# Rip Shannon — Plague Ship character guide > Rip Shannon in Plague Ship by Andre Norton. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Shannon **First appearance:** 0000-i-perfumed-planet ## Snapshot 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. ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Dane Thorson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/dane_thorson) _friendship_ Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen. ### [Ali Kamil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/ali_kamil) _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_ Shipmates who share a friendly, supportive bond as part of the Solar Queen's crew. ### [Captain Jellico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/captain_jellico) _professional_ Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Rip's commanding officer and authority figure. ### [Dane Thorson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/dane_thorson) _friendship_ Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen. ### [Ali Kamil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/ali_kamil) _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_ Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen. ### [Captain Jellico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/captain_jellico) _professional_ Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Rip's commanding officer and authority figure. ### [Jasper Weeks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/jasper_weeks) _friendship_ Shipmates who share a friendly, supportive bond as part of the Solar Queen's crew. ### [Ali Kamil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/ali_kamil) _friendship_ Shipmates who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship aboard the Solar Queen. ### [Captain Jellico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/captain_jellico) _professional_ Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Rip's commanding officer and authority figure. ## In the story ### [I: Perfumed Planet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/vi-duelist-s-challenge) Whispers to Dane about the meaning of the drink-throwing insult that triggers the duel. ### [VII: Barring Accident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/vii-barring-accident) Weary from double-checking computations; expresses concern about the tight orbit; watches the duel with anxiety. ### [VIII: Headaches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/viii-headaches) Reports Frank's illness to Dane and expresses concern. ### [IX: Plague!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/ix-plague) Takes charge of the hydro garden and handles astrogation; collapses from exhaustion after snap-out. ### [X: E-Stat Landing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xiii-off-the-map) Acts as acting-commander, orders the deep freeze for captured pests, and sets the course for Terra. ### [XIV: Special Mission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xiv-special-mission) Pilots the Queen, maps the continent, and reluctantly agrees Dane should go instead of him. ### [XV: Medic Hovan Reports](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xv-medic-hovan-reports) Acts as acting-Captain, questions Hovan about testifying, and studies Terraport landing instructions. ### [XVI: The Battle of the Video](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xvii-in-custody) As acting captain, orders the surrender and disarms himself; remains calm under observation in custody. ### [XVIII: Bargain Concluded](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xviii-bargain-concluded) Concludes his report to the Patrol in a matter-of-fact tone, asks about their status. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/rip_shannon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters