Wayfarer: History and Crew

[Manticore]

The Ship:

"Wayfarer" is a Hathor-class gunboat, originally built by the Order in Omicron Minor not long after the Nomad War. It was one of the first of the Hathor line, and was sold as surplus by the Order in 816 AS, as it was becoming obsolete due to several newer, more advanced lines of the class being built.

The ship was purchased by a wealthy freelancer, who less than two weeks later had the ship taken from him at gunpoint by Corsairs. The Corsairs, having no use for the ship, sold it for a modest sum, but not before making a few modifications. This cycle continued with shocking regularity over the next three years, with the ship changing hands at least seven more times. Flown by Bounty Hunters, Freelancers, Zoners, and even a group of Blood Dragons, the Wayfarer suffered a dizzying array of damages, hasty repairs, and modifications.

Finally, the ship ended up in the hands of a freelancer named Richard Greer. Greer didn't care for the ship much, but purchased it in police auction from the LPI (the previous owners had been inept drug-runners) and intended to sell it on Gran Canaria for a modest profit. However, he got drunk his first night on the planet, and ended up playing a high-stakes game of poker with an old acquaintance, Rob Shaw. Greer drunkenly bet the Wayfarer in place of a hundred thousand credits on a hand he was sure he would win... and lost.

Greer kept his word and gave the ship to Rob, warning him that "it's a pile of scrap, barely worth anything," before departing. Rob was just recently out of the Liberty Navy, and was poor and without a ship. To him, the ship was a godsend, and he immediately began working to fix and clean it up. He ran across a young Zoner down on his luck, who agreed to help Rob fix up the ship in return for a place on his crew. Rob agreed, and the Zoner, Gage Joiner, became the first crewmember.

Rob finished fixing the ship up to a basic level, uncovering many of the strange modifications that had been made along the way, such as a hidden saferoom, an advanced long-range scanner that didn't work, and a concealed mini-bar... in the bathroom. Wayfarer was made basically combat-capable, and Gage was named the ship's gunner, by his request.

One of the ship's first stops after Gran Canaria was to visit Rob's old friend Tanya Carmen, who had recently recovered from a bullet wound that had ended her career with the Liberty Marine Corps. She was languishing on Ames Research Station, depressed and unhappy with her life. Rob convinced her to join him on the Wayfarer as his Executive Officer, and she grudgingly accepted, though it took several days of convincing.

Several more weeks passed, and the Wayfarer wandered Sirius, exploring and doing odd jobs. Four more crew members were acquired, bringing the total complement to seven. Wayfarer soon acquired a good reputation with most factions of Sirius, only hostile to a select few factions. The ship can be hired by virtually any party for the right price, but in between jobs Captain Shaw is more than happy to just explore the universe, going "wherever the winds carry us".

The Crew:

Captain: Robert ("Rob") Shaw
Born on Planet Denver, Colorado, age 37 years


Almost became a Xeno in his youth, but instead enlisted in the Liberty Navy. Attended West Point. Rose to the rank of commander. Commanded a gunboat that was lost to enemy action under suspicious circumstances. Resigned from the Navy amid rumors of scandal and pursued a new life as a freelancer. Shaw is a free spirit at heart, but is deeply jaded towards the universe since his departure from the Navy. Despite this, he remains light-hearted and honest, still striving to do some good even in these dark times.


Executive Officer: Tanya Carmen
Born on Planet Manhattan, New York, age 29 years


Long-time friend to Rob Shaw. Was an upper-class girl from Manhattan's wealthiest quarter who was a tomboy growing up. Elected to join the Liberty Marine Corps after college, and became a First Lieutenant. Was a graduate in the first class of Selective Advanced Training (SAT), where she received the SAT-4 rating after a year. She joined the Special Operations Assault Recon (SOAR) program, where she performed solo and small team special missions to further Liberty's interests. After two years of service, she suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was medically discharged from the service, where she ran into her old friend Rob. Tanya is bitter about losing her position in the Navy, but is at her core a deeply determined, tough woman. She hides behind a mask of formality among anyone other than Rob.


Pilot: Sparrow Terrell
Born on Freeport 4, Magellan, age 20 years


Daughter of two miners from Freeport 4, Sparrow has been flying ships from a young age. Considered something of a piloting prodigy, and she was sent to enlist in the BAF. Washed out during basic training because her tiny 5'3"/90 lb frame couldn't physically make it through. Worked odd piloting jobs until Rob found her on Barrier Gate and hired her long-term. Sparrow is a friendly girl, typically seeing things from a optimistic perspective and is considered the emotional heart of the crew. However, she is also known to be quite daring and confident in her piloting abilities, having brought the ship through a number of dangerous situations.


Gunner: Gage Joiner
Born on Freeport 9, Omicron Theta, age 23 years


Born a Zoner on Freeport 9, Gage was fascinated with space and space combat, to the horror of his parents. He ran away from home at age 16, and spent several years wandering the Edge Worlds, working odd jobs here and there. Wound up on Gran Canaria, where he was hired by Rob as the ship's gunner and first crew member, a role he has embraced with enthusiasm. Gage is known to be highly inquisitive and observant, embracing new experiences with a passion, and often noticing important details before anyone else in the crew.


Hired Gun: Kouta Miyamoto
Born on Planet New Tokyo, New Tokyo, age 31 years


For many years Kouta worked as a strong-arm and personal bodyguard for the Hogosha, but he suffered some kind of grave dishonor and was expelled. He is very effective fighting hand-to-hand, with a katana, and with a firearm. He speaks little if at all, and never about his past. Rob hired him initially for help on a mission on planet Harris, but wound up keeping him on for reasons only he knows.


Engineer: Lex Krause
Born on Planet Stuttgart, Stuttgart, age 53 years


Lex worked for over thirty years as a mechanic for Daumann, and then the IMG. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the ships of Sirius, but frequently had personality clashes with his coworkers and bosses. Was fired by the IMG after a particularly vicious disagreement with his boss, and struggled to find further work. Tried to start his own repair garage on Porto Novo, but it was on the verge of failure when Shaw brought a damaged Wayfarer to him. Rob was impressed by his knowledge, and hired him despite the man's sour, sracastic attitude.


Doctor: Floretta Kingsley
Born on Planet New London, New London, age 26 years


A wealthy New Londoner who attended King's College in New London and went on to attend the University of Cambridge for medical school, where she graduated near the top of her class. However, Floretta soon became obsessed with goings-on in space, and desperately wanted to spend time working on an active spaceship. She happened across Rob during a visit of his to Cambridge, and jumped at the opportunity to work as part of a freelancer's crew. Floretta is very intelligent, but is also very naive to the realities of the spacer's world.

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