Name: Rat (formerly Xian Jackson)

Rank: Captain

Homeworld: Coloney 89-G, Planet 17, Sector 1

Age: 26 Standard Years*

Character notes: Xian Jackson came out of nowhere to become an elite fighter pilot in the Zativan special ops squad the Obsidian Blades. Although highly competent as a pilot, his poor impulse control and borderline-sociopathic personality meant that his list of reprimands was as long as his list of commendations. Xian's final act was to volunteer for Project Zero, the attempt by the Zats to produce telepaths in order to communicate with the alien life forms destroying their ships.

Fortunately for everyone, Xian was annihilated during "change over," when telepathic ability first manifested. The new personality left behind spent the next two years on the run from the Zats; during this time, he adopted the curse flung at him by more affluent citizens: "Rat." Eventually, Rat stowed away aboard the Exile, where he gradually worked his way up from cabin boy to captain.

Rat has excellent hand-eye coordination, and is a crack shot as well as a top-notch fighter pilot. Although his telepathy can be an asset, for the most part it is still a disability, making it difficult for him to function in normal society. Although he has won the respect of the rest of the crew, his lack of confidence is perhaps his greatest flaw.

*Note: Standard years are the measurement of time used between systems to make data exchange easier, and are based on the length of the orbit of the origin world (Earth). Ages may vary when measured by the orbit length of the local or home planet. Additionally, ages vary according to relative time frame (e.g. time spent in hyperspace vs. time spent in real space).