Wes Cutter (b. 792 A.S.) better known as Feral, is a native of Houston in the Texas system. He began his career as a transport driver on the perilous route from Texas to Planet Los Angeles in the California system, then became a pilot for the Navy in the border territories of Hudson, Bering, Galileo and Kepler before landng a job as a Deputy in a frontier town on Houston called Lincoln Creek.
In 814 he was involved in a deadly shoot-out with the McCain gang after 40 year old Zebediah McCain, his 12-year-old son and two farmhands called at the sheriff's office to demand payment of an overdue second installment on the property. Cutter and his accomplices, the Sheriff Isaiah Wellman, his wife and an employee J.W. Briggs were tried but judged to have acted in self-defense despite reports that none of the McCain gang were armed. This was the first man Cutter killed in a fight. On several later occasions, Cutter was to confront and kill several men while fighting alone.
He fought with the Bretonian Armed Forces as a mercenary during the early years of the war and gained a reputation as a scout, marksman, and professional gambler and womaniser. He first met BAF Lieutenant Harold Lloyd in early 817 A.S., while both were gambling on the Shetland in Edinburgh. Cutter would often borrow money from Lloyd. On July 21, 817, in the town square of Springfield, Planet Leeds, Cutter killed Lloyd in a knife-fight. The incident was precipitated by a dispute over a gambling debt incurred at a local bar and likely exacerbated by the fact there was a long standing dispute over a mutual girlfriend Tatiana Moore.
His sentence of life imprisonment was commuted under the Amnesty Act of early 818 A.S. which saw many similar criminals pardoned in exchange for a commitment to enrol with private security firms to assist Bretonia in dealing with mounting crime.
He became a registered member of the Bounty Hunters' Guild within several months.
He would still occasionally visit his family on Houston. He had many enemies throughout the Houses and border worlds, primarily because of his rather poor misunderstanding of the notion of romantic fidelity.
Having served with the S/D Agency, he was granted a full pardon by the Sirius Crime Commission and retired to raise a family and become a farmer on Houston. (Retired 18/1/2009) His dog, Stonewall, has remained his closest friend throughout these years.
His last employer had this to say about him...
Quote:
A few words
There is a saying. No Strontium Dog ever died of old age. We can hope though.
It is with some mixed feelings that we announce today the retirement of Senior Agent and Guild Core Journeyman Wes Cutter, known to you all as Feral.
Agent Cutter retires today having completed a grand total of 27 contracts against major criminals from all corners of the galaxy. He imprisoned hundreds of minor thugs from Shikoku to Sheffield. He was beaten, stomped on, burned and bruised, and he still got on with the job without acting like a whiny little bitch, like some I could mention.
In recognition of the fine reputation he established for the Agency in its infancy, and in order to honour his diligence and hard work, we are pleased to announce that the Sirius Crime Commission has granted him a full pardon for the various criminal misdeeds he committed before putting on the S/D badge.
He has amassed a small fortune for himself and earned the first creds that paid for the seats you are all sitting on. We wish him well in his future life. I understand he wants to return to his place of birth and become a farmer on Houston. He mentioned something about getting married, but I nodded off when he just went on about it.
Sitting on his porch watching the sun go down, Wes Cutter surveyed the remains of his farm. The wheat-fields were parched and dusty. Stonewall was slumped next to him, his mangy coat showing signs of grey.
Cutter took another drink of whiskey and examined the mail.
Been awhile since we've talked. Last time we did I was still a Chief Security Officer in the Universal Shipping Incorporated.
But I'm afraid things have changed.
Some might still mistake me for a Universal, which is logic as my vessel is still being recognized as a Universal vessel.
But I'm afraid I do no longer am under control of Universal.
Due to certain events that have occurred I've come to a conclusion to free myself from everybody and take care of things my own way.
I believe that Military and Police authorities are failing badly at what they are supposed to be doing. And I can no longer stand and watch how the Slave trade as well as Cardamine trade grows, how the Hackers activity is rising and all other scum can freely kill and mistreat innocent people.
Now I have been in a situation where I have been out gunned badly by Outcast scum. Seems they thought two fighters wasn't enough and called in a Trident gunship. Thats where your men showed up and helped me out eliminating each and everyone of them. So I do owe you all one for that.
But I'm afraid I can't kill all that scum with the current weaponry I have right now. I'm flying with those Liberty weapons, and it seems even liberty fails at making weaponry to.
So I'm asking you for a favor even though I should be giving you guys one.
Is there a possibility for me to earn five units of Buckshots for my vessel. It will make killin' all that scum a lot easy'r as unlike the Libertonians you hunters do know how to make a reasonable weapon.
I'm offering my best service to the Guild, which is killin' scumbags.
I would be owing the Guild two favors for that and I'm willing to do anything at any risk for the Guild.
Please let me know what it takes for me to earn those five weapons.
Best regards.
**Stopped**
Cutter staggered into the barn. He waited until it was dark and he started digging in the far-left corner. The crate was still there, right where he left it a year ago. He pulled open the top of it and examined the guns.