grew up on a space station orbiting the jungle world designated Pan IV. She took great interest in its indigenous inhabitants and knew from an early age that she wanted to study and work with them. Unlike most of her peers, she did not see the Chimps as ignorant savages, but as people that shared many of the same values and beliefs as humans - the importance of the family unit, the mutual benefit of a collective society, and perhaps most importantly, thier own feelings and aspirations.
Frankie was a diligent student, eventually earning Doctorate degrees with High Honors in sociobiology and xenobiology. Able to sign to any posting she desired, Frankie chose to return home to Pan IV to work with the Chimps among whom she grew up. Her official duties included field study of the indigenous troops as well as education and upbringing of foundlings whose parents had been lost to disease, fatal injury, conflict with other troops, or any other reason. It was here that she met Lancelot, the test subject she has come to regard as a friend and nearly a sibling.
Eventually, Frankie discovered that the public goals of the Orphan Utility Program concealed a more unethical and nefarious purpose. She worked secretively to undermine the program, biding her time until the opportunity to free her charges finally came. She assisted Lancelot in breaking out of the facility. During their escape, the Chimp had need to use many of the special skills in which he had been trained. Needless to say, his given name was not the only thing Link left for dead as they fled. Knowing that neither of them could safely return to so-called "civilized" society, Frankie and Link try to always stay one step ahead of pursuit. While she has no formal training or certification as a medical practitioner, Frankie is the closest thing to a doctor among the crew.
FREE TRADER "THE PAW OF PROFIT"
Unreliable Merchant Cruiser
Hull Points: 30 Debt: 23
EQUIPMENT: Fake ID, Sector Permit STASH: Auto Rifle (2)
Cash: 23 credits Story Points: 10
RIVALS: 1 PATRONS: 3
Rumors: 1
