Hernan Escudero
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.