The following are mini-profiles for the Island crew, as hinted in the ship registry and Eric's entry. Most of 'em are based very loosely on friends of mine - but the characters ain't them, just inspired by 'em. With blessings, as appropriate. This is mostly for my own reference, once I start writing. But if it helps or entertains anyone...
Dr. William "Will" Kao (Ops Chief)
Mundane Attributes:
- Veep: Dr. Kao's title is "Operations Chief", but he's (theoretically) second-in-command of the Island. Far as any sort of command structure applies to a Fenspace trading and recreation station. Most folks call him "Will". A rather pleasant man, good conversationalist. Unless you happen to be a catgirl.
- A Real Doctor: In the first days (2008 to early 2009) of the Island's existence, Will was also the station medic. He's still in charge of the medical centre, but leaves actual treatment to new employees. That's a good thing, a very good thing. Because while he's got a doctorate, he's a doctor of Literature, not medicine.
- D20 Bard: Will created, and often pilots, the Island's "bodyguard" spaceship, the armed craft that patrols its airspace - the Shakespeare.
Handwavium Ability:
- New Challenger: Strength/speed enhancements. Cat-style kung-fu, but...and this is very important...no feline physical features. He appears entirely human. See Quirks.
Quirks:
- C.A.T.: Obsession with cat imagery. Wears a cat uniform. But does not own a cat, and isn't particularly fond of actually handling cats. Devoted to the theory of cat, as it were. Violent aversion to catgirls (they're abominations to his religion).
- Dragonlance: A Fantasy Fen, given his area of expertise.
...
Matthew "Matt" West (Deputy Ops Chief)
Mundane Attributes:
- Number Three: Deputy Ops Chief, meaning he's third-in-command after Eric and Will. Given the respective...er...quirks....of his bosses, Matt's the guy who often ends up really running the show.
- Boo Bear: He's always got an angle. Positively Machiavellian, if he weren't such a nice guy. Friendly. Creative. Your Best Friend. He's a big cuddly teddy bear, really. Of course, he's also big. And bear-like. You don't want to see him angry...
- Idea Man: One of the key folks in actually getting the Island aloft. Someone had to lie, bribe, and cheat their way around the Nigerian authorities, pretending to be foreign investors, hiding the fact they were planning to abscond with a very large chunk of countryside...
Handwavium Ability:
- Afro: Yes. An afro. A very large afro. Which is kinda scary, once you realise he's an Excel Saga fan. The advantages of Afrospace are obvious, though with his height and hair, going through doors can be problematic. It also sets off metal detectors, jams radio transmissions...
Quirks:
- Afro: 'nuff said.
...
Dr. Gwendolyn "Gwen" Lee (Science Officer)
Mundane Attributes:
- Ms. Spock: Science Officer. Which says it all. Resident 'wavium expert of the station, though her real speciality...
- Ms. Moreau: ...is in the effects of handwavium on animals. As opposed to humans. You know, dogs, rats, fruit flies, politicians. That said, she's also responsible for the Island's life support system, which is entirely plant-based. She insists there's no 'wavium in that, though.
Handwavium Ability:
- Area 51: She has one. All that time in the lab...yes, she has one. But that's above your clearance level, citizen.
Quirks:
- Lab Rat: Workaholic, totally intense about her work. Literally lives in her lab.
- Fangirl: If she's not breaking the brains of the scientific community (and any friends and crewmates she expounds her theories to)... she's breaking the brains of female fen, online. Half of the Venus project love her. The other half think she's an agent of the Dark Kingdom and should be eliminated for love and justice.
...
Katie Lee (Go-Between)
Mundane Attributes:
- Hanger-On: She's not really on the Island's committee (read, founding crew). She joined later. But she's Gwen's twin sister, and has wormed her way into the "in-crowd". De-facto liaison between the senior staff and the hired help. Also handles customers actually on the station, letting others make the big outside decisions.
Handwavium Ability:
- Dual Cycle: She's either insanely hyperactive, or so asleep her heart virtually stops. Either found nearly ricocheting off walls, or passed out on tables, chairs, floors, occasionally other people.
Quirks:
- Sailor Nothing: Used to run with the Venus Terraforming Project. Occasionally dresses like she still is. The reason she left isn't known, but perhaps she was too bouncy and generally weird...even for them.
...
Ginnette "Jin" Leung (Marketing, Business)
Mundane Attributes:
- Fish, Water?: Not really Fen. Fendane at best. But her friends were part of the original Island venture, and sometimes you just get dragged along for the ride.
- Ms. Peel: Assisted Eric and Matt with the...somewhat dubious financial deals behind their land purchase, and acquiring the various materials for the project.
- Spin Doctor: Heads up advertising and marketing for the station. Oversees retail and deals with dirtside suppliers.
Handwavium Ability: None known.
Quirks:
- Sitcom Heroine: Pretty, funny, petite, and absolutely neurotic. In a cute way, of course. And if you say otherwise, she'll hunt you down and kill you.
...
Lin Xing ("Xing Lin" in Western parlance) (Marketing, Business)
Mundane Attributes:
- Spin Nurse: The other half of marketing and business management, along with Jin. She deals more with Fen businesses - Babylon .5, Fenbucks, Rockhounds, and independent suppliers. Jin yells at 'danes.
- Resident Artist: Someone's gotta make things pretty.
Handwavium Ability: None known.
Quirks:
- Theresa: Calm, quiet, kind, compassionate. Patience of a saint. Den mother. One wonders how she manages, considering her co-workers.
...
Thomas "Tom" Zhu (Engineer)
Mundane Attributes:
- Nepotism: Eric Zhu's cousin. They're best buddies some of the time. Mortal enemies others. Eric can't kick Tom off the station, though, and Tom refuses to leave.
- Scotty: Tom is an aerospace engineer by trade, and was instrumental in getting the Island spaceworthy. Gwen did most of the 'wavium, but he did the hardtech.
Handwavium Ability:
- Shocker Legit: Immune to electrocution. Strange affinity for electricity. May well be a power source. On the other hand, he always has bad hair days, and dear GOD that beard...
Quirks:
- Frankenstein: Since the Island's been spaceborne, Tom's ideas have been getting increasingly odd, even by Fen standards. He's an avid follower of the Professor, and that whole incident with the nuclear-powered Audi sedan made everyone nervous.
- Four Legs Good: He's messy as a pig. And about as weird, politically speaking, as ones from Animal Farm. Socialist with a side of anarchy, disdains 'danelaw. He's a comedian, though, so it's devilishly hard to tell if his political diatribes are serious.
...
Titan (Dog)
Mundane Attributes:
- Woof: Station Mascot. Golden Retriever.
Handwavium Ability:
- Woof?: Possibly sentient. Dr. Gwen Lee seems to pay a lot of attention to him.
Quirks:
- Woof!: Will's eternal nemesis. The man has a cat fetish, remember...
...
Simon-Peter (AI)
Mundane Attributes:
- Babbage: Handles the station's accounts, since none of the senior crew are particularly good at math.
- Nowhere Man: As the station AI, Simon pretty much has a link to every onboard system.
Handwavium Ability: N/A
Quirks:
- New Testament: Models himself (and his visual appearance) after Simon-Peter, the disciple of Jesus. Occasionally, as the mood suits him, emulates other robed thinkers and leaders - Plato, Gandhi, etc. Is a fairly cool and relaxed dude despite this. The whole robe thing may be simply because he likes a) expanding his mind, and b) not wearing pants.
- Binary Bond: Originally an offshoot of Eric Zhu's personality...Eric's 'wavium biomod is a permanent link to the Island's systems. In effect, Simon is a saner, more balanced Eric. The voice of reason, as it were. He's grown into what Eric wants to run the station.
...
Ally Sinclair (Employee)
Mundane Attributes:
- Long Sufferer: 'dane. Not even Fendane, just 'dane. Signed on to help oversee the station's hotel, and coordinate the retail business. It doesn't help that she reports to Jin and Katie, the two most crazy people on the Island. Maybe this wasn't...y'know...her wisest career choice. Or was it?
Handwavium Ability: None known.
Quirks:
- Blood Pressure: Stressed, totally out of her depth, completely lost in dealing with Fen. She started off with contacts, a snappy dresser. Now she's rubbing bleary eyes behind glasses, and her outfits are getting increasingly sloppy. Eventually, something's gotta snap.
...
Wentworth "Wen" Talbott (Fisherbot Shepherd)
Mundane Attributes:
- Foreman: In charge of the station's robot drones, the "Fisherbots".
Handwavium Ability:
- Bishoujo, Bishounen?: Male, but nearly androgynous. His biomod has given him a rather...large following of admirers. Pity about the side effect: he doesn't care.
Quirks:
- What me, worry?: Wen is eternally patient. But he isn't calm and friendly (like Xing is). He's vague and aloof. He's not quite a cold fish...he's nice enough, really, perhaps even charming. After a while, though, you might notice...he doesn't seem to be paying attention. He's always slightly distracted, like he's not entirely there.
...
The Fisherbots (Maintenance Droids, Errand Boys, Redshirts)
Mundane Attributes:
- Workforce Solution: When the crew first started building what would become the Island, they could safely use local labour. Hiring construction workers to seal up the buildings, dig tunnels, and so on. After all, they chose to boost from Nigeria, due to cheaper real estate, cheaper labour, and looser laws. But there's a limit, really. When they got to the really sensitive and strange structural modifications, they had to do it themselves. Can't trust outsiders, even if you're paying them well. So...
- I Will Make You Fishers Of Men: ...Tom Zhu and Wen made the Fisherbots. Of course, these days it's the Fisherbots themselves who make other Fisherbots...
Handwavium Ability: See Quirks
Quirks:
- Ages 5 and Up: The Fisherbots are brightly-coloured mechanoids, of assorted configurations. No two are identical, since they're built from bits and pieces...although they tend to be mostly plastic. The average Fisherbot is four feet tall. Some have legs. Some have wheels. They look like children's toys. They don't talk. They chitter.
- Collect Them All: Individually, the Fisherbots are not sentient. But collectively, they have some kind of group consciousness. It's not a very smart collective, however. You need to give them very specific instructions, very precisely worded. That said, they keep the Island clean and in good repair. It's just...it ain't safe to let them work without supervision.
- For The Empire: And the Fisherbots need to be kept busy. If they've got too much free time, they get really strange. None of the behaviour is destructive, though. Broadly speaking, it's benign. But it's really annoying when little robots form a congo line through the main docking bay. Or insist on hugging every single person on the station. Lest you think they're cute, though, they've also been known to raid stores and steal all the beer. A drunk Fisherbot is a very scary thing.
...
-- Acyl
Dr. William "Will" Kao (Ops Chief)
Mundane Attributes:
- Veep: Dr. Kao's title is "Operations Chief", but he's (theoretically) second-in-command of the Island. Far as any sort of command structure applies to a Fenspace trading and recreation station. Most folks call him "Will". A rather pleasant man, good conversationalist. Unless you happen to be a catgirl.
- A Real Doctor: In the first days (2008 to early 2009) of the Island's existence, Will was also the station medic. He's still in charge of the medical centre, but leaves actual treatment to new employees. That's a good thing, a very good thing. Because while he's got a doctorate, he's a doctor of Literature, not medicine.
- D20 Bard: Will created, and often pilots, the Island's "bodyguard" spaceship, the armed craft that patrols its airspace - the Shakespeare.
Handwavium Ability:
- New Challenger: Strength/speed enhancements. Cat-style kung-fu, but...and this is very important...no feline physical features. He appears entirely human. See Quirks.
Quirks:
- C.A.T.: Obsession with cat imagery. Wears a cat uniform. But does not own a cat, and isn't particularly fond of actually handling cats. Devoted to the theory of cat, as it were. Violent aversion to catgirls (they're abominations to his religion).
- Dragonlance: A Fantasy Fen, given his area of expertise.
...
Matthew "Matt" West (Deputy Ops Chief)
Mundane Attributes:
- Number Three: Deputy Ops Chief, meaning he's third-in-command after Eric and Will. Given the respective...er...quirks....of his bosses, Matt's the guy who often ends up really running the show.
- Boo Bear: He's always got an angle. Positively Machiavellian, if he weren't such a nice guy. Friendly. Creative. Your Best Friend. He's a big cuddly teddy bear, really. Of course, he's also big. And bear-like. You don't want to see him angry...
- Idea Man: One of the key folks in actually getting the Island aloft. Someone had to lie, bribe, and cheat their way around the Nigerian authorities, pretending to be foreign investors, hiding the fact they were planning to abscond with a very large chunk of countryside...
Handwavium Ability:
- Afro: Yes. An afro. A very large afro. Which is kinda scary, once you realise he's an Excel Saga fan. The advantages of Afrospace are obvious, though with his height and hair, going through doors can be problematic. It also sets off metal detectors, jams radio transmissions...
Quirks:
- Afro: 'nuff said.
...
Dr. Gwendolyn "Gwen" Lee (Science Officer)
Mundane Attributes:
- Ms. Spock: Science Officer. Which says it all. Resident 'wavium expert of the station, though her real speciality...
- Ms. Moreau: ...is in the effects of handwavium on animals. As opposed to humans. You know, dogs, rats, fruit flies, politicians. That said, she's also responsible for the Island's life support system, which is entirely plant-based. She insists there's no 'wavium in that, though.
Handwavium Ability:
- Area 51: She has one. All that time in the lab...yes, she has one. But that's above your clearance level, citizen.
Quirks:
- Lab Rat: Workaholic, totally intense about her work. Literally lives in her lab.
- Fangirl: If she's not breaking the brains of the scientific community (and any friends and crewmates she expounds her theories to)... she's breaking the brains of female fen, online. Half of the Venus project love her. The other half think she's an agent of the Dark Kingdom and should be eliminated for love and justice.
...
Katie Lee (Go-Between)
Mundane Attributes:
- Hanger-On: She's not really on the Island's committee (read, founding crew). She joined later. But she's Gwen's twin sister, and has wormed her way into the "in-crowd". De-facto liaison between the senior staff and the hired help. Also handles customers actually on the station, letting others make the big outside decisions.
Handwavium Ability:
- Dual Cycle: She's either insanely hyperactive, or so asleep her heart virtually stops. Either found nearly ricocheting off walls, or passed out on tables, chairs, floors, occasionally other people.
Quirks:
- Sailor Nothing: Used to run with the Venus Terraforming Project. Occasionally dresses like she still is. The reason she left isn't known, but perhaps she was too bouncy and generally weird...even for them.
...
Ginnette "Jin" Leung (Marketing, Business)
Mundane Attributes:
- Fish, Water?: Not really Fen. Fendane at best. But her friends were part of the original Island venture, and sometimes you just get dragged along for the ride.
- Ms. Peel: Assisted Eric and Matt with the...somewhat dubious financial deals behind their land purchase, and acquiring the various materials for the project.
- Spin Doctor: Heads up advertising and marketing for the station. Oversees retail and deals with dirtside suppliers.
Handwavium Ability: None known.
Quirks:
- Sitcom Heroine: Pretty, funny, petite, and absolutely neurotic. In a cute way, of course. And if you say otherwise, she'll hunt you down and kill you.
...
Lin Xing ("Xing Lin" in Western parlance) (Marketing, Business)
Mundane Attributes:
- Spin Nurse: The other half of marketing and business management, along with Jin. She deals more with Fen businesses - Babylon .5, Fenbucks, Rockhounds, and independent suppliers. Jin yells at 'danes.
- Resident Artist: Someone's gotta make things pretty.
Handwavium Ability: None known.
Quirks:
- Theresa: Calm, quiet, kind, compassionate. Patience of a saint. Den mother. One wonders how she manages, considering her co-workers.
...
Thomas "Tom" Zhu (Engineer)
Mundane Attributes:
- Nepotism: Eric Zhu's cousin. They're best buddies some of the time. Mortal enemies others. Eric can't kick Tom off the station, though, and Tom refuses to leave.
- Scotty: Tom is an aerospace engineer by trade, and was instrumental in getting the Island spaceworthy. Gwen did most of the 'wavium, but he did the hardtech.
Handwavium Ability:
- Shocker Legit: Immune to electrocution. Strange affinity for electricity. May well be a power source. On the other hand, he always has bad hair days, and dear GOD that beard...
Quirks:
- Frankenstein: Since the Island's been spaceborne, Tom's ideas have been getting increasingly odd, even by Fen standards. He's an avid follower of the Professor, and that whole incident with the nuclear-powered Audi sedan made everyone nervous.
- Four Legs Good: He's messy as a pig. And about as weird, politically speaking, as ones from Animal Farm. Socialist with a side of anarchy, disdains 'danelaw. He's a comedian, though, so it's devilishly hard to tell if his political diatribes are serious.
...
Titan (Dog)
Mundane Attributes:
- Woof: Station Mascot. Golden Retriever.
Handwavium Ability:
- Woof?: Possibly sentient. Dr. Gwen Lee seems to pay a lot of attention to him.
Quirks:
- Woof!: Will's eternal nemesis. The man has a cat fetish, remember...
...
Simon-Peter (AI)
Mundane Attributes:
- Babbage: Handles the station's accounts, since none of the senior crew are particularly good at math.
- Nowhere Man: As the station AI, Simon pretty much has a link to every onboard system.
Handwavium Ability: N/A
Quirks:
- New Testament: Models himself (and his visual appearance) after Simon-Peter, the disciple of Jesus. Occasionally, as the mood suits him, emulates other robed thinkers and leaders - Plato, Gandhi, etc. Is a fairly cool and relaxed dude despite this. The whole robe thing may be simply because he likes a) expanding his mind, and b) not wearing pants.
- Binary Bond: Originally an offshoot of Eric Zhu's personality...Eric's 'wavium biomod is a permanent link to the Island's systems. In effect, Simon is a saner, more balanced Eric. The voice of reason, as it were. He's grown into what Eric wants to run the station.
...
Ally Sinclair (Employee)
Mundane Attributes:
- Long Sufferer: 'dane. Not even Fendane, just 'dane. Signed on to help oversee the station's hotel, and coordinate the retail business. It doesn't help that she reports to Jin and Katie, the two most crazy people on the Island. Maybe this wasn't...y'know...her wisest career choice. Or was it?
Handwavium Ability: None known.
Quirks:
- Blood Pressure: Stressed, totally out of her depth, completely lost in dealing with Fen. She started off with contacts, a snappy dresser. Now she's rubbing bleary eyes behind glasses, and her outfits are getting increasingly sloppy. Eventually, something's gotta snap.
...
Wentworth "Wen" Talbott (Fisherbot Shepherd)
Mundane Attributes:
- Foreman: In charge of the station's robot drones, the "Fisherbots".
Handwavium Ability:
- Bishoujo, Bishounen?: Male, but nearly androgynous. His biomod has given him a rather...large following of admirers. Pity about the side effect: he doesn't care.
Quirks:
- What me, worry?: Wen is eternally patient. But he isn't calm and friendly (like Xing is). He's vague and aloof. He's not quite a cold fish...he's nice enough, really, perhaps even charming. After a while, though, you might notice...he doesn't seem to be paying attention. He's always slightly distracted, like he's not entirely there.
...
The Fisherbots (Maintenance Droids, Errand Boys, Redshirts)
Mundane Attributes:
- Workforce Solution: When the crew first started building what would become the Island, they could safely use local labour. Hiring construction workers to seal up the buildings, dig tunnels, and so on. After all, they chose to boost from Nigeria, due to cheaper real estate, cheaper labour, and looser laws. But there's a limit, really. When they got to the really sensitive and strange structural modifications, they had to do it themselves. Can't trust outsiders, even if you're paying them well. So...
- I Will Make You Fishers Of Men: ...Tom Zhu and Wen made the Fisherbots. Of course, these days it's the Fisherbots themselves who make other Fisherbots...
Handwavium Ability: See Quirks
Quirks:
- Ages 5 and Up: The Fisherbots are brightly-coloured mechanoids, of assorted configurations. No two are identical, since they're built from bits and pieces...although they tend to be mostly plastic. The average Fisherbot is four feet tall. Some have legs. Some have wheels. They look like children's toys. They don't talk. They chitter.
- Collect Them All: Individually, the Fisherbots are not sentient. But collectively, they have some kind of group consciousness. It's not a very smart collective, however. You need to give them very specific instructions, very precisely worded. That said, they keep the Island clean and in good repair. It's just...it ain't safe to let them work without supervision.
- For The Empire: And the Fisherbots need to be kept busy. If they've got too much free time, they get really strange. None of the behaviour is destructive, though. Broadly speaking, it's benign. But it's really annoying when little robots form a congo line through the main docking bay. Or insist on hugging every single person on the station. Lest you think they're cute, though, they've also been known to raid stores and steal all the beer. A drunk Fisherbot is a very scary thing.
...
-- Acyl