# Ali Kamil — Plague Ship character guide > Ali Kamil in Plague Ship by Andre Norton. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Kamil **First appearance:** 0000-i-perfumed-planet ## Snapshot Engineer-apprentice Ali Kamil answers an I-S captain's demands with a mocking appraisal that has roused worse in better men — and he knows exactly what he's doing. ## Who they are Ali is the crew's dry, faintly amused edge, the man whose raised eyebrow at a Company officer is itself a small act of war between Free Traders and the big combines. He's reliable when it counts, but his pessimism is earned: he's the one who tallies fuel, vectors, and the hard truth that the Queen can't make Sargol in time. His mockery and his math together define the crew's defiant, cornered position. ## Relationships ### [Dane Thorson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/dane_thorson) _friendship_ Fellow crew members who work closely together, sharing a mutual respect and cooperative spirit. ### [Rip Shannon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/rip_shannon) _friendship_ Shipmates who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship aboard the Solar Queen. ### [Jasper Weeks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/jasper_weeks) _friendship_ Crewmates who interact amiably and work together as part of the ship's complement. ### [Dane Thorson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/dane_thorson) _friendship_ Fellow crew members who work closely together, sharing a mutual respect and cooperative spirit. ### [Rip Shannon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/rip_shannon) _friendship_ Shipmates who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship aboard the Solar Queen. ### [Dane Thorson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/dane_thorson) _friendship_ Fellow crew members who work closely together, sharing a mutual respect and cooperative spirit. ### [Jasper Weeks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/jasper_weeks) _friendship_ Crewmates who interact amiably and work together as part of the ship's complement. ### [Jasper Weeks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/jasper_weeks) _friendship_ Crewmates who interact amiably and work together as part of the ship's complement. ### [Rip Shannon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/rip_shannon) _friendship_ Shipmates who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship aboard the Solar Queen. ## In the story ### [I: Perfumed Planet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/i-perfumed-planet) Apprentice Engineer, expresses distaste at the strong scent as Dane passes in the corridor. ### [II: Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/ii-rivals) Explains the cat ransom system to Dane and witnesses the meeting with the Eysies. ### [V: The Perilous Seas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/v-the-perilous-seas) Provides first aid to the wounded I-S man on the beach. ### [VI: Duelist’s Challenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/vi-duelist-s-challenge) Comments on the duel being to the death and the Terrans' immunizations against alien food. ### [VII: Barring Accident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/vii-barring-accident) Comments on the tight schedule and Stotz's confidence; present in the mess discussing the voyage. ### [VIII: Headaches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/viii-headaches) Inquires about Frank's condition and later about Tau's whereabouts. ### [IX: Plague!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/ix-plague) Proposes the immunity theory from the Salariki brew and mans the engine room during snap-out. ### [X: E-Stat Landing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/x-e-stat-landing) Takes Stotz's place in the engine room, reports no findings in Kosti's quarters, and advises on using sleep rods and disabling the station's coms. ### [XI: Desperate Measures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xi-desperate-measures) Assists in examining the tri-dee shots and participates in the E-Stat raid; cynical about their legal standing. ### [XII: Strange Behavior of a Hoobat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xii-strange-behavior-of-a-hoobat) Questions the feasibility of the Big Burn landing and carries the caged Hoobat during the hunt. ### [XIII: Off the Map](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xiii-off-the-map) Helps open the cargo panel, counts the pests, and theorizes that the creatures' venom causes the illness. ### [XIV: Special Mission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xiv-special-mission) Engineers the flitter shielding, improvises with rocket linings, and remains on the Queen. ### [XV: Medic Hovan Reports](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xv-medic-hovan-reports) Works with Rip on flight mechanics and discusses the broken contract and fuel limitations. ### [XVI: The Battle of the Video](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xvi-the-battle-of-the-video) Takes command of the situation, threatens the Com-tech, recalls the existence of an H.D. O.S. device, and oversees the revival of Hovan. ### [XVII: In Custody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xvii-in-custody) Follows Rip's lead in surrendering; makes sardonic comments about their situation and the Patrol's actions. ### [XVIII: Bargain Concluded](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xviii-bargain-concluded) Present during the questioning and later confinement, sleeps after the ordeal. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/ali_kamil - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters