Hernán Escudero

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Don Hernán Luis Escudero Grijalva (aged 58) was born in the family mansion of the rich Outcast family of Escudero in Cadiz-de-Malta, planet Malta, Omicron Alpha system, in 767 A.S. The eldest son of the only successor to the Don Cristobal, Rodrigo Escudero, Hernán was raised mostly by his grandfather as Outcasts live long enough to inherit from their grandparents or even great grandparents.

From the very childhood, Hernan was indoctrinated about the importance of his position in society and was provided with the best education the Outcast society can provide. Don Cristobal was pretty open to his prodigal grandson about the difficulties that await a relatively young and audacious familia in ruthless Outcast society and that “any means are justified by a noble end”. The lessons of Cristobal did not go in vain and upon his death in 804 A.S. 32-years old Hernan, believing in his better preparedness to lead the familia and the Cartel, imprisoned his already senior father Rodrigo and effectively became the head of the familia. Only a few dared to inquire, even less do something, about the interrupted succession line, as the cutthroat policy of Hernan would leave only a trail of corpses of possible mutineers.

Firmly convinced in the positive impact of Cardamine on human nature, Don Hernan Escudero Grijalva considers the orange weed more a nature given “ambrosia” that allows expanding the capabilities of the human body to the limit, rather than another dope for addicts. Unlike other Outcasts, Don Escudero would rather keep all the benefits of Cardamine to the Maltese, especially to his own family, to engender a generation of super-humans who would shatter the foundations of societal life on Malta, bringing the latter hegemony in Sirius through bio-genetic supremacy over inferior plain Homo Sapiens.

Hernan Escudero leads Cádiz Cártel de Comercio de Cardamine under the auspices of meritocracy, assured that any gifted member of the Outcast society, be it a slave or a fidalgo, may equally contribute to the performance of the organisation. Those “uplifted” in the hierarchy no longer have to shun their past if it is not noble as their deeds, not their pedigree, define their status. Those talented and eager are properly rewarded with wealth and influence while those detrimental to business and out of favour have to be constantly afraid of “due compensations” for their failure, spanning from exemptions from profits to brutal executions. For 14 years already Don Hernan has been leading the Cartel. This period has been marked by a drastic increase in profits, trade contacts outside of Maltese space, use of mercenaries, and assassinations. While Council Nacional is satisfied with the payroll of the Familia and busy with causes of more gravity to the Nacion Maltese, Escudero familia and the Cartel prosper and develop, enjoying stability as never known before.

Augusto Escudero

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Augusto Cristobal Escudero Sandoval is the only son of Don Hernán and is the result of the worldview of his father brought into reality. Rich Dons of Malta have the resources to genetically manipulate the artificial conception of their offsprings by picking the cream of the crop of fetuses and subsequently amplifying their positive trains while eliminating negative ones. In the case of the Outcast society, many positive traits are expressed by genes traced to the loci under the heavy influence of Cardamine. Aside from immediate afterbirth advantages of a child compared to his peers, in vitro insemination also allows overcoming Maltese Cardamine-inflicted infertility.

Augusto was born in 803 A.S. in Cadiz-de-Malta in one of the many gene clinics that the Cartel of his father owned. Not only is the descendant of an important figure of Maltese political of noble blood, but also genetically altered suprahombre, Augusto was exposed to rigorous trainings and education in all fields since being a toddler. His increased aptitude for learning combined with excellent physical and mental health allowed for benefitting such a rough upbringing without any negative repercussions. Having received brilliant versatile education from the best Malta had to offer, completed military training under the best Maltese sicarios and aces, by the age of 18 Augusto was a killing machine in close and ranged combat with exceptional reactions, acute public person, and manifestation in flesh-and-blood of what future his father wants to bring for the Outcasts: smart, strong, agile, and immune to most diseases man of towering 2.06 m height that is estimated to live longer than 160 years.

Trained in tactics and strategy, and capable of on-the-go tactical evaluation of the battlefield the beloved son of Don Hernan was appointed as “Adelantado” – the unofficial leader of the Cartel’s forces, and El Capitan of Cartel’s flagship “Valladolid”. Important to the whole cause of the Cartel and his father’s vision, Augusto rarely participates in risky operations and usually oversees the strategic backs of Maltese space and cartel’s interests in Omicron Tau.

It is little known of Augusto’s personality: the young man serves his father’s will with exceptional determination and rarely shows how he feels about his duty. While it is certain that the heir to the Cartel has his own ambitions, nobody dares to assume what sumprahombre might really desire and what repercussions his vision might have for the rest, non-modified population of Malta.

Vicente Mendoza

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Vicente Romero Mendoza was born in 788 A.S. on planet Malta, in the family of former Mendoza trade partners and supporters, intermarried shortly after Escudero's taking rule over merged groups. Grown at years of families solidifying, Vicente early realised advantages, given by his origin, and pushed most of Mendoza’s heirs outside the big business. Some lost reputation in intrigues, another was lost during out-Malta job trips.

His rising wasn't unnoticed. In 818 A.S. Don sent him a warning...with offer inside. Romero was asked to stop while it possible and put his efforts in Cartel expansion under the Don guidance. Used gained experience and learn Escudero’s vision, softly getting rid of Cartels rivals, finally, Vicente reached a high place in Cuatroce hierarchy.

Mostly polite and humble publicly, among friends he is known as sharing Escudero's view on Maltesian supremacy and supporting eugenic initiatives. In 826 A.S., Romero is responsible for Cartel's shadow operations, ensuring their trade opponents will be either disappear or absorbed into Cuatroce structure.

Ricardo Cortez

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Ricardo Lope Cortez was born in 794 A.S. on planet Malta in a middle-income family of a logistics pilot who supplied Maltese stations in Omicron Beta, and a doctor of a local clinic of Medellin-de-Malta. During teenage years Ricardo’s father would train his only child to pilot family’s freighter and the basics of cabotage trade in Outcast space.

Following the advice of his father, Ricardo enrolled in business school after school to become vested in commerce and business administration of SME. Since Ricardo by then was already a skilled transport pilot, family’s savings were invested into a small cabotage company with additional freighter right after Ricardo’s graduation in 816 A.S.

In a few years, by 819 A.S. young entrepreneur alongside his father managed to regain the investments, establish a steady income, and gain a reputation of a reliable supplier. At the same time, Ricardo skilfully managed the business from the top, creating a transparent company’s structure attracting decent investments for such a small enterprise.

After a few involvements with deliveries for "Cuatroce", young talent was noticed. In 821 A.S. Ricardo was offered to sell his company for a good price to the "Corporation": his family would receive life-long subsidies for enjoying the life on Malta in penthouse, while he would be provided with “Aspis” battletransport to carry out logistics operations for the Cartel, 15% of the revenues from each delivery going directly into his pocket. He would also be asked to oversee the business management of his delivery team and to act semi-independently with the overall goal of profit-generation. It was not an offer to be declined and since then Ricardo Cortez has been in the employ of the Cartel and has earned himself a reputation of a shrewd businessman, providing opportunities for career growth in Cartel’s corporate structure.

Daguza Ecoas

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Daguza Ecoas was born in 799 A.S., on Planet Malta. His father Miguel was a military fighter pilot. During childhood, he was sent to a military academy. After reaching adulthood and graduating from the military academy in 817 he bought himself a fighter. He started doing jobs for different Maltese employers gaining knowledge and experience. In 826 he met Augusto Cristobal in Tau space and they ventured some time through Sirius. And it became clear to him that he wanted to become a part of the rising “Cuatroce" cartel.

Daguza Ecoas went on several reconnaissance missions for the cartel, unveiling threats to "Cuatroce" and the Nation of Malta itself. Alongside cartel's flagship, he fought against the Gallic threat in Bretonia on a few occasions. On an escort mission, Ecoas got in contact with a molly captain named Laura O'hagan. Together they ventured deep into Liberty, smuggling Cardamine together. Due to his loyalty and outstanding service, he quickly rose up in the ranks of the increase in power cartel. After the construction of Estremadura base in Omicron Tau, he got a promotion to the head of its security department.

Diego Balenciaga

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Diego Rosario Balenciaga is an acting Chief Science Officer overseen research endeavours of “Cuatroce”. Coming from a family of scientists, Diego’s career was predetermined in childhood already. He was born on Malta in 774 A.S. on a small research outpost closer to the Southern Pole of the planet. His mother, Maria-Philippa, was stationed as a geologist on the station while his father, Manuel, was a biologist unaffiliated biologist who followed his wife to the outpost and conducted his research with the local flora and fauna. The research crews of the outpost rotate once in a while and Diego’s parents were constantly relocating from a place to a place on the fringes of Maltese society. Because of it, Diego’s education was overseen by his parents. For better or worse, it involved a lot of practice and led him to become a qualified and bright scholar in his teenage years already. Unfortunately, when he was 17 a compound on Corsica Outer Sanctum where Maria-Philippa and Manuel were working suffered a breach, leading to everyone inside thrown into open space. Without parents to guide him, the young man sought himself with different organisations and even got accepted into a prestigious Alacama University on Malta where he developed a special love for Chemistry. It is there when he learnt that the research his parents were involved in and the way they conducted it was not “formal” and “generally acceptable”. Diego was found guilty for a few times to conduct unethical and dangerous experiments involving human test subjects and subsequently expelled from the University. His work, however, was of interest to the local slavers who hired and funded him and gave full clearance to perform the experiments he needed in remote compounds on reluctant to cooperate detainees.

After several years working for various kind of slavers, Diego got the experience he needed that, multiplied by his rigour and perseverance, and spiced with a lot of wild theory put to the practice, became a renowned scientist on Malta. This is where the Cartel, which strived to hire the best of the best, took notice of him and invited to work on a permanent contract with almost unlimited resources. Since 814 AS Diego Balenciaga has been in the employ of “Cuatroce” and established himself as one of the chief researchers with at times crazy ideas. Among his most wide-known works are Cardamine-based pills that increase sexual drive, neuro stimulants based on liquid Cardamine, and various types of bioweapons developed with the use of microflora and microfauna of Carinea. Reluctant to devote time to administrative matters, Balenciaga refused the position of the Chief Science Officer. However, respect of his colleagues de facto makes him one.

Lander van den Brink

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Lander Alfred van den Brink (date and place of birth are unknown) is a public figure of Rheinland origin. His early life is shrouded in mystery, tho it is known that he and his sister Krista grew up in an orphanage. After the expiration of his short-term contract with Rheinwehr, he moved on to social work and ended up in colossal debts. Despite being a spokesman of a minor Rheinland politician, he was accused of stealing and damaging federal property and later sentenced to prison for two years. However, he escaped and vanished in Liberty space, relying on his ex-boss' contacts. In early 825 he signed a lifetime-long contract with Cuatroce, thereby devoting his entire life to the Cartel.

Luis Torres

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Born in 798 A.S. on Planet Malta Luis was born into a well off family. Growing up all he ever dreamed of was being like the Pilots he would occasionally see and whose stories he would always listen to. So when he turned 18 he got a loan from his parents and got his hands on his very own Freighter and then he eventually started running Cardamine just like the pilots he grew up admiring. A decade later he eventually had enough credits to Upgrade to an Aspis class Transport which he named El Parasio. One day whilst doing a routine Cardamine run he ran into pilots of the Cartel who told him about them and what they do. It was this moment that planted a thought in the Smugglers head. Why continue working alone when he can Instead work for a Cartel that shared his views. That was when Torres decided that he wanted to join the Cartel.

Montserrat Reyes

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The subject was born and raised on planet New York 26 years ago in the family of nurse and local businessman. For some reason, the subject was interested and devoted to scientific topics from the beginning of secondary school, despite the fact, that she didn't have any scientists in her family tree at all. The subject was rather successful with the number of different subjects, but the most interesting for her was chemistry. She managed to win numbers of local competitions and it was only the question of time when she will become a great chemist.

During the last class in school, the bunch of robbers broke in her father's shop, killing everyone and taking everything. Unfortunately for subject her father was at the workplace during the attack and was eventually killed. The loss of one of her parents was a great shock for the subject, but she managed to move on with taking a large amount of work to get in NYCU. However, her mother, who was remembered as an individual with a weak spirit, was broken and couldn't deal with it. During the last bachelor course, she passed away.

The subject left without love and support fell into depression and started to use drugs, alcohol as well as hanging around with everyone, who was ready to buy her a drink or another dose. However, soon she was noticed more and more often in a company with one of her coursemates. The subject returned to researching job and both individuals fell in love with each-other pretty soon. Despite being "a good fellow" - as one of her former coursemates said, the part of the subject had some kind of protectionism towards her and when she was offered a promising place in Cryer - she got her pregnant and forced to leave university, without finishing her master's degree, for the sake of keeping her around. After his deceiving was discovered, the subject gave birth to her, as was stated unwanted, child and quickly disappeared, leaving her former life behind.

Trying to get the required amount of money to keep living, she went into a black market and started drugs production and distribution. She was rather successful until one of her colleagues decided to sell her in slavery and grab business for himself. She was back-stabbed and then sold to rogues from whom she got on Malta.

Surprisingly the subject didn't feel anything bad towards Maltese and life on Malta in general, rather opposite she was obeying and promising scientist. Her integration was only the question of time and after the year of life on Malta and work as lab-assistant on Cardamine refinery, she was given a new name and role in the society of Malta.