• Premise: Forty years after the end of fifty years of ruinous and exhausting "Formation Wars", the Eichberger Foundation — now called "The Empire" — has recovered and rebuilt enough to start returning to the hinterland beyond 60 light-years from Sol. There are a lot of colonies out there: six hundred, of which fewer than two hundred have been explored at all since the destruction of Earth. The Empire has commercial, naval, and humanitarian interests in the Beyond; obviously the first step is a quick survey to find out what's out there in the way of problems and opportunities.
  
  A preliminary attempt by the Imperial Navy to conduct such as survey without professional diplomatic skills and expert social and political advisors ended in tears, wars, progroms, and a suicide.
  
  So now the Navy, the Imperial Office, and the Colonial Office have combined their efforts to produce Survey, an ambitious program in which 24 specially-constructed starships under naval command will explore six hundred worlds in ten years. Each Survey frigate is operated by the Imperial Navy and carries a big stick of sorts, but it also carries a small diplomatic mission from the Imperial Office, a team of multi-disciplinary explorer/scientists mostly recruited from the colonies and commissioned by the Colonial Office, and a few marines in case of emergency. It's not half an administrative headache.
  
  INS Fritjof Nansen is one of the Survey frigates, heading out into the Black to visit a list of worlds where people have indeed been before, but no-one knows what they have been up to for the last three or four centuries.
  
  
• Genre: Serial rationalised planetary romance with a pinch of rationalised space opera.
  
  
• Setting: FLAT BLACK, a star-spanning dystopia optimised for rationalised planetary romances and a dark and cynical tone.
  
  
• Characters: the four players, each taking several parts, will play the four senior officers who decide policy, the four diplomats, a coterie of four among the explorers, the four key officers in fighting the ship, and the 'action' team of Imperial Marines commandos.
  
  
• Participants:
  • Agemegos (GM)
  • jmurrell
    • Captain Lowell (Mission Commander)
    • ? (Aide to the Ambassador)
    • Dr Joshua Rabin (Social Anthropologist)
    • Pvte Dimitri Feodorevich "Bear" Karapyetchenko (Imperial Marines commando)
  • martinl
    • Lt Leah Bohn (astrogator)
    • Her Excellency Wukitelamy Drolegant (Ambassador-at-large)
    • Dr Kyth Haroldsson (social dynamicist)
    • Pvte ? (Imperial Marines commando)
  • sir_pudding
    • Lt-Cmdr Tomiko Eichberger (Chief Engineer)
    • Specialist Ada Solaris 496 (Spokesman)
    • Lt Kim Strickland (Military Intelligence)
    • Cpl Brent "Bucky" MacAdams (Marines detachment leader)
  • zorg
    • Sblt ? ? ("Astronomer" (gunnery officer))
    • Title ? ?, esq. (Counsellor at Law)
    • Prof. ? ? (Dean of Survey)
    • Pvte ? ? (Imperial Marines commando)

  See page 8 for summaries of the characters.

• System: GURPS
  • GURPS Spaceships 1, 3, & 5
  • GURPS Low-Tech
  • GURPS Low-Tech Companion 1
  • GURPS Low-Tech Companion 3
  • GURPS High-Tech
  • GURPS Ultra-Tech
  • GURPS Bio-Tech
  • GURPS Social Engineering
  • GURPS Space
  
  
• Schedule: two turns per week, as follows.
  • GM posts: 1400 UTC Monday
  • Deadline for character posts: 1400 UTC Wednesday
  • GM posts: 1400 UTC Thursday
  • Deadline for character posts: 1400 UTC Saturday

• Complement of INS Fritjof Nansen
• Summaries of character concepts, by player
  • jmurrell's slate of characters
  • martinl's slate of characters
  • sir_pudding's slate of characters
  • zorg's slate of characters

Billets are colour-coded for branch of service as follows: Navy, Imperial Office, Colonial Office, Marines. Billets in boldface indicate the members of the Staff Committee with whom the Mission Commander consults on strategic decisions. The forum handles of the players of PCs are indicated in bold red.

Ambassador-at-Large, (senior executive 3rd class) martinl

Counsellor, (executive officer 1st class) zorg

Spokesman, (executive officer 2nd class) sir_pudding

Aide, (executive officer 3rd class) jmurrell

Dean of Survey & Chief Economist, (senior researcher 1st class) zorg

Head of Natural Sciences, & Chief Planetologist (senior researcher 2nd class)

Ecologist & Agronomist, (senior researcher 3rd class)

Microbiologist/epidemiologist/medical anthropologist/medical officer, (senior researcher 3rd class)

Physical geographer, (research officer 1st class)

Oceanographer, (research officer 1st class)

Meteorologist, (research officer 1st class)

Head of Social Sciences & Chief Anthropologist, (senior researcher 2nd class) jmurrell

Social dynamist, (senior researcher 3rd class) martinl

Technology analyst & development economist, (senior researcher 3rd class)

Political scientist & semiotician, (research officer 1st class)

Social anthropologist, (research officer 1st class)

Agronomist & human geographer, (research officer 1st class)

Military analyst (lieutenant, Imperial Marines) sir_pudding

Marines section leader & Action team leader, (corporal) sir_pudding

Action team scout, (private (trained)) martinl

Action team gunner, (private (trained)) jmurrell

Action team rifleman, (private (trained)) zorg

Base team leader & EW, (lance-corporal)

Medic, (private (proficient))

Sapper, (private (proficient))

Fitter, (private (proficient))

1. the captain you would like to play if you got to play or had to play the Captain,
2. the ambassador you would like to play if you had to play the Ambassador At Large,
3. the dean you would like to play if you had to play the Dean of Survey,
4. the military analyst you would like to play if you got stuck playing the Military Intelligence officer,
5. the Imperial Marines section leader (corporal) you would like to play if you got stuck playing the military intelligence officer (sic),
6. the XO, chief engineer, gunnery officer, astrogator, or naval intern (midshipman) you would like to play if you don't get the Captain,
7. the First Secretary (public diplomacy expert), Counsellor (advisor on interstellar law), or aide (Secret Service bodyguard) you would like to play if you don't get the Ambassador, and
8. the Survey specialist (scientist/explorer) you would like to play if you don't get the Dean.

• Seeonee has dev level 7.8 and 16.6 billion population. It's on Gliese 853 A IV, orbiting a G0 V star 45 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.9 with gravity 0.77 gee, hydrographics 54%, average temperature 28 C, 0.36 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 26.5 hours. Spaceport class: 5T
• New Earth has dev level 7.5 and 1.17 billion population. It's on 2 Eta Coronae Borealis VI, orbiting a G2 V star 58.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.81 with gravity 0.77 gee, hydrographics 93%, average temperature 11 C, 1.18 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 15.5 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Tau Ceti has dev level 7.5 and 5 billion population. It's on Tau Ceti III, orbiting a G8.5 V star 11.9 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.87 with gravity 0.79 gee, hydrographics 84%, average temperature 9 C, 0.64 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 42.6 hours. Spaceport class: 5O
• Todos Santos has dev level 7.5 and 1.94 billion population. It's on 56 Psi-5 Aurigae V, orbiting a G0 V star 54.5 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.73 with gravity 0.75 gee, hydrographics 76%, average temperature 13 C, 0.74 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 11.8 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Iter has dev level 7.4 and 4.21 billion population. It's on Zeta-2 Reticuli IV, orbiting a G0 V star 39.2 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.7 with gravity 0.66 gee, hydrographics 82%, average temperature 25 C, 0.7 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 17.5 hours. Spaceport class: 5O
• New Rome has dev level 7.1 and 998 million population. It's on g Lupi V, orbiting a F4 V star 56.9 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.02 with gravity 0.93 gee, hydrographics 60%, average temperature -9 C, 0.98 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 12.5 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Barutanah has dev level 7 and 4.6 billion population. It's on 40 Xi Ophiuchi V, orbiting a F2 V star 56.6 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.91 with gravity 0.99 gee, hydrographics 80%, average temperature 45 C, 1.32 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 20.1 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Ladon has dev level 7 and 1.09 billion population. It's on Gliese 728 II, orbiting a K7 V star 55.5 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.89 with gravity 0.87 gee, hydrographics 22%, average temperature 24 C, 0.85 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: infinite. Spaceport class: 4O
• Simanta has dev level 7 and 1.25 billion population. It's on Nu-2 Lupi IV, orbiting a G2 V star 48.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.54 with gravity 0.49 gee, hydrographics 80%, average temperature 4 C, 0.65 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 16 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Stockhausen has dev level 7 and 3.47 billion population. It's on 212 Puppis V, orbiting a F5 V star 58.5 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.84 with gravity 0.78 gee, hydrographics 68%, average temperature -3 C, 0.58 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 16.2 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Svarga has dev level 7 and 4.79 billion population. It's on 13 Theta Cygni V, orbiting a F3 V star 59.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.8 with gravity 0.74 gee, hydrographics 83%, average temperature 18 C, 0.88 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 15.5 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Aeneas has dev level 6.8 and 1.11 billion population. It's on 43 Beta Comae Berenices IV, orbiting a G0 V star 29.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.88 with gravity 0.78 gee, hydrographics 88%, average temperature 7 C, 0.26 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 11.8 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Carbonek has dev level 6.7 and 9.5 billion population. It's on 1 i Centauri V, orbiting a F2 V star 63.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.89 with gravity 0.87 gee, hydrographics 62%, average temperature 34 C, 0.73 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 28.9 hours. Spaceport class: 5O
• Egalité has dev level 6.7 and 4.52 billion population. It's on 16 Psi Capricorni V, orbiting a F5 V star 47.9 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.04 with gravity 0.9 gee, hydrographics 59%, average temperature -1 C, 0.57 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 16.1 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Farfalle has dev level 6.7 and 3.35 billion population. It's on Gliese 570.1 V, orbiting a G4 V star 77.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.71 with gravity 0.71 gee, hydrographics 80%, average temperature 2 C, 1.17 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 37.8 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• New Athens has dev level 6.7 and 6.8 billion population. It's on 45 c Bootis V, orbiting a F5 V star 63.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.2 with gravity 1.09 gee, hydrographics 67%, average temperature 48 C, 1.2 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 25.4 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Mundonova has dev level 6.6 and 3.2 billion population. It's on HD 177082 IV, orbiting a G0 V star 88.6 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.62 with gravity 0.71 gee, hydrographics 62%, average temperature 13 C, 0.64 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 16.2 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Tian Longshan has dev level 6.6 and 13.2 billion population. It's on 26 Draconis IV, orbiting a G0 V star 46.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.28 with gravity 1.16 gee, hydrographics 85%, average temperature 17 C, 5.11 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 20.1 hours. Spaceport class: 5O
• Ursula has dev level 6.6 and 7.68 billion population. It's on Gliese 9417 V, orbiting a F7 V star 78.4 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.87 with gravity 0.94 gee, hydrographics 54%, average temperature 26 C, 1.18 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 22.5 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Margulis has dev level 6.5 and 7.05 billion population. It's on HD 361 IV, orbiting a G1 V star 89.5 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.15 with gravity 0.93 gee, hydrographics 55%, average temperature 23 C, 0.64 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 22.5 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Pacisordine has dev level 6.5 and 2.71 billion population. It's on Gliese 9264 IV, orbiting a G1 V star 72.6 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.88 with gravity 0.88 gee, hydrographics 91%, average temperature 39 C, 0.95 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 35.7 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Iram has dev level 6.4 and 1.98 billion population. It's on 74 k Orionis V, orbiting a F5 V star 62.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.85 with gravity 0.82 gee, hydrographics 91%, average temperature 16 C, 0.73 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 13.8 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• New Benin has dev level 6.4 and 6.5 billion population. It's on Gliese 679 IV, orbiting a G1 V star 78 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.87 with gravity 0.79 gee, hydrographics 69%, average temperature 3 C, 0.42 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 25.9 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Paradise III has dev level 6.4 and 4.09 billion population. It's on HR 5996 IV, orbiting a G1 V star 88.4 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.82 with gravity 0.7 gee, hydrographics 80%, average temperature 16 C, 0.69 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 23.8 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Alhurr has dev level 6.3 and 2.34 billion population. It's on 15 Lambda Aurigae IV, orbiting a G1 V star 41.2 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.71 with gravity 0.66 gee, hydrographics 64%, average temperature 28 C, 0.66 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 14.4 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Austral Eden has dev level 6.3 and 1.57 billion population. It's on Pi Mensae V, orbiting a G0 V star 59.7 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.73 with gravity 0.84 gee, hydrographics 87%, average temperature 17 C, 1.11 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 12.4 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Hippodamia has dev level 6.3 and 4.5 billion population. It's on Kaus Borealis VII, orbiting a K0 IV star 78.2 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.04 with gravity 0.9 gee, hydrographics 61%, average temperature 15 C, 0.78 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 15.7 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Lohengrin has dev level 6.3 and 2.13 billion population. It's on 78 Mu-1 Cygni IV, orbiting a F6 V star 72.5 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.7 with gravity 0.61 gee, hydrographics 89%, average temperature 1 C, 0.36 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 27.4 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Maitreya has dev level 6.3 and 2.35 billion population. It's on Gliese 9681 IV, orbiting a K0 V star 61.9 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.89 with gravity 0.84 gee, hydrographics 67%, average temperature 1 C, 1.04 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 26.5 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Ultima Thule has dev level 6.3 and 1.96 billion population. It's on Pi-1 Ursae Minoris A IV, orbiting a G1 V star 71.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.34 with gravity 1.34 gee, hydrographics 94%, average temperature 4 C, 7.27 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 26.2 hours. Spaceport class: 4O

• Bakunin has dev level 6.2 and 1.08 billion population. It's on Alderamin VI, orbiting a A8 V star 49 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.85 with gravity 0.86 gee, hydrographics 69%, average temperature 19 C, 1.48 bars of marginal atmosphere. Daylength: 12.3 hours. Spaceport class: 3G
• Hypatia has dev level 6.2 and 2.22 billion population. It's on 16 Lambda Andromedae VI, orbiting a G8 IV star 86.1 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.95 with gravity 0.88 gee, hydrographics 82%, average temperature 41 C, 1.11 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 20.4 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Jingtu has dev level 6.2 and 2.65 billion population. It's on 37 Ceti V, orbiting a F5 V star 76.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.64 with gravity 0.61 gee, hydrographics 70%, average temperature 34 C, 0.58 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 14.1 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Olympus has dev level 6.2 and 2.78 billion population. It's on 17 Sigma Coronae Borealis VI, orbiting a G1 IV star 70.7 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.74 with gravity 0.73 gee, hydrographics 67%, average temperature 1 C, 0.91 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 15.1 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Rungsutu has dev level 6.2 and 364 million population. It's on HD 87883 IV, orbiting a K2 V star 59.4 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.73 with gravity 0.68 gee, hydrographics 51%, average temperature -11 C, 0.55 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 20.2 hours. Spaceport class: 3G
• Hurley has dev level 6.1 and 2.86 billion population. It's on Gliese 9583 V, orbiting a F9 V star 67.4 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.99 with gravity 0.86 gee, hydrographics 82%, average temperature 12 C, 1.26 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 12.7 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Neapolis has dev level 6.1 and 2.04 billion population. It's on Gliese 792.1 A V, orbiting a G2 V star 79.6 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.86 with gravity 0.96 gee, hydrographics 68%, average temperature 20 C, 1.16 bars of marginal atmosphere. Daylength: 18.6 hours. Spaceport class: 3O
• Fureidis has dev level 5.9 and 455 million population. It's on Alpha Mensae V, orbiting a G7 V star 33.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.85 with gravity 0.73 gee, hydrographics 97%, average temperature 10 C, 1.16 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 18.4 hours. Spaceport class: 3G
• Vasileo & Orinoco has dev level 5.9 and 1.38 billion population. It's on 54 Piscium IV, orbiting a K0 V star 36.1 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.8 with gravity 0.81 gee, hydrographics 55%, average temperature -3 C, 1.27 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 15.1 hours. Spaceport class: 3G
• Bonanza has dev level 5.8 and 6.22 billion population. It's on Gliese 4382 IV, orbiting a G4 V star 80 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.95 with gravity 0.73 gee, hydrographics 64%, average temperature 11 C, 0.65 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 16.9 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Targan has dev level 5.8 and 6.2 billion population. It's on 5 Serpentis IV, orbiting a F8 IV star 82.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.97 with gravity 0.86 gee, hydrographics 75%, average temperature 19 C, 0.79 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 19.1 hours. Spaceport class: 4O
• Terranova has dev level 5.7 and 346 million population. It's on 27 Lambda Serpentis V, orbiting a G0 IV star 39.5 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.62 with gravity 0.54 gee, hydrographics 57%, average temperature -10 C, 0.66 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 30.3 hours. Spaceport class: 2G
• New Eden has dev level 5.5 and 3.63 billion population. It's on Gliese 702.1 IV, orbiting a G1 V star 57.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.86 with gravity 0.86 gee, hydrographics 76%, average temperature 40 C, 0.78 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 15.9 hours. Spaceport class: 3G
• New Polynesia has dev level 5.5 and 130 million population. It's on Alzirr V, orbiting a F5 IV star 58.7 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.23 with gravity 0.99 gee, hydrographics 100%, average temperature 24 C, 1.24 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 25.6 hours. Spaceport class: 2G
• Persatuan has dev level 4.9 and 1.12 billion population. It's on Gliese 370 II, orbiting a K6 V star 36.4 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.99 with gravity 0.85 gee, hydrographics 21%, average temperature 27 C, 0.89 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: infinite. Spaceport class: 3G
• Covenant has dev level 4.8 and 4.73 billion population. It's on 8 Delta Trianguli III, orbiting a G0 V star 35.2 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.98 with gravity 0.84 gee, hydrographics 58%, average temperature 17 C, 0.35 bars of marginal atmosphere. Daylength: 25.9 hours. Spaceport class: 3G
• Broadmeadow has dev level 4.6 and 1.35 billion population. It's on Capella VIII, orbiting a G1 IV star 42.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.63 with gravity 0.61 gee, hydrographics 68%, average temperature 29 C, 0.57 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 14.3 hours. Spaceport class: 2G
• Ashok has dev level 4.5 and 719 million population. It's on Gliese 25 V, orbiting a G7 V star 50.7 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.92 with gravity 0.8 gee, hydrographics 55%, average temperature 0 C, 1.23 bars of marginal atmosphere. Daylength: 13.3 hours. Spaceport class: 2G
• Bhima has dev level 4.3 and 1.94 billion population. It's on 1 Chi Herculis V, orbiting a G0 V star 51.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.72 with gravity 0.57 gee, hydrographics 53%, average temperature 20 C, 0.36 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 11.6 hours. Spaceport class: 2G
• Khemet has dev level 4.3 and 1.66 billion population. It's on 58 Eridani IV, orbiting a G1 V star 43.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.77 with gravity 0.69 gee, hydrographics 87%, average temperature 10 C, 0.78 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 17.6 hours. Spaceport class: 2G
• Navabharata has dev level 4.2 and 2.16 billion population. It's on Beta Hydri VI, orbiting a G0 V star 24.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.06 with gravity 0.96 gee, hydrographics 80%, average temperature 38 C, 1.53 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 12.9 hours. Spaceport class: 2G
• Borlung has dev level 4 and 107 million population. It's on 39 Serpentis V, orbiting a G0 V star 56.6 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.08 with gravity 0.83 gee, hydrographics 95%, average temperature -10 C, 0.8 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 17 hours. Spaceport class: 1N
• Hijra has dev level 3.9 and 864 million population. It's on p Eridani III, orbiting a K0 V star 26.6 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.85 with gravity 1.05 gee, hydrographics 19%, average temperature 17 C, 1.36 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: infinite. Spaceport class: 2G
• Liberty has dev level 3.8 and 676 million population. It's on Gliese 758 IV, orbiting a G9 V star 51.4 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.93 with gravity 0.81 gee, hydrographics 79%, average temperature -8 C, 1.21 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 21.4 hours. Spaceport class: 2N
• Pentecost has dev level 3.6 and 1.11 billion population. It's on Chara V, orbiting a G0 V star 27.5 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.76 with gravity 0.76 gee, hydrographics 74%, average temperature 15 C, 0.68 bars of marginal atmosphere. Daylength: 14.4 hours. Spaceport class: 2N
• New Huntington has dev level 3.4 and 1.09 billion population. It's on 15 Sagittae V, orbiting a G0 V star 58 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.89 with gravity 0.82 gee, hydrographics 67%, average temperature 2 C, 0.88 bars of marginal atmosphere. Daylength: 30 hours. Spaceport class: 2N
• Neuheim has dev level 3.2 and 247 million population. It's on Gliese 95 IV, orbiting a G8 V star 41.3 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.71 with gravity 0.68 gee, hydrographics 67%, average temperature -4 C, 0.84 bars of marginal atmosphere. Daylength: 41.7 hours. Spaceport class: 1N
• Paraíso has dev level 3.2 and 3.24 billion population. It's on Zeta Tucanae IV, orbiting a F9 V star 28 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.94 with gravity 0.72 gee, hydrographics 84%, average temperature 16 C, 0.49 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 28.3 hours. Spaceport class: 2N
• Xanadu has dev level 3.2 and 982 million population. It's on 9 Puppis V, orbiting a G0 V star 53.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.94 with gravity 0.98 gee, hydrographics 88%, average temperature 48 C, 1.64 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 33.1 hours. Spaceport class: 1N
• Persephone has dev level 3.1 and 2.82 billion population. It's on 70 Virginis V, orbiting a G5 V star 58.7 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.5 with gravity 1.45 gee, hydrographics 80%, average temperature 22 C, 9.73 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 13.3 hours. Spaceport class: 2N

• Lahar has dev level 3 and 57 million population. It's on 111 Tauri IV, orbiting a F8 V star 46.9 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.65 with gravity 0.63 gee, hydrographics 99%, average temperature 17 C, 1.02 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 14 hours. Spaceport class: 0N
• Cockaigne has dev level 2.8 and 532 million population. It's on 4 Tau Bootis IV, orbiting a F7 IV star 50.9 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.93 with gravity 0.97 gee, hydrographics 71%, average temperature -6 C, 0.98 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 50.5 hours. Spaceport class: 1N
• Xindalu has dev level 2.8 and 303 million population. It's on Gliese 706 III, orbiting a K2 V star 36 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.68 with gravity 0.78 gee, hydrographics 21%, average temperature 24 C, 0.97 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: infinite. Spaceport class: 1N
• New Lombok has dev level 2.7 and 109 million population. It's on Gliese 838 IV, orbiting a G2 V star 52.2 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.87 with gravity 0.76 gee, hydrographics 97%, average temperature 47 C, 1.21 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 38.9 hours. Spaceport class: 0N
• Xin Tian Di has dev level 2.7 and 3.33 billion population. It's on 61 Virginis IV, orbiting a G7 V star 27.9 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 1.01 with gravity 1.06 gee, hydrographics 53%, average temperature 26 C, 1.14 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 19.2 hours. Spaceport class: 1N
• Durack has dev level 2.5 and 153 million population. It's on Gamma Coronae Austrinae VI, orbiting a F8 V star 56.4 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.9 with gravity 0.73 gee, hydrographics 78%, average temperature -9 C, 0.96 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 11.1 hours. Spaceport class: 0N
• Argolid has dev level 2.4 and 1.2 billion population. It's on Gliese 9476 A IV, orbiting a F9 V star 58.8 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.75 with gravity 0.69 gee, hydrographics 59%, average temperature 6 C, 0.67 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 15 hours. Spaceport class: 1N
• Emmaus has dev level 2.1 and 521 million population. It's on Iota Persei V, orbiting a F9 V star 34.4 LY from Sol. The mainworld is size 0.8 with gravity 0.92 gee, hydrographics 95%, average temperature 24 C, 1.43 bars of breathable atmosphere. Daylength: 22 hours. Spaceport class: 0N

• Vasileo is in the system that Orinoco used to be in before Thomas Kobayashi blew it up. That was 100 years ago this year. Some people remember seeing it happen.
• Egalité signed the Treaty of Luna but their legislature refused to ratify it. Technically they are still fighting the Formation Wars there, though in practical terms there are no hostilities occurring.

That's

• midnight Monday night for Luke and me
• 9 AM Monday for jmurrell
• 8 AM Monday for martinl (I think)
• 0600 Monday for sir_pudding

That's

• midnight Wednesday night for Luke and me
• 9 AM Wednesday for jmurrell
• 8 AM Wednesday for martinl (I think)
• 0600 Wednesday for sir_pudding

That's

• midnight Thursday night for Luke and me
• 9 AM Thursday for jmurrell
• 8 AM Thursday for martinl (I think)
• 0600 Thursday for sir_pudding

That's

• midday Sunday for Luke and me
• 9 PM Saturday for jmurrell
• 8 PM Saturday for martinl (I think)
• 1800 Saturday for sir_pudding

• is inspired by Peter Capaldi's character in In the Thick of It, including casting;
• is an aggressive and profane bully and manipulator, and a ruthless exponent of political chicanery;
• used to be Chancellor of the University of Avalon System until he hit compulsory retirement at 75;
• considers the survey, of which he is in charge, to be the purpose of the trip and everything else ancillary at best;
• has a deeply-ingrained obsession with academic credit, and expects everyone to produce lots of papers on everything they discover and to name him as co-author, lead author if it's a collaboration—anyone screws him on this he will screw right back, twice as hard and twice as long;
• personally knows all eight of Tau Ceti's senators; and
• is deeply irked by the fact that the captain and the ambassador are employed a a higher pay grade than he.

• won the Spartan Cross as a marines surgeon;
• has supposedly been treated for his PTSD, but is still as flaky as a first-rate croissant;
• spends most of his effort goofing off and needling people he doesn't like, but gets away with it because no-one will disrespect his SC
  • except during a mink freakout, during which he will freeze over and become very, very scary and violent.
• Perhaps played by Ben Kingsley.

• Is seventy-five, with 57 years' service, and is still a corporal.
• Was born on a colony that supported the Foundation at the time, but joined the belligerency in 477.
• Joined the Eichberger Foundation to see (and save) the universe, but got assigned to spaceport security on his homeworld. Was taken PoW when his homeworld stormed its spaceport, was treated as a traitor, convicted of treason, sentenced to life imprisonment, and spent eighteen years in a maximum security prison as right-hand-man of a prison-gang capo. Stayed in gaol for a year after his colony ratified the Treaty of Luna, before Imperial lawyers managed to get his conviction quashed. Then had three years of paid leave!
• Since then, has been a peace-time soldier in garrison duty, with no significant action.
• Behaviour and leadership style are based on drill sergeants in movies about conscript armies.

• jmurrell plays the Captain, the Counsellor, a quasi-rabbinical memeticist who doubles as morale officer, and a Very Young Marine named "'Bear' Karapyetchencko".
• Luke Bunyip plays the First Lieutenant, the Ambassador, an argumentative ecologist, and a marines commando to be specified.
• martinl plays the astrogator (or maybe astronomy officer), the Ambassador's aide, the Dean of Survey, and a marines commando to be specified.
• sir_pudding plays the Chief Engineer, the Press Secretary, the Military Intelligence Officer, the Marines commando section leader, and maybe a meteorologist/extreme sports fanatic.

• NAVY
  
  • The Captain

    Name: Capt. Alastair Kemp-Ellis
    Origin: his family were Mayflower Space Navy when Tom Eichberger was an entrepreneur with bad business ethics.
    Elevator pitch: Reserved, undemonstrative, professorial, "British" officer.
    Thumbnail sketch: Stiff upper lip and master of understatement. Fences sabre, plays the violin. Fanatical Imperial, saw horrible events during Formation wars. Manners of a college professor usually (and sees teaching/mentoring as an important part of his leadership); icily sarcastic when annoyed with someone who deserves it. Will listen to subordinates' input until he makes a decision. Scarily cold and controlled in a crisis, will make Kobayashi’s Choice if he must.
    Player: jmurrell

  • The First Lieutenant

    Name: Cmdr ???
    Origin: Foundation Starships and Space Stations
    Elevator pitch: James Cook meets Jonathan Archer
    Thumbnail sketch: Formerly master of an Imperial Spaceways tramp merchant, ??? is a very able navigator and shiphandler, has experience of dealing with colonials on backward planets, and once managed to repair his ship and get home after a debris strike crippled it, from a system where the world was TL3. If he were real Navy he'd be commanding one of these missions. ??? considers the safety of the ship to be the absolute first priority, the sine qua non for accomplishing anything else, and whatever he will get his crew safely home.
    Player: Luke Bunyip

  • The Chief Engineer

    Name: Lt-Cmdr. Tomiko Eichberger. Yes, that's right, "Eichberger".
    Origin: Foundation Starships and Space Stations
    Elevator pitch: The heiress unsure of the legacy.
    Thumbnail sketch: Great-grand-daughter of the most famous engineer ever. It runs in the family. But she's not at all certain about the direction her grandmother (Laura) took the political legacy, and found the politics uncomfortable. She's on a Survey mission to escape.
    Player: sir_pudding

  • The Astrogator

    Name: Lt. Leah Brohn
    Origin: IDJ
    Elevator pitch: farmed-fur astrogator
    Thumbnail sketch: Idealistic in all things. Brilliant at her specialty, and strong in math and physics. Does not understand why the existing colonies contest with the obviously-benevolent Empire. Despite academically knowing the explored colonies won’t welcome the expedition with flowers and tasty cakes of welcome, she still expects something like that internally.
    Player: martinl

• IMPERIAL OFFICE
  
  • The Ambassador

    Name:
    Origin: Foundation Ships and Stations (pre-mink)
    Elevator pitch: Not a politician. A negotiator.
    Thumbnail sketch: Learned s/his negotiation skills not by working up through the diplomatic service, but working for Universal Import/Export. Count your fingers after you shake hands. This ambassador is very much aware that an important goal of this scouting mission is to find opportunities for lucrative trade and to make sure that they are available when the freighters come. And though he's absolutely scrupulous about his fiduciary duties, he sees no problem in benefiting personally from opportunities that don't interfere with his work. Besides, sometimes its advantageous to seem mercenary.
    Player: Luke Bunyip

  • The Counsellor

    Name:
    Origin:
    Elevator pitch: The sympathetic cynic
    Thumbnail sketch: A highly principled lawyer and loyal friend, but he always expects the worst of humanity ("at least this way I'm never unpleasantly surprised"). Voted "most likely to show up with half a litre of Scotch and a sympathetic ear after Life has screwed you rotten". Imagine "Bones" McCoy were a lawyer and not a doctor.
    Player: jmurrell

  • The Press Secretary

    Name: Specialist Ada Solaris 496
    Origin: Simanta
    Elevator pitch: The perfect parahuman propagandist, quietly fleeing utopia
    Thumbnail sketch: Designed from the genes out and trained from decanting on to work in the propaganda machine of Simanta, Ada possesses all the qualities of a perfect Press Secretary. Perhaps her fleeing the Social Organism to work for the Empire wasn't quite unplanned….
    Player: sir_pudding

  • The Ambassador's 'aide'

    Name: Ontego Angillos
    Origin: Todos Santos
    Elevator pitch: A Todos Santos… goon?
    Thumbnail sketch: A large, blocky man who looks like a Mafia goon, he is normally strangely inconspicuous but he can loom impressively when he needs to. His mind was crafted by the dark arts of Todos Santos to be the perfect bodyguard, and in his spare time he… plays bizarre, disturbing VR games and is writing an "heroic romance" fanfic?
    Player: martinl

• SURVEY TEAM
  
  • The Dean of Survey

    Name: Dr. Aloys Drolegante
    Origin:
    Elevator pitch:
    Thumbnail sketch: A 6’3” slab of muscle with close cropped hair, looks more like a soldier than a scientist. Drolegante is acerbic and exacting towards his subordinates, and demands only only the best work, but he protects them absolutely from any **** that might rain down from on high—or blow in sideways. Not an inspired scholar himself, Dr. Drolegante is nevertheless excellent at academic quality assurance and an able administrator. His lack of talent used to trouble him, but he has learned to make the most of what he is good at and prosper vicariously through his protegés.
    Personally an utter pacifist, but not a pushover. Will stand still and look you in the eye while you stab him. There are religious (technically cultural, as he’s not a believer even though he follows 'the Law') reasons for this, but he doesn’t discuss them.
    Player: martinl

  • Chief of Social Sciences / Social anthropologist (and morale officer)

    Name: <something> Dayan or Rabin
    Origin: Imperial Direct Jurisdiction
    Elevator pitch: grandfatherly, quasi-rabbinical, community psychologist
    Thumbnail sketch: Grandfatherly, "rabbinical". Good listener. Curious. Likes people. Passionate and enthusiastic. Unhurried, takes his time. Likes a good argument, sorry a ‘spirited discussion’.
    Player: jmurrell

  • The Intelligence officer

    Name: Lieutenant Kim Strickland (Imperial Marines)
    Origin: Seeonee
    Elevator pitch: The king of HUMINT
    Thumbnail sketch: An intelligence officer with a flair for ethnological impersonation and a penchant for passing for a local in the finest tradition of the Great Game and the "Ethnographic Survey of India".
    Player: sir_pudding

  • Chief of Planetary Science / Ecologist

    Name:
    Origin:
    Elevator pitch: Jimmy Wales meets John Pilger
    Thumbnail sketch: An ecologist and planetary engineer with a vast personal project to document the terraforming efforts of each planet, collecting biota and analysing historical documentation (where it exists) for the biotech approaches. Hobnobs with local ecologists and environmental managers on dealing with any ecosystem imbalances which may have kicked in “Rabbits? You’ve got a problem on rabbits? Hang on, I’ve got some tailored Caliciviridae on ice down in the hold...”. Will pigheadedly argue politics, ethics, and history, especially over drinks, to the point where his friends have been known to stage an intervention when he's earbashing someone too polite to tell him to shut up. He doesn’t seem to take offence when he’s told to shut up; it would appear that he has become used to it.
    Player: Luke Bunyip

• MARINES
  
  • The section leader

    Name: Cpl Brent "Bucky" McAdams
    Origin: Hell (Tau Ceti)
    Elevator pitch: If there were an NCO shaped hole in the universe Bucky would spontaneously appear to fill it.
    Thumbnail sketch: Bucky's the kind of guy that never works harder than he needs to; a naturally-persuasive leader has a knack for finding the trick for every task. He's the kind of NCO that his Marines love because he looks out for them and smart officers love because he always gets the job done. Martinets and the overly motivated think he's lazy, which terminated his career in the Army of Hell. Soldiering was the only thing he was good at, so he volunteered for the Imperial Marines, where he fits like a glove.
    Player: sir_pudding

  • The scout

    Name: Pvte
    Origin:
    Elevator pitch:
    Thumbnail sketch:
    Player: either Luke Bunyip or martinl

  • The gunner

    Name: Pvte
    Origin:
    Elevator pitch:
    Thumbnail sketch:
    Player: either Luke Bunyip or martinl

  • The very young marine

    Name: Pvte Dmitri Feodorovich Karapyetchenko
    Origin:
    Elevator pitch:
    Thumbnail sketch:
    Player: jmurrell

• TEAM: NAVY

  Posting:Chief Engineer
  Elevator pitch: The heiress unsure of the legacy.
  Name:Lt-Cmdr. Tomiko Eichberger
  Origin: Foundation Starships and Space Stations
  Thumbnail concept: Great-grand-daughter of the most famous engineer ever. It runs in the family. But she's not at all certain about the direction her grandmother (Laura) took the political legacy, and found the politics uncomfortable. She's on a Survey mission to escape.
  Backstory: She was born in 472 on a starship, and has lived her whole life in space. From an early age she was naturally mechanical and developed into a talented engineer. When she was six both her parents were killed when their ship was destroyed. Alastair Lowell, a friend of the family and her godfather, was often a surrogate father for her. Like anybody raised in a totally artificial environment (and especially in the Foundation during the Formation Wars) she developed a keen appreciation for the fragility of life support and of human existence anywhere. Her lifetime of living on and working with starships combined with her natural gifts have given her an uncanny sense of a spacecrafts status and performance. Tomiko's partner of 31 years is Caroline Lowell and they have a daughter, Anastasia Eichberger (29) by ovum-ovum fusion and a son Nyoman Eichberger (12) (the Y chromosome was extracted from Tomitomo's archived genetic material). Caroline is Alastair's niece and something of the family black sheep having gone into academia rather than a Navy career, she's currently teaching Philosophy at the Regulus Academy. Anastasia is currently serving as a Navy Sub-lieutenant. Tomiko herself taught at the Academy (while on reserve service in the Navy) from 514-529.
  Description: Short, brown hair, green eyes (with a slight epithantic fold) tending toward plumpness within Navy physical requirements.
  

• TEAM: IMPERIAL OFFICE

  Posting: Press Secretary
  Elevator pitch: The perfect parahuman propagandist, quietly fleeing utopia
  Name: Specialist Ada Solaris 496
  Origin: Simanta
  Thumbnail concept: Designed from the genes out and trained from decanting on to work in the propaganda machine of Simanta, Ada possesses all the qualities of a perfect Press Secretary. Perhaps her fleeing the Social Organism to work for the Empire wasn't quite unplanned….
  Backstory: Ada was produced by Creche Solaris in 496. Ada's Caste (Specialist) is designed for intellectual work and she was meticulously trained for social interface and information control. A decade ago she requested asylum with IDJ.
  Description: Attractive, brown hair and eyes; 5'11", 180lbs. She has noticeably more subcutaneous fat than a baseline human (Simanta has an average surface temperature of 4 C). Intense and more than a little creepy.
  

• TEAM: SURVEY

  Posting: Intelligence Analyst
  Elevator pitch: The king of HUMINT
  Name: Lieutenant Kim Strickland (Imperial Marines)
  Origin: Seeonee
  Thumbnail concept: An intelligence officer with a flair for ethnological impersonation and a penchant for passing for a local in the finest tradition of the Great Game and the "Ethnographic Survey of India".
  Backstory: With a natural knack for fitting in any social group and an inexhaustible curiosity, Kim has sort of floated through life like a traveling anthropologist even before she was one.
  
  She attended Baden Powell University on Seeonee at 17 and majored in Anthropology. Prior to her senior year she took a year long tour of four planets. She was fascinated but also saw a lot that was horrible (and a lot of that horror was fixable). Rather than return home she volunteered for Imperial Service.
  
  She was assigned to Imperial Marines officer training at the Academy on Luna. Advanced standing for academic studies completed allowed her to graduate B.Mil. at 24. She posted to regiment as an ensign for one year and was confirmed as acting sublieutenant at 25. She spent the next four years posted to 7th Regimental HQ. Then she was assigned to Intelligence School. She's since had five years of boots-on-the-ground HUMINT experience before Staff College and posting to the INS Fritjof Nansen.
  Description: Skin the color of very milky coffee, brown eyes, 5'9", 140 lbs. Somehow average looking almost everywhere.
  

• TEAM: MARINES

  Posting: Section Leader
  Elevator pitch: If there were an NCO shaped hole in the universe Bucky would spontaneously appear to fill it.
  Name: Cpl Brent "Bucky" MacAdams
  Origin: Hell (Tau Ceti)
  Thumbnail concept: Bucky's the kind of guy that never works harder than he needs to. He's a natural persuasive leader with a knack for finding the trick for every task. He's the kind of NCO that his Marines love because he looks out for them and smart officers love because he always gets the job done. Martinets and the overly motivated think he's lazy, which terminated his career in the Army of Hell. Soldiering was the only thing he was good at, so he volunteered for the Imperial Marines, where he fits like a glove.
  Backstory: Born in a nowhere town in the boonies on Hell in 475, he enlisted in Hell's Army as soon as he was old enough, and served in the tail end of the Formation Wars where he witnessed the effects of orbital bombardment. He was an infantryman, and later a supply chief. He retired and tried his hand at couple of jobs on Tau Ceti, realized he was a lot happier at soldiering so he volunteered for this new "Imperial Marines" outfit.
  

  Quote:

  Originally Posted by Agemegos (Post 1635930) Bucky would have been in training in 507 and 508; sixteen weeks on Earth's Moon, sixteen weeks each on each of three foreign worlds with different gravities, sixteen weeks in free fall, at least five interstellar trips, three-day passes and two-week furloughs on alien worlds. Infantry school in 509 and assigned to the Regiment in reserve: whole thing together in one place at base, likely a couple of interventions. Riot school in 512. Five years in garrison on some planet with embassy-guarding, riot-control, hostage rescue, and anti-terrorist duties. Drop school in 517. Five years in MarDets on shipboard. Section Leader's Course in 522. Back into reserve. [Aviation School] in 527. Back to garrison on another planet. Sergeant's course in 532, but no promotion: assigned to Survey as a MarDet leader.

  Description: Pvt. McAdams is a medium sized nondescript man with lightly tanned skin, sandy blond hair, and grey eyes. On his back he has a large impressive full color tattoo of a hovering succubus with curling ram's horns, raven's wings, and wearing combat armor with the helmet unbuttoned. She's armed with a gauss rifle and bears the legend "Hell's Legionnaire" and "3/32nd Inf."
  

• TEAM: NAVY

  Posting: Astrogator (and Astrophysicist)
  Elevator pitch: The Naive Idealist
  Name: Lt. Leah Brohn
  Origin: IDJ
  Thumbnail concept: Idealistic, cheerful, optimistic, and out-going. Brilliant at her specialty, and strong in math and physics. Does not understand why the existing colonies contest with the obviously-benevolent Empire. Despite academically knowing the explored colonies won’t welcome the expedition with flowers and tasty cakes of welcome, she still expects something like that internally..
  Backstory: Fist generation farmed fur. There might still be a few quirks in the farming process...
  Description: Jewel Staite.
  

• TEAM: IMPERIAL OFFICE

  Posting: Ambassador
  Elevator pitch: Patient proponent of the long game.
  Name: Her Excellency Wukitelamy Drolegant
  Origin: Tau Ceti
  Thumbnail concept: A true optimist who believes in slow steady processes of incremental reform, and abhors in particular violent "quick fixes". Trusts the Empire's motivations entirely, but often disagrees with impatient policies. However, she will accept orders until they are changed, not disobey ones she disagrees with. Surprisingly willing to deal with and in Machiavellian realpolitik as long as she sees a long term positive return.
  Backstory: Was an assistant attaché in her colony's delegation at the Lunar Conference, where she got to see close up what a lot of the other colonies wanted. Sees the Empire or something like it as a necessity.
  Description: Middle aged Keira Knightley with matte black skin, lambent green eyes, and "Old Ivory" hair (all due to semi-permanent cosmetics). She exudes gravitas and trustiworthiness.
  

• TEAM: SURVEY

  Posting: Scientist
  Elevator pitch: Boffin with a death wish
  Name: Dr. Kyth Haroldsson
  Origin: Targan ? (Mid Tech level Colony)
  Thumbnail concept: Social dynamist with outstanding background in social modelling. Loves weird things, weird societies more than anything else. Will obsess over discrepancies between social data and modelling results, worrying at them like a terrier until he finds an explanation for the difference. Inner conflict between his ability to understand and suggest things that would make society unambiguously better and his defeatism from never managing to get past proposals adopted, no matter how sensible.
  
  Kyth is an utter pacifist, but not a pushover. Will stand still and look you in the eye while you stab him. There are religious (technically cultural, as he’s no longer a believer even though he follows 'the Law') reasons for this, but he doesn’t discuss them.
  Backstory: As soon as travel opened up again after the ToL, Kyth was sent by his not quite a cult church from his barely industrial colony of Targan to Todos Santos to learn enough high tech social science to give his religion an edge. When he came back, his proposals to help the ReMastered Church displeased the church fathers (for the predictable reasons), and he made it to Imperial compound just ahead of the assassins.
  
  Since then, he has traveled as a gunslinger dynamist and grown a carefully cultivated demeanor of a cheerfully philosophical cynic with an obsession for the weird. The Mink psychologist who vetted him for this mission knows better - Kyth seeks redemption. The Mink are cool with that.
  Description: T. J. Thyne
  

• TEAM: MARINES
  Does my marine proposal fit here?

  Posting: job
  Elevator pitch: slogan!
  Name: title Forename Name
  Origin: Place of origin
  Thumbnail concept: What the character is.
  Backstory: What the character has done and experienced (if it matters).
  Description: What the character looks like.
  

• TEAM: NAVY

  Posting: The Captain
  Elevator pitch: Reserved, undemonstrative, professorial, "British" officer.
  Name: Captain Alastair Lowell
  Origin:His family were Mayflower Space Navy when Tom Eichberger was an entrepreneur with bad business ethics.
  Thumbnail concept: Stiff upper lip and master of understatement. Fences sabre, plays the violin. Fanatical Imperial, saw horrible events during Formation wars. Manners of a college professor usually (and sees teaching/mentoring as an important part of his leadership); icily sarcastic when annoyed with someone who deserves it. Will listen to subordinates' input until he makes a decision. Scarily cold and controlled in a crisis.
  Backstory: Currently 98. Made Captain at 49 during the Formation Wars. Promoted to Rear Admiral ten years ago he took a cut in grade to command a Survey Mission.
  Description: Michael Gough
  

• TEAM: IMPERIAL OFFICE

  Posting:The Ambassador's 'aide'
  Elevator pitch: Secret Squirrel disguised as bored gigolo.
  Name: title Juan Garcia
  Origin: wild-caught mink
  Thumbnail concept: A medium-height, medium build, taciturn man with inconspicuous manner, medium colouring, brown-green eyes…. Always watchful, he is something more than a mere bodyguard: a fully-operational Secret Service officer.
  Backstory: Redacted.
  Description:
  

• TEAM: SURVEY

  Posting:Chief of Social Sciences / Social anthropologist (and morale officer)
  Elevator pitch: grandfatherly, quasi-rabbinical, community psychologist
  Name: Dr Joshua Rabin
  Origin: Eichberger Foundation Ships & Habitats
  Thumbnail concept: Grandfatherly, "rabbinical". Good listener. Curious. Likes people. Passionate and enthusiastic. Unhurried, takes his time. Likes a good argument, sorry a ‘spirited discussion’.
  Description: Jack Axelrod, specifically as Shmeil Pinkus on NCIS.
  

• TEAM: MARINES

  Posting:Rifleman
  Elevator pitch: Big grizzly bear on-duty, teddy bear off-duty.
  Name: Pvte Dmitri Feodorovich Karapyetchenko
  Origin: The urban jungle.
  Thumbnail concept: Talented street kid makes good.
  Backstory: Orphaned, ran away from well-intentioned but horribly dysfunctional orphanage at 13. Ran the streets till he killed a rival gangbanger defending his crew. Joined the IM to get off-planet.
  Description: Tall (6'5"), lanky, broad-shouldered redhead.
  

• TEAM: NAVY

  Posting: job
  Elevator pitch: slogan!
  Name: title Forename Name
  Origin: Place of origin
  Thumbnail concept: What the character is.
  Backstory: What the character has done and experienced (if it matters).
  Description: What the character looks like.
  

• TEAM: IMPERIAL OFFICE

  Posting: job
  Elevator pitch: slogan!
  Name: title Forename Name
  Origin: Place of origin
  Thumbnail concept: What the character is.
  Backstory: What the character has done and experienced (if it matters).
  Description: What the character looks like.
  

• TEAM: SURVEY

  Posting: job
  Elevator pitch: slogan!
  Name: title Forename Name
  Origin: Place of origin
  Thumbnail concept: What the character is.
  Backstory: What the character has done and experienced (if it matters).
  Description: What the character looks like.
  

• TEAM: MARINES

  Posting: job
  Elevator pitch: slogan!
  Name: title Forename Name
  Origin: Place of origin
  Thumbnail concept: What the character is.
  Backstory: What the character has done and experienced (if it matters).
  Description: What the character looks like.