Behind the scenes character notes (PMF) (Patreon)

Not sure I've ever shared this before, but it popped up at me while sending stuff to my editor. It felt like a behind-the-scenes process bit worth sharing here.

This is a document of character notes for Poor Man's Fight. It's informal and meant mainly to help me keep continuity, so tone and depth can vary. I don't intend to track every detail; this is meant for the stuff I want to make sure I don't forget... although sometimes I just get to typing and a little formality/for-the-record feels appropriate.

Tanner Malone:

15 years old when his mother died. Never liked hide and seek as a kid. Did conservation work outside of Geronimo during a couple of summers.

Mother: Guadalupe Chavez-Malone, formerly a DC2 in the Union Fleet and later a civilian paramedic. Popular with his classmates because she was cool, less popular with teachers and some parent peers for the same reason.

1.85 meters tall, 80-85 kilos.

Classes completed as of LMO: Composition, logic (math), biology, chemistry, intro to xenoarchaeology, theory and practice of xenoarch, ecology, “global studies,” plus field school credits. Belated accreditation awarded for military service education after events of LMO.

Tanner habitually counts up his companions/friends/whoever he’s concerned about in times of danger or stress.

His holocom is always a sturdy wristwatch-like model, partly practical, partly cheap.

Lynette Kellyis six years older than Tanner (26 at start of war). Her injuries in the Battle of Raphael were all along her right side. Planned on only one term of service, but signed up for a second in the summer of ’74, so she was a freshly-minted CO when she makes her cameo in PMF with Oscar Company. Her promotions held to the letter of regulations but otherwise happened really fast. Though sincere about responsibilities, missions, etc., she never saw the military as a calling or a career.

Due to the death of Lt. Cmdr. Jacobson, Kelly was the ranking officer at Symphony Hall on Fairhaven, and thus is the officer of record in accepting NorthStar’s cease fire.

Lost crew in the war include Chief George Romita and OP3 Stan Grzeskiewicz at Raphael, and then a non-rated crewman named Gene manning the ventral turret at Fairhaven.

Her civilian holocom is a red-jeweled earring.

Michelle Janeka: killed Archangel marine Lance Corporal Eddie O’Donnell by friendly fire in her third combat engagement while fighting Hashem (before Tanner or Alicia were born). Seven years later she also wounded a civilian in a firefight, but managed to save him via first aid.

Served on Resolute, where she saw victims of piracy.

Her husband is a veteran, but no longer active. Their son’s name is Andrew. He is in early elementary school at the end of DMD.

Bill Everett: wounded along his right side on Fairhaven. His husband is named Angelo.

Alicia Wong: won two gymnastics events and the individual all-around at the Union Championships in 2273 and many lead-up competitions. Placed for the Olympic Trials in 2274 (must have been Jan/Feb), but dropped out to join the Navy that summer.

Went to Lai Wa Success Academy, much of her costs were covered by her athletics.

Alicia’s maternal grandfather is Hideki Otsuka, a former military intelligence officer from Izumoto’s Star who led a rescue of journalists and their families to escape the Setsubun Regime.

Mother is Minako (works in an office of some sort?), father is Hai (detective), younger brother is David (athletic).

Alicia has a pattern of course-corrections and changing her mind that she sometimes overanalyzes. (Examples: gymnastics, Tanner, navy career.) She worries she has commitment issues.

On Minos, Midshipman (Miss) Wong assumes command of First Platoon when Lt. Torres is shot and wounded on arrival. She and Janeka later apprehend Tom Geisler as he tries to slip away among refugees.

Meiling Yeoh: mother of twin daughters a couple years out from the Test at start of PMF. She owed 14k from the Test, which ate up most of her Academy stipend for a couple years. She keeps up with her marksmanship qualifications.

Yeoh sees the risks of a rash liberation offensive on Michael to both the civilian population and the fleet’s vulnerability to a counterattack, and thus resists pressure to move too soon. She is “benched” for a short time near the end of the war until Admiral Snyder’s disastrous raid on Astonaco proves the wisdom of her concerns.

After destroying Perseus, Yeoh stalls and bluffs Captain Mayfair and the battleship Taurusfor the critical moments until NorthStar’s cease fire. She personally directed Nathan Spencer at the helm in the battle and heard his injuries.

Madelyn Carter: Athletic, smart, popular. Able to remember personal trivia about friends and acquaintances, has that “you’re the only person in the room” talent. Able to shift emotional gears quickly. Considers herself a visual & kinetic learner, bio isn’t her strong suit.

Stationed on Zheng He after graduating Annapolis, serves in Fleet Intelligence. She has seen combat twice in connection with Tanner.

Madelyn wants Tanner in her wedding party, but Becky has to be her maid of honor.

Madelyn was a high school gymnast. When she next sees Tanner, she will go off on him about how he didn’t tell her “Alicia” was that Alicia Wong.

Andrea Bennett:Passed the Test with no debt. Harvard grad, background in macroeconomics, 2-term Senator before Press Sec. She gave up her Senate seat to work for Aguirre’s campaign and serve in his administration.

Martin Ravenell: Went to CDC school, had to make downpayment to walk at graduation. Comes from a family with successful politicians on Gabriel, but his immediate family was not rich. This has made him politically aware and comfortable around bigwigs & high society.

Highly principled, but not naïve. In combat/missions, Ravenell excels at picking up whatever others drop and picking up his teammates who fall down (shares this with Brent Collins).

In NMfS, Ravenell is present every step of the way but never personally sees the aliens.

Ravenell fights through the Debtor’s War without ever suffering a single scratch.

Rav looks out for cats and other family pets. Somewhat resentful of wealthy people despite his family ties, noting that politics don’t necessarily make one wealthy if one is honest.

Sanjay Bhatia: I fucked up and called him Crewman Sanjay a lot in RMW but fixed it in DMD. Sanjay lost his left arm on Scheherezade, and the replacement will always have occasional nerve pain. Tall, handsome, rough around the edges. Got the full New Guard basic + weapons and tactics. He has focused on piloting & being a bos’un but definitely has levels in rogue.

Jesse Baldwin: Her parents cried and cried when she went off to basic, kept her room as it was the whole time she was gone. She rolled her eyes at this. She rolls her eyes at lots. Came up with alliterative titles for incidents & cases in the MA department.

Val Ordoñez: Started basic at Fort Melendez only a month or two after Oscar Company, but got the whole New Guard basic + weapons and tactics. She made rate before Tanner by virtue of not screwing around about her timelines.

Booker: He’s at the very end of his first term as of the start of Rich Man’s War, and has excelled through rank/position at a similarly wild clip as Lynette. Promoted to command of Joan of Arc when Lynette is discharged.

Renata Montes: An OP3 who finished her duty helmsman quals for Joan of Arc just in time to hold the station through the Battle of Fairhaven.

Nathan Spenceris a childhood friend to Tanner, coming from a wealthy family. He is on Pride of Polaris on his way home from a gap year when pirates attack and sees Tanner up close only once. After the war begins, Nathan transfers to the Archangel Naval Academy on Uriel. He is a new transfer as of the Battle of Fairhaven, which proves his only combat experience.

Avery Sinclairwas Tanner’s squad leader in Oscar Company, later his roommate on Beowulfafter helping to capture the ship. Sinclair was mostly through college when financial concerns forced him to enlist. He was killed by a sniper on Fairhaven immediately after he called out the location of the fleeing Anton Brekhov.

Lt. Kilmeadeis the commanding officer of Second Platoon. He is a stupid asshole, full stop. Because Janeka decided personnel for the Fairhaven op, he is NOT with Second Platoon for their initial drop.

Gavin Fosteris the Marine from Alpha Company who committed suicide on Beowulf.

Hyun Junand Antonio Rivera are Oscar Company alums killed in Operation Beowulf.

Abdul Mohamed, and Cassandra Fuller are Oscar Company alums killed in the Battle of Fairhaven.

Pedro Guzmanwas one of Tanner’s roommates killed during a ship battle on Beowulf.

Joseph Fitzand Lt. Breckenridge were killed in the Astonaco raid. Tanner had to leave Fitz’s body behind in the retreat.

Lt Cmdr Trevor Jacobsonwas the head of the Master-at-Arms department on Los Angeles and later Beowulf. He was killed in the first shots on Fairhaven.

Veronica Roldan: XO/First Officer of the Phoenix. Formerly an officer on board Los Angeles through the war. Wounded in her hip and gut, with lingering issues for both. Currently dating an active-duty officer named Dave who likes theater and poetry. Lynette’s best friend since their academy days.

Elise Jacobs: Ship’s nurse on the Phoenix. Archangel veteran, combat medicine skills as good as any doctor’s. Black, raised on Gabriel, has a French accent.

Naomi Watkins: Born on Fremantle. Engaged to Danielle, dual studies in geology and xenoarchaeology. Minos is her dissertation work. She and Dani have been together since they met as sophomores.

Sheila Dylan: Formerly a major in Precision Solutions, moved to NorthStar after company fell. Liked combat, disliked client briefings. Fine with petty extortion, bullying, hacking her clients’ mail, but takes broader public safety seriously when outside threats arose. Trusts subordinates across ranks and experience; actual performance matters more. Realized through implication that Tanner may not have killed or even caught Anton Brekhov. Keeps her black hair short.

Ellis Conroy: Black man, formerly a captain in Precision Solutions. Dylan’s sole surviving confidant after Minos. Ran much of Precision’s defense of Anchorside during the battle. Moves with her to NorthStar.

Amara: Empress of Minos. Golden skinned and tall like the rest (taller than Tanner), emerald eyes. Physically strong, highly resistant to pain, capable combatant. Amara is the victorious leader of a long-term war among Minoan factions, forcibly establishing a monoculture. Her wants and her emotions can override more practical or strategic concerns. Amara and her deputies have control over which Minoan memory crystals are granted new bodies, effectively giving her power over each life and death.

According to Amara, buying and selling was once practiced by Minoans, but that ended with her rise to supreme power.

She has told Tanner, “I’ll see you burn and your own people will help.”