Dane Thorson

Rip Shannon

Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen.

Ali Kamil

Fellow crew members who work closely together, sharing a mutual respect and cooperative spirit.

Captain Jellico

Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Dane's commanding officer and mentor.

Sinbad

Dane has a close, affectionate bond with Sinbad, the ship's cat, treating him as a loyal companion.

Jasper Weeks

Crewmates who interact regularly as part of the ship's company, with a tone of easy camaraderie.

Frank Mura

Fellow crew members who work together harmoniously, with Mura often sharing his artistic and cultural insights.

Queex

Dane has a tense, uneasy relationship with Queex, an alien entity that communicates in unsettling ways.

Kallee

Dane shares a friendly, supportive bond with Kallee, a fellow crew member and alien linguist.

Groft

Dane has a hostile, competitive relationship with Groft, an antagonistic alien trader.

Rip Shannon

Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen.

Ali Kamil

Fellow crew members who work closely together, sharing a mutual respect and cooperative spirit.

Captain Jellico

Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Dane's commanding officer and mentor.

I: Perfumed Planet

Cargo-master-apprentice, being greased with scented paste and preparing for trade talks on Sargol.

I: Perfumed Planet

Cargo-master, leads the trade delegation with calm authority, marching steadily to assert status before the Salariki.

II: Rivals

Observes the confrontation with I-S rivals and later leads a curious Salarik cub into the ship.

II: Rivals

Supports Jellico, records the negotiation with a disc, and assesses the I-S threat.

III: Contact at Last

Discovers the Salarik cub's attraction to catnip and brings the matter to Van Rycke and Tau; later witnesses the I-S confrontation.

III: Contact at Last

Cargo-master who calmly handles the I-S accusation by invoking Code Four, Article Two and calling on Medic Tau and the storm priest.

IV: Gorp Hunt

Folds the bargain cloth, sensing he is out of Van Rycke's good graces; participates in the conference and is selected by Groft for the gorp hunt.

IV: Gorp Hunt

Concludes trading, discusses trade goods with Tau, and formally accepts the Salariki invitation to the gorp hunt.

V: The Perilous Seas

Participates in the gorp hunt, observes the Salariki techniques, and helps carry the wounded I-S man.

VI: Duelist’s Challenge

Observes the feast and the duel, noting the value of the catnip leaf as a trade item.

VI: Duelist’s Challenge

Settles at the feast and notes the value of the catnip leaf wagered by a nobleman.

VII: Barring Accident

Feels like a pariah after his mistakes and illness on Sargol; observes the loading and the duel with a sense of foreboding.

VII: Barring Accident

Returns from meeting with storm priests displeased; forced to accept the Koros chest; remains outwardly calm during the duel.

VIII: Headaches

Struggles with fear and studies old records; suggests Sinbad might be a disease carrier.

IX: Plague!

Helps care for the sick and assists during snap-out.

X: E-Stat Landing

Assists in searching Mura's cabin and the hydro, proposes landing at an E-Stat, and recalls his mistake on Sargol.

XI: Desperate Measures

Proposes finding the real cause of the plague and leads the examination of the hydro tri-dee shots.

XII: Strange Behavior of a Hoobat

Heats broth for Captain Jellico and follows the Hoobat after it escapes its cage.

XIII: Off the Map

Breaks the official seal on the cargo hold, inspects the red wood, and uses his sleep rod to subdue the pests.

XIV: Special Mission

Volunteers for the dangerous mission to find a medic, disguises himself and plans to abduct the village medic.

XV: Medic Hovan Reports

Forces Medic Hovan at blaster-point to accompany him to the Solar Queen, then participates in planning the risky Terraport landing.

XVI: The Battle of the Video

Takes charge of the cage containing the pest, operates the riser to trap the Traders' pursuers, and ultimately becomes the spokesman for the crew, broadcasting their plea for justice.

XVII: In Custody

Delivers a compelling defense of the crew before the broadcast is cut off; surrenders with Rip and Ali; later tackles a policeman to protect Hovan's entry to the ship.

XVIII: Bargain Concluded

Feels stubbornly right during Patrol questioning, reflects on Free Trader distrust of law favoring companies.

XVIII: Bargain Concluded

Sits impassively during Rip's report, negotiates the deal with Combine, departs for Sargol.