Plague Ship · Character

Rip Shannon

The Solar Queen's astrogator, Rip Shannon, is the one who walks up to a stranger and admits the crew is Patrol Posted — because there's no other way left.

major

Also known as Shannon

First appearance: I: Perfumed Planet

As a major figure in Plague Ship, Rip Shannon is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Assistant Astrogator, helps apply the scented paste to Dane and reminds him of the necessity of adapting to alien customs.

In the storyI: Perfumed PlanetOpen this moment free

See Rip Shannon in I: Perfumed Planet Book page

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Rip is Dane's closest friend aboard and the crew's steady, usually cheerful presence, until illness and the Patrol's shadow strip that ease away. He shoulders the ugly errands — confessing the ship's outlaw status to a medic they've essentially coerced into helping — and slumps when the weight lands, but he keeps moving. His loyalty and blunt honesty anchor the early arc, when the Queen's survival depends on men who won't lie to each other.

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The fuller portrait of Rip Shannon sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Rip Shannon in I: Perfumed Planet

Character Web

15 connections

A slice of how Rip Shannon sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Professional
Other

Character groups

Solar Queen crew and allies
Protagonist

+10 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this excerpt, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Dane and Rip realize the hydro—the ship’s li…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Dane Thorson
friendship · positive
Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the… How this plays out →
Ali Kamil
friendship · positive
Jasper Weeks
friendship · positive
Captain Jellico
professional · positive
Dane Thorson
friendship · positive
Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the… How this plays out →
Ali Kamil
friendship · positive
Dane Thorson
friendship · positive
Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the… How this plays out →
Captain Jellico
professional · positive
Jasper Weeks
friendship · positive
Ali Kamil
friendship · positive
Captain Jellico
professional · positive

Dane Thorson
Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen.
Ali Kamil
Shipmates who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship aboard the Solar Queen.
Jasper Weeks
Shipmates who share a friendly, supportive bond as part of the Solar Queen's crew.
Captain Jellico
Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Rip's commanding officer and authority figure.
Dane Thorson
Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen.
Ali Kamil
Shipmates who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship aboard the Solar Queen.
Dane Thorson
Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen.
Captain Jellico
Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Rip's commanding officer and authority figure.
Jasper Weeks
Shipmates who share a friendly, supportive bond as part of the Solar Queen's crew.
Ali Kamil
Shipmates who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship aboard the Solar Queen.
Captain Jellico
Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Rip's commanding officer and authority figure.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Rip Shannon in I: Perfumed Planet

In the story

Rip Shannon appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I: Perfumed Planet
Assistant Astrogator, helps apply the scented paste to Dane and reminds him of the necessity of adapting to alien customs.
V: The Perilous Seas
Leads the decision to return the wounded I-S man to his ship and reports back to the Queen.
VI: Duelist’s Challenge
Whispers to Dane about the meaning of the drink-throwing insult that triggers the duel.
VII: Barring Accident
Weary from double-checking computations; expresses concern about the tight orbit; watches the duel with anxiety.
VIII: Headaches
Reports Frank's illness to Dane and expresses concern.
IX: Plague!
Takes charge of the hydro garden and handles astrogation; collapses from exhaustion after snap-out.
X: E-Stat Landing
Pilots the Queen to a skilled landing on the E-Stat field, coordinates the plan to strip the hydro, and selects the I-S E-Stat from astrogation tapes.
XI: Desperate Measures
Leads the raid on the I-S E-Stat, disables communications, and takes command of the ship's next moves.
XII: Strange Behavior of a Hoobat
Proposes the audacious plan to land in the Big Burn and leads the hunt for the alien creatures.
XIII: Off the Map
Acts as acting-commander, orders the deep freeze for captured pests, and sets the course for Terra.
XIV: Special Mission
Pilots the Queen, maps the continent, and reluctantly agrees Dane should go instead of him.
XV: Medic Hovan Reports
Acts as acting-Captain, questions Hovan about testifying, and studies Terraport landing instructions.
XVI: The Battle of the Video
Works to revive Medic Hovan, supports Dane as the acting commander, and urges Dane to take the announcer's seat as the 'talk merchant.'
XVII: In Custody
As acting captain, orders the surrender and disarms himself; remains calm under observation in custody.
XVIII: Bargain Concluded
Concludes his report to the Patrol in a matter-of-fact tone, asks about their status.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Rip Shannon unlock in the free preview.

See Rip Shannon in I: Perfumed Planet