1,001 Characters #24: Marc Spieler

 

24. Marc Spieler    A84C79   ex-Scout       Age 30      3 Terms

Skills: Pilot-1, Rifle-1, Vacc Suit-1, Air/raft-2, Mechanical-1.

Benefits: Cr50,000, Rifle ("Betty").

 

     Marc wanted to explore the galaxy so he signed up with MEK the first chance he got. That chance came when the "Gypsy Moth" dropped in for a visit. The "Gypsy Moth" had only one crew member, a being called "Crazy Red Balls". Its real name is unpronounceable, and it told Marc that Crazy Red Balls is the closest Galanglic translation it can come up with.

    Anyway, Crazy Red Balls accepted Marc as a new recruit and took him out into the galaxy. Teaching him to pilot the ship (Pilot-1) was the first thing on the agenda. They spent nearly four years together on that ship and became fast friends. Their adventures saw Marc's physical fitness improve (+1 END) along with his improving his knowledge of the galaxy in general, as well as his role within the MEK. Crazy Red Balls' appearance sometimes got them into trouble with xenophobic locals, and Marc had to learn to defend both himself and his alien friend (Rifle-1).

    Returning to MEK headquarters on Moni, Marc was reassigned to a ship of his own and said farewell to Crazy Red Balls. His new ship was named "Ad Astra" and he was sent on routine system surveys around The Void subsector. During this mission he had to maintain his own ship, which sometimes required him to go EVA (Vacc Suit-1) to affect repairs. The Ad Astra also had an air/raft stored in a modified compartment in the ship's hold, and Marc took great pleasure in driving it about whenever he was dirtside (Air/raft-1).

    His next term of service saw him being sent into the neighbouring Ontagg Prime subsector; where he was tasked with surveying the systems, and collecting data on jump routes in use, within the subsector. He learned mechanics through computer assisted training courses while aboard ship (Mechanical-1); which served him well because he really gave his air/raft a workout on this tour (Air/raft-2) and it needed constant maintenance to keep up with his demands.

    He had heard that Crazy Red Balls had gone missing and desired to search for him, but MEK HQ refused to allow him to do so on MEK time, so he told them he'd find it himself and resigned. He was given his severance pay, some of which he used to purchase his rifle, from the Ad Astra's locker. He really liked that rifle, he'd even named it. He called her "Betty" after a girl he'd met on one of the worlds he'd visited (Mustering Out: Cr50,000, Rifle and +2 INT).

    Marc Spieler can be found at any world in The Void subsector, or any of the surrounding subsectors. He is constantly searching for clues as to what has happened to his friend Crazy Red Balls. When encountered he will have exhausted all possible avenues of search on the world he's on and will be willing to move on to the next in order to continue his search.

    

    Sl'Vorta    0803    B47A420-9    N    Ni Wa                                            G*

Referee: Marc is driven by his search for his friend. He is somewhat intolerant of rules and regulations, partially because of the informal nature of MEK service, but also because MEK HQ refused to allow him to search using MEK resources.

    Note: Crazy Red Balls is a unique alien, and will be described further in a later post.